How to Choose Camping Cookware

Everyone needs a little sustenance after a long hike. The OXO Compact can and bottle opener lets you quickly dig into that can of chili or bottled beverage when you make it back to camp.
Imported.
View all OXO Cooking UtensilsBest Use | Camping |
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Material(s) | ABS/stainless steel/POM |
Dimensions | 3.4 x 2.6 inches |
Weight | 4.2 ounces |
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I tested my OXO can/bottle opener before heading to the woods. Fortunately I had a beer bottle that required an opener and a fresh can of locally sourced peaches. After a brief fumble the can opener worked flawlessly as did the bottle opener. No complaints here
Finally an opener that's the right size, is rugged, and doesn't require crossfit muscle to use. I love it. I've been using an old opener for years for camping trips, and I dreaded the fumbling around it required to open a can of corn. On a recent trip to Yosemite we used the OXO opener and loved it. The handle is large enough for a good grip, the connection area fit on each can we opened, and it was all quick and painless. I highly recommend this opener for anyone with arthritis, hand or dexterity weakness or injuries, or anyone that wants a simple tool that works flawlessly.
“I received these products for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review.” What a mighty little opener! Very smooth opening a can (easier than the one I have for my home) and the bottle opener is an added bonus. It just makes food prep and popping the top off a cold drink just a little easier.
This little can opener is a nifty little powerhouse in a small package. The size is larger than your standard backpacking stainless steel openers but it's designed to be comfortably used while still remaining small. This would be perfect for a compact solution for car camping but more of a 'luxury' item for backpacking. The bottle opener on the bottom also makes me believe it's more of a car camping/overlanding item than for backpacking, but perfect for a dayhike to point B and celebrate with your favorite bottled beverage at the top. It takes up about the same amount of space as a standard sized tuna can. It opens cans incredibly easily despite not having the squeeze handles of a full sized kitchen can opener. It does this with a nifty little clamp mechanism. You attach the opener to the side of the can and when you turn the crank clockwise the opener clamps down on the can. Turn it anticlockwise to loosen the clamp. It's comfortable enough to hold despite being small and all the wear points are reinforced for longevity. They've also solved my longest unsolved problem, how to easily get the lid out once it's opened. There's a small magnet on the bottom, just plop it on top of your opened side and pull the topper right off. Thanks OXO :)
I've been using this can opener for a couple weeks now. At first I found the operation of the opener a bit confusing, I still don't fully understand the lock/unlock mechanism but it somehow works for me every time! The locking mechanism on this device is also very secure on cans, I've so far had no issue with slippage or coming disengaged before the lid is removed. What I have realized that I don't truly love about this can opener is that it can be fairly awkward to use due to the compact size, but if you want this for car camping that seems to be a fair trade off. The compact design is also great if you are looking to carry less bulky items, but you don't want to go as basic as using a can tapper, because lets be real; can tappers are not fun to use. The bottle opener on this is a nice addition, and has a magnet to keep the crown from flying away. I'm usually a pretty big fan of Oxo products and think they are generally designed well, from what I own, they are typically durable and long lasting, and this design on this seems like its going to last. The plastics used on this also feel very nice to the touch, Oxo always does really well there. Overall I'm giving it 4/5 stars, its great on everything except the somewhat awkward handling.
The OXO Compact Can & Bottle Opener conveniently fits into my camping bin , and is easily located by it's red body. I like that it doesn't roll around when sitting on the table, and has no protruding 'legs' to get tangled with my other gear. While I have huge hands, it fits well in my palm; though I do wonder how it will handle when I'm wearing gloves. The can opener is easy to operate, and requires just a few quick turns to do it's job. Similarly, the bottle opener works to help me "quench my thirst"! While I haven't abused the opener too much, it's construction appears to be bombproof. Do it!
The OXO compact can and bottle opener is perfect for car camping and even for long biking journeys along the coast, where you stop to camp and purchase food. It has a nice locking feature so that the knob doesn’t turn in your pocket/backpack and importantly it’s size, shape, and weight lends itself to more efficient packing. The cutting gears glide smoothly to open your cans, but you might have to get used to how to detach it from your can. With a little practice, you can open cans single handedly with the other hand holding onto the can. If you’re opening a shorter can, like a chicken or tuna can, I’d recommend placing the can by the edge of a table/rock etc so that the opener can hang off the side uninhibited by the table as you turn it. A great little feature is that there is a small magnet at the bottom the device that can be used to pull the metal lid out of the can once you’re done opening it! The bottle opener has a nice feature of catching your cap in the device (not sure if it had worked as easily for others, but I found that the magnet picks up the cap up as it comes off). I love this little feature which makes it so you’re not littering or looking around by dim campfire light for your bottle cap. To clean the device and keep it in good working order, without rust, I’d recommend taking a piece of paper towel and folding a few times till it’s about 1/4 inches thick. Then run it through the gears just like you’re opening a can, while turning the knob. This will get any moisture in the gears cleaned out and dried up as you refold and run it through a few times. I don’t often take can foods with me camping unless I’m car camping (I usually use dehydrated meals that can be reconstituted with water), but I know this comes in handy for my emergency kit. For friends that live the van life, this little device is a great space saver in your cutlery drawer. It can also be hung on a hook by its bottle opener hole. All around, this is a well designed product, from a dependable brand, that has the practicality of the user in mind!
This "compact" can and bottle opener has a very large and very deep space behind the drive wheel where food can accumulate. Think squirts of sauces or soups. This is a blind space: the only access is from around the drive wheel. The only way to do any significant cleaning would be to use a high pressure water jet such as from a water pick device for cleaning between teeth. The opener is far from compact. There are many smaller can openers available, including those on many camping knives. My favorite is one sold under the brand name Nogent. It's an upscale version of a classic, small opener with large, padded wings on the drive wheel.
The can opener is great, very easy to use. The bottle opener is a little awkward at first, but it works. It is nice to have a two-in-one. It definitely has a permanent place in my regular car camping kitchen box.
I was more interested in the bottle opener than the can opener but a 2/1 unit saves space in the camp box. Can opener works just fine…with either hand! Appreciate accommodation for the left handed folks. The bottle opener works, but is slightly dangerous. There is not a good way to grip without fingers getting into the can opener cutting wheel. It takes serious effort to avoid. Never got a cut but doesn’t seem like the best design.