Hiking

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How To Choose The Right Plates & Bowls For Your Camping Trip

Choosing plates & bowls for your camping trip does depend on a number of factors. How many people are in your hiking or camping party and what sort of stuff are you planning to eat? Most people will only need one plate or bowl each, but some cookware sets mean that you don’t even have to worry about that . . . a lid will double up as a plate . . . how’s that for planning? If your camp food will consist of re-hydrating something dried until it’s moist and tasty then you don’t have to worry too much about lots of plates and bowls, but if your camp kitchen is a little more home from home and you are planning to provide elaborate dinners with four courses, then of course you’ll need to have a few more camping plates & bowls available, either that or a strict “wash between courses” policy. I’m not sure that apple pie will taste quite the same if the plate still has mustard on it from the hot-dog . . . you get my drift?

Camping Table Sets & Meal Kits

Camping table sets & meal kits are a great idea, you will generally get a plate, bowl, cup plus maybe even a knife, fork and spoon which all fits elaborately together for easy packing and storage. They are made from durable materials and are always lightweight (for all of those hiking types who think nothing of carrying their whole camp-site in a backpack for 8 hours every day). A camping table set or meal kit might be just the thing for you, but there are other options available where you can buy plates and bowls separately (even if they all match) for your camping adventures. One important thing to consider is the materials which your camping bowls and plates are made from.

Material Options for Camping Plates & Bowls

• Aluminum plates & bowls – there are some real positives for choosing aluminum plates & bowls for camping, they’re pretty lightweight for starters, as well as being very affordable – however, they do scratch and dent pretty easily so they don’t always look that pretty for long.
• Stainless steel plates & bowls – are much tougher and more resistant to scratches than the aluminum ones, but on the negative side they’re also heavier – might be okay for car camping but not a brilliant idea for hikers or back packers.
• Titanium camping plates & bowls – they’re tough and they’re lightweight which is great, but they will set you back a few more bucks than the first two options for plates and bowls suitable for your camping trip.
• Plastic bowls & plates – still a firm favorite for many campers & hikers, plastic is lightweight, it’s cheap and it’s durable (and makes excellent air tight food containers too). On the negative side though, some plastics do tend to retain the flavors and odors of the food which you’ve eaten from them . . . who washed this bowl, it smells of last nights curry and it’s putting me off my oatmeal . . . come on, who was it?

Hey, that’s good isn’t it? Yes, I liked that, everyone has their own color and that means no arguing and fighting!

Makes you wanna be there doesn’t it?