We thoroughly enjoyed the testing process for camping cookware. To help find the best models, our reviewers made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for several months in these sets, day in and day out. We perfected our pancakes, browned sausages, sautéed veggies, baked Dutch oven lasagna, scrambled eggs, made pork fajitas, and, of course, boiled easy pasta dishes and old-fashioned oats. These cook sets have visited the high peaks of the Eastern Sierra and the beaches of Hawaii. Essentially, we've tested these sets everywhere and used the data we gathered along the way to assess these cookware sets based on key metrics.
Cooking Performance
In addition to cooking several meals on the trail and at home in our own kitchens, we evaluate cooking performance through a few objective tests. First, our testing team created a boil test, in which we timed how long each set took to boil two cups of water. We also evaluated the non-stick coating of each pot and pan by scrambling sticky eggs.
While cooking various different meals, we paid special attention to how well the individual materials conduct heat, noting which products offered primarily even cooking and those that required constant attention due to uneven cooking.
Features
What pots, pans, utensils, and accessories does each set come with? And how useful are they? After making hundreds of meals for our friends and family, we determine which features are actually helpful and which are simply just gimmicks to promote the product. This metric accounts for 15% of the product's overall score.
Ease of Use
We cook various different meals over many months to evaluate whether or not the design is intuitive and easy to use. We note any issues with handles, lids, or other components that make the set hard to use. We test on various camping stoves, in addition to our home kitchens, to properly evaluate performance in stable and unstable environments, which helps us identify any use limitations.
Durability
Our testing team uses and abuses each cookware set throughout our extensive testing period. Even after our test period, we continue to use each set and update based on long-term findings. We evaluate the overall quality of materials, note how well they hold up after being tossed around in the back of converted vans and pick-up trucks, and finally, how well they survive in the backcountry after being stuffed into backpacks laden with climbing gear and other bulky items.
Packability
We evaluated how well each set nests within each other as well as what other items can be packed inside the set. We also measured the amount of space each takes up in a backpack and within our travel cooking bin. We also consider the elements of performance that ultralight backpackers might prioritize to better enjoy their trail experience. This metric accounts for 10% of the product's overall score.
Weight
We weigh each component of each set using our own scales. We also note the weight of the sets that feature pots closest to the 1.5-liter size.
