Best 15 Backpacking Mess Kits Of 2024

One of the most important backpacking gear that you can get are backpacking mess kits. You can get a whole set, half a set or individual pieces. If you are very new to backpacking then getting a whole set would be ideal since individual pieces tend to cost a lot more. Backpacking mess kits usually can function as a cookware and as a tableware at the same time. They will often have a nested design or designed in a very compact way. I have listed a few amazing backpacking mess kits below. One of the things I know is that you are likely to be happy with your order mainly because these outdoor cookware and dinnerware below are made out of high quality materials while remaining to be incredibly reasonably priced.

Best Backpacking Mess Kits – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Backpacking Mess Kit

Types Of Backpacking Mess Kits

Cookware

There are a lot of backpacking mess kits that function as a cookware. They often come in a set. This is great for beginners and a lot of people since you will often have everything you need to cook and enjoy the foods while in the wilderness. The cookware can become tableware as well.

Lunch Box

Mess kits are often created to function as a lunch box as well. You can carry your homemade food to your school, work and while hiking as well. These mess kits cannot be used as a cookware. They are often made out of BPA plastic and come with a very tight lid to prevent leaks.

Tableware

Mess kits often function as a tableware. You will often need a plate and bowl while in the wilderness. It does not matter if you are bringing your food to work or to school as well. A mess kit should be able to function as a portable plate or bowl so that you can enjoy your foods.

Disposable

You can also use disposable mess kits. These mess kits are either made out of cheap paper, cheap plastic or cheap wooden material. Just make sure that they are biodegradable if you ever want to bring them in the outdoors. We should always try to keep the trails clean and leave as little footprint of our stay as possible.

Choosing The Backpacking Mess Kit Material

Hard-Anodized Aluminum

Hard anodized aluminum is very common with a lot of mess kits that can be used as a cookware. This type of material is very affordable and cheap which makes it great for backpacking beginners. You can get a good feel of what equipment you will need while spending time in the outdoors by using a very affordable cookware.

Plastic

Plastics are often used for mess kits that are used as tableware. Most backpacking cookware sets made out of anodized aluminum will often have plastic tableware as well. They will often be cups, plates and small bowls. Just make sure that you are getting plastics that are BPA free and free of known toxins.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is very durable, scratch resistant, and very rust resistant as well. I prefer my backpacking cookware to be made out of stainless steel as they heat up rather easily also. My home cookware sets are also made out of stainless steel so I feel more at home even when I am in the wilderness if I am using stainless steel.

Titanium

Titanium is as good or maybe even better than stainless steel. Titanium is very durable, heats up well, and very scratch resistant. The problem is that titanium is very expensive. So a lot of backpacking cookware that are made out of titanium are often very thin. This metal is very lightweight which makes it ideal for backpacking.

Wood

A lot of tableware and mess kits are also made out of wood. The most common item that I have seen are chopsticks. People would often bring disposable wooden chopsticks for their flatware when they are going backpacking. There are lots of tableware, spoons, forks and disposable items made out of wood also.

Cast Iron

Cast iron is a very good material for cookware but unfortunately, it is also very heavy so not a lot of people bring them. However, I have seen lots of people who love steaks and beef that bring cast iron for cooking in the outdoor. If you are not planning on hiking a lot of miles then this type of cookware material is good but if you are hiking for a lot of miles, this cookware material is just too heavy.

Health Concerns You Need To Consider

Teflon Non-Stick Coatings

Teflon non-stick coatings are often used on hard anodized aluminum cookware. This nonstick coating makes cleaning and cooking a lot easier. There are a lot of controversy whether Teflon is safe but a lot of companies and people think they are safe and non-toxic. So a lot of people get cookware made out of them.

Ceramic Non-Stick Coatings

Ceramic non-stick coatings are the same as Teflon which makes the cookware a lot easier to clean and cook with. The food does not stick to the surface which makes cooking easier. Ceramic non-stick coatings are often considered safer than Teflon. This type of coating is more expensive than Teflon though.

BPA-Free

If you are getting plastic mess kits then I recommend checking whether they are BPA free. BPA has been known to be toxic to human beings. It is best to make sure that your mess kit is safe and not toxic. We don’t want toxins to be mixed with our foods.

Other Backpacking Considerations That We Should Think About

Number Of Items

We should often consider the number of items that are inside the mess kit. A lot of mess kit sets will often have a lot of items. It is best to make sure that you know the items so that you will be prepared. You don’t want to be missing utensils, cookware, or tableware while in your backpacking trip.

