Author Archives: Ian Chow

MSR Autoflow Water Filter Review: Streamlining Hydration for Outdoor Adventures

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In the world of outdoor exploration, access to clean water is non-negotiable. The MSR Autoflow Water Filter is a game-changer in this regard, offering backpackers and campers a reliable solution for obtaining safe drinking water in the backcountry. In this review, we’ll dive deep into the features, performance, and overall value of this essential piece of gear.

In the decades of being in the back country and adventure travelling, I have always used the MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter. It wasn’t only until my previous work allowed me to field test a gravity water filter did I become a convert to these types of filters. Read on below and watch the video review to see why Rob and I have to come the MSR Autoflow Water Filter as our go-to!

Bottom Line Up Front

  • Mechanical filtration can treat nearly all bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa and particulate
  • Easy use and field maintenance
  • Very robust and strong materials to prevent punctures and preserve product utility
  • Cannot be used in sub-zero temperatures

Specifications

  • Filter pore size: 0.2 microns (small enough to get rid of that pesky beaver fever, or giardia).
  • Volume of water reservoir: 10 litres or 2.64 gallons
  • Flow of filtration: 1.75 litres or 0.46 gallons per minute
  • Field maintenance: Yes; simply back flush
  • Cartridge life: 1500 Litres or 396 gallons, before replacement

Pros

  • Very compact system, fit well in backpack and not bulky
  • Made of strong material
  • Doesn’t leave a taste in water as in other systems, can taste like plastic, or iodine
  • Passive system, don’t have to continuously pump water
  • Easy system to clean: After every 10L, back lush with 1L of water

Cons

None of these cons are actually really cons, and we really had to reach for them.

  • Cannot be used in sub-zero temperatures; the filter may crack – however this is not unique to this filter and most filters will behave the same way
  • Priming the system can be tricky; we found the easiest way is to either back flush, or have the line just run, before putting the end of the hose into the water bottle
  • Over time, the mouth of the bag, where the connection points are, begin to degrade as the first thing to break down. But this is after 6 years of use and already impressed with the life span of the product

MSR Autoflow Water Filter

MSR Autoflow Water Filter (4L) in the field, with some fancy set up.

We love this product because it is easy to use and does a great job of filtering water. The MSR Autoflow water filter is designed to be used with gravity to filter large amounts of water quickly. We also appreciate the fact that it is designed to be used with gravity, which makes it much easier to use than other water filters on the market

It is ideal for use in situations where clean water is scarce, such as during natural disasters, and for those preppers, after a Sh*t Hits The Fan (SHTF) event. The MSR Autoflow Water Filter can filter up to 1.75 litres of water per minute, making it one of the fastest filters on the market. Additionally, it is made with durable materials that can withstand heavy use.

To note, again, do not use this filter in the winter as the residual water in the filter, when frozen, can expand and break the filtration mechanism inside.

How long does the filter last? Well, there’s no easy answer to that, but keep in mind the filter can last 1,500 litres. If you are 1 person, drinking and using 4 litres per day, this can last you 375 days. Yes, 10 days more than 1 year. Cleaning it should help extend the life span, but unsure for how long. From there, you may be able to calculate when to change the filter.

MSR Autoflow Water Filter Best Uses

Base camp: By far, this will be the best use at base camp, or home base, where you plan on having a few days. If you’re constantly on the move, that’s okay too! Anywhere you can hang this and let the gravity filter do it’s work.

While in the canoe, it may not be the easiest to use. But the idea is to have your water bottles filled before hitting the water. And if really need to refill, simply take a break, pull over, and filter some water. Otherwise, the hand pump MSR Miniworks will be a great back up.

Travelling will be helpful in hotel rooms should you not be able to find potable water. However, do note, that this will not filter out any chemicals and toxins, as it is only a mechanical filter. I have used the MSR Miniworks while travelling to varying degrees of success, largely due to the water filtration systems in the host country, and what remains in their water system coming out of the tap water. If you are sure your water is coming from, for example, fresh spring water, melting glacial water, or similar sources, then you may use this. To be safe, always know where your water is coming from!

Check the price for the MSR Autoflow XL 10 litres.

If you need a replacement filter, check it out here!

This MSR Autoflow Water Filter can’t come any more highly rated. One quick outing with Rob, and he was a convert and has been using it for years since. It is perfect for those who are looking for an investment gear to adventure travel, as it requires no pumps or chemicals. The MSR Autoflow Water Filter offers a reliable and efficient solution for obtaining clean water in the outdoors. With its innovative design, high-performance filtration system, and user-friendly features, it’s a must-have for backpackers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Whether embarking on a multi-day trek or enjoying a weekend camping trip, this versatile water filter ensures that safe hydration is always within reach. With the MSR Autoflow Water Filter by your side, you can explore with confidence, knowing that clean water is never far away.

