Best Camping Cookware of 2025

Hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, bike-packing, ski tours, and powder day après-ski sessions: no matter the activity, they all require ample fuel and plenty of beverages. 

Camping cookware provides outdoor enthusiasts with the essential tools needed to fuel any adventure. Sure, we could simply subsist on jerky, protein bars, carb gels, cold brew coffee, and Fireball shooters, but where’s the fun in that? 

One of the best motivations to reach that mile marker, take an extra lap, or summit a big peak is the anticipation of enjoying a hearty meal and a good drink back at the trailhead or around a fire. A crucial ingredient for any camping culinary experience is a reliable set of cookware that is durable, straightforward, not too heavy or bulky, and easy to clean. 

Our experts have tested ten complete sets of camping cookware in various environments, including mountains, deserts, and snow, preparing over 500 meals in the process. We have also conducted extensive research to compare and evaluate these sets, bringing you the best options to fuel your desired outdoor adventures.

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Quick Picks for Camping Cookware

Check out this quick list of the best camping cookware, or continue scrolling to see our full list of favorites with in-depth reviews.

Best Camping Cookware Overall:  Stanley Wildfare Core Full Serve Cookset ($90)

Best Open Flame Camp Cookware: Lodge Cast Iron Cabin Combo Cooker ($80)

Best Beverage Setup: Stanley Wildfare Go Two Cup Cookset ($20)

Best Cookware for Groups: GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Troop Cookset ($150)

Best Cookware for Backpacking: Stanley Wildfare Core Frypan Cookset ($55)

Most Versatile Cookware:  GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper ($160)

Best Nonstick Cookset: GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Ceramic Base Camper Large ($125)

Most Eco-Friendly Cookware: GSI Outdoors Halulite Dualist ($90)

Best Cookware for Long Distance Backpacking: MSR Quick 2 Cook Set ($130)

Best Cookware for Large Groups: Stanley Camp Pro Cook Set ($225)

How We Test

Camp cookware is evaluated based on five key criteria: weight, durability, versatility, user-friendliness, and ease of cleanup. We hiked, camped, and backpacked all over the mountains and the desert to put this cookware to the test.

WEIGHT

Weight is a key factor when choosing a cookware set, and considering weight depends on the type of camping you’ll do. Lighter isn’t always better, especially for car camping or setting up a base camp for a large group to spend days or weeks on day hikes, bike rides, skiing, or climbing. 

Backpackers and those trying to move light and fast through the backcountry will want to focus on saving weight. The less you and your group have to carry, the easier it will be to get to your destinations energized and ready to whip up a delicious meal. Lighter cooksets often have fewer features, but may suit your lightweight needs perfectly.

DURABILITY

Cookware can easily get banged up and scratched during a camping trip from various things, such as rocks, hastily set-down backpacks, vigorous cleanings, and even being tossed around in the back of a built-out pickup truck on rough 4WD roads.

The longer your cookware lasts, the less money and time you spend. Reliable cookware is something you can count on season after season. Likewise, the better it holds up, the better your meals will taste.

We tested our cookware in sand and snow, tossing it into the back of our trucks, and stuffing it into backpacks. Certain cookware, like nonstick, requires a bit more delicate handling than something like cast-iron pots. We considered all of that when testing for durability.

VERSATILITY

Versatility can be divided into two parts: versatility across categories versus versatility in how it can be used within its category. In the first case, it’s clear that both larger and smaller cookware sets are not considered highly versatile because they serve more specific needs: lightweight, small, and compact for backpackers, for example, versus large, more cumbersome items with moving parts for car campers cooking for bigger groups.

Versatility also depends on the type of heat you’re going to use: most small sets are easy to use with a Jetboil or a small camp stove, which are essential for backpacking and thru-hiking. Cooking over an open fire, coals, or a range lets you choose larger and heavier options.

USER-FRIENDLINESS

Waking up in the morning to log miles and returning to camp after a day in the woods to replenish are usually not times when we want to be figuring out how to use and store our meal-making equipment. 

The easier it is to set up, use, clean, and store our cookware, the faster we get the calories where they need to go. If you’re on a multi-day or week-long adventure, this means you’ll hit the trail sooner and get to sleep faster. 

Features like pot-grips, nesting systems, and carrying systems play a role in this consideration. The devil truly is in the details.

EASE OF CLEANING

We’ve all experienced it: feeling blissful in front of a campfire or savoring the last few sips of hot chocolate in a sleeping bag inside the tent as the sun sets, and then you remember: Gotta wash the dishes! Oy vey.

Cleanup isn’t just important because we dislike dealing with dirty dishes the next day; it’s also crucial to keep wildlife from wandering into our campsite in search of food. 

Pots, pans, dishes, and utensils that can be cleaned quickly with minimal water are ideal. Additionally, cooksets that allow for improvised cleanup using readily available materials, such as leaves or river sand, are beneficial when needed. 

We also prefer cookware made from materials that don’t erode immediately when touched by steel wool, a sponge, or a dishrag, and that require little or no soap.

