Winterial 11 Piece Camping Set Review

The Winterial Camping Cookware Set comes with 11 pieces, including a pot, pan and tea kettle with a lid, all made from aluminum. This set also includes two plastic bowls, a lid that fits both the pot and pan, a plastic spatula and serving ladle, a scrubbing pad guaranteed to make clean up easy, and a hot pad that can double for a small cutting board, all wrapped up in its sack with a drawstring closure. The entire set weighs less than two pounds, with a packed measurement of 7.4 X 4.8 inches. It used to be a Best Buy award winner and is still a favorite if you're seeking a great deal.

Performance Comparison

Cooking Performance

We performed two tests to calculate our scores for cooking performance. The first was a time to boil test, performed in a commercial kitchen, in which we compared how quickly all of the cookware boiled two cups of water.

This kettle from this set boiled two cups of water in three and a half minutes. No other pot we tested bettered the boil time of the Winterial kettle. It turns out that the kettle is an efficient form factor for boiling water. What would the kettle be like if it had a heat exchanger ring on the bottom?

Our reviewers also wanted to create a test to see how evenly each set cooked, and what better way to do so than to make scrambled eggs. We beat an egg and allowed it to cook over a two-burner propane camping stove. This set cooked evenly, but the eggs stuck to the pan quite a bit. However, cleanup post scrambled egg test was easy enough.

Packability

The Winterial set comes fully featured, which can be handy but is a little on the larger, heavier side for long backpacking pursuits. However, with its great value, it is an option that you can make work in the backcountry. Plus, with the ability to leave a few pieces behind, you can easily fit a backpacking stove system in this set.

We did knock this cookware down a bit in the packability department, mostly because there are smaller, lighter options available. For what it comes with, the Winterial is remarkably compact.

Durability

This set has an average durability score. Scrambled eggs stuck a bit and stained the pan slightly as a result of burned egg residue.

Our reviewers had some concerns about scratching as the tea kettle rests on the inside base of the pot; however, we did not experience any other issues during our testing period. Anodized aluminum construction like this is more durable than Teflon coated but not as rugged as uncoated metals.

Weight

While this set weighs in at 1.8 pounds, it can be reduced to under a pound for just the pot, frypan, lid, and spatula.

By being selective on the pieces you pack within your system, you can cut almost half the weight, making this set highly versatile for backpacking or car camping cooking. For example, just take the kettle on an ultralight backpacking mission. Given its fast boiling time, it'll readily work as your full kitchen if all of your meals are dehydrated.

Ease of Use

This set was straightforward to use because of the versatility of the pieces that are included. You can easily cut a few pieces out to shed weight to also take this set backpacking with you. With just the pot, pan, spatula, and lid, the set weighs slightly over a pound. Yet, for the increase in versatility to this cookware, we didn't think the weight is noticeable when you're trying to make your dollar go a little further.

Something else many of us loved about this cookware is the construction of the handles. Since they collapse back around the pot and pan, instead of over the top of the system, they are nice and secure during use. We also really like the deep frypan; it was great for making pizza, and we didn't worry about food overflowing in this pan one bit.

At first, our reviewers thought the teapot was silly and unnecessary because “who would carry a teapot into the backcountry?” However, we found it to be pretty useful on cold fall mountain mornings. It was nice to have something to boil water in for coffee or tea, while simultaneously preparing a meal. Having a designated item to boil water is excellent, as your morning hot drink will never taste like last night's dinner again. Also, the included scrub pad is a surprising luxury, especially since you're not always near running water while camping.

Features

This is the most comprehensive kit we tested and has almost everything a team of two would need. All you will need to add is cutlery. In this way, the value and convenience increase even further. Grabbing two spoons from your home kitchen completes your cookware packing.

While there are many features included, not all of them are perfect. The “bowls” are small; the “ladle” is nice, but likely not much better than a large eating spoon. Once you start looking critically at the accessories, and surely after you camp some more, you will want to augment or replace the features of the Winterial. That said, we typically used some of these features, like the cutting board, and brought them along with other pots that we preferred in different scenarios.

Value

This cookware used to earn our Best Buy Award for being a great, all-around set to cook with. While we did find some less expensive options, their cooking performance doesn't match this set, but it is more durable. If you're on a budget, this is a great option to consider because it will keep your wallet fat while providing you with a solid set of cookware. It is easy with, easy to clean (don't use abrasive scrubbers), and also versatile. It's a great option for those seeking their first cook set or an affordable and versatile product.

Conclusion