Kitchen Gear

The kitchen seems to be one of the hardest areas for people to exercise control, in both equipment and food.  They see those wonderful new nesting pot sets and feel the need to bring every single one along with them.  Heaven forbid that they should break up the set—it wouldn’t look as good or nest as perfectly if every piece wasn’t there.  Besides they’ve paid good money for them—there’s no way they’re going to leave any of them behind!  Never mind the fact that all they will have to do is boil water!  So why take along the frying pan and three different saucepans?  Then they load up with dishes like cups, plates, bowls, and full sets of silverware.  Having all of this stuff is great for car camping, but when you carry everything on your back, every extra ounce is your mortal enemy.   Don’t get in the habit of thinking, "But it’s only a few ounces."  Pounds are made up of ounces!  It absolutely amazes me to see the stuff people will carry; often without any thought whatsoever to what they will actually need!  The backpacker's kitchen was the area I could reduce much of the weight from the participants’ packs.  So avoid these mistakes and even help your pocketbook by determining what items are essential.  Purchase and carry only what you will need.

A stove will be one of your most important kitchen purchases. Since there are several different types to choose from, and to help identify them while shopping, I've created a full page on them that includes a photograph and description of each style. Just click on the type of stove you are interested in and follow the link to view the information. You might ask, "Why not just use a fire?" Well, there are several reasons. First of all, fires are not allowed in many backcountry sites, especially in national parks. Second, the environmental impact is greater than you might believe.

Think of the number of people now backpacking and multiply that with how much wood would be needed to cook meals and provide that campfire "ambience." Don't get me wrong; I know how enjoyable sitting around a cozy campfire can be. It's just that wood is scarce in the southwest. People aren't aware that much of the wood here appears to be dead but is actually just dormant at the time. They will chop down live trees without even knowing it!

A pet peeve of mine is to find a wonderful campsite in the wilderness and be surrounded by fire rings. Some are built right next to the other! Why? If you find a fire ring, use it! Please don't build another one. If you do have to build a fire (of course, in an area that allows it), build a small one in an area cleared of all flammable material. Before you leave your campsite, be sure to return the site to as pristine a condition as possible. Make sure the fire is DEAD OUT and mix the ashes with dirt and bury them. Make it look as if you never had a fire. There is something wonderful about getting somewhere and feeling you are the first one to see it. Allow someone else that same pleasure and leave the area pristine. Thanks.

After you've planned the kind of food and stove you will be using, it is time to decide on your dishes and utensils.  Many people make the mistake of carrying too many dishes. I carry three items. . . that’s all!   I use a lightweight, insulated mug with a lid, a large Lexan spoon, and a saucepan with a lid.  Nothing else!  Think about it carefully, we’re not worrying about Mother telling you not to eat out of the pan!  I will boil water for my hot drink first, followed by the preparation of the meal in the saucepan.  I eat the meal right from the pan.  This has the added benefit of cutting back on washing extra dishes as well.  There is no need to carry a fork; most backpacking foods don’t require the use of one.  A Lexan spoon is very lightweight and will not melt or break, and they are available in most backpacking supply stores.  Unlike the metal ones (which are heavier anyway) the Lexan spoon will not get too hot to handle.  I use the larger soupspoon size rather than the teaspoon.  I also carry a pocketknife, which can come in handy for many things.  When you are sharing your meals with a companion, all they should need is another cup, bowl, and a spoon.  How do you eat noodles without a fork?  Simply break the pasta into spoon-size bites before cooking.  If your saucepan doesn't come with a lid, just use a piece of foil.  I know it might seem complicated at first, but believe me, the weight you save will make it worth the effort.

Updated:  07/28/00