Best camping mess kits according to redditors

Heres a couple things I like having on my bike when I travel:

AC inverter: gives you a 110v outlet in case you need to power something like a phone charger and you don't have a 12v usb connector.

Water purifying tablet: They take up about a cubic inch of space and may save your life.

Large wet wipes: For giving yourself an on the go shower in case you meet your future wife and there is no shower access.

Small mess kit: I have a serbian mess kit and I love it. The knife included has a can opener and a bottle opener and is serrated and well made.

Head lamp: Because holding a flashlight while its cold and you are trying to do something sucks. I prefer ones that have single large diodes instead of lots of little ones as they are brighter and have better color. Also I try and get ones that use 18650 batteries so I can share a charger and batteries.

Have you considered pill bags? They’ll let you portion out the spices and carry a wider variety. They also pack better.

If you really have to have one, this isn’t bad: GSI Outdoors Spice Missile

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LF8TFI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pxppDbDHY1F4P

One thing I won't leave behind is my

[Spice missile] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LF8TFI/)

Salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, chicken flavor, chipotle powder.

> some general car camping/trail pots for cooking

I never use the same pots for car camping and backpacking. All I need for backpacking is one kettle that's shaped to be easy to pour out of. Low wide pots are harder to pour from without spilling. Something like this. For car camping I like larger enamelware pots like this.

Have you been tent camping before? This may seem like the cheapest way to go, but if you don't already have your camping equipment already this can be an expensive way to go.

Using amazon:

• 2 person tent $45
  
• 2 sleeping bags $44
  
• battery powered lanterns $15
  
• 48 pack batteries $12 (that may be too many but you don't want to buy too few)
  
• single burner stove $25
  
• tank of propane $10 (burner is kind of useless without it)
  
• coffee percolator $12
  
• Camping cookware $18
  
• camping tableware set $28
  
  I'm leaving some stuff out, but you're looking at about another $209 added to the cost of staying at Fort Wilderness.
  
  Let's not forget that if you aren't sure about being comfortable with tent camping, It rains like you've rarely ever seen every day in Florida. Usually for short periods of time, but are you willing to tent camp in a tropical rainstorm over night?
  
  I am a huge advocate of Fort Wilderness. I've loved the place since my parents took me there as a child (with a pull behind RV) in the mid 1970's. I suggest you go to the Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-A-Long, and Movies Under The Stars while you are there. If you can afford it go to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue as well. However, tent camping in Florida is quite different than tent camping anywhere else. Maybe wait a little longer until you can afford to stay at one of the All-Star resorts.

> Will be used to cook pancakes, eggs, and other pan stuff.

The problem with pancakes and backpacking is that most backpacking stoves have a very narrow flame pattern. With a lightweight, large (8"+) frying pan, the outer edges just don't get/stay hot, so if you try to cook a large pancake, you end up burning the center while the edges are still uncooked. So make smaller pancakes, which you an cook in a smaller 6" pan (it's hard to flip pancakes in a pot).

Edited to add:
I've got an old MSR Alpine Cookset which has a frying pan... it works OK, but I generally don't bother frying anything while backpacking so it doesn't get much use.

There are cheap anodized aluminum cooksets I see on Amazon all the time... never tried it myself, but seems popular. There are similar ones that are cheaper if you search.

Then there's the good ol' aluminum mess kit. Used one of them every trip while in the Scouts decades ago.

Aluminum is light and cheap, conducts heat well, but food tends to stick. Ti is light and expensive, doesn't conduct heat well so you get hotspots, and food tends to stick. Steel is heavy but durable, some foods stick but not as bad as others. Anodized aluminum is light, durable, mostly non-stick, conducts heat pretty well, but not as cheap as plain aluminum.

Coleman makes a similar one that is non-stick coated for $15:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDNNDDW/

MSR Alpine cookset that I'm not going to get.

I love that they're stainless and how well they nest for compact storage. I'd also like the matching frypan.

I know it's not going to happen as I don't get out enough to justify the cost.

That would be GSI's bugaboo mess kit.

It's a great size for frying fish and such, but it doesn't nest well, it's bulky, the handle bends easily, the sack isn't very good. I'm on the lookout for a different kit.

Buy this, I carry something similar when I travel. https://www.amazon.com/Ecoart-Silicone-Collapsible-Outdoor-Camping/dp/B01F19YQTA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1492348453&sr=8-2&keywords=plastic+hiking+spork

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018BPKXC

I have that set. I like the removable handle, so it doesn't get hot on the fire. I usually don't carry the plastic stuff, but it's pretty cheap either way. Also my twig stove fits inside it, bonus.

cupcakes and tacos Edit: Forgot my cooking item pots and pans to cook while camping

I use a Light My Fire mealkit. It doesn't have the pot and pan part, I use a container that fits around my small stove for that (this also holds the fuel canister).

This mealkit has spork / knife, several plates and bowls, spice box, cup with lid, cutting board, etc. It has a stretch holder that has a clip on it. I use it all the time. You might want to check it out to see how they married design and functionality. I'm a graphic designer, so that's partially why it caught my eye at first.

A windscreen (as someone said below) would be awesome for the stove, and maybe a creative way to keep it all together?

These are the items I currently have in my pack:

Collapsible plate, bowl, and cup

single burner - there are probably better/smaller/lighter weight ones but this is just what I'm using at the moment

Titanium spork knife

camping pot

I toss a sponge and a travel bottle of dish soap in the pot.

It'd be nice to see if other people have similar travel packs and what they use.

I ve seen people over at /r/ultralight use the GSI Spice Missile

Jetboil stove

the GSI is definitely not what I'm looking for. Not only because of price but because of what you said. I also found that people in general don't like the cups and bowls, the bowls and plates tend to get brittle after a year or two.

I'd also have to purchase 2 sets of additional cups/plates.

I'm going to go with something like this for the plates, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Dinnerware-Carry-Free/dp/B01B2MYD0W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469235005&sr=8-2&keywords=stainless+steel+plates

And something like this for the pots:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019F6NTUW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=DM73B6WNBEVE&coliid=IVN1CMJ0J4MV

Edit: Thanks BTW that was exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for.