Weight

The weight of the backpacking mess kit matters a lot. It is highly likely that you are going to be bringing lots of other items like tent, sleeping bags and so on. Each item you bring will have a weight. Unfortunately, we all cannot carry a lot of weight. We have a limited amount of weight that we are comfortable with. Having a lightweight mess kit is very preferred.

Multi-Purpose

A lot of the mess kits out there are multi-purpose. You can use them as a cookware, tableware, dinnerware, utensils, lunch box and so on. A good mess kit will be very useful or have a lot uses. So if you are looking for a mess kit, I highly recommend something that is multipurpose and very versatile. It is just more convenient that way.

Compact

Picking a mess kit that is very compact is ideal. We all have a limited amount of backpack space. Having a mess kit that is foldable, nested design or very compact can help us save space for other items. Luckily for us, there are a lot of backpacking mess kits that are very compact. I highly recommend that you get a compact item first. Maybe you can get an item that is not very compact once you become good at backpacking.

Material

The material of the mess kit matters a lot. There are lots of materials to choose from. You can get a BPA free plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, silicone and so on. Each material has their own ups and downs. They have their own strengths and weaknesses. Some materials can be folded easily. Some are very durable. Some conduct heat well. This is just a matter of preference. Pick the material that you like. For me, I like stainless steel.

Easy To Clean

The mess kit should be easy to clean. There are just a lot of mess kits out there that are hard to clean. I cooked rice on this backpacking pot. The rice just stuck to the pot. It would not come off. It was such a pain to clean. I highly recommend that you get something easy to clean. If it is not easy to clean, return it.

Handle / Pot Gripper

It is also important to know whether you will need a pot gripper or oven mitts with your mess kit. There are a lot of mess kits with terrible handles. Some are very flimsy and some often melt easily.

Campfire Safe

If you are getting a mess kit for cooking purposes, you should make sure that they are campfire safe. A campfire can engulf the whole cookware or mess kit. If the item is not campfire safe then it will be destroyed.

Best Backpacking Mess Kits

Here are some amazing mess kits that are very durable and very popular. They are pretty good and lots of people are satisfied with them. All product links are affiliate links.

1. Light My Fire 8-Piece BPA-Free Meal Kit 2.0

Technical Specs
Weight: 13.5 oz
Material: BPA-free materials
Largest Bowl Capacity: 30.4 oz
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Sporks, cutting board, waterproof snapboxes, snap-lock lids, compact and lightweight

Short Review: There are a good deal of people that really like this backpacking mess kit. The quality of this item is very high. This comes with three different containers that can be safely closed. This picnic plate, food containers and camping cutlery in this mess kit is entirely made of plastics from plants. This has an affordable price and this mess kit is ideal for picnics, work, school, and etc. Can be used in a lot of ways for a lot of different purposes. Space saving design is amazing. A very useful item for backpacking plus this is made out of high quality materials. This is a good item that should give you a great deal of usefulness and for the price it is a bargain.

2. MSR Quick 2 System Cook Set

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.76 pounds
Material: Hard-Anodized Aluminum
Largest Bowl Capacity: 2.5 L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Ideal for backpacking duos seeking a lightweight, and ultra-compact backcountry meal prep solution, insulated mugs with sip-thru lids keep drinks warm

Short Review: I love this mess kit and this came from MSR which is a very good company. A large set of mess kit designed to cook and serve 2 or more people. This mess kit has enough cookware and tableware for two. This mess kit has such an extraordinary design that I know that you will be very happy with it like a lot of other people. The design made this very light. Backpacking is a lot more fun if you have a good item like this and this is a high quality item as well. There is something impressive with this company, and the items that they create. This is very durable and very compact. Great for couples or lovers that are going backpacking.

3. Wild Peak Titanium Lightweight 3-Piece Cookware Set

Technical Specs
Weight: 13.6 oz
Material: Titanium
Largest Bowl Capacity: 40.5 oz
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Titanium construction, lightweight, odorless, multipurpose, tasteless, does not corrode, does not rust, non-allergenic

Short Review: I am confident that this is an excellent set of outdoor mess kits that you’ll ever find. This item absolutely lives up to its high feedback. This is very durable and easy to cook with plus this is made out of titanium. Titanium is corrosion resistant, rust resistant and very light which makes this material ideal for backpacking. It is usually extremely enjoyable to own cookware that are incredibly durable like this one. The space saving design is great and should give us more room in our backpacks. Items like this one make the outdoors a lot more fun and a lot easier. This is very good which is why I love it.

