[Freerunner]

What's the best camping cookset to buy? I have been looking at MSR, GSI, and Texsport. Texsport seems to have the better deals, but I don't know if it has the same quality as GSI or MSR. Does anyone have any experince?

 

[trainedtosave]

I got the MSR Blacklite cookset. Quality is very high, but I expect that from MSR. Wasn't cheap, but I try to buy quality, especially as I go hiking deep in the woods at times, and that is the last place you want your gear to fail.

 

[Cryptkeeper]

i dont do the backpack survival anymore. i just drive to my campsites and use cast iron mostly :thumb:

 

[DudeZXT]

Yeah, the cast iron is best if you're not worried about weight, at all. Otherwise, I bought a Snowpeak set for cheap and would be concerned about it getting banged around, bent and dented ~ that would be a major concern with any of the brands you mentioned. Never had the titanium sets myself, though...

 

[lrsu121]

I have used several types of cookware over the last 15 years. Used the MSR blacklite for several years, but after extended use the nonstick coating will begin to wear off. I really like the hard anodized aluminum stuff from GSI. I still use my MSR alpine series that I bought 15 years ago. You cannot beat stainless steal for durability. If I an driving to the campsite, I use cast iron.

Bill

 

[Maurepas]

Take a look at this stove ******************

I don't have one yet, but plan on buying one sometime soon. Seems to be the way to go - lightweight and shouldn't ever run out of fuel.

Anyone else have one of these, or ever use one?

Thanks!
:thumb:

Thread topic is cook sets.
Maybe you could start another thread for your stove information so this one does not get hijacked.
Thanks.

 

[Maurepas]

My snowpeak titanium cook set is around 8 years old now and still works great. It's what carry for backpacking.

For any other outdoor or indoor cooking, you can't beat cast iron.

 

[ROCK6]

What do you plan on cooking? We have a few cooking kits that go unused. The most common (for our family of four) is a large aluminum pot (Open County 4 quart boiler) and a small frying pan. The kids carry their own cup and bowl (use to be a plastic bowl, but they now have MSR steel "mountain" bowls). Most of our meals are either freeze dried or my wife will bring along some pre-packed stuff (Tex-Mex burritos, omelets in a freezer Ziploc, pasta noodles or stuff to make small backcountry pizzas). She can do the majority in the one large pot and small frying pan; we add a large serving/stirring spoon and small spatula. The kids just use their single bowl, Spork and cup for tea or hot cocoa or favorite flavored drink mix. We've just found several small bowls that we don't use are wasted space and weight.

If going solo, it can be just as simple; a decent small pot, as simple as a small coffee can or as trendy as a titanium mug, that'll hold close to a quart of water. If you have some meals planned, possibly a small frying pan...which I prefer when I'm fishing and want to fry them up. Add a small cup and Spork and you have enough of a kit to do 99% of your backcountry cooking. Unless you're planning gourmet meals where you'll need to mix several different items at the same time, you don't really need a full mess kit. One nice pot by MSR is their Stowaway pots...they have them in a few different sizes (one that is just over a liter). The nifty thing is that you can securely store food inside for packing and the lid can double as a plate.

Now, one thing to keep in mind is if you plan to just cook over a stove or actually use the coals or place your cookware over a fire. Some of the cook sets are pretty much just geared towards stove use (small plastic coated handles and such); if you plan to cook on coals or over an open flame, make sure they have good handles (or used the pot-gripper tool) and a good bail...excellent for suspending over a fire if you don't have a grill. Extra pots just means unused weight...decide on what meals you plan for your backcountry adventures and then try them out in the kitchen...you really don't need too much in the way of cooking pots and pans.

ROCK6

 

[Smudge]

I'm with Rock6' decide your specific needs and go from there.

I dont think there is a best cookset you might use something far different from me for any number of reasons. Personaly I find a fryingpan (handle removed) or pie dish (mmhhh tinned pie) and my homemade billy can cover most the bases, if I need something else I always have my metal mug.