What’s more important than food when overlanding? Answer: The dinnerware you put it on and cutlery you use to eat it with.
We spent the summer with Sea to Summit’s Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Dinnerware Set and Frontier Ultralight Cutlery Set to see how they stack up against the competition.
We got both sets before competing in the 2024 Baltic Sea Circle Rally with the new German-spec all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz. Our entire trip would consist of nearly five weeks on the road: the 16-day, nine-country competition as well as time spent with my family.
Camping gear and luggage space was a premium so collapsible, nesting, and lightweight products were worth their weight in gold. Sea to Summit’s Frontier series of dinnerware and cutlery checked off all three things.
The Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Dinnerware Set
The Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Dinnerware Set is made from premium-quality, EU food-grade silicone and glass-reinforced nylon 66. They’re sold in a lightweight three-piece or six-piece set (in mismatched mustard and ivory and dark gray-accented colors).
A set for one person includes one large bowl that can also act like a plate, a medium-sized bowl, and a cup. Each item collapses to about .75 inches, ideal for flying, overlanding, or anything in between. The six-piece set weighs 14 ounces whereas the three-piece set weighs seven ounces.
Each bowl has areas where it can be held securely. Each cup has a dark gray center and top lip, making it easier to handle and helping to shield heat from hands.
Additionally, if you pair them with the Frontier Ultralight Cutlery Set, you’ll never miss a bite as bowl and spoon curve is the same, ensuring you scoop up every bit of food.
Dinnerware Impressions
We tested the six-piece Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Dinnerware Set and found it to be durable, lightweight, and easy to use. They nested into a small size and were easy to pack among our camp supplies although we wished Sea to Summit offered a carry pouch for each set to house them in.
Once expanded, the dinnerware gave us plenty of space for food. The sidewalls never left us wanting more protection from the overflow of food and the surface area was just enough size wise.
The cups were smallish but had sturdy bases and didn’t feel hot to the touch when handling hot liquids. Price: six-piece set is $119.95, three-piece set is $59.95
Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Cutlery Set
If you’re in the market for a sturdy no-nonsense ultralight fork, spoon, and knife cutlery set, look no further than Sea to Summit’s Frontier Ultralight Cutlery Set.
This durable three-piece silverware set is made from hard-anodized aircraft-grade aluminum and weighs a mere .9 ounces (including its carabiner to affix them together).
Once nested in the right order, knife at the bottom, fork in the middle, then spoon at the top, the Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Cutlery Set hardly takes up any space. This is due to a unique open handle profile that adds strength, reduces weight, and adds to its stealthy stackability. However, the underside edges of its handles felt sharp and unfinished to the touch.
Cutlery Comments
The semi-polished food-contact areas allow food to be released from the cutlery, making clean-up a cinch. The fork and spoon felt natural when eating food with them and both held a decent amount of food. The serrated knife was extremely sharp and easily cut a variety of meat, including thick sausages.
However, it left fairly deep cut marks in the aforementioned Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Dinnerware Set large bowls after multiple meals. Care should be taken when using this knife to not damage the dinnerware you’re cutting upon.
This set’s combo of light weight, ergonomics, and ease of use makes it great for backpacking, camping, or overland use. Price: $34.95
Sea to Summit offers a guarantee for the lifetime of these products, promising to guarantee them against manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship for the lifetime of the product.
Collectively, we are pleased with how compact they pack, lightweight they are, and how easy they are to use. Two thumbs up from us with kitchen wares that traveled over nine countries and then some.
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