Best Camping Utensils of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Choosing the right camping utensils can make the difference between a scrappy meal and a gourmet camp experience

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Camping utensils are some of the most overlooked pieces of gear in the outdoor toolkit. But you have only to forget your utensil once—or use one that snaps the minute you try to dig into a jar of frozen peanut butter on a cold morning—to understand just how vital they are to the camping experience.

These days, there’s a wide variety of utensils, each one specifically shaped and designed for different kinds of trips—from RV base camping to ultralight backpacking trips. Choose the wrong product, and you could end up with a broken utensil, an awkward packing experience, or an unpleasant mouthfeel that distracts from the hallowed experience of the in-camp feast. Choose the right utensil, and you’ll enjoy every bite that much more. These are the best camping utensils we’ve tested for any need.

Camping utensils may be a relatively simple product category, but that doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Even tiny variations in the angle of a fork’s tines, the finish of the material, and the folding mechanism can have remarkable impacts on the eating experience and how likely the utensil is to break.

To help you make the right choice, we considered 16 different utensils and utensil sets from eight top gear companies. Over several weeks, we tested each one, carefully weighing price, versatility, durability, packability, and various aspects of shape and design. These seven emerged as the best camping utensils of 2023.

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Snow Peak titanium utensils provide the best of all worlds: the Japanese titanium construction makes them strong yet lightweight, while the full-tang handle ensures that they’re well-balanced and feel as good in the hand as they do against the mouth. Compared with other camp utensils, which tend to have a very shallow angle of attack, both the spoon and fork are curved to maximize eating ease and efficiency. I liked that the spoon head is also relatively narrow, which earned it top marks from our smaller-mouthed testers.

Unlike aluminum forks and spoons, these titanium utensils never impart a metallic taste to camp food—a huge plus in my opinion. They’re also much less likely to bend or break than other types of camp cutlery and I could tell from the sturdy feel that they’ll hold up for many seasons. Finally, this set’s convenient carrying case means that it’s easy to pack and keep organized. It works equally well as travel cutlery or for tossing into a kid’s insulated lunch box. Thanks to that versatility, the Snow Peak camping utensils set earned top marks and a best overall designation in our test.

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These lightweight and foldable MSR camping utensils provide top-notch packability at an ultralight weight. That makes them our favorite travel camping cutlery when both space and weight are at a premium. The Foldable Utensils were also the best budget item we tested. Each one costs less than $5, and you can purchase a set of four for even more savings. The nylon construction is more heat-resistant than traditional plastic, and it’s safe to use on non-stick cookware.

The only downside we could find? The locking mechanism is a simple plastic toggle activated by squeezing the sides of the handle. As a result, the more vigorous eaters in our test reported that it spontaneously collapsed while digging into heartier camp food.

The nylon is also less sturdy than other materials. While we were unable to snap it in half, it was prone to bending when used to scoop chilled peanut butter. Nevertheless, the packability and budget-friendly price point makes it the best value of any utensil on this list.

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Thanks to its clever design, smooth finish, and best-in-class packability, GSI’s Glacier Folding Spork has quickly become one of our favorite pieces of camping gear. A horizontal toggle slides the length of the handle, nestling against the head of the spork to lock it in place. As a result, the spork never collapsed on us mid-bite. It also passed the frozen peanut butter test, proving itself strong enough to scoop even the densest of spreads. The curvature of the head is ideal for efficient eating and feels pleasant against the mouth.

While the GSI folding spork is heavier than most of the other utensils on this list, the two-in-one benefit of the spork negates the need to bring multiple utensils, and we liked knowing it wasn’t going to break on us. Overall, the luxurious feel, smart design, and superior packability made it our favorite for backpacking trips of every length.

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The spatula may be the most underrated piece of camping gear—a fact you’re well aware of if you’ve ever tried to flip pancakes or quesadillas in the backcountry without one. The argument is usually that they take up too much space, but JetBoil’s clever JetSet Utensil Kit renders that point moot thanks to a clever, telescoping handle that reduces this spatula, fork, and spoon set to a length compatible with most JetBoil pots. The nylon construction is safe to cook with and will withstand moderate heats, and the longer handles make the spoon and fork compatible with most pre-made backpacking meals as well as larger cook pots.

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Wooden handles, wickedly sharp blades, and an included sharpener earned the GSI Rakau knife set top marks from our most gastronomically inclined testers. Unlike plastic-handled camping knives, each of the three Rakau knives has a nice heft to it, which makes chopping both easier and more pleasurable.

