Mess Kits

Every Scout will need a personal mess kit for site/car camping.  This can be something really simple or something fancy. 

Mess Kits

• Kit should be easy to pack away and clean

• You should put your name on the back of your mess kit with a permanent marker

• A Mess Kit should ideally include:

  • Spoon and fork - or Spork

  • Bowl

  • Mesh bag for storage and for hang drying

    • If your mess kit doesn't have one, these are easy to find on Amazon 

Plastic Mess Kits

These kits are fine.  They are generally affordable and lightweight.  Some people don't like eating off of plastic so a metal mess kit may be better for them. 

• • Sea to Summit Delta Camp Set 

    • Sold at REI

    • Plastic plate/bowl/mug/plasticware in mess bag

    • Bright orange so harder to lose and easy to write name on

  • GoKit 

    • also at REI- add $10 and get a kit with a mug

    • This lacks a mess bag

  • UCO Eco 4-piece mess kit

    • Comes in different colors - great if you have more than one scout in unit

    • Comes with a bowl with a lid that works as plate and a utensil with a fork on one end and spoon on other

    • This lacks a mess bag

    • An upgraded 6-Piece Mess Kit is also available

Metal Mess Kits

Metal is more durable than plastic and you can boil water on it to sanitize it, a nice feature when remote camping.  You can also just cook directly on them. 

• • GSI Outdoors Glacier Mess Kit 

    • Stainless steel cook set with mesh bag

  • Olicamp Stainless Steel Mess Kit

    • Similar to military mess kits and old Scout mess kits

  • Snow Peak 3 Piece Titanium Cookset

    • A nice metal cook set 

    • Bowl/Pots x2 and Lid/Plate

    • Comes with mesh bag

    • Pricey 

  • US Army M1942 Mess Kit 

    • Original US Issue (last produced in the 1980s?)

    • Heavy Duty Stainless Steel

      • Very durable 

    • Pan with a handle and a plate that is divided into two sections

    • Great if you are going for the Army/Survivalist look

  • Vintage Style Mess Kits

    • Generally made from Aluminum 

    • OK set for First Year Scouts who wants to:

      • Explore cooking with a personal pot/kit or 

      • Eat on a set that looks like a Vintage Boy Scout Mess Kit

    • There are honestly better kits to cook and eat off of

    • Examples:

      • Vintage Boy Scout Mess Kit can be found on Ebay

      • Stansport Heavy Duty Aluminum Cook Set 1 Person

        • Can get for less than $20

        • 2-Person Set is also available and sometimes less expensive

        • Stainless Steel Sets are also available if you don't like aluminum

      • Coleman 

        • Often less than $10 

Metal Plates

If you don't like plastic, there are metal options available.  These are easier to clean and more durable.  They can also be safely boiled and heat sanitized. 

• • Stansport Stainless Steel 9.25" Plate

    •  9.25" Stainless Steel Plate

  • MSR Alpine Plate

    • Nice 8in Stainless Steel Plate 

    • Fits in MSR Pots

  • Snow Peak Trek Titanium Plate

    • 7.5" Titanium Plate with raised  sides to hold in sloppy meals

Metal Bowls

• • MSR Alpine Nesting Bowl

    • Nice 5.8" Stainless Steel Bowl

  • Snow Peak Trek Titanium Bowl

    • 5.5" Titanium Bowl

Dinnerware/Pot Cook Sets

Some kits are built together to fit in a pot.  These can be nice, but are often more than you really need.

• • Sea to Summit Alpha Pot Cookset 1.1

    • Nice little solo set

    • Pot, bowl and mug

    • Sold at REI

  • MSR Cook Sets 

    • Many different sets with plastic dinnerware made to fit in an aluminum pot

    • Some of these are a bit much

  • GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS Cookset

    • Set for 2

  • MSR Alpine 2 Pot Set

    • All Stainless Steel

    • 1.5L pot, 2L pot, lid/plate, pot handle, and stuff sack

    • Excellent kit for cooking for 2 people

    • Too big and heavy for backpacking

    • Great for snowcamping where you need to melt a lot of snow

  • GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cookset

    • Contains pots, a frying pan, plates and mugs

    • Designed for Car Camping for 4 people

  • MSR Alpine 4 Pot Set

    • All Stainless Steel

    • 1L pot, 2L pot, 3L pot, lids/plates, pot handle, and stuff sack

    • Excellent for car camping and cooking for a small group

    • Expensive but will last years

  • Stanley Adventure Base Camp Cookset for 4

    • Car Camping Set for 4

Silverware

There are plenty of options out there and they work about the same.  Sporks combine a spoon and a fork and are loved by some campers.  For others, a spoon just works better.

For our older Scouts going on High Adventure, a long handled spoon is preferred as it allows you to easily scrape out food from a bag without getting your fingers messy. 

Long Handle Spoons:

• • Toaks Ti Long Handle Spoon 

    • Excellent tool

  • Go Far Gear 

    • Custom Printed Titanium Spoons and Sporks!