Essential camping utensils you can’t survive without

You probably WILL survive without them, but your camping weekend will be less fun. Here are the best tools to help you cook up a campsite feast

Best Camping Utensils

by William Austin-Lobley |
Updated on

You want to enjoy the great outdoors, and rightly so. That means you need food – food is fuel and fuel is what’s going to get you up and over that mountain.

Food preparation when camping is obviously a simpler affair than home cooking, but that doesn’t mean your utensil choice should take a back seat. A spoon and a blunt butter knife won’t cut it.

There are a lot of options out there to solve your portable utensil needs – like all things camping, your adventure will dictate your need. Those with the luxury of a base-camp will be able to have a wider range of items. Hikers, trekkers and backpackers who need to pack and cook light will need the bare, but reliable and lightweight, essentials.

We’ve brought together a selection of the best camping utensils to meet every need.

To ensure you don’t go hungry on your travels, don’t forget to pack a camping stove, camping cookware and of course camping cutlery.

The best camping utensils

Best packaged kit

This kit has everything you might need. For food preparation, there is a cook knife, scissors (with bottle opener) and chopping board. For cooking, you are provided with a ladle, spatula, tongs and a rice paddle. All of this stores away in an organised and safe case made from tough, durable cotton that'll last for years of adventuring.

The colourful option

This set is perfect for keeping at base-camp to be used when cooking up a well-earned feast. They're lightweight, heat-resistant and super useful. The holes at the end of the handles will let you hang them in your kitchen area (you might need a couple of hooks for that), and when you're ready to pack up simply slip a carabiner through to keep them together ready for next time.

Cooking and cleaning in one
GSI Outdoors - Crossover Kitchen Kit, Superior Backcountry Cookware

Rrp: $39.95

Price: $33.00
Alternative retailers
DICK'S Sporting Goods$12.97View offer
Walmart$26.99View offer
Outdoor Gear Exchange$39.95View offer

This set is extensive. In addition to a 12-piece utensil set, GSI provide you with two seasoning shakers, an oil bottle, cutting board, a cleaning apparatus. It all folds and packs into an organising carry case. This kit will let you harness your inner wilderness gourmet, and channel your culinary powers like a fireside Gordon Ramsey.

Don't forget the washing up

While it isn't the highlight of a camping trip, until they invent a travel dishwasher, washing-up is a necessary part of your day. With this collapsible tub, you can fill it to do the washing and then empty it out, transforming it into a drying rack. A neat little space-saving product.

Full-sized utensils

A premium product from a premium brand known for the impressive JetBoil stoves. This kit strips things back to the essentials, keeping things light and minimalist for trekkers and backpackers. The spatula, fork and spoon (for cooking or eating from) are long-handled and highly durable. When they are not in use, they slide back up into their handles for easy, low-profile storage.

Enjoy a barbeque

More known for making tools, Sealey is renowned for quality so this barbeque multi-tool will be of excellent quality. Featuring stainless steel utensils and a sturdy wooden base this multi-tool has a basting brush, bottle opener, corkscrew, fork and spatula.

What to read next:

The best water bottles for summer

Best 65l rucksacks reviewed: Test of the Best

The best waterproof running jackets: Embrace the elements

William Lobley is a Content Writer and reviewer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology, gaming and outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online.

Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What’s The Best team.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us