Why Trust Cleverhiker

Our team has spent countless nights in the wilderness and cooked hundreds of meals, from breakfasts to dinners and everything in between. Gear analyst Alli Perry moved to Colorado in 2010 and gained her outdoor experience through ski touring, backpacking, hiking, camping, and mountain biking across the Front Range, the Tenmile Range, the San Juans, and the Collegiate Peaks in Colorado, as well as exploring the deserts and trails of Utah and Arizona. 

In 2024, she finally settled in Buena Vista, Colorado, after nearly a decade as a professional ski patroller and three seasons as a Snowcat Ski Guide. Perry’s professional and recreational experiences in the high peaks, valleys, and deserts of the Western US have required her to test gear under tough conditions, often in severe weather, using various cookware setups on snow, sand, ice, dirt, and parking lots. 

All of Clever Hiker’s gear analysts rigorously test every item before applying their expertise to ensure you receive honest, reliable advice that helps you find gear suited for your adventures.

Analysis & Results

WEIGHT

For car camping with larger groups, the Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker is a clear standout despite being the heaviest in the group. Thirteen pounds may seem like a lot, but since the set is only two pieces and can cook, bake, boil, sauté, and fry literally anything with minimal seasoning—meaning fewer items to pack and keep track of—it’s weight actually offers better value compared to the eight pound GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Troop Cookset. The GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Troop Cookset is another top choice for car camping and feeding bigger groups. The GSI is also heavier but great for feeding all your troops. 

For car camping, lighter isn’t always better, and it’s up to you to decide whether to save a few pounds by adding components. 

For hiking and backpacking, the duration of your trip and how efficient you want to be will also be a huge determining factor in choosing cookware for your campsites. In this category, lightweight is advantageous; however, those of us who have subsisted on oatmeal, ramen, and eggs for weeks on end know that it’s sometimes worth it to add a few ounces or a pound or two to expand options. 

For truly minimal backpacking and one or two-nighters where the only things that matter are carbs, calories, and hot liquid, the Stanley Wildfare Two Cup Cookset weighs next to nothing and can sustain minimalist excursions capably, particularly for solo hikers.

For a step up from the Two Cup Cookset, offering more cooking options, the GSI Outdoors Haulite Dualist features additional moving parts. At just one pound and 8.8 ounces, it expands the meal universe while keeping everything light and minimal. The MSR Quick 2 Cook Set boasts a few extra features like deeper plates and thermal mugs for longer trips. 

For those who want some more options, like sauteing or frying capacity, and are hiking or camping with a partner or two, the Stanley Wildfare Core Frypan Cookset weighs in at under three pounds and does it all. At a hair over four pounds, the GSI Pinnacle Camper is a great lightweight option that works well across a range of applications, from car camping to multi-day hikes and backpacking trips with four to five people, depending on appetites and age. The set is compact and easy to stack and pack, and can fit in one backpack or be divvied up between multiple hikers. Given how many features and extras this set has, four pounds is more than worth the relatively small effort, even just for two.

DURABILITY

The Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker once again sets the standard for durability. This set is almost completely indestructible—probably capable of withstanding a Jeep backing over it with minimal or no damage. Cleaning the set can be as vigorous as needed, and cast iron is famous for improving with the abuse that comes from age and repeated use. An understated and often overlooked bonus is that the set works just as well in the woods as it does at home.

Stainless steel is the preferred choice for lighter weight and greater versatility while still durable (unless you enjoy the challenge of hiking long days with an extra 13 pounds of iron in your pack—you do you). Stanley excels in this category. The Stanley Wildfare Core Frypan Cookset is a stainless steel marvel that can endure repeated use on the trail. While the plastic plates, bowls, and utensils aren’t as durable, they hold up well, are easily replaceable, and help save valuable weight on the trail. The cookware itself is what truly matters, and the pot and frying pan perform reliably through handling, stacking, and cleaning after many uses. 

Generally, anything made of stainless steel—including the Stanley Camp Pro Cook Set and the GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Steel Troop—has endured numerous trips for large groups, and these items withstand dropping, banging, and bashing quite well. A major advantage of stainless steel is that you can hand it to kids to clean without worrying about needing replacements when you get back home.

VERSATILITY

The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper truly stands out as the most versatile cookset. It’s lightweight enough to carry on the trail, compact enough to fit in a backpack, and easy to stack, use, and clean. The Pinnacle is ideal for backpackers and campers alike. Although its nonstick coating is less durable than stainless steel sets, the convenience and light weight make up for it. Using soft utensils can help preserve the nonstick surface. 

GSI scores another winner in the versatility category with the Bugaboo Ceramic Basecamp Cooker in large, again, in no small part because the set is light, nonstick, and boils water quickly. Unlike the Pinnacle, this set is specifically designed for cooking. Still, it can accommodate a variety of groups and family sizes, making it ideal for both shorter backpacking trips and longer camping excursions. 

If you’re looking for versatility across the board, the Stanley Wildfare Core Full Serve Cookset, the Stanley Wildfare Core Frypan Cookset, and the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper do the most things for the most scenarios. From multi-day hikes, shorter backpacking excursions (especially with multiple people to divvy stuff up between), and car camping, these sets have you covered. These sets all come with multiple options for the actual cooking – boilers, frypans, strainers, utensils, and flatware, and some have added extras like sippy cups and cutting boards. The only limit these sets place on what you can cook is their size, but they all handily feed a group of two to four and even five if you get creative or have littles mixed in.

