REASONS TO BUY
Secure handles
Straining lid and lip
Deep dish plates
REASONS TO AVOID
Skillet not included
MSR Quick 2 System Cookset Review
A solid kit with great components; for basic backpacking, minimal additions or subtractions need to be made
Credit: MSR
RELATED: Best Camping Cookware Sets of 2024
Our Verdict
The MSR Quick 2 System is a high-performance cook set and a favorite amongst our testers. The set comes with just about everything you need to take you from camping at the trailhead to throwing the system in your pack and spending a few nights under the stars. It is outfitted with a couple of amenities that our reviewers found incredibly helpful. The largest pot has a little metal lip that helps you hold the lid to the pot while straining liquids, and the deep dish plates can easily be used for more soupy meals. It doesn't have all the features of the most involved base camp set-ups but has a few. This is a wonderful setting for any type of outdoor cooking scenario.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
MSR Quick 2 System Cookset | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Cookware for Car Camping | Best Two-Person Backpacking Cookset |  Best Value for Car Camping | Best Value for Solo Backpackers | |
| Price | $93.69 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $150 List $131.74 at Amazon | $95 List $94.95 at Backcountry | $90 List $90.00 at Amazon | $25 List $24.95 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Reasonable performance in a kit that has some of what you need and none that you don’t | Though the thick and durable stainless steel cookware set is a little heavier than other options, the entire set easily nests into one large pot | A solid option for folks in the market for an efficient backpacking cookware set for two people | A wonderful stainless-steel set for the value-oriented car camper | A high value stainless steel solo cook set intended for the backpacker |
| Rating Categories | MSR Quick 2 System... | Stanley Even-Heat C... | GSI Outdoors Pinnac... | Stanley Adventure B... | GSI Outdoors Glacie... |
| Cooking Performance (35%) | |||||
| Features (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Packability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | MSR Quick 2 System... | Stanley Even-Heat C... | GSI Outdoors Pinnac... | Stanley Adventure B... | GSI Outdoors Glacie... |
| Measured Weight | 1.7 lbs | 8.2 lbs | 1.4 lbs | 4.8 lbs | 1.0 lbs |
| Material | Hard-anodized aluminum | Stainless steel | Hard-anodized aluminum w/non-stick coating | Stainless steel (pot and pan bottoms have additional layers) | Stainless steel |
| Components | 2 L pot, 1.5 L pot, ¹ strainer lid, ² plates, ² mugs, handle | 4.75 qt stock pot, 1.8 qt sauce pan, vented lids, 8.5" frying pan, collapsible cutting board, ¹ spatula, ¹ spoon, trivets and locking bungee | 1.8 L pot, strainer lid, ² 20 fl oz mugs w/ insulated sleeves, ² 20 fl oz bowls, ² sip-it tops, ² folding sporks, welded sink | 3.5 L pot, vented lid, 7" 3-Ply frying pan, cutting board, ¹ spatula with extending handle, ¹ serving spoon with extending handle, ⁴ 6 in plates, ⁴ 22 oz bowls, ⁴ sporks, dish drying rack, heat resistant trivet, locking bungee | 1 L pot, ¹ folding handle frying pan, ¹ bowl, ¹ cup, stuff sack |
| Avg Boil Time (seconds) | 236 | 240 | 78 | 252 | 236 |
| 3 L Pot? (>2.4L) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 L Pot? (1.5-2.4L) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 L Pot? (0.5-1.4L) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Frying Pan? | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Frying Pan Lid? | N/A | Yes | N/A | No | No |
| Packed Size | 5.3 x 7.8 in | 10.3 x 6.7 in | 5.9 x 6.4 x 5.9 in | 11 x 6 x 11 in | 6.7 x 6.6 x 3.5 in |
| Weight of Pot Closest to 1.5 L (With Lid and Handle) | 0.5 lbs | 1.78 lbs | 0.7 lbs | 1.9 lbs | 0.74 lbs |
| Cooking Surfaces | One non-stick pot (1.5 L), one uncoated pot (2.5 L) | Stainless steel | Hard-Anodized, non-stick coating | Stainless steel | 18/8 stainless steel |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The MSR Quick 2 System is an eight-piece set cast from hard-anodized aluminum that includes a 2-liter pot with straining lid, a 1.5-liter pot, two deep dish plates that can also double as bowls, two insulated mugs with sippy tops, and an interchangeable pot handle. The entire system neatly nests into the 2-liter pot with the handle flipped over the top to secure it as a single, self-contained system. This set weighs under two pounds and measures 5.3 inches in diameter by 7.8 inches tall.
