Reddit reviews Coleman Camping Cookware | 5-Piece Aluminum Nesting Mess Kit

If you go to Walmart you can find Boy Scout style mess kits for $5 that include a little aluminum pan. Buy that and try it out. If you don't like it you'll use it in the future for something else and it was only $5.

I have one and it comes with my on all my trips (just the frying pan part) because it is so damn light, half as light as my friends titanium pan of the same size.

Also aluminum in general is a good material because it has excellent heat conduction, something like 5 times that of steel. Because of this it will heat food evenly despite an uneven heat source.

Pro tip. Because aluminum is such a good conductor of heat the handle will often get quite hot. Luckily the handle is actually a separate piece from the pan so unscrew it, insert a steel washer, and put it back together. The poor heat conducting properties of the steel as well as the additional air gap perfectly solves the hot handle issue!

Here's something that's much cheaper and much lighter. I bought this kit in December and I've used it several times. It's that cheap aluminum that can be bent with your bare hands. But you said "cheap and light", no mention of durability. That being said, treat it like something that can be easily damaged and it'll last a good long while. Treat it like it's made out of cast iron and it won't last a single trip. I've used mine several times and it's still in perfect shape, just the bottom outside is soot covered. I weighed just the frying pan & handle and it's 4.25oz (I bought this just for the frying pan. I consider the rest of this kit pretty useless. But hey, it's a $10 frying pan so still a win). It's big enough to fry a medium sized onion and pepper cut into strips, or a full pound chicken breast cut in half. Or, I'd guess a few eggs and modest serving of hashbrowns at the same time, as long as you don't mind the eggs and hashbrowns mixing together a bit. The lid can be used as a deep plate, also.


https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Camping-Cookware-5-Piece-Aluminum/dp/B0009PUR4A

I just bought that stove. It's excellent. Mine

I really considered that pack. Ended up going to REI buying one there, since I wanted to make 100% I'd be comfortable in it. Ended up with the REI Mars 85 for $119 on clearance. I love it.
If you have the time to order and return it, I'd try the one you linked.

I considered a spork, but I find that I prefer having two separate utensils to manipulate food. I got the $3 3 piece set at REI and like it.

That Stanley cookpot was a close contender for me. I ended up with the coleman aluminum set that the Boy Scouts use. It's $6 and very light.

I don't know that you'll need the drysacks, but they are decent. WalMart sells that brand. I ended up getting their three stuff sacks for $5.
Wal Mart also has nifty things like clips, zipper pulls, and other random useful stuff in their camping section.

I've never had Mountain House, but at those prices I'll pass. Here's the food list I'm working on - goal is cheap and easy to purchase (no DIY dehydration, etc.)

I don't think you'll need the firesteel. Waterproof matches, two lighters ought to be enough. I just made my mind up on this last night - pulled the steel from my pack.

I can not stress good socks enough. These are my single favorite thing out of my gear.

This mug is good, insulated, cheap, has a lid, and light.

This underwear, dear god. Another must.

I didn't do the steripen, ended up with the Katadyn Hiker Pro instead. The cool thing is that it comes with quick disconnects to add to your hydration bladder so you can pump water straight from the river into your bladder via the sip tube - no need to even open the pack! For me, with an 85 liter pack and a 3 liter platypus, this was really nice.

On this recommendation, I bought this tent at Walmart for $22. I'm 6' and fit it snugly diagonally. Very, very light (maybe 2 pounds, packed), and seems like it will do the trick. Haven't spent the night in it. The material is barely water resistant and the rainfly is tiny, so I carry a lightweight tarp just in case and use it as the footprint when I don't need rain protection. It's lighter and roomier than anything I could find under $120.

This bag is a little on the heavy side at 4.5 pounds, but I couldn't find a better-reviewed bag under $80. (at ~$90, the North Face Cat's Meow is the way to go).

I think it would be interesting to throw you into the ultralighting scene immediately, but I know in my heart it would be cruel.

Tent: [$25] (http://www.amazon.com/Stansport-Backpack-Forest-6-Feet-X4-Feet/dp/B0006V2B2I/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&qid=1418161376&sr=8-26&keywords=bivy)

Nalgene water bottles: Get 2, ~$8 = $16

Sleeping bag: $50

Backpack: $35

Stove: $18

Cookset: $11

Flashlight: $6

Knife: $8

That all comes out to around $169. These are items to get you started. Everything will eventually be upgraded as you understand yourself as an outdoors(wo)man.

Cheers, SS. Eagle Scout. 800+ nights camped.

I just ordered this Coleman Aluminum Mess Kit from amazon. Cheap, light, hopefully it will do the trick.

id say it really depends on the size of your pack, how many people you are going to be cooking for, and what you are planning on cooking... i just ordered: http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000009607-Aluminum-Mess-Kit/dp/B0009PUR4A

cheap, light, will work great for cooking a bunch of different meals for 1-2 people.. plus everything nests so it doesnt take up too much room. I have a large MOLLE ruck and carry sleeping bag/trauma kit/MREs/rain gear/fishing gear/spare clothes/and whatever the hell else i want to carry.. but huge pots and pans are one thing i do not want to lug around on my back

EDIT: if you are rich i would buy a nice nesting titanium set... but alas i am not so i will deal with the aluminum

"No cook bags" simply means that the food inside doesn't require cooking and typically don't require refrigeration. So you'll get things like sandwiches and chips and packaged fruit, things which don't require heating/cooking to eat or refrigeration to keep stable.

The problem with camp stoves is that it requires the owner to carry it around with them (lest it get stolen), and it requires fuel which is both expensive and potentially dangerous. Many of the homeless I've encountered make do with hobo stoves — typically metal cans (like coffee cans) with holes punched in the bottom for airflow and a small grate to go over the top. Start a fire with some sticks and leaves, add a piece of wood or a bit of charcoal for fuel, and cook right on top of it. Canned foods (soups, stews, etc) are popular for this, and with the addition of a cheap mess kit (like this) you can cook small meals reasonably well.