We tested a huge range of camp cooking utensils for every kind of outdoor chef. Do they offer multi-purpose functionality, but are they tough enough to scrape the bottom of a cast iron pot? Many adventurers overlook the importance of good tools. A flimsy spatula or a poorly designed stirrer quickly makes cooking frustrating.
The quality of your kitchen gear directly impacts the enjoyment of your entire trip. We have put several different utensil sets and individual pieces through extreme heat and repeated use. This might be the smart upgrade your camp kitchen kit truly needs. See our reviews to find the most durable and effective utensils available today.
Quick Picks & Comparing the best camp cooking utensilsQuick picks
Check out this quick list of the best camp cooking utensils or continue scrolling to see our full list of favourites with in-depth reviews.
Price bands are based on what we paid.
Best overall: Sea to Summit Folding SpatulaBest overall: StS spatula
The Sea to Summit spatula scored highest of the utensils we’ve tested. It’s heat-resistant silicone and nylon, safe on non-stick pans, and folds for storage, with a locking handle and a lifetime guarantee.
The lock can jam with debris and it’s less rigid for heavy scraping. We use it all the time: it’s a massive keeper.
Sea to Summit Folding Spatula
Scored 9.4 out of 10Our take: The camp spatula we reach for every time. It opens to a full 23 cm, folds to 11.9 cm, weighs 38 g, locks firmly and is safe on any pan, with a lifetime guarantee. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Full 23 cm length when open
- Folds to 11.9 cm, only 38 g
- Safe on non-stick pans
- Lock holds firm, no wobble
- Lifetime guarantee
What we don’t
- Slider can stick with grit
- Flexes on baked-on food
Best titanium cutlery: Boundless Voyage Titanium SporkTi cutlery: BV spork
The Boundless Voyage titanium spork has a spoon at one end and a fork with a serrated knife edge at the other, so one tool replaces a cutlery set. It’s very sturdy, never tastes of metal and is the right size for a bowl, a pot or a meal pouch.
Mind the serrated edge near your mouth and rinse the serrations after a meal. At $13 it’s a lot of utensil for the money.
Boundless Voyage Titanium Spork
Scored 9.4 out of 10Our take: The one utensil we'd take if we could only take one. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Spoon, fork and knife in one
- Sturdy, won't bend or snap
- The right size for pots and pouches
- No metal taste
- Only $13 for titanium
What we don’t
- Mind the serrations near your mouth
- Spoon end shallower than a spoon
- Food can catch in the serrations
Best cutlery set: Sea to Summit Frontier UL 3-Piece Cutlery SetCutlery: Frontier 3-Piece
The Frontier UL 3-Piece is a full-size fork, spoon and serrated knife in hard-anodised aluminium that weigh 24 g together on our scale. They’re incredibly thin and light, yet still sturdy, and the handles stack flat.
It’s our everyday dinner cutlery and has a fixed place in our kit. It isn’t dishwasher safe and there’s no clip, and at $40 it costs more than plastic.
Sea to Summit Frontier UL 3-Piece Cutlery Set
Scored 9.4 out of 10Our take: Our favourite camp cutlery. The full-size fork, spoon and serrated knife weigh 24 g together in hard-anodised aluminium, thin without feeling flimsy, and have a fixed place in our kit. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Only 24 g for all three
- Thin but sturdy
- Serrated knife
- Handles stack together
- Full-size pieces
What we don’t
- Not dishwasher safe
- Pricey next to plastic
- No clip to keep them together
Best serving spoon: Sea to Summit Folding Serving SpoonServing spoon: StS
The Sea to Summit folding spoon is a full-sized serving spoon that folds very small. It locks firmly when open and has measurements in the bowl.
The joint needs careful hand cleaning and it flexes slightly in thick stews. For serving and stirring, it’s the one to pack.
