Best Camping Dinnerware for Banqueting Outdoors

Best Camping Tableware Set

Barbeqa Camping Dinner Set

While on the surface, the Barbeqa might not seem like the obvious option for all camping situations, it can be pared down to almost whatever type of camping you want to do. However, the main reason that it earns our Overall Winner spot is that it has everything you need to accommodate a family of 4, something none of the other options we reviewed can accomplish.

If you want to use the Barbeqa set for backpacking, you can easily remove one or more plates and bowls as appropriate for your needs. Even better, this camping dining set provides a bit more utility than some of the other models we reviewed by including both mugs and multi-purpose utensils that offer fork and spoon options.

The Barbeqa camping plates and cutlery set is also made out of BPA-free polypropylene, so it is reasonably durable and safe to use for multiple trips.

Bottom Line: The Barbeqa camping dinnerware set provides more pieces and more utility without necessarily requiring more space or adding more weight than its competitors.

Dining in the Outdoors with Camping Plates and bowls

Whether camping in a large group or backpacking quiet trails, the sheer amount of gear you need can be challenging to choose and carry. With the right backpack, shelter, sleeping gear, and other considerations, simple equipment can easily get overlooked.

Unless your trip lasts a couple of hours, you will eventually need to make camp and prepare a meal with this equipment often being some of the least flashy. However, even in this niche, cooking implements tend to get more focus rather than the gear nearly all good backpacking food requires: dining ware.

That is why we put together a list of the seven best camping dish sets for banqueting outdoors, highlighting who each set serves best. We also provide a helpful buyer’s guide so that you can find the right meal kit for your next camping trip.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Camping Tableware Set

Durability

Durability is important for all products, but here it needs to skirt a line that can be a bit difficult. This is because the most durable materials such as stainless steel used for older camping bowls and plates tend to be a bit heavier and less packable.

Polypropylene plastic is one of the most common materials used because it skirts this line better than most. That said, materials like melamine may not offer the same weight or packability qualities, but they are more durable.

It is worth noting that more expensive options occasionally use less common materials that accomplish both a high level of durability as well as a lightweight, packable profile. Be more careful with camping tableware sets that include utensils as these are not always made out of the same materials as dishware.

Weight & Portability

More so than any other quality on our list, this is the most important for backpacking campers, especially those that camp for extended periods. This need is well-known and understood within the backpacking community as you must carry everything with you wherever you go.

As such, backpackers would do well looking for a dining set that weighs less than a pound, though 1 pound is around the average. That said, you can cut even more weight by getting sets that allow for dishes to be used for multiple purposes.

One of the best ways that a camping dinnerware set can make itself more portable is by collapsing in on itself. However, you need to consider whether you are willing to pay more for collapsible tableware made out of high-end materials or not.

Size of the Camping Plate Set

Much like with weight and portability, the size of a camping dining set matters more to backpackers than general campers who can load their gear into a vehicle and keep it in the vehicle while they camp.

That said, this factor might be more critical for backpackers than weight and portability because camping dinnerware can take up a fair amount of space. While collapsibility reduces the amount of vertical space camping tableware takes up, it does not account for the width and length.

These measurements are important because any plate or bowl will likely be the longest and widest dish in the set.

Accessories

A standard camping tableware set comes with at least one dish and one bowl or cup, though this can vary and even be combined. Cups are some of the most common accessories and should likely be a priority for anyone, not backpacking.

That said, even backpackers might want to consider dining set that includes a plate or bowl, plus a cup for comfort and quality of experience. Depending on your wants and wishes, it may be better to purchase a lightweight mess kit instead, in which case you should check out our review to the best backpacking mess kit.

Utensils are also often necessary pieces of dinnerware, though you may not need to get them depending on which product you choose. However, utensils included in the products below tend to be more durable than the plastic versions you might otherwise buy. Alternatively, buy your camping silverware separately.

Lastly, a mesh bag or other method of helping to store your camping plates and bowls is always a plus

Don’t forget to Complete Your Camp Kitchen

Complete your camp kitchen with our reviews of the best backpacking fry pan and camping pots and pans.

Don’t forget a pack a good collapsible water container to help carry water, for washing yourself, as well as your dishes.

The Best Camping Dinnerware Sets Reviewed

GSI Outdoors Cascadian

Best Camping Set on a Budget

GSI Outdoors makes another impressive appearance in the outdooring market with the Cascadian that provides one of the best values on a budget that we found. For example, the inclusion of a cup and utensils increases the utility of this set over some larger sets that we came across.

The use of BPA-free, 100-percent recyclable polypropylene for both the plates and utensils makes them safe as well as sustainable. Even better, the Cascadian packs up better than most with a profile of 9.7” x 9.7” x 3.2”– though the weight is still average at 1 pound.

The only potential problem with this product is that it sets a single person and comes with fewer pieces– though it is one of the better solo camping models.

Bottom Line: The Cascadian provides a great value that offers more utility than a set with this few pieces normally does.

