OUR LOVE FOR good food and the instinctive act of cooking know no bounds. With the right gear, you can prepare meals in the front- and backcountry that are at least on par with what you might make in your own kitchen. You’re often working with less, but you’re doing so in presence of lapping ocean waves, an endless forest expanse, or a breathtaking sunset in the mountains to the tune of chirping birds. And perhaps best, you’re honoring that age-old human tradition of cooking outside, working with what you have.
There’s a lot of camping cookware out there. Glampers will have their full kitchen setups with matching dishes. Cocktail enthusiasts will have their portable shakers and insulated mugs. Some things, like the new Sea to Summit XLite Cook Set, appeal on more basic levels, offering both casual campers and serious backcountry enthusiasts an efficient way to prep and serve food and drink.
The five-piece set comes with a pair of bowls and cups, all nestled cleanly into a two-liter pot. They break down like a charm and pop up at attention with ease when needed. And they weigh next to nothing while still offering some nice conduction qualities. I made the set my go-to for a few outings at the campsite and on the trail and came away pretty happy with the functionality of it all.
What I Love Most About the Set
So compact when nested together, you’d hardly know it was all there.
Packed down, this set is close to nonexistent and weighs a little over 17 ounces in total. Size-wise, it’s like a short stack of pancakes at just 8 inches in diameter and about 2 inches in depth. That’s pretty much perfect for long-haul trekking with your partner even for ultralight packers.
The built-ins are one of the major pluses of the set. Take the integrated strainer, which works great for its namesake purpose but also just for more precise pours when you’re dealing with hot liquids or just anything you don’t want to risk spilling. The adjustable handle stays put when you’re cooking something in the pot and works great as a fastener when on the move with the entire bundle. There’s even a spare small rubber handle to go with the elongated handle on the pot when you need to use both hands and the lid can steady itself atop the pot via the clever keep clip. And the hard-anodized aluminum and silicone makeup offers a certain toughness as well as a nice tech aspect, as the pot comes to temperature on the quick side.
Perhaps the best trait is the collapsibility though. Every piece crunches down with ease and pops up with the same vigor time and time again. The brand says it broke its pieces down and set them back up thousands of times during testing without fail, and Sea to Summit has surely perfected this system over the years. I didn’t go that hard but definitely went out of my way to scrunch them down and prop them back up as often as possible. The set kept the same high level of collapsibility from start to finish.
SHOP THE SEA TO SUMMIT XLITE 2L SET
Taking advantage of the built-in strainer while cooking pasta.
Sea to Summit says you don’t have to do just boiled goods and freeze-dried foods in the set. So, I put that claim to the test, trying everything from pasta, rice, and soup for dinner to oatmeal in the a.m.—I even tried making some lentils and steaming some frozen edamame. The pot proved to be a worthy outdoor kitchen companion, not really prone to hot spots while heating up lightning fast.
Those with the environment in mind (and how can you not be in that mindset as you enjoy it firsthand?) will appreciate the fact that the set is made in a fashion that’s both BPA and PFA-free. The cookware claims to handle temperatures up to 440° F, and while we’re not certain we got that hat while testing, the pot fared well during longer boils with thicker pastas.
Cleanup is also never an issue. The collapsible sides might make you fear hard-to-clean areas, but a gentle hand scrub does the job with all pieces of the set. And those collapsible ribs actually add a nice ergonomic feature, whether you’re holding a cup of hot coffee in the morning or clutching that bowl of stew in the evening.
SHOP THE SEA TO SUMMIT XLITE 2L SET
Where the Set Can Improve
Dinner for two al fresco.
Honestly, the biggest letdown is not being able to cook over an open flame. Sure, the pot did great over a gas grill time and time again, but the brand does warn against going full caveman and cooking over that campfire. That’s fine, leave that for the cast iron and heavier material. Apparently, the nylon handle release tab in the handle and the silicone in general are the first to go when dealing with big flames (so don’t).
If you’re into this set, you’re likely about packing light and with the right accompanying lightweight electric or gas stove, you’ll be in good shape. No, the set is not dishwasher safe, but you’re likely going to be cleaning them out by hand off the grid anyway. Hot liquids in the mugs don’t stay that way for super long, but again, you’re maximizing a sprightly approach here. We love a good insulated mug for our morning coffee, but if you’re packing slim and not worried about the temperature of that last sip (you’ve got to get back on the trail anyhow), one can look past this.
I did notice the relatively short pot handle would heat up especially during longer cooks, as when boiling pasta. Be sure to have a rag or towel at your disposal to use in such a situation to avoid any burns. The pot cover is also fairly nice overall, especially with its ability to clip into place to free up a hand, but it’s also so lightweight that it doesn’t always settle into place right away. If you do want a secure seal, just double-check that you’ve created one as it has a tendency of coming loose.
Now, for certain specialty asks and, assuming you have the room, there are better gadgets. For example, if you’re cooking rice, noodles, soup, oatmeal, coffee, or other one-pot meals out in the country, it’s tough to beat the Nestout Outdoor Cooker—though it’s certain not for UL packers. Similarly, if you’re after a super high-functioning travel mug and it does not need to collapse, consider this one from S’well. And because you might need some accompanying silverware, be sure to consider this folding fork from Gerber.
SHOP THE SEA TO SUMMIT XLITE 2L SET
The Verdict
The whole quintet, popped up and ready for dinner.
This is an excellent option for anybody doing the backcountry circuit or simply looking to travel extra light when camping. It’s a great set for two but you can always double up if you’re going family style. The packability is second-to-none and when you combine that with the surprisingly strong build of the set, not to mention the extra-fast heating up period, you’ve got a winner on your hands. You can do quite a bit in a two-liter pot and the bowls and cups are great for every meal of the day (feel free to flatten those bowls if you want a plate instead). Remember to use a lower heat setting when using the set and watch the heat of the handle.
For the price, you’re getting everything you could ask for and more. Yes, there’s some room for advancement, but the current state of this set is ideal for the outdoorsman who is especially sensitive to space management.
SHOP THE SEA TO SUMMIT XLITE 2L SET
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Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon who covers food, drink, travel, culture, outdoors, gear, and tech. He’s formally trained in journalism but stumbled into the wine industry just when it was getting good and can’t seem to fully let it go. His outlets are many, from Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and The Manual to Vinepair, SevenFifty Daily, Sip Northwest, and others He’s a devout soccer fan and thinks about Iceland daily.
Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear, tech, running shoes, and more. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He holds a B.A. in Sport Management and is a Certified Beer Server, having previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
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