6 Best and Perfect Ultralight Backpacking Cookware – Backpacker Tips for the New Year 2022
Best ultralight backpacking cookware is used by hikers, campers, and backpackers to cook their food during camping or backpacking trips.
There are many good quality best ultralight cooking wares available in the market that is made of aluminum or titanium that is light in weight and easy to pack. However, picking up on the right one is quite the challenge and hence this article is going to help you make the right choice.
Top Pick: MSR Alpine Stowaway Pot – 1.6 Liters
This is one of the best ultralight backpacking cookware sets that offer great cooking performance and is highly rated among users. This pot offers a higher capacity of 1.6 liters and has lightweight aluminum construction. It also features rounded corners which help in smooth stirring and faster boiling times. This cookware set includes insulated mugs, bowls, and a spoon with colander lids for food straining. It also comes with a fitted lid that not only prevents spills but also locks in heat while cooking. This backpacking cookware is available in two different colors black and titanium.
Where to Buy? – Rei Co-op Shop
Product Specifications :
Capacity: 1.6 liters (8 cups)
Weight: 17.2 oz (486 g)
Material: Aluminum alloy with hard-anodized finish
Handle Material: TPE rubber handle with steel rod for strength and durability
Contents include: 1 Pot with handle and 1 lid
Usage:
This is one of the best ultralight cookware and can be used for a wide range of cooking needs like boiling water for preparing dehydrated food, cooking pasta, stews, and also for rehydrating. For boiling water, it can hold up to 6 cups of water easily which is quite good. Its insulated mugs are high enough from the base where you don’t have to worry about burning your fingers while holding it or spilling any contents.
Best Set for Backcountry Chefs: Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set – 24oz Kettle with 2 Cups
Popular as the best ultralight backpacking cookware, this is a set of stainless steel camping cookware that includes an insulated mug, bowl, and a coffee press. This backpacking cookware comes in three different pieces which can be packed up separately. The 24oz kettle with a lid not only helps in collecting water from the source but also serves as a drinking cup after boiling the water inside it. Moreover, it includes a spoon that fits inside the lid for easy transport. The coffee press can be used to have piping hot coffee during camping trips and is highly appreciated among the users for this purpose.
Where to Buy? Amazon
Product Specifications:
Capacity: 24oz (0.75L)
Handle Material: Stainless steel with copper insulation on the exterior to maintain the heat
Coffee press weight: 2.4 oz
Contents include: 1 Pot, 1 insulated mug with lid, and 1 coffee press
Usage:
This is one of the best ultralight backpacking cookware for boiling water and preparing dehydrated food as well as coffee. The Stanley adventure camp cook set is perfect for backpackers as well as campers.
MalloMe Camping Cookware Mess Kit Gear – Camp Accessories Equipment Pots and Pans Set
This is a very appealing camp accessory that is extremely convenient and useful. This backpacking cookware includes a large pot with a lid, two bowls, and one folding spork that comes along with an adjustable shoulder strap for easy transport on hiking trips. The exterior of the stainless steel kettle features heat resistant rubberized handle which helps in maintaining the temperature of the water inside it while boiling it over a campfire or stove.
Where to Buy? Amazon
Product Specifications :
Capacity: 12 cups (3 liters)
Material: Stainless steel with a brushed finish and rubberized loop handles
Contents include: 1 Pot, 2 Bowls, and Folding Spork
Usage:
This is the best ultralight backpacking cookware kit and can use for preparing dehydrated food, rehydrated food, oatmeal, pasta, etc.
Best Stove-Included Set: GSI Outdoors Halulite MicroDualist Complete Set
Have you been looking for an ultralight camping cookware set that includes a stove? Then your search ends here. This halite micro dualist backpacking cookware kit is a great solution to all your cooking needs. This backpacking cookware set includes a pot, pan lid with strainer holes, a deep bowl with folding handles, and an aluminum stove. The stove is very simple to operate, lightweight, and easy to pack.