4. Stansport 360 Stainless Steel Mess Kit

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.2 lbs
Material: High-quality stainless steel
Capacity: 3 Cups
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Locking handles and stainless steel plate, rugged, nested design, high-quality stainless steel with copper bottoms

Short Review: I am very happy that I ordered this simply because this is a pretty exceptional set of outdoor cookware set. This is very portable as this 3-piece set nests together and packs into its own included nylon mesh cover. Stainless steel is a great cookware material since this material is naturally nontoxic and safe. I love the lightweight material this is created out of because no one wants to carry heavy items. This is great for the outdoors, performs very well and this is very versatile as well. This is among the best simply because it is pretty durable.

5. MalloMe Camping Cookware Mess Kit Backpacking Gear

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.6 lbs
Material: FDA APPROVED Non-Toxic Anodized Aluminum
Largest Bowl Capacity: 2L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: FDA approved non-toxic anodized aluminum camping cookset, easy to clean, durable, great cookware set for backpacking, compact, nested design

Short Review: This backpacking mess kit is magnificent and I know you will like it when you try it. This has a nested design which makes this very compact. This set consists of tableware and cookware pieces. Everything you need to be able to cook simple recipes while in a backpacking trip. If you want something that is very good while having an affordable price tag then this is an excellent choice. I love the lightweight aluminum material this is created out of which makes it easy to carry. If you love cooking in the outdoors,, then this is a great item to have because this provides lots of usefulness. Worth the price and will last for quite a while. I certainly recommend this item to anyone.

6. UCO 4-Piece Camping Mess Kit

Technical Specs
Weight: 10.08 oz
Material: Nylon
Largest Bowl Capacity: 32 oz
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Foldable, easy to carry, easy clean surface, BPA free, durable construction that will last for many years to come, compact and very good

Short Review: Among the best backpacking mess kits is this. This is a 3-in-1 spork features a spoon on one end and a fork with serrated knife edge on the other. The bowl and plate have rubberized grips on the bottom to prevent slippage on tabletop while eating. This is constructed out of durable reinforced glass nylon. One of the best tableware set that I have obtained taking into consideration its price and effectiveness. This is very lightweight which allows us to carry more items like accessories or emergency supplies. A very versatile item that gives lots of usefulness while on a backpacking trip.

7. Flash Personal Cooking System

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.3 lbs
Material: Aluminium
Largest Bowl Capacity: 1L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Adjustable burner, efficient igniter design, Thermochromatic, color-change heat indicator, compact and easy to carry

Short Review: Personally, I have tried and analyzed this outdoor cookware. This item is very simple. This easy-to-use cooking system boils water in just over two minutes and the bottom cover doubles as a measuring cup and a bowl, saving space in our backpacks. This is very lightweight and compact which allows us to carry more items. This outdoor item is good to have because this makes cooking a lot easier. The stove and pot are combined to make a set. This is a pretty complete mess kit that you can use that has everything you need to cook simple recipes while in the outdoors. Very durable, and very stable. A great item if you love simplicity and effectiveness.

8. GSI Outdoors – Halulite Microdualist

Technical Specs
Weight: 1 lbs
Material: Halulite
Capacity: 1.4 liter pot
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Nested design, compact, easy to carry, made by a popular company, easy to cook with

Short Review: This is an unbelievable mess kit for backpacking that you will find over the Internet. This features crushproof, heat-resistant, nylon lid that won’t deform in packs and includes an integrated strainer. This comes with folding handle locks into place for cooking and secures entire set for transport. Integrated nesting design allows ultralight stoves and fuel canisters to store within set. This is very lightweight which allows us to carry more items for a better outdoor experience. One of the best items to have if you love to cook in your backpacking trip. The design is extremely good which enables this item to be both effective and have lots of features.

9. GSI Outdoors – Bugaboo Base Camper

Technical Specs
Weight: 2 lbs
Material: Non-Stick Coated Aluminum, Nylon 6-6, Silicone
Capacity: 5 quarts
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Stuff sack included, nested design for saving space, folding gripper handle

Short Review: This outdoor cookware is great and a great deal of people believe so too. The pots and frypan are coated with Teflon Classic for amazing non-stick performance which makes cooking and cleaning a breeze. This features a folding gripper handle that locks on to exterior brackets to make cooking very easy. The pot and lid combo are perfect for stovetop use. The company did an incredible job mainly because this item is among the best I know of. I love durable items like this one due to the fact they tend to last long. Ideal item to have for backpacking and this will provide lots of usefulness.

