Argh! I want a spoon that won't break!

I always seem to break my lexan spoons at the most inopportune times. And it isn't like I'm using them to pry rocks or straighten tent stakes. I'm innocently eating rice or couscous and all of a sudden I've got an ultralight spoon (of course I have to pack out the broken handle so it isn't a weight savings).

What do you all do? I want a spoon that won't break or melt, but I don't want a metal spoon because it will scratch my pots. A pre-broken spoon is ultralight and compact, but it is hard to stir boiling pasta and scrape the bottom of the peanut butter jar with no spoon handle.

Help!

go to an asian market and look for small bamboo spoons - i think a curry spoon might be what you want.

I have a different one I was going to recommend, but when I searched for it, I found these which look like they might be an option:
http://www.jetboil.com/Products/Accessories/Utensil-Kit

Long ago I switched back to metal spoons from Lexan spoons because Lexany either broke on me, or melted. I finally picked up the MSR titanium spoon and fork combo, and have used that ever since... had that for about 10 years now, and they're still like new.

http://www.msrgear.com/cookware/titanforkspoon.asp

Bamboo spoon sounds perfect! I was actually thinking that wood is what I needed. Are they rugged enough for backpacking?

I've seen the jetboil spoons and they look flimsy, but I've never used one. The titanium spoons seem like they will last forever, but I feel like they will damage the coating on pots.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

How the heck are you breaking them? I've had some el cheapo Lexan spoons for yeard and find them very hard to break. BTW, which model are you using?

Same here, and I'm quite satisfied with this MSR for and spoon set. However, I cannot guarantee to the original poster that these won't scratch coated pots. I wonder the same thing myself. I have the MSR titanium teakettle and pots (took me several years to build this set!) and I don't worry about scratching with that. But the coated pots may be different.

Not for you, but maybe for others reading this thread, here is an $8 long handle Ti spoon ( suggested by Ian Rae at BPL)
http://www.backcountry.com/store/BCC0132/Backcountry-Long-Handled-Spoon.html
Franco

I'd love to know what they are using as well. Try as hard as I can...I have yet to bust a GSI Rehydrate spoon or their Foon. They are for me nearly indestructible. And I do use the Rehydrate spoon in my one pot cooking as well.

I still have eggshell spoons from 2000 that are like new.

Don't use metal spoons in either coated non stick or hard anodized pans - both will get scratched. The HAA will take longer to show, but will eventually look bad.

I tried a spork and found it wasn't sharp enough for a fork and the slits let everything run out (not a good spoon). I carry a lexan and disposable plastic for backup but I've never broken a lexan one. Perhaps they age and just need periodic replacment.

a bamboo curry spoon should last you many years. but they are cheap enough and light enough that you could buy a few at a time and maybe even carry a spare until you are convinced it will hold up under your abuse. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I hate to sound like an elitist yuppie pack sniffer hiker wannabe, but I *love* my long-handled titanium spoon from Backpackinglight. A similar spoon is available at REI for about ten bucks. Yeah, I know, ten bucks for a spoon.

The long handle digs into the corners of a ziploc bag for freezer bag cooking, without getting my hands covered in food.

But the best part is that it's not a spork. I hate sporks. They are the worst example of a compromise -- that which does nothing well.

Jason
Yeh I used to take my lexan fork and slam it a couple of times on a rock to show people it was indestructable, then one time it broke. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Anyway I carry my Ti fork cause it doesn't melt getting food out of a fire and the spoon - well, lets just say its nice. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hi Jim,

I have a few ti ones and I like them for the same reasons you do. I just got one of these and it's pretty nifty but I wonder how easily it will break: http://jasonklass.blogspot.com/2008/08/spork-for-all-seasons.html

I mostly got it because I like the way it telescopes and it's plastic so it won't scratch my pots.

Since the act of eating probably isn't stressing yuor spoon to the point of breakage, it sould appear it is getting stressed in your pack. As an interim measure, you could try carrying your spoon in your shirt pocket... unless you have a habit of falling front-first against boulders, in which case you have more troubles than spoon-breakage. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

This thread has gotten just about as silly as it can.

1. Get a NEW Lexan spoon
2. Get a Ti spoon
3. Get a bamboo spoon
4. GET A LIFE!!!!!!!


(AAaaarrrrgggghhhh!)

Eric

Grumpy much? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps get an aluminum spoon.

Perhaps your Lexan spoon degrades under intense heat, such as leaving it in your car year round. I've seen certain plastics do that, luckily, none of my music CDs have degraded too much (yet).

Alright I'll weigh in on this subject. One of my favorite spoon/fork combos that came out a little while ago was the Light My Fire Spork. After breaking two of these while eating I gave up on them. I decided to try the Guyot Designs Microbites Utensils. It's a spork and a nifty spreader/knife. It is made of a nylon polymer that is much stronger than the LMF Spork. Check it out:

http://www.rei.com/product/765204

Yes, Buy the Guyot and end this thread.

Well - I use a Ti spoon (I think it's the REI brand that is just a spoon, not a spork). I use a Snow Peak Ti pot, and I don't have a problem with the spoon scratching the pot...

ARGH! I want this thread to be over!

BF <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Get a big plastic cooking spoon, those lexan ones broke on me all the time too, absolute crap!