Good for you. While less-savvy outdoor adventurers may not bother doing research about the best camping utensils, you know that these little tools matter.
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Naturally, you want to find utensils that will meet your needs — which isn’t always easy, considering there are dozens of different products on the market.
So this article will give you a no-BS guide to the top 10 utensils for backpacking and camping that are available today — and how to pick the right one for your situation.
(side note: if you’re backpacking, you should also consider whether or not you REALLY need to bring a utensil at all. We’ll touch on that topic a little later)
Let’s start off with a quick look at the top products on the market and then dive deeper into the pros and cons of each one.
Comparison Chart
Name | Price | Weight | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $$$ | 0.65 oz | Polished bowl makes the spork easier to clean and more sanitary | |
| $$$ | 0.5 oz | Folding handle can be locked to prevent accidental closure | |
| $$$ | 0.7 oz | Spoon – fork – knife combination | |
$$$ | 0.6 oz | Polished bowl for easier cleaning and improved hygiene | ||
$$$ | 0.7 oz | 100% Titanium spork, spoon-fork-knife combo with serrated edge on side of fork | ||
| $$$ | 6.4 oz | Travel Camping Cutlery Set, 8-Piece including Knife Fork Spoon Chopsticks Cleaning Brush Straws Portable Case, Stainless Steel Flatware set (8-piece Black) | |
$$$ | 0.6 lbs | mess kit for camping, backpacking, scouting, and meals on-the-go; includes plate, bowl, 3-in-1 spork utensil, and tether for securing kit and contents | ||
| $$$ | 1 oz | 2-piece camping spork utensil set includes a full-size fork, full-size knife/spoon combo, and reusable tether | |
| $$$ | 2.5 oz | TOP PICK! The compleat is comprised of 4 components: spoon, fork, dual-sided spatula, and a 4 function multi-tool. | |
| $$$ | 1.5 oz | Strong spatula and knife design | |
$$$ | 0.9 lbs | Convenient carrying case to stay organized | ||
$$$ | 2.88 oz | Fork, knife, spoon, bottle opener | ||
| $$$ | 2.4 oz | Tactical Spoon Fork and Serrated Knife All In One | |
| $$$ | 5 oz | Fork, spoon, knife, bottle opener | |
$$$ | 1.6 oz | Spoon, fork, spatula set |
Tips for Choosing the Best Camping Utensils
How Many in Your Party?
When I go out camping on my own, I only have to worry about feeding myself. That means I can carry just one, simple titanium spork. My meals are simple, meant to be lightweight and hassle-free.
However, when it’s time to go camping with tons of friends or the family you need to think a bit further. Maybe you’ll be cooking burgers, or making large pots of food. In that case, you’ll need bigger utensils or serving utensils. Of course, you wouldn’t carry those types of utensils if you’re out by yourself.
One big factor to keep in mind when choosing camping utensils or backpacking utensils is the number of people you’ll be traveling with.
Ask yourself if you’ll be:
These factors all require distinctly different utensils depending on your answers.
What Types of Meals Will You Cook?
I mentioned this a little bit in the section above. The number of people in your group can change the types of meals you might cook.
For instance, you might cook a large pot of pasta when camping with a group. You might want a straining serving spoon. Maybe you want to cook some personal pizzas using pitas and tomato paste. You’ll definitely want a knife for that!
It’s important to frame your meal planning based on your resources.
Generally keeping food prep simplified is a good idea for camping. It’s not as easy to lay out a cutting board, prepare ingredients, saute, dice, and prepare food in the woods as it is in the comfort of your kitchen workspace.
The Best Backpacking Utensils?
Backpacking utensils, even more than camping utensils, must be compact, lightweight, and functional. In fact, some would even argue that there’s no need for utensils at all. (You’ve got two hands, don’t you?)
I personally like to use a single long handle titanium or aluminum spork. They’re just as light and much more durable than plastic utensils. For just fractions of an ounce of weight, you can have a single backpacking utensil that makes your life easier, mess-free, and more hygienic on the trail.
Here’s an example of my personal favorite backpacking utensil, and the only one I carry with me on the trail when solo backpacking.
Consider Freezer Bag Cooking
Before we fly off the handle and purchase a full set of gourmet ultralight camping utensils, let’s consider a simplified method of camp cooking. Freezer bag cooking makes food preparation easy while backpacking. The overarching concept is to be able to create meals by simply adding boiling water to a bag full pre-rationed ingredients.
Using this method allows for surprisingly delicious and wholesome meals without tons of expensive backpacking utensils. Here’s what you’ll need to be successful at freezer bag cooking:
That’s right, the only utensil you need is one long handled spork or spoon to be successful at freezer bag cooking!
For more information on how to create freezer bag cooking recipes for backpacking, rely on our favorite book.
