Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I just use a spoon. It doesn't put holes in freezer bags like a spork will. If I need to spear something, I use my pocket knife. That's what everyone used instead of forks until a few centuries ago, when the "runcible spoon" was invented.
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Registered: 10/29/10
Posts: 185
Loc: Central Texas
I use these: http://www.industrialrev.com/spork-original.html I don't see the need for tines on the spoon but sometimes they're nice to have and this way they're on the other end. They make it in Titanium also but it's over twice the weight.
YMMV, as usual. The primary choices here are spoon (in many varieties) or spork.
If you're in for freezer bag cooking, you may want something longer than the light my fire spork (which I use, but I still use a bowl). Many of the smarter folks here will recommend freezer bag cooking to you.
However, unless you are picking up a spoon from goodwill for less than $1, it is hard to beat the price on a light my fire spork. Also, it is hard to LOSE a light my fire spork given the color choices.
In a massive, but related, disgression, if you're going base camping with a kid's scout troop you may want a knife, fork, and spoon because the meals are more like what you'd cook at home, and (while I haven't tried it yet) sawing apart a hunk of meat with the light my fire spork or just a spoon might be inconvient and (cue Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves ) it will probably hurt more.
However, you probably don't have to worry about that style of eating OR cooking when you are backpacking. However, if you are carrying the steak, I'm more than willing to come
Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
I use a spoon. I carry a pocket knife, too, but rarely use it in conjunction with eating on the trail, unless I'm day hiking and brought an apple I want to core.
Recently I bought a Sea-To-Summit aluminum spoon. Before that I used an REI "lexan" plastic soup spoon and it worked very well, except that once I got a hairline crack in the bowl of it in the middle of a weeklong hike. Now with the aluminum spoon I don't worry about breakage or meltage. The broader bowl of a soup spoon seems to be nicer than a teaspoon for me.
I use a spoon. I carry a pocket knife, too, but rarely use it in conjunction with eating on the trail, unless I'm day hiking and brought an apple I want to core.
Same here---although we use the knife for slicing cheese and salami for our lunches. And every once in a while for cleaning fish.
Interesting that no one listed they use a traditional "set." Funny, after reading what guys here use, each meal at lunch or dinner, I find myself thinking, "could I eat this with only a spork or spoon?"
I have a Ti spork and it does work but I think next trip I will just use a long handled HD spoon. The cheap GSI "chow" set has a spoon with a large bowl and handle that is just a bit shorter than the "fancy" $$$ spoons. I could also use it in place of a shovel so the extra oz. weight is worth it. I see no real need for a fork with boil bag cooking, a pocket knife is Std. equ.
Btw...I noticed that coming up in 2012 those heartless jerks at GSI are discontinuing the GSI ReHydrate spoon! AGH! I have stocked up for my store (since they go into the FBC Cozy sets) but that leaves no one making that style of spoon. Oh yeah, and it is being replaced by.....a duo of over priced sporks (metal) that go onto chopsticks. I am not kidding either.....
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Freezer Bag Cooking, Trail Cooking, Recipes, Gear and Beyond: www.trailcooking.com
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
The REI Campware Soup Spoon works out just fine for me! It's an inch shorter than the GSI spoon, but plenty long enough to get to the freezer bag bottom without getting hands into food. Retail price is also a dollar cheaper!
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
A couple of years ago I was at Salvation Army and they had a bunch of long light spoons which must have come from a malt shop because the spoon was nicked from hitting the beaters of the mixer. They were 10/$1 so I have enough to last for my grandkids lifetime. They reach the bottom of a freezer bag just fine and the nicks do not bother their use at all.
I had one of those titanium sporks, but left it behind while hiking the JMT, it was unfortunately left behind at a site that I may someday revisit. I ended up having to carve a spoon out of some wood and have been using a cheep spoon ever since. So much easier keeping things simple.
I also have lost expensive titanium sporks. I now tie a short florescent cord on the end and have not lost it yet! You could also paint the handle with a florescent paint. I also have the spoon-fork set but do not use it. The titanium utensils were given to me as gifts. I would never pay the price for them. Actually a spoon is really small and you do not gain much by the expensive titanium kind. I also have several cheap light spoons that work just as well.
I'm the spork and pocketknife kinda guy myself. Don't forget if need be you could always widdle some chop sticks.
Or the chopsticks from places like PeiWei. They're real light wood and in a sealed bag. Somehow I can't get used to the idea "spearing" with a sharp knife and sticking the same into my mouth!
Registered: 01/16/11
Posts: 180
Loc: Tacoma, Washington
I've found it to be a very good practice when packing up for the days hike- after all is packed to step back and do a search of the camp site. it gives me a chance to get that utensil, sock or trash, forgotten. I tether my only ti spoon to the pack, just like I do for my maps and compass.
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