Check out further details of the MSR Autoflow Water Filter in the video, below!

If you enjoyed this review, check out:

The North Face Storm Break 2 Review

https://explorationsevo.com/2022/07/storm-break-2-review

GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set Review

Unleash Your Outdoor Chef: A Comprehensive GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set Review!

EVO Car Share: First Timer Experience

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In my most recent trip to Vancouver, I tried Evo car share for the first time and I found it to be quite convenient and ideal for my kind of trip. This blog is sharing my experience to see if it’s worth it for you to sign up to use for a trip there. Read to the end for the discount code! Signing up was a breeze, cars were in good condition, support was awesome, and it was reasonably priced! This was the kind of trip where we didn’t need a car full time, but when we did it was to suburbs where otherwise it would’ve been difficult to reach. Little did I know, this decision would revolutionize the way I explored the city. In this recount of my experience, I aim to provide you with insights into the convenience, reliability, and overall value of using EVO Car Share in Vancouver.

Signing Up for Evo Car Share was Easy:

EVO Car Share Toyota Prius’s

The journey with EVO car share journey began with a seamless sign-up process.

Before I left, I signed up from Ontario. The procedure was pretty painless, but still need some forward planning. Give at least 3 business days for EVO car share to process, after you acquire your documents to provide to them. The main thing you needed was your driving record. It can be uncertified, but minimum of 2 years worth. I sent it in and the approval came just in time. For Ontario residences, visit Service Ontario and ask for your driving record. At the time of writing, it’ll cost you $12.

After that, with just a few taps on the EVO car share app, I registered for an account and gained access to their fleet of vehicles. The user-friendly interface made navigation a breeze, and within minutes, I was ready to hit the road. EVO car share’s commitment to simplicity and efficiency was evident from the get-go, setting a positive tone for the rest of my experience.

After getting there, I was a bit hesitant to actually use it in a rush for the first time ever. I was in a rush and didn’t want to rush through the process and screw it up. Luckily, Explorations Team member, Damian, is already on EVO car share and showed me how it works. It was actually very easy. You literally:

  • Open the app
  • Reserve a car which will give you a 30 minutes time limit to unlock the door (and cancel for free)
  • Do a quick inspection outside
  • Unlock the car door from the app and then you’re good to drive!

Convenience at Every Turn:

One of the immediate benefits of using EVO car share was the unparalleled convenience it offered. Whether I needed a car for a quick trip to the grocery store or a day-long excursion to the suburbs, EVO car share had me covered. With vehicles strategically located throughout the city, I could easily find and reserve a car that suited my needs, saving valuable time and effort. The flexibility of EVO car share’s service allowed me to adapt my travel plans on the fly, giving me the freedom to explore Vancouver at my own pace.

As for the cars, EVO uses a fleet of Prius’s, so feeling a bit more guilt free about driving and then getting stuck in traffic. These cars are in fairly good condition and other users generally leave them in decent condition. They come with pre-equipped roof racks for bikes, skis, and snowboards. Furthermore CBC states that they will be increasing their fleet!

As for parking, you don’t have to pay for it, anywhere in the “home zone”, ie nearly anywhere downtown area. You can do a “stopover” and not have to pay for parking. Gas? Free. They will reimburse you too, if you need to fill up gas.

The price is reasonable, especially if you use it for commuting with gear, more than one person, and to inaccessible places by the Skytrain.

Exceptional Customer Support:

One of the standout features of my experience with EVO was their exceptional customer support. On one occasion, I encountered a minor issue with the vehicle, and with the push of a button, I was connected to a friendly and knowledgeable agent. Their prompt assistance not only resolved the issue swiftly but also reassured me that help was always just a button away. It was evident that EVO prioritized customer satisfaction and went above and beyond to ensure a positive experience for their users.

Need help? Push a button to get help, relatively quickly. They call their service line and I got connected to a very helpful agent when I was completely turned around on how to exit a building and then was afraid I would get charged for the vehicle use.

Seamless Airport Drop-Off:

As my trip drew to a close, I was impressed by the seamless process of dropping off the EVO car share at the airport. After registering the car with the Park n Fly counter and providing them with the license plate, I simply dropped off the car, took a shuttle to the terminal, and boarded my plane hassle-free. The convenience of this drop-off option was a game-changer, allowing me to maximize my time in Vancouver without worrying about returning the car to a designated location.

Affordable and Transparent Pricing:

As a budget-conscious traveler, I was pleasantly surprised by the affordability of EVO’s service. With transparent pricing and no hidden fees, I knew exactly what to expect every time I used the service. EVO’s competitive rates made it a cost-effective alternative to traditional car rentals, especially for short trips or spontaneous excursions. Plus, with flexible payment options and no long-term commitments, I had the freedom to use EVO as often or as little as I pleased, without breaking the bank.

