When I first starting backpacking and hiking I had absolutely NO idea what kind of cooking system I would end up with, let alone what to eat in the wild. Initially, I meal planned extensively prior to my trips because I worried so much about nourishing my body and not starving. Gear websites convinced me that utensils, cups, and cook sets were necessary, but most of us know that’s just added weight.

So what did I really need, and what was just excess?

Do I want to heat up my food? or just take ready-to-eat options, or did I want to ditch my stove altogether and cold-soak my meals?

Well, through experience, I became a HUGE fan of a warm meal at the end of the day and I truly recommend the same to beginners. Nothing hits better than that warmth after a long day of miles and elevation gain or drop, and it is one of the few luxuries when backpacking minimally. Therefore, I absolutely take a stove and pot for my meals, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be ultralight. 

Here is the small list of my kitchen needs that I take with me that cover all my necessities. Links will be provide below 🙂

• BRS backpacking stove
• Vargo BOT Titanium cup – 900 ml
• Titanium Spork
• Lighter
• Small propane can

Literally, that is it. 

BRS Stove

This stove is so small and packable, that it’s a no brainer for me. It weight less than 1oz! It is affordable, effective, and easy to use. You can find it here.

If you are an on-brand hiker, the “pocket rocket” by MSR is also at a reasonable weight of 2.6oz.

Vargo Titanium Pot

I chose this specific pot because I wanted a larger size without compromising weight–it is made of titanium and weighs 4.8 oz for a 900ml pot, per the Amazon description. You can inquire about it here.

The lid attracted me in case I wanted to cold-soak my oatmeal or meals which could save time while I hike. The lid screws on with a water tight seal, and the lid flips over and still fits the pot for cooking purposes.

I just boil water in my pot and it’s large enough for single serving dehydrated meals AND a warm drink if I desired.

I prefer the larger size because it saves me time in the number of times I boil water. However, there is a 700ml pot available here for those who don’t care about that.

Spork

The spork is long enough for stirring in my pot and in my meal packages, and I can easily clip it anywhere.

Best of all, everything fits in my pot, with the spork clipped to the handles. It can easily fit in my bear canister once I make room. The ONLY thing I would upgrade if I really wanted to, would be to find a foldable spork for easier packing.

What kitchen supplies do YOU take while backpacking? Are there any differences from my list? Is there anything you absolutely LOVE to use? You can see the rest of my backpacking gear #foundonamazon here

And as always, your support means everything! Please like, comment, save and share to your friends and family if this was at all useful and informative! Thank you!