Gear Review: MSR Trail Lite Duo Cook Set
Value Rating: 9
Durability Rating: 9
Overall Rating: 8.5
Location of Test: Around the PNW and BC
Duration of Test: 3 months
Product Name: Trail Lite Duo Cookset
Product Brand: MSR
Best Use: Backpacking, camping
Sizes: 2L Pot | 1lb 5oz
The Full Review:
I have never been a huge fan of the whole everything-fits-together-perfectly kind of camping set. I always preferred buying separate pieces, making sure to buy each one for its particular features, and then attempting to pack them the most space-saving way possible. But then came a day that I needed not a one but a two-person cook set, so after eyeing the MSR Trail Lite Duo for some time I took the plunge and bought it, wanting to see what this whole stacking-doll-esque thing was all about.
Thankfully, I have been very pleasantly surprised with how it has performed. I underestimated how sweet, space saving and convenient it is to have a stacking set of cookware. It fits perfectly under the sleeping platform I have in my car for long trips, as well as in a backpack. Plus, all the aspects of the set that I was originally wary of, like the odd shape mugs, ended up being no issue. I quickly came to love the mug shape, not only for its space saving capabilities but because it feels more molded to the actual anatomy of my hand and thus more comfortable to hold, especially after a day of wrecking your hands climbing. I've since taken this little set on more than enough camping and climbing trips, and though it hasn't yet seen a long backpacking trip, I'm looking forward to using it on one.
MSR is known for well-designed products and the Trail Lite Duo is no exception. Each item has been well thought out capacity and dimensions, and its lid ca be locked down by the sturdy handle, keeping everything snug.
The Good
-Lid secures well for storage and straining
-All fits in one! Fit your bowls, pot, and mugs all in one package
-Generously sized pot for 2 people
-Stiff and sturdy components (the bowls don't feel floppy!)
-Measuring lines in pot and mugs
-Bowls are deep and generously sized
-Nonstick pot
-Sweet color coding
-Lightweight without skimping on capacity
-Lid has holes for straining
The Bad:
-The pot is tall rather than wide, which means cooking on an on-the-top canister stove is a bit of a balancing act
-Honestly, we ruined the nonstick coating in record-breaking time. Whether this was the product or the fact we are useless at cooking, who's to say (honestly, it's safe to bet on the latter)
The Bottom Line:
This is a sweet cooking set that includes almost everything you need for two people eating in the outdoors (all you need is a stick for stirring and some sporks!). It's durable, well-constructed, and generously sized for two. The mugs are both insulated, space saving, and comfortable to hold, while the bowls are sturdy and large. To top it off, a 2L nonstick pot (warning: nonstick easily ruined by useless college students who burn everything), and a clear locking lid with holes for straining.
The Full Review:
I have never been a huge fan of the whole everything-fits-together-perfectly kind of camping set. I always preferred buying separate pieces, making sure to buy each one for its particular features, and then attempting to pack them the most space-saving way possible. But then came a day that I needed not a one but a two-person cook set, so after eyeing the MSR Trail Lite Duo for some time I took the plunge and bought it, wanting to see what this whole stacking-doll-esque thing was all about.
Thankfully, I have been very pleasantly surprised with how it has performed. I underestimated how sweet, space saving and convenient it is to have a stacking set of cookware. It fits perfectly under the sleeping platform I have in my car for long trips, as well as in a backpack. Plus, all the aspects of the set that I was originally wary of, like the odd shape mugs, ended up being no issue. I quickly came to love the mug shape, not only for its space saving capabilities but because it feels more molded to the actual anatomy of my hand and thus more comfortable to hold, especially after a day of wrecking your hands climbing. I've since taken this little set on more than enough camping and climbing trips, and though it hasn't yet seen a long backpacking trip, I'm looking forward to using it on one.
MSR is known for well-designed products and the Trail Lite Duo is no exception. Each item has been well thought out capacity and dimensions, and its lid ca be locked down by the sturdy handle, keeping everything snug.
The Good
-Lid secures well for storage and straining
-All fits in one! Fit your bowls, pot, and mugs all in one package
-Generously sized pot for 2 people
-Stiff and sturdy components (the bowls don't feel floppy!)
-Measuring lines in pot and mugs
-Bowls are deep and generously sized
-Nonstick pot
-Sweet color coding
-Lightweight without skimping on capacity
-Lid has holes for straining
The Bad:
-The pot is tall rather than wide, which means cooking on an on-the-top canister stove is a bit of a balancing act
-Honestly, we ruined the nonstick coating in record-breaking time. Whether this was the product or the fact we are useless at cooking, who's to say (honestly, it's safe to bet on the latter)
The Bottom Line:
This is a sweet cooking set that includes almost everything you need for two people eating in the outdoors (all you need is a stick for stirring and some sporks!). It's durable, well-constructed, and generously sized for two. The mugs are both insulated, space saving, and comfortable to hold, while the bowls are sturdy and large. To top it off, a 2L nonstick pot (warning: nonstick easily ruined by useless college students who burn everything), and a clear locking lid with holes for straining.