Where to Buy? Amazon
Product Specifications :
Weight: 13 oz (372 g)
Capacity: 1.5 liters (6 cups)
Material: Aluminum alloy with hard-anodized finish
Contents include: Pot with handle, Pan lid with strainer holes, Deep bowl and Aluminum Stove
Usage:
This ultralight cookware can be used to boil water for dehydrated food or rehydrated food as well as pasta etc. This camping cookware kit is very popular among hikers and campers.
Multi-purpose pot set: TOAKS Titanium 900ml Pot with 115mm Diameter
This titanium cookware is one of the best backpacking cookware with a wide bottom and tall vertical sidewalls. It can be used as a pot set for campers and hikers as well as an Omelet pan and even a mug or bowl. The ultralight camping cookware is perfect for boiling water, cooking, rehydrating food, and also serving hot drinks.
If you’ve ever wondered how to tackle cookware matters while out on camping, hiking, or backpacking trips, then worry no more! This cooking pot is lightweight yet sturdy enough to handle all your cookware needs. Such ultralight camping cookware not only saves on weight but also on space in your backpack.
Where to Buy? Amazon
Product Specifications :
Capacity: 900 ml (30oz)
Material: Titanium Grade 1 or 2 (No Coating)
Weight: 4.4 oz (124 g)
Contents include: Pot with Lid and Mesh Sack
Usage:
This ultralight cookware is great for boiling water and preparing dehydrated food as well as coffee/tea during camping trips. This lightweight titanium pot set can even be used as an omelet pan and mug. It is one of the best backpacking cookware available today.
Best Ultralight Backpacking Cookware Set: Bisgear Cookware Carabiner Backpacking Non-Stick
The high-quality aluminum alloy pot and a frying pan that come along with this Bisgear cooking set make it extremely lightweight yet sturdy enough to prepare food for your camping trips. All of the items in this ultralight backpacking cookware set are made from anodized aluminum which makes them scratch-resistant and non-stick.
Moreover, this camping cookware set includes a folding stainless steel spork, a collapsible nonstick pot with a lid, and a frying pan. The adjustable buckle on the shoulder strap allows you to carry it around conveniently when not in use.
Where to Buy? Amazon
Product Specifications :
Capacity: 1 liter (1.5 quarts)
Material: Anodized aluminum alloy with ceramic non-stick coating inside each pot and pans
Contents include: 5 piece ultralight cooking set includes foldable Spork, Frying Pan with lid, Collapsible Pot with Lid
Usage:
This backpacking cookware is best used as a soup pot as well as for boiling water for dehyd food during camping trips. This lightweight backpacking cookware is extremely easy to clean and carry as it comes with a shoulder strap.
Best value: Organizer Grill Accessories Portable Compact Gear for Backpacking BBQ
If you are a backpacker looking for a complete set of ultralight cooking gear, then the Organizer grill accessories backpacking ultra-light BBQ kit may be a perfect choice for you. This comprehensive outdoor cooking system is equipped with all the essentials needed to make an excellent meal on your backpacking trips. It includes a lightweight folding grate, pot hanger, alcohol stove burner, and most importantly a windscreen.
Where to Buy? Amazon
Product Specifications :
Capacity: 4 Inches (10cm) deep and 8 inches (20cm) in diameter
Material: Taffeta Nylon with Aluminum alloy
Contents include: Folding grate, Pot hanger, Windscreen, Trivet, Alcohol stove burner
Usage:
This camping cookware set is best used as a grill pan for steaks during backpacking trips. The lightweight aluminum pot hanger can be easily adjusted up or down which allows you to use the windscreen under the grill pan for cooking whatever you desire.
How to Choose the Best Backpacking Cookware Set for Your Needs
when choosing the best backpacking cookware, it’s important to consider the weight and materials used in the construction of the cookware. For instance, aluminum is a common material as it is lightweight yet sturdy enough for cooking your favorite dishes on your next camping trip.