Having said this, I would caution using this as your primary go-to car, as it could get expensive and rack up if you use it often. And if you need a car for the whole day, there are cheaper options. If you foresee using public transit or having friends and family get you around, and when you’re on your own, this is definitely the way to go.

Conclusion of Evo Car Share:

In conclusion, after I used it for my 10 days in Vancouver and had an “on-demand” car, my experience with EVO Car Share in Vancouver exceeded all expectations. From the effortless sign-up process to the exceptional customer support and convenient airport drop-off, EVO proved to be a reliable and invaluable asset during my time in the city. Whether you’re a local looking for a flexible transportation solution or a visitor seeking convenience and freedom, EVO Car Share is the perfect companion for exploring Vancouver’s vibrant streets. With its user-friendly app, well-maintained vehicles, and commitment to customer satisfaction, EVO has set the standard for modern car-sharing services. So why wait? Sign up for EVO Car Share today and unlock a world of convenience and adventure on your next trip to Vancouver.

Evo Car Share Promocode: 9RTFB9NV

Join for free and use my promocode and get $25 of drive time, just for trying EVO! evo.ca

My EVO promo code is: 9RTFB9NV. If you’re already an existing BCAA member, you get additional perks!

Tips on Boarding Airplanes

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Since the pandemic struck, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten on an airplane to fly anywhere. In this new (almost) post-Covid context, here are some tips on boarding airplanes for your travels! This is more specific to a Canadian context, but may help other travelers as well!

Flying now is a bit more chaotic and challenging, with mad rushes to the airport where it’s understaffed as massive layoffs struck the industry to keep them afloat, financially. This is particularly true for Canadian travelers, whether it be domestic or international flights. Domestic flights, as I remembered it, were to board 45 minutes before flight. Now, airlines advise 2 hours and international flights to 2.5 hours, whereas it was previously 2.

In the background, staff are working to get luggage sorted, despite their best efforts, it is still a chaos with stories of lost luggage and wrong deliveries taking up to weeks to recover your bags, if ever. This is opting for several passengers to bring carry-ons, which then crowds the fuselage overhead compartments more and more, causing backups of passengers rushing to the front of the lines to board the plane for that prime real estate above their heads.

However, not all hope is lost, as there are some positive outcomes on these changes. No longer do you have to wait in line to get your boarding passes, which in its own right can be a nightmare, there may be opportunity to even book your security screening ahead of time if you know when you’ll be there!

So some tips to share after having gone through the whole process in our new context of, almost, post-covid era of flying. Information is largely dependent on your carrier and airport, but hope there’s enough similarities across the board that could help you out.

  • Check in: to be completed online, the carrier will send an email to confirm your check in. Once completed you’ll receive your boarding passes straight away to your email, or you can download a PDF containing the QR code and other relevant information.
  • Arrive to the airport actually early. This includes working backwards on how long it’ll take to get there, with traffic and delays. This should be 2 hours domestic and 2.5 international. This will also any stresses of delays and provide ample chill out time.
  • Boarding passes: as mentioned, it could be a QR code, or you could download a PDF and print it out (but why…?).
  • Check how long security takes here at Pearson International Airport
  • Security check can be booked online ahead of time, in that, you walk up to the gate and check in. (Not do the security check online): For Pearson International Airport: https://www.torontopearson.com/en/departures/yyz-express
    • Check your carrier and airport to see if they can book security

For those looking for COVID cleanliness, be prepared yourself. Bring hand sanitizer (wipes) and masks. Sanitize even the contact points around your seat, if it makes you feel more comfortable. I have learned the airflow in the plane is pretty good and only your immediate seat area is recycled air. The masks will be more important in the airport proper where transmission is higher. However, in the washroom stalls on the planes, be sure to keep your masks on.

Admittedly, and for the sake of complication, my flight, I made sure I didn’t have a need to do any check in luggage and not able to speak to that. I had the good ol’ carry on and personal bag.

Furthermore, I traveled domestically, so vaccine passports and other requirements were not necessary. However, I would suggest other travelers to pay close attention to the country entry requirements to avoid any disappointment. Hopefully these tips on boarding airplanes will be helpful for you!

Bannock Backcountry Bread: Explorations Eats

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Another video of Exploration eats, this time focusing on Bannock backcountry bread! Why Bannock in the backcountry? Well, why not!? You get fresh hot bread that’s easy to make in the back country for your breakfast, or great additions to your meals.

I will admit straight up, I’m not a bread maker, let alone a baker. Fry bread came to me when I was travelling in the Dakotas and found a fry bread mix that I thought would work for camping, decades ago. Only recently did I more actively seek recipes to make and try out in the back country. I share this to caveat that: if I misinform, apologies – please do share with us what could be done to make it better!