Backpacking With Groups
If you enjoy making more advanced meals or hiking with groups you may want more advanced utensils. We covered most of this earlier in the “How Many in Your Party?” section. However, it’s worth noting a few differences when it comes to backpacking utensils.
Choosing Utensil Materials
Seems like a no-brainer, right? I mean how much difference can there be between utensils of different material types? I’m here to tell you, there’s a big difference and it matters.
Let’s go over the common materials you can choose from:
Of course, it is possible to buy a poorly made titanium utensil that breaks. It’s also possible to purchase a plastic camping utensil that works great for years to come.
I’ve seen popular plastic backpacking sporks, reinforced with popsicle sticks and tape, that still snap in half under normal use conditions. After a few experiences of being left fork-less at the least opportune times I’ve switched permanently to using aluminum and titanium backpacking utensils.
How to Clean Camping Utensils
When you’re in the field keeping sanitary can be a big benefit. In fact, according to a survey of wilderness medical injuries, gastrointestinal upset (caused by poor sanitation) is a leading cause of issues on the trail.
Keeping utensils clean seems easy when you’re at home with soap, a sink, and plenty of running water. In the field, however, it’s a different story.
I always recommend following LNT guidelines for washing dishes in the backcountry.
Basically, you want to clean your dishes so that you don’t leave scraps of food around to attract critters unnaturally. You also want to be careful about how much soap you use and how you dispose of that in order to keep flora and fauna safe.
Assuming that you’re following LNT practices, I recommend using Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. Peppermint is a good scent to use because it makes good shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, and dish soap all in one!
To remove those stuck-on goodies that got permanently burned into place by the lava-hot flames of your pocket stove, keep a pot scraper on hand. I like the GSI Pot Scraper but you can also check out the MSR Pot Scraper.
To get a really fine cleaning, use a handful of sand or dirt and leaves. Rub the sand around in the pot by hand to scour the pot clean. Dump the used dirt, rinse debris out, and then finish with soap and water for a good clean utensil or pot.
To prevent having excess work when cleaning, try to plan ahead. Make portions small enough so you can eat the whole meal. Then scrape the bowl clean and lick the utensils clean. This will leave a lot less mess to clean up when you’re done. Cooking and cleaning while camping takes a little more forethought than doing the dishes at home.
How to Carry Cooking Utensils
I’ve always been a little cavalier about my utensil. I only carry a single long handle titanium spoon which I lick clean and rinse after using. Shake it off, toss it in the brain of my pack, and I’m done.
If you’re carrying multiple utensils, or simply want to be a bit more clean and organized than I am, you might want something to help you.
I like small ditty bags. When I do carry a bowl or pot on the trail, I tend to keep those, my utensils, and any other loose cooking items in a single bag.
It’s easy to buy a bulk pack of nylon ditty bags that you can use to organize your cooking utensils, toiletries, or other goodies. Check out this pack of lightweight mesh organizing bags for your pack.
I like mesh bags for my cooking utensils so my fork, bowl, spork, or spoon can dry out after rinsing. Nothing gets gross faster than moist utensils inside your backpack on a hot summer day. Yuck!
Hang the mesh bag from your pack to air dry if needed - but be careful you don’t snag it or drop it and lose it!
Our Picks: 15 Best Backpacking & Camping Utensils
Best Utensils for Backpacking
When it’s time to hit the trail, everything you carry ends up in your backpack. Needless to say, when you walk dozens of miles a day with your pack on, you want the lightest, smallest utensils that will do the job. These utensils are made with weight, size, and portability in mind at the expense of luxury and convenience.
I’ve been using a titanium long handle spork for years but have always had a few complaints. The TOAKS version of my favorite backpacking and camping utensil addresses all the issues and improves on this must-have camping utensil design.
- Long handle is best for reaching into deep bowls, jars, and bags
- 0.65 ounces
- Polished bowl makes the spork easier to clean and more sanitary
These long handle backpacking sporks are best for freezer bag cooking, where you have to reach down into the bag. I’ve even been known to use the handle as a knife for cutting cheese, spreading butter, etc. It’s plenty strong (but not sharpened).
The only small drawback is that it has a relatively small bowl compared to some.
Note that this version lacks the fork prongs which makes it even easier to use for scraping the bowl or bag.
TOAKS is making some great camping and backpacking utensils, and they’re doing them right. This folding titanium knife is durable, lightweight, and affordable.
- 0.5 ounces
- 4.25″ long when folded, 7″ long open
- Serrated blade
- Folding handle can be locked to prevent accidental closure
Overall this is a great compact, lightweight butter knife style utensil. It’s perfect for butter, peanut butter, cheese cutting, and most simple hiking and camping meal preparation.
It beats combination fork/knifes for spreading ingredients because there’s more surface area to hold and smear with. Using a combination knife can be really hard to use as a proper butter knife.
