Best Mess Kits for Backpacking & Camping
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Best Mess Kits for Backpacking & Camping
Whether you’re going camping for a couple of days or trekking for a week, you will need a portable mess kit that you can use to cook up a delicious (or at the very least edible) meal for yourself and any other members in your group. Finding the best mess kits for backpacking and camping can seem a bit arduous, given the fact that the market is so saturated with options. That’s why we’ve gone ahead and set up a few guidelines that the kits should follow.
A mess kit should ideally contain enough utensils (forks and spoons) and cookware (pots and pans) to compliment the kind of food you intend to cook on your trip. The ideal mess kit should also be lightweight and durable so as to take up the least amount of space in your backpack and still be resilient.
There are a few key players in the outdoor equipment market that garner consistently positive ratings. These companies distinguish themselves by offering cookware made with the best possible materials for outdoor purposes. All brands mentioned on this list have reported FDA approval for their utensils. All these items also carry claims of being BPA free.The following list will guide you through the offerings of some of the best offerings by major brands that specialize in mess kits. All these brands are dedicated to the highest quality standards so you would be well off choosing any of these kits!
Redcamp
Redcamp boasts FDA approved utensils and promises the utmost adherence to federally mandated guidelines for food safety. Their pans and pots are made of anodized aluminum which makes then conduct heat quickly and it makes them easy to clean as well. Redcamp also offers a 360-day limited manufacturer warranty with a 100% money back guarantee in case of any issues with your kit. Redcamp also offers are wide range of kit sizes, making them an easy choice for most any situation.
Redcamp 9-Piece Cookware Kit: ($14.99)
This kit comes with nine pieces including a 1 frying pan, 1 1000ml small anodized aluminum pot, 2 bowls, 1 tool card, 1 stainless steel folding spoon, 1 loofah sponge, and 1 mesh bag. It also comes with a survival bracelet that serves as a firestarter, parachute rope, and an emergency whistle. This set weighs less than 0.6 pounds making it exceptionally lightweight and easy to carry around in your backpack. This kit is best suited if you’re cooking for one.
Redcamp 12-Piece Cookware Kit: ($17.99)
In addition to everything in their 9-piece kit, this kit includes 1 pot cover, 1 soup bowl, 1 ladle, and 1 oxford bag (instead of the mesh bag). This kit weight 0.96 pounds and is still light enough to be ideal for your backpack. This kit is also meant to serve only one individual.
Redcamp 13-Piece Cookware Kit: ($19.99)
This kit differs from their 12 pieces kit because it replaces their small sized pot with a medium sized pot that accumulates up to 1600ml. It also includes two spoon forks, 1 scouring pad, and replaces the oxford bag with a polyester cotton pad. This kit weighs in at 1.38 pounds and it is suited for one to two people, making it incredibly versatile.
Redcamp 18-Piece Cookware Kit: ($25.98)
This 18-piece kit features two pots instead of one. These pots are in small (1000ml) and medium (1600ml) sizes. This kit also comes with 1 fork, 1 table knife, 3 bowls, and two folding spoons in addition to everything else in their 13 pieces kit. This kit weights 1.67 pounds and is suitable for two to three people. Pick this one up if you’re bringing a friend or two along.
Redcamp 23-Piece Cookware Kit: ($32.99)
This is the biggest kit that Redcamp offers and it comes with three pots. In addition to the small and medium pots this one also has their large pot that can hold up to 2800 ml. This kit also distinguishes itself by offering 2 dishes, 5 bowls, and a nylon bag in addition to all components of the previous kit. This kit weighs considerably more than the others at 3.3 pounds but considering that it is catered to feed 4-5 people it is easily worth that much weight in your backpack!
Gold Armour
Gold Armour prides itself on being family-owned and being based out of San Francisco, California. They too boast FDA approved utensils that use hard anodized aluminum frying pans and pots that are easy to clean. Gold Armour donates 5% of its profits to reforestation efforts and I must say that is a very on-brand cause to support. Both of their kits also come with a 10-year warranty.
Gold Armour 10-Piece Cookware Kit: ($16.99)
This kit includes 1 folding stainless steel spork, 1 nonstick frying pan, 1 nonstick pot with a 1-liter capacity, 1 pan cover, 2 bowls, 1 soup spoon, 1 rice ladle, 1 loofah sponge, 1 carabiner, and a nylon bag. Their special design allows all these utensils to fit and clasp together, so they only take a minimal amount of space. This kit weighs 1.1 pounds, and is the most lightweight option offered in this Gold Armour lineup. It is also available in four different color variations, which is always nice.
