If lightweight camping is your cup of tea, anodized aluminum cookware could be just what’s needed to meet all your cooking needs. Not only is it durable enough for car campers but it can be packed away easily for family backpacking trips!

Our testers, Jediah Porter, Ross Patton, Amber King and Trish Matheny use camp cookware in various outdoor environments to assess its durability, performance and weight.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel camping cookware is ideal for car- and mechanized-camping trips, providing even heat distribution while being naturally nonstick, thus eliminating the need for additional oil. Some sets even include collapsible cutting boards and plastic cooking utensils to help make food preparation quicker and cleaner during camping trips.

Stainless steel cookware does not release harmful toxins into food like ceramic or nonstick coatings do; however, it can scratch easily and needs reseasoning periodically.

Finding a camping pot set that comes complete with everything you’ll need, such as lids, plates and bowls, cups/mugs and cooking/eating utensils is key for an enjoyable camping trip experience. Stanley Adventure Base Camp set is an excellent example; it includes two different-sized pots with vented lids as well as BPA-free cooking utensils and silicone trivets–nestling neatly into its largest pot for storage purposes!

Cast iron

If you’re car camping for multiple people and can bring extra items with you, consider investing in a cast iron skillet and Dutch oven to accommodate all the different meals that need to be prepared. With these pieces at your campsite, you can fry a variety of foods, simmer stews or soups over longer periods, bake casseroles or breads and deserts without worry, and more!

For gourmet backcountry meals, MSR Fusion ceramic coated pots provide an ideal nonstick surface without potentially harmful PFOA-type chemicals found in other nonsticks. Always use mild, biodegradable soap when cleaning cast iron as this could remove its protective seasoned finish and lead to rust.

Camping cookware sets often come equipped with extra items, including utensils, collapsible cutting boards and trivets. Some sets even offer nesting systems which enable pots to fit inside lids when packing – although this feature may be nice but is usually unnecessary for most car campers.

Aluminum

Aluminum camping cookware is affordable, lightweight and efficiently conducts heat. Some sets feature nonstick coating to reduce oil use and make cleanup simpler; however, aluminum surfaces can scratch easily and cause hot spots. Some studies have linked aluminum surfaces with alzheimer’s disease; raw aluminum may react with acidic foods.

Car campers and overlanding adventurers may wish to consider stainless steel or titanium options when selecting car camping and overlanding accessories, while backpackers undertaking short backpacking trips would benefit from lightweight solutions like hard-anodized aluminum or ceramic options.

Solo backpackers looking to avoid PFOAs and PFCs (used in waterproofing), may find the GSI Glacier 1-Person Cook Set ideal. With one pot, pan, and bowl that is easily cleaned; plus fast boiling water capability as well as basic camping meal preparation capabilities this set may prove more cost-effective than titanium or stainless steel alternatives.

Copper

Copper is beautiful to look at and is often chosen by campers who enjoy hanging their pots and pans from trees or using it on an open flame camp stove. Unfortunately, however, copper reacts negatively with acidic foods (particularly lemon juice and tomato products) such as lemonade or tomato sauce, turning them green – potentially dangerous when consumed directly. Furthermore, it’s very heavy, which makes backpacking trips with multiple campsites not feasible.

Copper cookware is typically lined with tin to protect its acidic reaction from metal utensils that could scratch its surface, and to shield the copper against scratches caused by contact between metal utensils and its surface. You can find such sets from old-school makers such as De Buyer and Mauviel or opt for ones such as Duparquet’s set (with stainless steel interior layered between layers of tin lining). Modern sets like this offer modern functionality like induction compatibility but may cost more than true uncoated copper sets.