|
That's why I give 4 stars to Optimus and 5 stars to Brunton. I liked the Optimus design more than Brunton one, but the knife from that set has no sharp edge. I have purchased Optimus Titanium 3-Piece Cutlery Set (fork, knife, spoon) and Brunton My-Ti 3-Piece Titanium Flatware Set. Both of them are very useful and must have for the picnics.
Previously I was always losing my old lexan utensils.These are also a good value compared to other brands' sets. The included carabiner is handy for keeping all my utensils together - I keep two sets of these Brunton utensils and one long titanium spoon on one 'biner. This is the best set of camping flatware that I have used. They are strong, lightweight, and clean up very easily.
If I don't, they fill their packs with candy to "fuel up" during the hike, and then throw-up in their tents late at night, which leaves us all feeling cranky. If I take my wife and kids along, I take the full set for meal preparation. I gave my wife her OWN spork for Mothers day, but I make my kids carry large stainless steel cutlery and heavy, bulky gear. This is a very nice set at a very good price. This cutlery is for adults only. I have the cutlery set AND a spork, and I like to use them each for different circumstances. Brunton's titanium cutlery is light, well made, and sturdy. If I'm solo, it's the spork and a pocket knife.
Fork is modestly useful. It seems perfect for cutting up cooked carrots or something of that nature. The fork: It serves its purpose. Executive summary: Knife is not useful. I feel ambivalent about it, I could get by without it.If you don't need the ultralight, just get a "hobo knife" or "hobo tool" there are many here on Amazon. You wouldn't want to use it to cut an apple up. If you need ultralight, grab a titanium spoon only, or a titanium spork.
But for most backpackers, buy a separate long handled titanium spoon. There are some long handled titanium spooons which work much better. HOWEVER it is too short (at 6.375 inches long) to eat out of a food bag (a la backpacker's pantry or mountain house) without getting food all over the handle where you have to hold it. Or, look for a spork you actually like (yes, I know there is a bias against sporks, but really they are very practical).The long version of my review:I was wanting to get this set for a while, and my wife finally bought it for me for Xmas.I am an avid backpacker, and over the years I am trying to reduce the weight of my gear, and this seemed to be a good choice.Here is what I have to say:The kit as a whole: I like how they are clipped together, better than some passive sliding locking system. The spoon: The most used part of the kit, good for stirring soup, tea, or eating cooked freeze dried food.
Spoon is most useful but too short. In short, you think you need it because you use it at home, but when you get out in the field you really don't. I carry a couple sharp knives with me anyway, and a dinner knife just isn't that useful out in nature. If you know you need all this, then buy the kit. You can also use the loop for other food related items, and keep it all together.The knife: Not useful, redundant.
I used to just being an old SS fork and spoon (from an old set) that I drilled a hole in the handle to loop a bit of rope. the SS tines bent, the titanium ones didn't. boy. In addition to weighing a bunch less, they're quite a bit stronger too.
I've had other Brunton items in the past, and they're pretty easy to work with. Of course, they're not MEANT to be pry tools, I just wanted to compare. and I HATE plastic flatware (even lexan) as I sometimes use my flatware to cook with, and I've melted more lexan forks than I care to remember (which is why I switched to my old SS). but for the sake of bent or misaligned tines, I'd just take a pair of pliers to it if it was me. Regarding what someone else said about mfr defects, I guess that can happen with anything, whether it be a true MANUFACTURING defect or if it's some sort of damage (something fell on it at the warehouse) causing bent tines or the like. I got done christmas shopping early and had a little left over so I thought I'd treat myself.
There is NO comparison to any of the cheaper brand SS flatware. Eat well on the trail. this whole set weighs less than my old SS soup spoon. I interlaced the tines on this fork into the tines of my old SS fork and bent the two.
|