Performance Comparison
Side-by-side preparing spinach and scrambled egg breakfast with this set (bottom burner) and another (back burner).
Credit: Gentrye Houghton
Cooking Performance
Although you might not be browning scallops or creating fancy sauces in your camping cookware, we created tests to see how well each set performed in some basic cooking challenges. First, we performed a boil test to see how quickly each set boiled two cups of water, and also tested the pot we most commonly use at home for comparison, which is also cast from hard-anodized aluminum. This set performed similarly to the pot our reviewer uses the most often at home.
Because this cookware conducts heat evenly, it also keeps sticking to a minimum. Cleaning up after our scrambled egg test was easy.
Credit: Gentrye Houghton
Our reviewers wanted to know how evenly this cookware conducts heat and resists food sticking, and what better way to figure that out than to perform a fickle scrambled egg test. During this test, we beat an egg and scrambled it in each of the sets we tested. While our reviewers were pleased with the results during the boil test, they were even more pleased with the results from the scrambled egg test. This set cooks eggs pretty evenly, and also kept sticking to a minimum. During this test, one of our reviewers noted, “Clean up is going to be a breeze!” Considering the thin aluminum walls, the egg cooking performance was admirable. The only better-performing products were those with dedicated, thick-walled, and non-stick coated, aluminum frying pans.
As you can see here, this cookware conducts heat evenly without creating hot spots which burn food while cooking.
Credit: Gentrye Houghton
All that being said, we also cooked down spinach in these pots, fried bacon to accompany our scrambled eggs, and prepared pizza toppings. Plus, straining water for pasta dishes is simple with the slotted lid, and it stays secure with the added lip to the 2-liter pot.
Packability
This cookware was neither the most compact set we tested nor the bulkiest. While our reviewers preferred to use it while car camping, the weight and size of this set still allowed us to throw it in a pack and hit the trail for an overnight trek. It compacts down to a size of 7.8 inches in diameter by 5.3 inches tall. This makes it small enough to easily fit inside of a backpacking backpack or in your kitchen kit.
The entire MSR Quick 2 System, packaged up and contained.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Durability
Hard anodized aluminum isn't the strongest metal, but it is still pretty darn tough. We did not experience any issues, including scratches or dents, with this cookware during our months-long testing process. The handle system is the only area where our reviewers felt there could potentially be some long-term use failure. Since the handle is interchangeable, it isn't solidly attached to the pot.
The handle locks down for added security to this system so that you don't have to worry about losing control while straining your food.
Credit: Gentrye Houghton
Weight
This set weighs in at 1.7 pounds. For the weight, you acquire quite a few more pieces, and it is the perfect size for two people. It is most easily used around campsites in which you are close to your car and camping kitchen. This set is still light enough to slip into a backpack and prepare a meal for two on an overnight hike. You can even parse it down further for longer thru-hiking missions.
The Quick2 set comes with two pots and a straining lid, two deep dish plates and two insulated mugs.
Credit: Gentrye Houghton
Ease of Use
This set cooks well and is versatile and easy to use. The deep-dish plates are handy for many different meals, from ramen to lasagna to scrambled eggs, and the insulated mugs kept our coffee hot on cold mountain mornings. The interchangeable handle clips onto the pots and locks for security.
This metal hook on the 2-liter pot keeps the straining lid on the pot while straining liquids.
Credit: Gentrye Houghton
The 2-liter pot is outfitted with a hook on the lip opposite the handle, which our reviewers found rather handy for keeping the lid on while draining water after cooking pasta.
With the security of the metal hook, you can strain pasta with ease as well as hold on to the rubber lid handle so that you don't burn your fingers.
Credit: Gentrye Houghton
Features
The Quick 2 System comes with the basics plus a little extra. While it's not a fully functioning kitchen, it's pretty close, lacking only a frying pan, cutlery, and cutting board.
The components of the MSR Quick 2 System nest together, leaving space for a few more accessories.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Value
We examined price versus overall points and how much each set costs per ounce to determine our value rankings. Although this cookware is rated the best overall performer, it ranks relatively low on the value scale. This set is not cheap, but worth it for the number of useful pieces you get coupled with the great cooking performance.
Conclusion
The MSR Quick 2 System does a great job of cooking a variety of camping meals, and the unique straining lid and pour spout on the pot is fantastic - no more accidentally dumping all your pasta in the firepit while trying to drain the water out. Our main complaint about this set is the lack of a frypan, but other than that, this cookware is well-suited to most camping meals.
—
Amber King & Jediah Porter
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