Gear Review - MSR Alpine Kitchen Set
The Stats:
- 3-ounce plastic bottles (2)
- 2-ounce plastic bottle (1)
- 0.75-ounce plastic bottles (4)
- 0.75-ounce squeeze bottle (1)
- 1-ounce squeeze bottle (1)
- Alpine Folding Utensils
- Scrub pad
- Plastic cutting board
- Salt and pepper shaker
- 3 Ziplock bags
- Nylon zippered pouch
- Plastic organizer bowl and lid
- Weight - 15 oz./425 g
- Retail price - $39.95
The Skinny:
When you say the words “Camp Kitchen” everyone has their own vision. Minimalists might say, who needs a kitchen, I have a bag of trail mix for dinner and granola bar for breakfast. Then you have your boilers, people who boil water or just warm something up on a camp stove. And then you have your camp chefs. Those are the people who bring a garlic press or a camp coffee maker on the trail. I find myself between a boiler and a chef. And those are the two groups this set caters to. More so the chefs than the boilers. The MSR Alpine Kitchen Set comes with a variety of bottles to organize your spices. The squeeze bottles are handy for taking small amounts of oil, cooking wine, or other liquids. It includes Ziplock bags, but of course that’s something you will replenish yourself and doesn’t really add value so much as just complete the set. There is a zipper pouch that old smaller things like salt and pepper shakers, scouring pad, etc.
The shining star in the kit are the Alpine Folding Utensils which are sturdy and fold down nicely. The whole thing fits into a plastic bowl with a lid. The bowl can be used as a sink and nests inside the MSR pan sets. If you get into camp cooking then this is a great way to get organized and toss that makeshift kit you’ve made yourself. If you’re a boiler then this might be something that accompanies you when you want to splurge, and stays home when you are going light. The ultralight peeps might think this is for sissies.
MSR also sells a stripped down version of the Alpine Kitchen Set called the Alpine Cupboard. It includes the folding utensils along with the plastic bottles. The Cupboard retails for $29.95.
2 comments September 25th, 2007
