ProView – GSI Outdoors Cookware Set Review

I brought the GSI Glacier Canister-Top Stove, a few of the GSI Tekk Tandem Sporks, as well as the GSI Escape Cups and Bowls on a few local trips this spring. It was very windy for the majority of testing, so we had to be very careful with the stove due to fire danger; however, we did find that it was very easy to keep it going through a quick rain storm!

I went on a few climbing trips around Wyoming with some friends, where we collectively tested this grouping of cookware from GSI Outdoors. 

Look/Style

The look of the tableware is all very sleek, with a good selection of colors. The stove also has a streamlined design, which is very appealing. 

Features/Performance

Both the cups and bowls are collapsible, which is great for saving space. While these are slightly heavier than other collapsible bowls I have tried, they feel durable. Additionally, the cups and bowls have a protrusion where they can be attached to the outside of your pack or even to your harness, which is a great feature, adding to their versatility.

The only feature of the sporks is that one side is a spoon and the other is a fork. I would have loved to see some sort of spot for a carabiner attachment or even just a hole for p-cord to be able to attach the spork to the cup or bowl.

The stove folds up, which is great, and you can really just stick it in your pocket. It truly is that small. This will absolutely become my go to stove for guiding backcountry skiing, even to just heat up some hot cocoa! The stove was easy to use, and since it is so small, the diameter of the pot actually completely blocked the flame from the rain when we got caught in a late afternoon storm. 

Durability

All of the tableware seems extremely durable. I even climbed a wide crack with one of the bowls attached to my harness, and there was not a scratch on it. I truly think that these were built to last.

The stove seems durable and made with good materials; however, since it folds up nicely, I am a bit worried that some hinges could start to break off if it’s left just floating around in your pack. I plan to keep this stove in the brain of my pack in hopes of it not getting crushed, but it is so lightweight and compact I feel it is okay to give a little in terms of longevity. I have a mini solo stove, and I have the same concerns about it since it is so lightweight, but so far, I have not had any problems with it. Size-wise, the GSI Glacier Canister-Top Stove is almost ¼ of the size of the mini solo stove when folded down. The GSI stove uses isobutane, while the mini solo stove prides itself on not needing to carry fuel canisters, so it definitely would depend on your preference. 

Friendliness to the Earth

I could not find too many details on how these products are made, but GSI Outdoors is committed to responsible manufacturing, stewardship of the environment, and durability. I would love to know more about how they are committed to responsible manufacturing and environmental stewardship, but I can certainly attest that their products are quite durable and meant to last. 

The Final Word

Overall, the main thing that sets the cups and bowls apart is the ability to attach them to the outside of your pack ot harness, but I would have loved to see that same feature on the sporks.

The Glacier Canister-Top Stove is the most compact stove I have used, and it was very user-friendly. The tableware is very durable and would be great for everything from car camping to long backpacking trips. The Glacier Canister-Top Stove is great for guides like me to keep in our packs in case of emergencies, or your group just needing a pick-me-up warm beverage on cold days.

I would definitely bring this stove on backpacking and mountaineering trips as well, but would probably opt for something a bit larger for car camping or large groups. 

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