Sea to Summit Folding Serving Spoon
Scored 9.3 out of 10Our take: A full-size serving spoon that packs into a small pot. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- 100 ml bowl, 40 and 80 ml marks
- Locks open firmly, no wobble
- Only 50 g, packs into a 1.2 L pot
- Safe on non-stick pots
- Long reach into deep pots
What we don’t
- Rinse the joint after use
- Flexes a little in dense food
- Black, easy to lose at night
Lightest cutlery set: Sea to Summit Frontier UL Spork and KnifeLightest: Frontier spork set
The Frontier UL Spork and Knife is a spork and serrated knife in the same hard-anodised aluminium, 16 g together on our scale.
It’s the set we grab for quick breakfasts and lunches when we don’t sit down; for dinner we take the 3-piece. Not dishwasher safe. $30.
Sea to Summit Frontier UL Spork and Knife
Scored 9.3 out of 10Our take: Our set for quick meals. The spork and serrated knife weigh 16 g together in hard-anodised aluminium, and we grab them for breakfasts and lunches when we don't sit down. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Only 16 g on our scale
- Spoon and fork in one
- Serrated knife
- Handles stack flat
- Thin but sturdy
What we don’t
- Not dishwasher safe
- Less handy for a sit-down dinner
Lightest tongs: Boundless Voyage Titanium TongsLightest tongs: BV titanium
These Boundless Voyage titanium tongs weigh almost nothing, won’t rust and clip onto a pack. They’re excellent for turning small items in a small pan.
They need a firm grip, don’t suit large items and can get hot over a campfire. For hikers and bikepackers, they’re a lot of use for almost no weight.
Boundless Voyage Titanium Tongs
Scored 9.1 out of 10Our take: Simple, well-made tongs that add almost nothing to a pack. At 23 g in one piece of titanium they won't rust, should last for years and are at their best with small items. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Almost weightless (23 g)
- Pure titanium construction
- Sleek minimalist design
- Excellent for small items
- Clips onto pack or gear
What we don’t
- Requires a firm grip
- Not suitable for large items
- Can get hot with campfire
Best steel cutlery: Sea to Summit Detour Cutlery SetSteel cutlery: Detour
The Detour Cutlery Set is a stainless steel fork, knife and spoon that nest together in a magnetised silicone keeper, so they don’t rattle in the kitchen box. It feels like the cutlery at home and goes in the dishwasher.
At 135 g it’s much heavier and bulkier than the Frontier sets, so it suits travellers with a bit more space, like in a 4WD. $45.
Sea to Summit Detour Cutlery Set
Scored 9.1 out of 10Our take: Solid steel cutlery for when weight doesn't matter. The fork, knife and spoon nest in a magnetic silicone keeper so they don't rattle, have matte handles and feel like your cutlery at home. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Very solid stainless steel
- Nests in a magnetic keeper
- No rattling in the kit
- Matte handles for grip
- Dishwasher safe
What we don’t
- Heavy: 135 g
- Bulkier than the other sets
- Most expensive of the three
Best long-handled cutlery: Sea to Summit Frontier UL Cutlery SetLong handles: Frontier UL
The Frontier UL set is for eating, not cooking: a long-handled spoon and spork in anodised aluminium. The long handles reach the bottom of a pot or a meal pouch, and a clip holds the two together.
With the clip on, they also work as a pair of tongs for serving salad. It’s pricey for two pieces, and this version has no knife.
Sea to Summit Frontier UL Cutlery Set
Scored 9.0 out of 10Our take: A very light spoon and spork with handles long enough to reach the bottom of a pot. They weigh 34 g with their clip, hold together as one piece and can even clip into serving tongs. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Very light: 34 g on our scale
- Long handles reach into a pouch
- Clip keeps the two together
- Clip together as serving tongs
- Anodised aluminium, no plastic taste
What we don’t
- Pricey at $36 for two pieces
- No knife in this version
- Long handles need a long spot
Best budget cutlery: Sea to Summit Camp Cutlery SporkBudget cutlery: StS spork
The Camp Cutlery spork is a one-piece plastic spork for $2: a spoon bowl with short fork tines, rounded edges that are kind on your mouth, and a hole in the handle to clip it to a carabiner.
