Best Camping Cookware for Your Summer Adventures

A propane stove can be good if you’re looking for something a little more sturdy than a campfire to cook over. Some options provide up to four burners and fancy versions even include a grill top. You’ll be able to cook up a storm, or at least something a little more impressive than a can of beans.

Weber’s Q 1200 gas grill is the best portable model out of more than a dozen we’ve tested. It features one powerful burner that heats the 189-square-inch cooking surface to 500 degrees for perfectly seared meats and vegetables. The Q 1200 has Weber’s signature sturdy and smart design with two foldable side tables for prep and an ignition button that works effectively. It’s the ultimate camping grill. 

It’s a good idea to have at least a small pot or pan for boiling water too, if only for your morning camp coffee. This stainless steel pot with a vented lid is good for cooking small batches of food too, and it comes with two nesting insulated cups to sweeten the deal.

If you’re more into charcoal cooking, GoBQ’s portable charcoal gets the job done and couldn’t be easier to get fired up. It’s made from flame-resistant silicone and fiberglass and weighs just 9.1 pounds, making it perfect for hiking, camping and music festivals.

Whether you’re spending a week in the wilderness or just going on a light hike, you’re going to need a reliable water bottle. I’m a big fan of this Hydro Flask, which features double-walled insulation. It’ll keep cold beverages chilled for up to 24 hours and keep hot beverages warm for up to 6 hours. Plus it comes in lots of pretty colors, so you can look stylish on and off the trails, and in various sizes. (There’s also a version with a straw lid.) Just make sure you clean your water bottle often.

These beauties strap right on your back so you can take your cold drinks or perishable ingredients on the trail with you. I personally love the leakproof foldover top with a clip since it eliminates the need for a fragile zipper and pushes all the air out to keep things colder. It’s a sturdy, comfortable and well-designed camping cooler backpack and a great pick for the outdoorsy types.

Pour-over coffee is the most logistically simple coffee system for camping, and Stanley makes a popular model that’ll brew cups in minutes. 

It’s best to invest in a separate cooler for beverages since you’ll be opening it more frequently than the main food cooler (and you want all your edibles to stay well chilled). This Yeti model holds up to 12 cans plus ice so you can drink to your heart’s content in the great outdoors; if you’re bored with canned wine and beer, try making camping cocktails. 

If you don’t want to invest in a portable propane grill, you have other options. A grill grate can be your new best friend when it comes to cooking directly over a campfire. This handy cooking accessory creates a flat surface so you can grill, fry and heat foods more evenly over an open flame.

Don’t forget about clean-up — properly disposing of food outdoors helps keep the bears away, and washing camp cookware is part of that process. A collapsible sink is ideal for doing dishes in camp. Better yet, get two: one for soaking, one for rinsing. You can also find double-basin camp sinks.

These make lighting campfires and igniting grills a snap. Grab a four-pack while you’re thinking of it.

You’re going to need to put all that food somewhere, after all, and the picnic table will quickly be overtaken by backpacks, cups and playing cards. This foldable table is lightweight and great for all sorts of outdoor entertaining. Its multiple levels and surfaces allow you to corral all your cooking gear in one place and give you a clean space to prep food too. (If all you need is a basic table that packs up small, this no-frills Coleman folding camp table will do the job.)

When packing for any trip, space is limited. This is especially true when you’re responsible for carrying everything you bring along on your back. To save space, try using collapsible drinkware, watering jugs and even measuring cups and spoons. They’re compact, less cumbersome and perfect for making sure you don’t have to eyeball pivotal ingredients.

This nifty portable grill is one-time use but lightweight and easy to transport and completely biodegradable. Perfect for mobile camping trips with lots of hiking and biking, you’ll be ready to cook in 5 minutes with roughly 60 minutes of cooking time.

You might not think it’s worth the space in your bag but having a table goes a long way to create order when you’re cooking in the great outdoors. Not to mention it’ll keep food away from dirt and animals while you’re prepping and eating. This collapsible aluminum table weighs just eight pounds but opens up to provide 324 square inches of outdoor table space.