Gear Review - Orikaso Tableware

The first review of this week’s “Camp Kitchen Gear Extravaganza” goes to the Orikaso folding tableware. One of our gear reviewers commented “Dude, there are some seriously smart engineers out there to be coming up with things like this.” I agree.

So, if Origami art and a backpacking mug got married, this is what their wittle baby would wook wike. Orikaso has a few different versions of the flatware. You can buy each item individually or as a set. They sell a Solo Set, which contains a bowl, mug, and dinner plate. They also sell a dinner for two set which has two of each item. You can get them in multiple colors. Orikaso sent us a blue, red, and green. But as seen here, they have yellow as well.

These things fold flat, seriously flat. They are about as thick as 5-10 sheets of paper. Made of a very sturdy plastic they would be difficult to rip or crack. Here’s a breakdown of each item.

The Bowl - The bowl was deep, and held oatmeal well. Heat transferred through it well though, so make sure and grab a towel if you are eating piping hot foods. The bowl would be good for large quantities of spaghetti or other one-dish meals.

The Mug - The mug has measurements on the side so you can measure your quantities. It holds a cup of coffee, tea, or other hot liquid well. The mug is the only item that took a minute to fold together. It was the first time some of the testers had looked a it, but without looking at instructions they did get it together. The handle doesn’t look sturdy from the pictures, but it actually holds very well.

The Plate - The plate was wide and the sides fold up to hold items on the plate. It was large enough for a large meal.

Bottom line - Orikaso gets an A. Even if you have room in your pack for bulkier items, these are still just about as good as a regular bowl, mug, and the plate definitely is. They are light weight (5 oz. for the solo set). And, they can just slip down into a backpack or dry bag with ease. They are a lightweighter’s dream. The clean up is easy, just wipe with a paper towel. Good stuff.

2 comments July 9th, 2007