It’s great for noodle soup and stews and goes in the dishwasher. The tines are too short to replace a real fork, and plastic doesn’t last like metal.
Sea to Summit Camp Cutlery Spork
Scored 9.0 out of 10Our take: A $2 spork that covers most camp meals. The bowl scoops soup, the short tines catch noodles and the rounded edges are kind on your mouth, at 10 g with a carabiner hole. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Spoon and fork in one, only 10 g
- Rounded edges, kind on your mouth
- Carabiner hole in the handle
- Dishwasher safe, BPA-free
- Only $2
What we don’t
- Short tines, so-so as a fork
- Plastic, not as tough as metal
- Dark colour, easy to misplace
Best pot gripper: Boundless Voyage Hot Plate GripperPot gripper: BV gripper
The Boundless Voyage hot plate gripper folds down small and grips hot pots securely. It also works as a bottle opener.
It’s not for big pots and has no locking mechanism. It suits small to medium pots in a minimalist kitchen.
Boundless Voyage Hot Plate Gripper
Scored 8.9 out of 10Our take: A small tool that solves a real problem with hot titanium pots. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Only 51 g, folds to 12.5 cm
- Grips a full litre pot securely
- Handle stays cool
- Bottle opener, wrench, food clip
- No rubber or plastic to wear out
What we don’t
- Pots up to about 1.5 litres
- Pricey for a gripper
Best spare cutlery set: Sea to Summit Camp Cutlery SetSpare set: Camp Cutlery
The Camp Cutlery Set is a full-size fork, spoon and serrated knife in BPA-free plastic on a carabiner, 31 g, for $5. It’s dishwasher safe.
It’s good enough for a weekend, but used every day on a longer trip metal cutlery is better. We keep it as the backup set for when more people come along.
Sea to Summit Camp Cutlery Set
Scored 8.9 out of 10Our take: A cheap spare set that does the job. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- $5 for a fork, spoon and knife
- Carabiner keeps them together
- Serrated knife
- Dishwasher safe, BPA-free
- Light: 31 g
What we don’t
- Not great for everyday use
- Plastic, not as tough as metal
Lightest spatula: Boundless Voyage Folding SpatulaLightest spatula: BV
The Boundless Voyage spatula is the lightest spatula here. Its folding handle locks, it fits inside a small pot and it comes with a carry pouch.
It can scratch coated pans, the handle is short and it’s not for heavy-duty cooking. For ultralight cooks, it’s hard to beat.
Boundless Voyage Folding Spatula
Scored 8.7 out of 10Our take: A 16 g titanium spatula that folds to 11.5 cm. It's stiff enough to flip, stir and scrape, but it can scratch non-stick pans, and the short handle brings your hand close to the heat. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Only 16 g, folds to 11.5 cm
- Thin edge flips and scrapes well
- Slider locks the handle firmly
- Won't bend, rust or warp
- Comes with a drawstring pouch
What we don’t
- Can scratch non-stick pans
- Short handle, close to the heat
- For small pans, not big cooks
Captain Stag UH-4725 Cutting Board
Scored 8.7 out of 10Our take: A tiny cutting board that earns its place in a hiking pack. It weighed 58 g and folds to the size of a phone, so it comes along on long day walks and overnight hikes. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- 58 g on our scale
- Folds to 14 × 7.3 cm
- Fits in a pack or a mess tin
- Antibacterial polypropylene
- Dishwasher safe
What we don’t
- Press it flat before you cut
- Small for more than one person
- 2 mm thin, needs a flat base
Best for the BBQ: Kings BBQ Tool SetBBQ: Kings tool set
The Kings BBQ tool set is the one for the fire pit, the hotplate or a park BBQ: long stainless steel tongs, a slotted spatula and a brush with a scraper edge, in a storage pouch. The long handles keep your hands away from the heat, and the tongs lock closed for packing.
They’re handy when you have the space and a family to feed, but quite long and heavy: we swapped them for smaller options after a few trips. For three tools it’s very good value if room isn’t a problem.