However, titanium cookware sets are also becoming increasingly popular as they are extremely light and a cooking pot made from a titanium alloy can be as thin as a sheet of paper.
Types of Backpacking Cookware Sets
Pot Sets
These are the most common type of backpacking cookware sets and they typically include a pot, lid, and some form of a handle. Some come with accessories such as folding spoons or forks while others don’t.
Mess Kits
Essentially a mess kit is a compact pot or pans with all the basic utensils needed to make a meal quickly. Most of these sets contain a cup, plate, bowl, and spork. Though they are not as common as other types of backpacking cookware sets, they are light enough to carry around easily.
Integrated Stove and Cookware Sets
These are often popular as “Cook and Carry” sets as they typically include a cooking pot with a lid for keeping your food warm after being cooked. Integrated stove and cookware sets are with a handle on the side of the pot which allows you to attach it to a fuel canister when not in use for easy storage.
Material Used in Backpacking Cookware
Most backpacking cookware is from anodized aluminum or titanium alloy. However, stainless steel and plastic are also common materials as they provide a good balance between weight and durability.
Stove & Cookware Alternatives
If you are not really into cooking food on your backpacking trips, then it might be best to look for alternatives that allow you to only bring the essentials with you.
For instance, eating dehydrated food is an excellent idea as they are easy to prepare, lightweight, and full of nutrients. Alternatively, MRE’s are also great options as they come in self-heating pouches that can be easily cooked over a fire along with having all the necessary nutrients needed by your body.
When purchasing ultralight backpacking cookware consider using two pots or pans simultaneously if possible. For example, You can place one pot inside another pot or use a smaller pan on top of a larger pan with some water inside both of them.
This allows you to cook or boil water in the smaller pan while simultaneously cooking something else like an omelet in the larger pot/pan. This can save time and fuel when out on a backpacking trip.
Backpacking Cookware Accessories
When purchasing backpacking cookware, you should also consider buying some accessories such as a mini stove or fire starter along with the set.
Mini Stove
A mini stove helps you keep your food hot and warm after cooking it. Packing easy easy with the best camping stoves and and mostly allow for connecting to a fuel canister.
Fire Starters
Firestarters on the other hand provide an easier way of achieving a flame when starting a fire. They usually come in the form of small cubes which burn slowly and last quite long even though they’re made from lighter materials like cotton and wax.
How We Tested
With our volunteering backpackers who willingly contributed to test all the above brands of best ultralight backpacking cookware sets, it was quite easy to derive at a conclusion. All of the above products are quite amazing when it comes to productivity and efficiency, not to mention their high-end quality.
Trying one of the above would contribute to achieving a successful backpacking trip.
Summary
To sum up, the best ultralight backpacking cookware set is amongst the mandatory camping gear for a convenient trip. With the below listed, as a backpacker, you will have convenience and performance on the same plate while enjoying a never-ending and exciting backpacking trip ever.
- Top Pick: MSR Alpine Stowaway Pot – 1.6 Liters
- Best Set for Backcountry Chefs: Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set – 24oz Kettle with 2 Cups
- MalloMe Camping Cookware Mess Kit Gear – Camp Accessories Equipment Pots and Pans Set
- Best Stove-Included Set: GSI Outdoors Halulite MicroDualist Complete Set
- Multi-purpose pot set: TOAKS Titanium 900ml Pot with 115mm Diameter
- Best Ultralight Backpacking Cookware Set: Bisgear Cookware Carabiner Backpacking Non-Stick
- Best value: Organizer Grill Accessories Portable Compact Gear for Backpacking BBQ
Further, check out this article on Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set, if you are looking for a more convenient set of cookware. Moreover, it would be advisable to be in the know about Tips of Escape for Backpackers and Avoiding Wild Animals if you are an active backpacker.
Enjoy your next!