10. G4Free 19PCS Camping Cookware Mess Kit

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.2 Kilograms
Material: Aluminum
Capacity: 500 mL
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Nested design for easy storage and easy transport, heats up easily, durable and will lasts for a long time

Short Review: This unbelievable outdoor cookware will amaze you. This is constructed out of high-quality anodized aluminum which makes this camp cookware set is non-stick and heats up evenly. The pot and pan have folding handles for space saving and compactness while the handles are made of thermally insulated plastic, durable and safe to protect your fingers from the heat. This wonderful item has plenty of positive consumer feedback its no wonder that I know that you will not feel disappointed about your choice to obtain this. This is a pretty good set for beginners and a pretty good set for people that want to cook while in a camping trip.

11. Odoland 22pcs Camping Cookware Mess Kit

Technical Specs
Weight: 2 Kilograms
Material: Anodized Aluminum
Capacity:
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Cleaning is very easy, durable and made to last for many years, works well and very high quality

Short Review: This backpacking mess kit not only will perform extremely well, but this also very durable. This amazing set is good enough for four people and this conducts heat quickly and is a must-have survival gear that built to last for long time. This features foldable handles on pot or stove can be folded to save space. The cookware has a non-stick Teflon coating for easy cleaning and durability. Made out of high quality anodized aluminum  that is both durable and looks great. The design made this very lightweight and compact which allows us to bring this for the outdoors.

12. MSR Alpine Stowaway Pot

Technical Specs
Weight: 14.1 oz
Material: 7.2 x 7.1 x 3.7″
Largest Bowl Capacity: 1.6L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Easy to cook with, can be used as a pot or bowl, multipurpose, stainless steel material, affordable

Short Review: There’s no question that this backpacking stowaway pot is actually quite excellent. This has a hinged and easy-lift handle flips over the fitted lid to lock it in place. This is constructed out of classic stainless steel construction has durability time tested and trusted by mountaineers. This has the ability to be nested for easy and compact storage. In any event, this is extraordinary and should help you to cook foods while in the outdoors. The usefulness this brings for backpacking purposes is amazing and this is high quality as well. This is a great pot that can be used as a bowl as well.

13. GSI Outdoors Cascadian 1-Person Table Set

Technical Specs
Weight: 7.4 oz
Material: Flexible polypropylene, 100% Recyclable Cascadian
Largest Bowl Capacity: 6-” bowl
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Lightweight, durable, made for the outdoors, easy to use, easy to clean, flexible polypropylene

Short Review: There are plenty of men and women who love this cookware for the outdoors. This has a sturdy, wide-handled cutlery fits easily in gloved hands while the lightweight dinnerware washes up easily and can be conveniently stored in the included mesh bag. This is constructed out of 100% recyclable polypropylene, this BPA-Free dining set does not only have a small ecological footprint. I really like this stuff. I really like that this is simple to use and good enough for one person. This is a complete set of tableware and will allow you to eat foods and enjoy them while in the outdoors.

14. BeGrit Camping Cookware Mess Kit

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.6 lbs
Material: 410 stainless steel
Capacity: 3 cups
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Multipurpose pots, high quality, easy to clean, heats up quickly, affordable

Short Review: This is an impressive outdoor cookware that I have grown to like a lot. I like that this is simple to use. This features a folding handle design and compact size, easy to organize and saves backpack space. This is constructed from  410 stainless steel material, make it easy to clean and more durable. I love the lightweight material this is created out of because no one wants to carry heavy items. This is a multipurpose outdoor item that is also very affordable. This is good enough for two people and perfect for camping, hiking, backpacking, picnics, outdoor adventures, and other outdoor activities.

15. GSI Outdoors Gourmet Nesting Mug and Bowl

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.2 oz
Material: BPA-free polypropylene construction
Largest Bowl Capacity: 14 fluid oz
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: EVA foam insulated sleeve, sip-through lid, easy to clean, nested design, great for soups, beverages and other liquids

Short Review: There are a lot of individuals who purchased this set of backpacking mess kits given that this is fantastic. This is constructed out of EVA foam insulated sleeve prevents the outside from burning your hands, and the sip-through lid keep your beverages hot while preventing spills. This has color-coded to coordinate with other nFORM Crossover items for easy, personal identification. I frequently look at the positive customer reviews before obtaining an item. This particular item has a lot of them. Having a great item like this is great for backpacking and this is very useful also.