The best camping cutlery reviewed (2023)

Easy to clean and lightweight these small accessories are a necessary addition to your pack.

Spork in a cup of Horlicks - camping cutlery

by Chris Williams |

Camping cutlery is a little camping accessory that is all too easy to overlook when you're planning a big camping trip or hike. You'll remember the stove, mess tins, pots and pans. You might even have a lightweight chair sorted. But the actual instruments of eating are so often forgotten.

Anything can be used as cutlery in a pinch, but there's something so undignified about eating a plate of beans with a house key or tent peg. So, in order to save you from this shameful fate, we've found the camping cutlery that you'll pack first out of sheer excitement to use it.

There's an array of items available out there, from the humble spork to proper five-piece travel sets. All have their pros and cons and are best suited to different scenarios. That's why it's important to match the right camping cutlery to the right outdoor excursion. Yes, it does matter, as a matter of fact.

Our camping cutlery shortlist

Gerber ComplEAT - Best in test

Primus Campfire Cutlery Set - Best value

Full Windsor Magware Magnetic Flatware - Best lightweight cutlery set

Sea To Summit Titanium Spork - Best spork

Optimus Sliding Spoon - Best spoon

Stanley Adventure Stainless Steel Food Jar - Best food container

Light My Fire LunchKit BIO - Best food kit

With a sea of options out there, we've made things simple for you and assembled our favourite cutlery options available for your next camping trip. Tuck in!

Best in test

Gerber ComplEAT with award overlay
Price: £38.6
Amazon

Description

Making something as mundane as cutlery into something interesting is more impressive than

Pros

  • Very clever design
  • Versatile
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • The peeler isn't that good
Gerber ComplEAT with award overlay

2. Primus Campfire Cutlery Set

Best value

Description

Of all the million and one basic camping cutlery sets, we like this one best because it is

Pros

  • Excellent value
  • Durable
  • Comfortable to use

Cons

  • Not the most compact or lightweight option
Primus Campfire Cutlery Set with award overlay

Best lightweight cutlery set

Full Windsor Magware Magnetic Flatware
Price: £34.99
AmazonAmazon Prime

Description

We've used this set for quite some time, and it's a great set. It weighs just 56g and manages to

Pros

  • Magnetic
  • Recycled polyester pouch
  • Very strong

Cons

  • Expensive
Full Windsor Magware Magnetic Flatware

4. Sea To Summit Titanium Spork

Best spork

Description

If you're a sporker, you're a gram counter. And as a gram counter, you'll be besotted with this

Pros

  • Incredibly light
  • Strong
  • Carabiner included

Cons

  • There are cheaper sporks out there
Sea To Summit Titanium Spork

5. Optimus Sliding Spoon

Best spoon

Description

Those who eat camping meals directly from the pack can save themselves carrying extra kitchenware.

Pros

  • Space-saving
  • BPA-free
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • You may prefer metal cutlery
Optimus Sliding Spoon

Best food container

Stanley Adventure Stainless Steel Food Jar
Price: £35.99
AmazonAmazon Prime

Description

This looks like a food jar with a spork attached, and you might wonder why it's in a cutlery

Pros

  • Suitable for hot or cold food
  • Extra compartment inside lid
  • Leakproof

Cons

  • Heavy
Stanley Adventure Stainless Steel Food Jar

7. Light My Fire LunchKit BIO

Best food kit

Description

The LunchKit gives you bountiful and versatile food storage. Despite being called a ‘plate to

Pros

  • Quite compact
  • Made from biobased plastic
  • Rounded edges make it easy to clean

Cons

  • Not leakproof
Light My Fire LunchKit BIO

What to look for in camping cutlery

Eating food at camp at Carn Fiaclach, Scotland
©Live For The Outdoors

Size and weight: Apart from no cutlery at all, the spork is the best lightweight option. At the other end of the spectrum, a multi-piece set is comprehensive but bulky. Choose what's best for you.

Material: Plastic cutlery tends to be the cheapest, but the knives, in particular, aren't usually great to use. However, metal options made from stainless steel are very durable, while titanium ones are more expensive but very lightweight and strong.

What are you eating? For those eating straight from the food pouch, a spork or spoon will see you right. But for those whipping up something a little more sophisticated, get a set. You'll already be bringing a stove and some cookware. It'd be silly not to have the right utensils too.

Dishwasher safe: If this matters to you, make sure whatever option you go for is dishwasher safe. Easy.

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