Barbeqa Camping Dinnerware

Best Camping Set for Dining

Barbeqa might not be one of the more well-known companies on our list, but their product comes with more pieces than any other on our list at a whopping 17 pieces. While the number of pieces allows the Barbeqa set to seat four different people, making it great for family camping trips, it also offers more utility than some of its competitors.

This versatility is notable with the inclusion of mugs as well as utensils that are dual forks and spoons to try and save a little bit of space. The use of BPA-free polypropylene means that the Barbeqa set is safe, reasonably durable, and easy to clean.

Unfortunately, all of these different pieces leave a larger profile than some at 9.5” x 9.5” x 6.8” and a heavier weight at a list-topping 2.3 pounds.

Bottom Line: The Barbeqa set provides more pieces and settings than any other option we reviewed while also offering more utility than some.

Coleman 2-person Dinner Set

Best All-Around Value Camping Dishes & Bowls Set

The Coleman 2-Person Dinner Set may not be the best budget option we came across, but it might provide the best all-around value thanks to additional utility not found with some competitors. For example, this set comes with 12 different pieces, making up everything you need for two different sets– which are a lot of pieces for 2 people.

However, in addition to plates, these pieces include uncommon items like mugs and complete utensil sets that include a separate fork, spoon, and knife. Even better, the plates use polypropylene, so you do not have to worry about overall durability either.

On the other hand, the utensils are not nearly as durable thanks to their polystyrene construction, and the numerous pieces do no pack as well with an 11.8” x 11.8” x 10.2” profile.

Bottom Line: The Coleman 2-person dinner set offers reliable versatility and a surprising number of pieces, making it one of the best all-around values we found.

Camp Casual (CC-001) 12-Piece Dish Set

Most Durable Set

The Camp Casual CC-001 offers multiple benefits, but by far, the best thing about this set is how durable it is. Compared to the polypropylene commonly used for camping plates and bowls, the melamine resin is significantly more durable.

On top of that, the melamine material is also BPA-free and commonly used for dishware as well as reasonably easy to clean. Even better, the Camp Casual CC-001 comes with 12 different pieces composed of 4 sets total, large enough for many families.

That said, the melamine material may be more durable, but it does not break down as quickly as some of the other materials on our list. Consequently, this set does not pack down as small with an 11” x 11” x 5.1” profile– though the weight of 1 pound is average.

Bottom Line: The Camp Casual CC-001 comes with multiple settings and is easily one of the most durable sets we encountered thanks to its melamine construction.

Best Backpacking Dinnerware Sets

Sea to Summit X Series

Most Portable Backpacking Set

The Sea to Summit X Series is potentially the most packable bowls set on our list thanks to its lightweight, collapsible design. In total, this camping dinnerware set packs down to the smallest size we reviewed at 5” x 5” x 1” and is one of the lightest we encountered at only 6.3 oz.

However, the Sea to Summit X Series also stands out thanks to its material composition with BPA-free silicone sides. Combine that with a nylon 66 base, and you have one of the few sets that are not only dishwasher safe but can be used in the microwave too.

Still, the use of high-end materials with a collapsible design and fewer pieces than most sets means the Sea to Summit X Series is a more expensive product.

Bottom Line: The Sea to Summit X Series is one of the most portable options on our list thanks to its collapsible nature and lightweight build.

Light My Fire 8-Piece MealKit

Most Sustainable Backpacking Set

The Light My Fire MealKit jumps out with several distinguishing characteristics, the material composition perhaps being the most noteworthy. This is the only camping plates and bowls set that we reviewed that uses bio-plastic, making it more sustainably manufactured than any other product we saw.

Thankfully, the use of bio-plastic does not preclude portability as the Light My Fire MealKit is also lightweight at 14.3 oz and packs smaller than most at 7.6” x 7.6” x 2.4”. On top of that, this model provides more utility than even some family-sized sets thanks to uncommon pieces like a cutting board.

Unfortunately, all of these benefits do not necessarily make the Light My Fire MealKit the best value, and the carrying strap is not that durable either.

Bottom Line: The Light My Fire 8-Piece MealKit is not only one of the more versatile products we saw, but its bio-plastic construction makes it one of the more sustainable too.

Fozzils Solo Pack

Best Budget Backpacking Plates and Bowls Set

The Fozzils Solo Pack would otherwise earn our most portable award if it were not for the fact that it also presents as the best value for backpacking trips. However, being a great value still does not take away from the fact that this backpacking set is the lightest on our list at just 4 oz.

On top of that, the Fozzils Solo Pack collapses which allows it to pack down smaller than most to a svelte 10” x 10” x ½”. While not the smallest in diameter, this plates and bowls set is the thinnest when packed.

The only real downside to the Fozzils Solo Pack is that it only comes with three pieces, and they do not offer the most utility.

Bottom Line: As the lightest and most collapsible product we reviewed, the Fozzils Solo Pack also offers one of the best values we came across.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API