Beginner's Guide to Backpacking Cookware
Table of Contents
You only need one cooking utinsel—a lightweight aluminum or titanium pot for boiling water. A volume of 750 mL is ideal since many freeze-dried meals require two cups (about 470 mL) of boiling water. Cooking directly in a pot or pan is not a good practice for most backpacking trips.
Outdoor retailers sell various high-performance, ultralight cookware items such as titanium pots and sporks. Although handy, they are expensive and aren’t necessary for budget backpackers.
Cookware is a gear category where you can save money that would be better spent on a shelter system, sleep system, or backpack. I buy my cookware from Amazon, Walmart, Dollar Tree, or Dollar General.
Pot
with aluminum pot gripper
I use a $12 Stanco aluminum grease strainer. It’s ultralight.
I sometimes save fuel by cooking over a fire. I don’t mind getting soot on my grease strainer since it was only $12. For cooking over a fire, I use a $5 aluminum pot gripper to move the pot onto or off of the fire.
Bowl
My bowl is a Ziplock Twist ‘n Loc container.
You might not need a bowl if you eat directly out of freeze-dried meal pouches, but a bowl with a lid is handy for storing leftovers
Fork and Spoon
You can use a leftover plastic spork or spoon from a fast-food restaurant. More durable options are sold at Walmart for under $2.
Cup
I use a $6 silicone collapsible cup from Walmart or Amazon