Ultimate Mess Kit
A half-dozen items made to enhance your backcountry dining experience.
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What happens when wooden chopsticks and a titanium spork get married? GSI’s Kung Foon. Use them separately or together for a long-handled stirrer, or to eat right out of a bag without getting spaghetti on your knuckles. $17, 1.3 oz., gsioutdoors.com
The Optimus insulated (H)eat Pouch was made for hikers who like their food to stay hot. Drop in a freezer bag or freeze-dried meal and let it sit. Side pockets keep hands warm while noshing. Dislike: it’s a bit bulky. $15, 2.5 oz., optimusstoves.com
If you’re feeding a crowd, bring the Light My Fire Serving Spork and pass the potatoes. Comes in smaller sizes, including one for lefties and one for kids. Caveat: be careful when using for cooking, as plastic can melt. $5, 1.1 oz., industrialrev.com
Sea To Summit’s XL bowl smashes flat and holds a fat 30 oz. of food. Flip the bowl over and the bottom works as a cutting board. The measuring marks inside are a nice add, but the 5 oz. increments are odd. 3.9 oz., seatosummit.com
The stainless steel Vargo Scork has the heft of real flatware. The fork tines are sharp enough to manage that steak you’ve hauled in, and the handy bottle opener will pop a cold one, or in a pinch, work as a can opener. $7, 1.2 oz., vargooutdoors.com
Titanium tends to not hold heat well, but the double-walled Montbell Insulated Cup kept my morning joe toasty to the last drop. The folding handles are a little small, but the capacity is a full 8 oz. $39, 4.1 oz., montbell.us