Keep in mind that this is meant to be a butter knife, not a razor-sharp woodsman’s knife. Keep its use restricted to the kitchen.
Because multi-function backpacking utensils are great to consider, this knife/fork/spoon combo is a top choice. The titanium material is a bit heavier than other plastic options, but the increase in durability and rigidity is a winner!
- 0.7 ounces
- Spoon – fork – knife combination
- Much more durable than plastic combination utensils
While you could buy this utensil in a plastic version which is a bit lighter, users complain about the utensil flexing and breaking when made from plastic. This titanium version is just a bit heavier (plastic equivalents run about 0.3 ounces lighter) but fixes the flexibility and breaking problems of other models.
Forks are so rarely used for camping and backpacking that you won’t find another fork listed in our reviews. If you want a fork, this is your stop!
This is a great option if you need all three utensils in the lightest, most compact form possible.
If you’re not a fan of having a fork and knife for a handle, you might enjoy this folding spork with a more traditional handle. This spoon is lightweight enough that you’ll forget it’s around and it’s been improved from earlier models.
- 0.6 ounces
- 6.5″ long when open, 3.75″ long closed
- Spork design
- Polished bowl for easier cleaning and improved hygiene
With the updated polished bowl, I think this folding fork takes the top-prize for best camping spork. If you’re going to be doing a lot of freezer bag cooking, however, I still recommend the long handle spork.
Like all the TOAKS folding camping utensils, this spork can be locked so there are no surprise collapses of the handle.
Light my Fire has been making spork combo utensils for years. Their plastic spork combinations might be one of the most ubiquitous camping utensils of all time, in fact. This time they’ve upgraded and we’re all glad for the results.
- 0.7 ounces
- 6.75” long
- Fork, knife, spoon
At less than one ounce it’s on-par with many of the best backpacking sporks in the industry. It shares the exact same shape and profile as their popular plastic model. Thankfully, however, it’s substantially more durable.
Unsurprisingly, it’s been received particularly well amongst the industry and, thanks to the reasonable price, deserves a place in any backpack.
Best Camping Utensils
These utensils sets are bigger, heavier, and bulkier than those in the backpacking section. When camping we can have the luxury of larger utensils like spatulas, serving spoons, tongs, and other things that just don’t belong in a backpack on the trail. These utensils are made with convenience in mind for campers.
While most utensil sets stop at a fork, knife, and spoon this one goes further. There may not be any serving utensils, but this is a full-featured personal utensil set.
- Stainless steel
- 8-piece set
- Includes carrying case
Sure, a backpacking spork might not find much use in daily life. A full utensil set, however, can be great at the campsite or at home.
Inside is a set of chopsticks, two straws, a pipe cleaner, and the usual fork, knife, and spoon. If it makes a difference to you, there are also 9 different colors to choose from.
These are probably a bit too heavy to make a good backpacking set, but the beefy stainless construction should mean they’ll last ages for use at camp and anywhere else.
UCO has put together utensils, mess kit, and a food storage container all in one. There’s a handy feature on this one that helps it stand apart from the rest, however.
- 3-1 spork
- Food storage container
- Bowl/plate
On the outside, the rubber strap holds the bow/plate and spork together. When closed, the bowl and plate create an airtight seal which makes an awesome food storage container for leftovers.
I gotta give them commendations for the little details. They made it so that the spoon and bowl have the exact same curvature so you can easily scrape everything out of the bowl. Small, but neat!
This combo makes a ton of sense for serving individual portions out of group meals and keeping the leftovers safe.
UCO steps up to the plate and earns another spot on our list. This time it’s a full knife, spoon, and fork kit. You’ll still have to get the mess kit separate if you want the bowl/plate and food storage option though.
- Spoon, fork, knife
- 1 ounce
- 7” stored, 10” extended
Like the UCO spork, this one features a spoon designed specifically to match the interior radius of the bowl. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference.
At the forefront of this utensil design is the modular/extendable feature. The spoon/knife nests inside the fork and snaps together for storage. When in use you can extend the whole thing to 10” long which helps make reaching into bags easier for hydrated meals.
It’s worth noting that the plastic knife is full-size, not a fork/knife combo.
TOP PICK!
Gerber has long been one of my favorite manufacturers for ingenuity and affordability. Spoon, fork, tongs, spatula, and more in one simple system! Let’s see how it works.
- All utensils nest together
- Utensils, plus 4-function multi-tool
- Combine to make tongs
Okay, rarely do I find a utensil set that makes sense for backpacking. At just 2.5 ounces, however, this one might just do it.
Use the fork, spoon, and spatula separately or combine them. When combined they create a fully usable set of tongs for salad, grilling, or serving! Honestly, it’s a smart system.
