Outside Edge ChowPal Tenting Utensil Evaluate

Backside Line

From river rafting journeys to backpacking within the Colorado Rockies, we put the Outside Edge ChowPal multi-tool to the check in opposition to probably the most difficult meals and backpacker mush. Regardless of its novel, quirky design, the ChowPal impressed us with its well-rounded performance.

Whereas a few of its multi-tool options—just like the wrench and might opener—are extra a helpful novelty than able to changing your go-to multitool, the actual standout is its sharpened blade. In contrast to most included knives in tenting cutlery units, the ChowPal’s knife really slices. Paired with the lengthy, sturdy fork prongs, it’s a succesful setup for campers who like slightly extra utility of their mess package.

Constructed from modern, polished stainless-steel, the ChowPal feels strong in hand and is hard sufficient to final for years. After all, that sturdiness comes with additional weight, so ultralight hikers might wish to take a look at our different favourite tenting utensils. For bushcrafters, automotive campers, and quick backpacking journeys, although, it’s a enjoyable, useful piece of drugs that pulls its weight—actually.

How We Examined

We examined this mealtime multi-tool on a Colorado River raft journey with a feast match for kings and on a number of nights backpacking with typical dehydrated meal pouches. We additionally put it by quantitative exams at house, changing into intimately acquainted with each final attribute and quirk that units it other than the competitors.

Performance

The Outside Edge ChowPal packs some distinctive features into one intelligent little instrument. It’s half utensil set and half multi-tool. You get a spoon, fork, absolutely sharpened knife, and a handful of built-in instruments, together with a bottle opener, can opener, and a number of wrench sizes.

The spoon is on the smaller aspect, measuring about 2 inches by 1.3 inches with a 5 milliliter capability, however it nonetheless will get the job accomplished. The fork features exceptionally effectively. Its three lengthy, 1.25-inch prongs are sturdy sufficient to really stab meals as a substitute of simply chasing it round your plate. You possibly can even reduce meals with the aspect of the fork, a uncommon high quality in camp utensils. 

The knife is equally spectacular: an actual, sharpened 2.5-inch stainless-steel blade that cuts and carves much better than most. The one awkward half is that it folds down into the deal with of the spoon with out locking. Whereas we haven’t had any mishaps, it looks like one thing you’ll wish to deal with fastidiously.

As for the multi-tool options, the bottle opener is a particular win – easy, efficient, and all the time appreciated on the finish of the day. The can opener technically works, however the skinny deal with makes it uncomfortable to make use of with the drive required really to open a can. It took us fairly a little bit of effort to penetrate a can lid with it. The wrench cutouts additionally perform in a pinch, however the fork tends to get in the way in which, and it’s no substitute for an actual wrench.

Design

General, the ChowPal feels comfy and balanced in hand. The fork is the lighter of the 2 foremost utensils, whereas the spoon and knife have a satisfying heft that provides them a bit extra management. 

The multi instruments don’t get in the way in which as a lot as you’ll assume, however it’s laborious to disregard how the knife blade folds into the spoon deal with. Outside Edge has clearly taken security measures, like a well-fitting friction closure and a blade guard, however it ought to nonetheless be dealt with with care. 

Every little thing is constituted of clean stainless-steel, giving the set a clear, sturdy really feel that’s straightforward on each fingers and mouth.

The spoon and fork may be nested collectively for packing or joined on the ends to type an prolonged 11.5-inch utensil. This size is helpful for reaching into deep dehydrated meal pouches. Nevertheless, the friction match between the 2 items is slightly unfastened, inflicting some wobble and the occasional separation mid-bite.

Building

The ChowPal’s high quality building is one in every of its standout options. Made totally of stainless-steel, it has a strong, satisfying really feel in hand that immediately units it other than flimsier plastic utensils. It’s constructed to final by years of backcountry journeys, overlanding, and truck-bed dinners with out bending, warping, or displaying a lot put on.

The stainless-steel additionally makes it extremely heat-resistant. We’ve got no issues about leaching chemical compounds or melting handles whereas stirring a simmering pot or consuming straight from a sizzling pan.

Past sturdiness, it’s a wonderful piece of drugs. The polished end offers it a clear, modern look, whereas the sleek surfaces are straightforward to wipe down after a meal. That stated, the ChowPal’s intelligent folding design and multi-tool cutouts do create just a few nooks and crannies the place meals can sneak in and get caught. It’s not an enormous difficulty, however it does imply you’ll wish to take additional care to not drop the entire thing in your pot of chili (we realized from expertise).

Weight & PAckability

At 2.5 ounces, the ChowPal lands on the heavier aspect of the utensil spectrum and the second heaviest in our lineup. Happily, that weight comes with a whole lot of performance.

In case you want to separate up the items, the spoon-and-knife combo weighs in at 1.7 ounces, whereas the fork and multitool half come to only 0.6 ounces.

The 2 items nest neatly collectively, preserving issues tidy and compact at a packed size of 6.5 inches. It gained’t slot in most light-weight backpacking cookware units, however it nonetheless packs moderately effectively. 

Outside Edge even features a nylon drawstring carrying case, which is good for preserving the sharp bits contained and defending your different gear from stray pokes. It’s not ultralight, however it’s thoughtfully designed for campers who worth versatility and group.

Ought to You Purchase the Outside Edge ChowPal?

The ChowPal is for campers, overlanders, and backcountry cooks who admire having a full set of instruments in a single compact bundle. It’s excellent for individuals who need the performance of actual utensils—plus a knife that may really reduce one thing—with out packing a full kitchen drawer. The stainless-steel building will final for years of use, and works effectively for anybody who values versatility and doesn’t thoughts slightly additional weight in change for toughness and functionality.

That stated, its 2.5-ounce (71 g) weight is just not preferrred for ultralight backpackers counting each gram or for individuals who want minimalist simplicity. Its shifting components and further options add bulk and complexity.

Contemplating its high quality supplies and multi-tool performance, the ChowPal provides strong worth. It’s a long-lasting, do-it-all utensil that punches above its weight if you issue within the chopping efficiency, versatility, and packable design.

What Different Tenting Utensils Ought to You Think about?

For extra selection, take a look at our full information to the greatest tenting utensils, the place we examined every part from ultralight sporks to finish utensil units.

Toaks Titanium 3-Piece Cutlery Set Evaluate: For a completely useful, ultralight utensil package, the 3-piece cutlery set from Toaks is tough to beat. It weighs only a few ounces greater than a typical spork, and also you get three devoted utensils to eat like a civilized human. Whereas the knife doesn’t reduce in addition to the ChowPal’s, it features higher than most others. 

Ust Klipp Utensil Set Evaluate: This set provides the performance of kitchen drawer silverware with out breaking the financial institution for ultralight gear. It’s the heaviest set on our listing, however it comes with a beneficiant spoon and an honest fork. The knife is missing, however you may all the time depart that at house to avoid wasting weight. 

GSI Outside Glacier Stainless Spork and Sticks Evaluate: This combo is right for folk who love utensil units however want to eat with chopsticks. It’s admittedly a novel piece of drugs, however for the suitable backpacker, it may very well be an ideal complement to the remainder of their mealtime setup.