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Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit

$24.95

(17)

Item # 401048

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Designed for two backpackers, this kit embodies simplicity and economy.

Aluminum cookset is lightweight, compact and sturdy for backpacking
Includes 1.25-qt. pot, 7-in. frypan, two 6.25-in. dishes, two 8-oz. plastic cups with handles and internal measuring marks, and a clamp handle
Kit nests together and is held shut with a nylon strap and ladderloc buckle

Made in USA.

Item 401048

$4.99

with coupon code ANNV13
May 17-27 Details

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Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit

3.6

(based on 17 reviews)

81%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Compact (15)
Lightweight (14)
Durable (12)
Stable (7)
Easy to clean (6)

Cons

Difficult to clean (7)

Best Uses

Backpacking (13)
Car camping (9)
Hiking (6)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (9), Casual/ recreational (8)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (14)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (9)

Reviewed by 17 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Apr

2013

3.0

Decent first kit

By Mharon47

from Colorado

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable

Cons

Difficult to Clean
Heavy

Best Uses

Car Camping

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

Good starter set. this was the first set I bought. though now my set has changed drastically. I would reccomend this to anyone who doesnt have a set yet. its great to learn on. I had a friend who dropped over 100 dollars on a set that he completely redid because after a few trips he realized he didnt need some things and he did need others. good set. great for the price. I still use it occasionally, but its heavy compared to what i use now.

Comment on this review

Jan

2013

4.0

Seems good

By Solid210

from Pennsylvania

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

This seems like a nice little kit. I will be removing a few things and adding others to use for just myself. My only gripe is it was advertised with a strap that would hold it together, but it came with a mesh bag. I wanted a strap for my method to attach it to the outer of my pack to spare some room inside. I look forward to using this a lot.

Comment on this review

Oct

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

first set of pots I've bought

By Dana Day

from Long Beach, CA.

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Clean
Lightweight

Cons

Unstable

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

First time buying pots for cooking outdoors on a mountain stove. For the price this set was amazing! I bought this set with the 2 quart pot seperatly. It was tricky to use the pot grip, but it was so cold where I was at that I just used my mittens with the pot grip when picking up the pot. Great deal for the price and it worked out great for me and my friend.

Comment on this review

Oct

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good not great

By Manifest Destiny

from Elizabeth, NJ

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

Got this cause even though i only wanted a couple of the items it was cheaper to buy this package than buy what i wanted individually. Overall, it's nothing special but it gets the job done. Easier heating water, or whatever, up with this than nothing. Cheap, light weight, comes with a stuff sack. Nothing too special but also nothing you worry about being too rough with.

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Depends on what you cook

By ProudReiMember

from Bay Area, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Lightweight

Cons

Difficult to Clean

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

For backpacking this thing is great because it's just so light. The included cups are great for scooping food but I don't use the two plates at all. However, the biggest problem with this set is that it's not non-stick. If you don't really know what you're getting into, it's really a pain to clean. Seriously. My pot is now stained a dark, charcoal grey inside but smells totally normal. It's just some weird discorloration but I dont mind it. You can't cook eggs in this thing and a lot of other things.

Bottom line: If you just want to boil water, then this is a good choice especially being so light. But if you want to cook meals that is more than just water, you'll be disappointed.

Comment on this review

May

2012

5.0

Really Compact

By Alex in a Car

from Illinois

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Easy To Clean
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Car Camping

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

We have used this on many camping trips and a cross country road trip. It packs away small to keep the camp kitchen compact. This is not good for proper cooking as food loves to stick to the bare aluminum, but they're perfect for heating canned food. We actually ended up combining two kits to accommodate 4 people (the second we found [@] [$]!). 4 cups and 4 plates still fit inside, and the whole thing still fits in the travel bag! For our limited space this is much better than a 4-person mess kit, which looks outright gigantic in comparison.

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

5.0

Good Bang for the Buck

By Beaux Griffith

from Nashville, TN

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Hiking

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

I've read other reviews saying this kit is hard to clean. I make eggs in this kit with no problem. Clean the thing as soon as you are done like I've always done. I've never had a problem. Little water and a paper towel or wet wipe and it's clean enough I can wait til after I eat to make it perfect. The best things about this set is the handle removes for use on each of the multiple use aluminum pieces so the handle never has to get hot. It's very compact when together and has a carrying bag. It can't rust. No tephlon to scratch so it lasts forever. It's also made in the USA. Not in China! It might change colors and look old with use but that just makes it look cool. U can use the lid or bottom as bowls or pots and the plates for skillits or lids. Using as a lid is a tad harder. It's small but perfect for soup and beans or eggs. A burger or sausages works well too. Carry a sponge with scotchbrite on one side and just clean it with a little water after use when its cool enough to touch. When I camp I cook over a fire. Have a loaded backpack, a tent and a cooler bag with some drinks and ice. This kit is so light I can't tell when it's in or out. If you misplace the handle you can replace it on REI's site for about $5. it also has room inside for 2 sets of those swiss type knives, spoons and forks and all with bottle openers and cork scews. If you want to burn your food or not clean after use, maybe you should get non-stick. If you want something to last forever for less money that takes up little room but this. We love it! Better than army surplus stuff and cheap enoug you won't be upset if you lose or ruin a piece. I wish my home cookware compacted this nice.

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

5.0

Best set yet!

By biggest boyscout

from Naperville, IL

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Easy To Clean
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Difficult to Clean

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Hiking

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

We bought this set several years ago, its become our standard use set. We've used it for both our childrens scouting events & now we are using it on our backpacking excursions. I've bought other sets thinking they could replace it, not so. For the price you can't find a better value. I'm a pot watcher so I've never burnt anything in them. My stoves have good flame control which also helps. Another nice feature about this set is my tea kettle nests nicely with in it, the stove I use for the kettle and a fuel cannister fit inside it. Your eating ultinsels, stove, fuel & cooking set nest together in a 7"x4" package weighing less than 3 lbs. It does what I need and who could ask for more

Comment on this review

Jun

2011

4.0

exteme use

By yamahawarrior

from golden colorado

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Durable
Easy To Clean
Lightweight
Love the gripper
Stable

Cons

Bad lid at times

Best Uses

Backpacking
Biking trip
Car Camping
High Altitude
Hiking

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

me and two friends went on a month and a half long biking camping trip and we had two different camping mess kits this one and a different one.
we used our backpacking camping stoves and camp fire to cook through out the trip we cooked every day almost used the kit every time we cooked and multiple times a day. through out this trip we ended up having to share the grippers as we all loved them. the guy who had this kit used it on two other large trips and several small camping trips and loved it never had a problem with it. during our trip we were wishing we all had this kit. the kit size was just right made cooking easy and fun. one downside with this kit was that lid was a bit difficult at times but no big deal we got over this issue very fast. we cooked several different things with this kit even made pancakes with the kit and it did just fine i would cook pancakes again with this kit.
if your not picky and a good cook watching as to not burn or rush things and dont want nonstick and all the upgrade features then go for this kit it passed our extreme amount of uses and should be great for the average user. our friend who had this kit actually downsized the kit to lid pan and grippers and upgraded to a better cup.

Comment on this review

Jun

2011

(0 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Just Okay

By joel3739

from Las Vegas, NV

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Lightweight

Cons

Small

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about Open Country Backpacker 2-Person Mess Kit:

Overall the mess kit served it primary function, however the serving dishes were a little small, they definitely cannot hold a hearty meal. Attended a Scouting function with my son and the plates did not hold enough food, so if you wanted more you needed to go back or risk loading the plate up and spilling the contents as you walked.