We especially loved the chef knife, which has a scalloped blade for finer chopping tasks. The paring knife, which is slightly smaller, was ideal for slicing fruit and vegetables, while the serrated bread knife came in handy for separating hamburger buns and slicing baguettes for camp appetizers.

All in all, the set, which also includes a bamboo cutting board and cleaning cloth, is ideal for base campers and car campers looking for a slightly more gourmet camp cooking experience. We just recommend using it against a foldable camping table or another sturdy surface; these are bonafide kitchen knives, and are not to be trifled with.

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Sometimes, the only important metric is weight. Whether you plan to hike cross-country or simply prefer a minimalist kit, the Sea to Summit Alpha Light fork has the right combination of packability and featherlight weight to keep your load to a minimum. The secret lies in the material—hard anodized aircraft aluminum is extremely strong, even when rolled into paper-thin sheets. That allows the fork to be no thicker than a piece of card stock, yet nearly as strong as the titanium utensils we tested.

A raised ridge in the center of the handle adds rigidity and support, while a hole at the end makes it easy to clip to the back of your pack (or to the Alpha Light spoon or knife) via a small carabiner. Despite all that, the Alpha Light fork remains relatively budget-friendly. You can also purchase it as part of a set of three utensils to save even more.

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Thanks to its clever modular components, the Gerber Gear ComplEAT was easily the best multifunctional utensil kit we tested this season. The spoon and spork—each made of anodized aluminum—are well-balanced, sturdy, and long enough to reach the bottom of most freeze-dried outdoor meals. The long-handled spatula—made of high-temperature nylon—is also compatible with instant meal kits. Together, however, the utensils can transform into just about anything you’d find in your kitchen drawer at home. The spoon and spatula snap together to create a pair of tongs, and an included stainless steel multitool does double duty as a can opener, bottle opener, and veggie peeler.

Thanks to the spatula’s heat-resistant silicone edge, the tongs can handle everything from flipping strips of bacon to stir-frying veggies on a searing camping griddle. As a bonus, that same silicone edge acts as a squeegee, making post-dinner dishes a breeze. Whether you’re working with pre-packed backpacking meals or planning to grill out under the stars, the ComplEAT system has everything you need to pull off your next backcountry feast in style.

Ultralight backpackers place a premium on weight, but it’s a feature every camper should consider. If you’re planning on hiking long distances with your camp kitchen on board, consider packing a single utensil that’s under 0.5 ounces. If you’re car camping or base camping, consider a heavier model, which will have a more luxurious balance and a hand-feel that’s closer to what you use at home.

If durability is your priority, you may want to consider titanium, aluminum, or stainless steel in lieu of plastic or nylon. Metal utensils are much harder to break, but they tend to weigh and cost more than plastic utensils. Titanium and anodized aluminum, both lightweight metals, can offer a convenient compromise. Just be aware that titanium can get pricey, and aluminum utensils may be more likely to bend under strain.

If you’re backpacking with a smaller backpack—either because you’re doing a short overnight or because you’re dipping your toe into lightweight backpacking—you’ll likely want a utensil that’s slim and easy to slip into your top lid, or a model that folds in half. Folding utensils are especially nice. If you can fit your camping stove, fuel, lighter, and utensil into your cook pot, your camp kitchen will be easier to pack up, stow, and keep organized.

If you use a nonstick cook pot, opt for plastic, nylon, or wooden utensils, which won’t damage Teflon coatings. Some campers may prefer the eco-friendly nature of wooden utensils, but they’re more difficult to clean, and some folks find it tough to overlook the uncomfortable feeling of wood on teeth. If you don’t use a nonstick pot, consider choosing a lightweight aluminum or titanium utensil, which offers a nice balance between weight and durability.

If you’re car camping, a large plastic bin is usually the best way to go. Most backpackers, however, simply store their silverware loose in their top lid or another zippered pocket. Others have a lightweight stuff sack to keep their cooking sundries organized. The sleekest method, however, is to purchase items sized such that your pot, mug, fuel, and utensil all nest together in a convenient, compact package.

Nearly all camping utensils are food-safe. If you prefer aluminum utensils, look for models that have been “anodized,” which keeps aluminum particles from leaching out. While this hasn’t been demonstrated to be unsafe, it can affect the taste of some foods. The biggest safety concern is plastic. If you leave a plastic utensil in contact with a hot stove or pan for too long, it could melt, releasing volatile chemicals. Always opt for a metal or silicone-coated utensil for active cooking, or a nylon utensil if you only plan to use it for stirring water into freeze-dried backpacking meals or cooking over moderate heat.

The best camping utensils balance weight with durability, feel good in the mouth, and enhance—rather than detract from—the eating experience. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect camp cutlery, check out these top options.

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.