Kings BBQ Tool Set
Scored 8.6 out of 10Our take: Stainless steel tongs, a slotted spatula and a scraper brush in a storage pouch, for $20. Handy if you have the space and a family to feed, but quite bulky at about 48 cm and 660 g. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Handy when you’re feeding a family
- Tongs, spatula and scraper brush
- Stainless steel
- Long handles keep hands off the heat
- Storage pouch keeps it all together
- Good value at $20
What we don’t
- Quite bulky: about 48 cm long
- Not compact to pack
- Pouch is thin fabric
Boundless Voyage Titanium Spatula (Ti1073T)
Scored 8.4 out of 10Our take: A sturdy spatula that won't break, but too big for most camp kitchens. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Sturdy, won’t break easily
- Thick 3 mm handle doesn’t flex
- Wide, curved blade
- Rustproof TA1 titanium
- Hanging hole and drawstring bag
What we don’t
- Quite large for camp cooking
- Doesn’t fold or fit a mess kit
- Can scratch non-stick pans
Best utensil set: Folding Utensil SetBest utensil set
This folding utensil set gives you four stainless steel tools: a turner, a slotted spatula, a skimmer and a ladle, with folding handles and a cotton bag.
It’s heavier than the ultralight options, still bulky when folded and not suited to small pots. For car camping and picnics, it covers everything in one kit.
Folding Utensil Set
Scored 7.8 out of 10Our take: A cheap, sensible way to cook properly at camp. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Turner, spatula, skimmer and ladle
- Handles fold in half
- Stainless steel, easy to clean
- Long handles away from the heat
- Cotton bag keeps them together
What we don’t
- Thin wire handles flex
- Heads smaller than kitchen ones
- Bulkier than a spork
Best budget pot lifter: Aluminium Pot LifterBudget pot lifter: Aluminium
This aluminium pot lifter gives a strong, secure grip on hot cookware without handles, and it’s a safer alternative to a cloth.
It’s not for heavy, full pots, may scratch non-stick surfaces and feels awkward on very small pots. It’s a cheap safety extra for the camp kitchen.
Aluminium Pot Lifter
Scored 7.8 out of 10Our take: A simple, light tool that makes a real difference with handle-less cookware. Read review
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.What we like
- Extremely lightweight (30 g)
- Provides a strong, secure grip
- Compact and easy to pack
- Made from durable aluminium alloy
- A safer alternative to a cloth
What we don’t
- Not for lifting heavy, full pots
- May scratch non-stick surfaces
- Can feel awkward on very small pots
How to choose the best camp cooking utensilsHow to choose
Start with what you cook on and how you travel. Hikers want the lightest tools that fold into the cook kit; in a 4WD, sturdy tools that handle a full frypan or the barbecue are worth a bit more weight. And if your pans are non-stick, metal tools are out.
Then look for tools that don’t flex when you lift something heavy, and handles that stay cool. Camp cooking utensils come in three materials:
- Titanium
Lightest
The lightest and strongest, and it can’t melt. Scratches non-stick pans.
SuitsHiking and light packs - Silicone
Non-stick safe
Safe on non-stick pans, and the folding ones pack flat.
SuitsNon-stick pans - Stainless steel
Sturdiest
Long, sturdy tools for the barbecue and full frypans. Heavier to carry.
SuitsThe 4WD and the BBQ
Also check
- StiffnessTools should feel solid and not flex when you lift food or stir something heavy.
- HeatThe handle shouldn’t pass heat to your hand, and the head has to cope with a hot pan.
- Packed sizeFolding or locking tools save space, and so do tools that do two jobs.
- CleaningSimple shapes with no deep crevices mean less scrubbing in cold water.
How we test
We buy the gear ourselves and take it on camping trips around Australia to put it to the test in real outdoor conditions, in the 4WD and at camp, and to see how it holds up over a few trips. We weigh everything on our own scale and photograph it ourselves. If we haven’t used something, we say so, and if anything fails later on, we update the review.
Scored out of 10 on
- Ease of use
- Performance
- Portability
- Durability
- Value