Gold Armour 17-Piece Cookware Kit: ($24.99)
In addition to all the items in their 10-piece kit, this kit offers 1 spoon, 1 fork, 1 knife, a mini stove, and a fire starter. This kit weighs in at just 1.7 pounds, and in our opinion anything under 2 pounds fulfills the ultralight requirement.
Bulin
Bulin also boasts hard anodized aluminum pots and pans. Their cookware also features heat-resistant handles to ensure safety. They emphasize on the foldability of all components in their mess kits because it enables the mess kits to be compact and easily portable.
Bulin 8-Piece Cookware Kit: ($21.99)
Bulin markets this as a two-person mess kit and it includes 1 pot (with a lid), 1 frying pan, 2 bowls, 1 soup spoon, 1 rice ladle, 1 cleaning sponge, and a nylon bag. This incredibly lightweight option is marketed as a complete 2-person kit.
Bulin 13-Piece Cookware Kit: ($39.99)
This kit is the kit they offer for groups of two to four people. It includes 2 pots with lids, 1 kettle, 1 frying pan, 4 bowls, 2 plates, 1 foldable soup spoon, 1 rice ladle, and one cleaning sponge. This is a nice affordable option if you always plan on going out with a few other people.
Bulin 27-Piece Cookware Kit: ($65.99)
This is a complete kit for a group of six to seven people. It includes1 hanging pot,1 frying pan, ,1 boiling pot 1 kettle,6 bowls,7 small plates,7 big plates,1 foldable soup spoon, 1 rice ladle, and 1 cleaning sponge. This is one of the largest offerings on this list, and is likely to have you covered on most any outdoor activity.
Odoland
Odoland really stresses on the portability of its products as they boast a foldable camp stove and foldable handles on pans that conserve space. Perfect for the minimalist camper, survivalist, or ultralight backpacker.
Odoland 6-Piece Cookware Kit: ($20.99)
This kit comes with 2 non-stick pots with capacities of 0.6 liter and 1.2 liters. It also includes a foldable camping stove, 1 spork, 1 cleaning cloth, and a mesh bag to carry all these in. Definitely a nice starter kit for the first time backpacker.
Odoland 9-Piece Cookware Kit: ($27.99)
In addition to the six elements in the aforementioned kit (except one spork), this kit also includes 1 spoon, 1 fork, 1 knife, and 1 stainless steel cup. This is definitely a step above the minimalist, but barely takes up any added space over their cheaper offering.
Gear4u
Not only does gear4u offer FDA approved aluminum pots but all its utensils are BPA free as well. They make super affordable mess kits with only the highest quality materials.
Gear4u 10-Piece Cookware Kit: ($20)
This kit includes 1 pot with a lid, 1 frying pan, 1 spatula, 1 ladle, 1 bowl, 1 plate, 1 spork, 1 sponge and a bag. This kit weighs 1.28 pounds, making it the lightest in the gear4u lineup. This kit was made with the solo traveler in mind.
Gear4u 13-Piece Cookware Kit: ($25)
In addition to all items in the 10-piece kit excluding the plate, this kit offers 2 cups with lids, 2 bowls, and two sporks as well, and comes in at only 1.32 pounds. This kit is aimed at a camping trip consisting of 1 to 2 people.
Gear4u 14-Piece Cookware Kit: ($30)
This kit includes a mini stove with Piezo ignition and a case. It also includes 2 plates,1 deep dish, 1 spatula, 1 ladle, 2 sporks, 1 cup with a lid, 1 frying pan, 1 pot with a lid and sponge. This is the most complete offering from gear4u, and comes in at just under 2 pounds. This kit is targeted towards 2 or more people.
Best Mess Kits for Backpacking - Conclusion
Mess Kits are an essential and often overlooked part of your backpacking repertoire. They help bring modern convenience to your rustic excursion. Having actual utensils at your disposal when living the outdoor life can help you feel a bit more human. We spent countless hours scouring the internet to bring you the best of the best backpacking and camping mess kits. I can say with absolute certainty that there is something here for everyone – camper, hiker, backpacker, and survivalist. If you’re looking for more useful information, consider checking out our articles on “How to Bear Proof Your Campsite for Camping Safety”, and “What Should Be in a Backpacking First Aid Kit?”. On the other hand, if you’re looking to bring along your camera equipment, try reading our “Best Camera Backpack Bag Under 100 Dollars” page. Happy traveling!