Attached to it all is a 4-gadget multi-tool. This little lightweight guy has a veggie peeler, bottle opener, can opener, and serrated package opener/cutting tool. When not in use it locks into place so it won’t get lost.
Hands down the lightest and most compact multi-component utensil set on our list! This is our top pick for on or off the trail use.
As reluctant as I am to recommend plastic utensils, I had to admit defeat after finding nothing but raving positive feedback from happy users of the Guyout utensil set.
- 5 utensils in one package
- Nesting design to save space
- Strong spatula and knife design
One major drawback of most camping utensil sets is a lack of spatula. Being able to flip hash browns, burgers, or other flat foods is must-have for more advanced recipes. With the Guyout Designs set, you can do that.
I love the spatula + knife combo that could even serve as a crude food shovel for ravenous eaters. If you want a camping utensil set that’s lightweight, compact, and versatile this one is for you!
When you’re going out camping with your car or RV, size and weight don’t matter quite so much. This 8-piece metal camping utensil set has just about everything you could need for any campfire meal!
- Strong metal components
- Convenient carrying case to stay organized
- Multi-function items
With this set, you’ll have enough utensils to cook any camping meal without having to compromise. It includes:
- Scissors
- Bottle opener/corkscrew
- Tongs
- Spatula
- Ladle
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Strainer
It’s too bulky and heavy for backpacking though, so keep this one for camping at established campsites where you don’t have to carry gear.
Some things never change. That’s the case with this stainless steel camping utensil set. It’s lightweight, compact, and functional.
- 2.8 ounces
- Fork, knife, spoon, bottle opener
- Nesting design for organization
By stacking all three utensils together you can lock them in place. This makes them organized, compact, and easy to find when you need them. The stainless steel design means they’re durable and if they happen to bend, you can just bend them back into shape.
I’ve seen these last decades and still work great!
Despite the silly name, this plastic spork/knife combo unite is actually surprisingly functional. It’s lightweight and packs multiple utensils into one small package.
- 2.4 ounces
- 2.5″ serrated plastic knife
- 6.8″ long spork when assembled
I’ve always been impressed with the quality of components from Ka-Bar. This plastic spork/knife combo nests inside itself where the sharp serrated knife is kept protected so it won’t cut you or your bag.
While it’s not as light as some of the titanium options on our list, it’s still quite lightweight. This is a great option for those who prefer the “tactical” aesthetic and users have great feedback about the quality and sharpness of the knife.
Note: knife for use on food items only.
While not ideal for everyone, the pocket knife-style folding utensil design has its place. The utensils fold into a durable handle that’s easy to keep track of, always at hand, and ready to cut, scoop, or open bottles.
- Fork, spoon, knife, bottle opener
- 5 ounces
- Includes carrying case
The multitool design is appealing to many for its practicality, compact design, and ease of use. Keeping all your utensils in one easy to locate package means they’re always there when you need them.
I like that they’re made from durable stainless steel, but that also means the set comes in at a relatively heavy 5 ounces (compared to 0.5 ounces or less for some of the titanium models we reviewed earlier).
An ideal camping utensil set for the kids!
Jetboil backpacking stoves have become so ubiquitous in the last 6 years that I had to include this backpacking utensil set from Jetboil. If you own a Jetboil stove system, this utensil set is made to fit right inside.
- 8.5″ when in use, 5″ when retracted
- Durable nylon construction
- Spoon, fork, spatula set
- Only 1.3 ounces for the full set
I like that they opted to include a spatula instead of a knife. Most backpackers and campers carry a dedicated knife anyways that can be used for food. With the spatula in this set, you get more cooking meal options!
Each utensil retracts into its own handle down to about 5″ long. These will fit in a Jetboil stove but you won’t have room for a fuel can or other large objects.
While the nylon is unlikely to melt, a lightweight titanium option would be nice for some added durability.
Conclusion
Remember that the ideal camping utensil set may be different than the ideal backpacking utensil set. Before you make a final decision, revisit our “how to choose” section and consider several of the most important decision factors.
For hikers lightweight, compact backpacking utensils are a priority. Meals should be simple, easy to prepare, and easy to eat with lightweight utensils. Leave the fancy frying pan and ladle at home in favor of backpacking utensils that won’t weight down your pack.
When we go camping the menu might include pancakes, hot dogs, and burgers. It’s time to take along some larger and more functional cooking utensils. Traveling by car or RV means you can afford to carry a heavier, larger set of utensils without a problem. Of course, it always pays off to keep your packing list simple and small when possible – there’s enough to remember when packing for a camping trip! Keep your cooking utensils simple and organized.
There’s a set of backpacking and camping utensils on our list for everyone’s needs. I did my best to make sure that our list represents not only the best but a variety of available backpacking utensils and camping utensils. If you have a favorite set of utensils or a question about how to pick out utensils just leave us a comment! We love to hear your thoughts.