Versatility within categories is also a consideration if you are looking for specific gear for a particular trip, such as a thru-hike, a two-week backpacking trip, an overnight hike, or a week-long desert or river adventure where you’ll set up base camp out of the back of a couple of cars. Within the three cooksets we tested for longer backpacking and thru-hiking, for example, small details such as whether the set has cups, whether there are any utensils included or even having too many accessories can all become deal-makers and dealbreakers. 

The MSR Quick 2 Cookset excelled in this category due to thoughtful features, such as insulated mugs and a nonstick surface on its pot, which allowed for more meal options. However, someone aiming to maximize weight savings and minimize costs should consider the Stanley Wildfare Two Cup Cookset. Conversely, those less focused on minimalism might prefer the GSI Halulite Dualist, as it includes bowls and sporks, and promotes easy cleanup with its welded sink.For car camping, the Stanley Even Heat Camp Pro Cookset provides a variety of options, while the Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cookset handles all tasks with fewer parts but requires a bit more skill to use.

USER-FRIENDLINESS

User-friendliness mainly boils down to simplicity. Stanley excels in this area with products like the Stanley Wildfare Core Full Serve Cookset, the Wildfare Go Two Cup Cookset, and the Wildfare Core Frypan Cookset — all very easy to use right out of the box. Everything attaches where it appears to, folds properly, and fits neatly in its intuitive nesting system. 

GSI Outdoors also scores high for user-friendliness with the Pinaacle and the Halulaite Dualist, mainly distinguished by having pot grips instead of attached handles. This is a personal preference: pot handles can sometimes be tricky, especially when it’s cold. 

The Lodge Cast Iron system is also incredibly simple to use, as long as you take a moment to learn how to season the pan so it doesn’t stick and to maintain the seasoning cast iron are known for. The Lodge system consists of only two parts. What could be simpler than that?

EASE OF CLEANING

Nonstick surfaces may sacrifice some durability, but they are very easy to clean with minimal water since things tend to slide right off. The GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Ceramic Base Camper stands out as a nonstick set that truly lives up to the claim, as does the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper. Usually, a bit of hot (or not so hot) water does the trick, and for particularly sticky or heavy meals, a wipe with a leaf or paper towel is enough. 

The GSI Outdoors Halulite Dualist includes a small welded sink/stuff sack that makes cleaning simple. And once again, the Lodge Cast Iron Combo is easy to clean with steel wool or even river sand because it’s built to handle some leftover residue from previous meals. Just remember, avoid using soap! 

Lastly, larger cooksets are typically harder to clean and use more water, but watch for the words “dishwasher safe,” as nothing beats tossing the whole set in the dishwasher when you get home from your trip.

How to Choose Camp Cookware

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Planning is essential for any hiking, camping, or backpacking trip, whether you’ll be living in a tent for a few days, covering vast distances over several weeks, or operating out of the back of a car or truck. Factors like trip length, weather, group size, whether you’re bringing kids, nutritional needs, and the trip’s purpose all influence gear choices. However, it often seems that the smallest details make or break an adventure. Food and fuel are critical, but blindly choosing cookware based solely on weight, price, or convenience—without customizing your cookset and utensils to your specific needs—is a recipe for disappointment.

FAST AND LIGHT VS. BASECAMP

Before considering price, weight, capacity, features, and other metrics we use to choose cookware, it’s important to understand what kind of trip you’re planning and how those meals and calories fit in. For a month-long thru-hike, you’re probably more focused on getting the most calories quickly and easily for meals and weight. A frypan or boiling pot might become unnecessary, especially since a camp stove will likely be your only source of heat. The tradeoff is eating more bland and repetitive meals while still being able to reach camp, set up your tent, eat, collapse, prepare a quick hot breakfast, and hit the trail again as quickly as possible. Don’t forget the silver lining of how much you’ll appreciate “real food” when you get to towns or outposts along the way to restock after weeks of eating the same things.

Conversely, if you are setting up a sturdy home base in the desert or dispersed camping areas, complete with cars or trucks, meals will be more relaxed and weight and versatility won’t matter as much, if at all. Everything in between—from overnight hikes to week-long backpacking or camping trips—will depend on how much you’re willing to sacrifice in terms of convenience when preparing, using, storing, and cleaning cookware. Weight and price are the two most important factors to consider for tradeoffs, and you can look at product descriptions and reviews to make choices within these categories (durable versus versatile; more pieces versus fewer items; materials; open-fire cooking versus stovetop and cleanup effort).

Conclusion

Here at CleverHiker, we share your passion and recommend gear that we would choose for our own outdoor adventures. We test the gear by actually using it ourselves. Each expert comes from a different walk of life, boasting diverse backgrounds, budgets, and goals for their trips. We are confident that our guides feature the best gear for everyone, from beginners to experts, and will help you enjoy the wilderness in a way that keeps you on the trails, spreading the stoke, and maximizing your time with nature and the people you love to share it with.