GSI Camp Cook Set

By STEVE HITCHCOCK

No matter how much prep time I have prior to a trip, invariably I end up on the trail missing some slight piece of gear. Apparently, GSI had folks like me in mind with the release of its GSI Pinnacle Dualist, a $60 self-contained cook system that nestles two bowls, two mugs (with lids), and two spoons — all inside a 1.8-liter cook pot. Total set weight? A scant 21 ounces.

Following the kit’s packing instructions, it is possible to include a 220-gram stove fuel canister, as well as a small stove, inside the pot along with the other components. You secure the lid with the cook pot handle and drop it into the carry bag, which doubles as a backcountry sink. Viola! You now have a complete cook system for two people. Store this system as intended — and slide in any needed small utensils and matches — and you may never be without a basic cooking necessity again.

While testing this set on trips this fall, I was pleased with the kit’s performance. The strainer built into the pot lids and the measurement markings found on the inside of the bowls were nice. For the cook pot, the heat distribution was nice and even, and a Teflon-coated aluminum meant less food stuck inside. There were no noticeable hot spots in the pot. My meals all cooked well.

My only trouble came when I tried to cook flapjacks in the morning. Due to the depth of the pot, flipping the cakes was difficult. Another issue: My stove of choice, the trusty MSR Pocket Rocket, is a bit too large to pack neatly in the GSI system.

This system is designed with the “more than one” camp crowd in mind. (GSI does offer a pared-down version called the Soloist.) And while the Dualist could be used for one person, it would take up a bit more room than I would care to sacrifice.

But for two or more people on a camping or backpacking trip, this is a nice setup. At $60, it is not at all a bad deal either. www.gsioutdoors.com

—Steve Hitchcock is a Colorado-based writer, teacher, organic farmer, and outdoors guide. He blogs at www.UpaDowna.com.