I will give full credit to The Spruce Eats for this recipe, being reproduced below: https://www.thespruceeats.com/native-american-fry-bread-4045432

Recipe:

  • 3 cups vegetable oil or shortening (enough for 1-inch depth, for frying)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk (substitute with 1.5 tablespoons of Bulk Barn powdered milk.)

Instructions and Tips:

  • Quite simply, premix this all the dried ingredients that’s ready to go for the back country into a container
    • Ziploc bag is recommended for space saving as you go through the ingredients, it’ll shrink in size as you consume it, as opposed to a solid container.
  • When ready (in the field), mix in the water to the mixture and let stand for 15 minutes so the milk reconstitutes. Or just be a monster and mix and go.
    • Add more just a little bit of water or powder as necessary.
  • The consistency should be thicker than pancake powder and sticking to the spoon, but still slightly gelatinous-like
  • The consistency will make it hard to work (I think), so I use a spoon to shape it in the fry pan.
  • Pour your vegetable into the fry pan.
  • Work your bannock batter into the pan, small balls at a time and press to flatten.

The variation with the powdered milk is our adaptation, for the backcountry. For the powdered milk, if you’d like to have more insight, follow this link to other powdered milk that we have reviewed for use in the back country, specifically!

Bulk Barn states, “To reconstitute, always add milk powder to cold water. For smoothness and flavour, mix at night for use the next day. For 1 glass of milk, mix 3 tablespoons (30 g) of powder with 1 cup (250 ml) of cold water.”

Bannock comes from a complicated history of colonial rule and the creation of the reserves in Canada. Fry bread was brought over to Canada on sea-faring ships by the British (also consisting of Irish and Scottish descendants). When the Indigenous population was put into reserves, from 1830 onwards, they had learned the way to create fry bread and has since become to be recognized as a staple of Indigenous cuisine.

Hope you enjoy the Bannock backcountry bread! Video, below:

Introduction to Scuba Diving: Amateur Hour Episode 5

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Our fifth episode of Amateur Hour, where we’re not experts, but we have a little more experience than the lay person on various topics. This episode, we’re giving an introduction to scuba diving! Check out our first episode here where we introduced ourselves and various topics on back country camping.

In this episode, it is Damian who is the one that has zero diving experience and has all the questions. Rob has his Open Water and his own gear for 20 years, while Ian has been diving for 10 years and has his Advanced Open Water and his Wreck Diving. Both have their licenses through PADI.

Damian has his well founded reservations of scuba diving, especially into the unknown. The lakes in around Ontario and typically very dark, with some exceptions, are also very clear waters. What got Ian and Rob into diving is specifically that, the unknown. The flora and fauna is something everyone typically sees on land. But only few get to be up close and personal of the flora and fauna under water. All of this is so different than the life forms you’d see on land and the experience is just one of a kind.

Ian swimming through wrecks in Northern Bali

The experience is also unbelievable, to be neutrally buoyant and floating and suspended in space while observing the odd life forms from a close-ish distance, relative to the size of the organism. You get to see sharks and abundance of sea life, corals, giant kelp forests, ship wrecks and go exploring through them. Things you may not otherwise find on land!

Despite the amazing experience you could garner from diving, it is a higher barrier to entry and can be cost prohibitive. You’ll also typically need boats to reach better dive sites, dive masters/guides who’re familiar with the tidal area, and a crew to operate the boat while you’re out diving, especially in a drift dive. The cost is also higher in North America for getting trained up, though usually at resorts in the Caribbean’s and South east Asia (both regions where Rob and Ian got their licenses) are typically cheaper. However, you still need to get there, which in itself is not very cheap.

However, once there, we would suggest to do a “try – a – dive” with Padi; you’ll be with a personal dive master/guide who will walk you through everything and will not stay far away from you during your dive. This is a good way to try it out before committing a couple hundred bucks to getting your Open Water!

All this information and more, with the introduction to scuba diving episode!

If you enjoyed the introduction to scuba diving amateur hour, you may want to check out:

Introduction to Overlanding: Amateur Hour Episode 4
Winter Camping: Amateur Hour Episode 3

Killarney Adventure

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Join Rob and friends as they embark on an eight day trip in Killarney adventure! This Episode 3 concludes the trip in Ontario’s Killarney Provincial Park, with reflections on the good and the lessons learned (never bad)!

In the first episode, the trip started at the Bell lake put in. In the second episode, we saw Rob made the hike up to the iconic white cliffs of Killarney, Silver Peak.

In the third episode, it starts off on beautiful morning on Day 7 with mirrored lakes, classic of the Ontario interior. With blue berries collected from yesterday’s hike up to Silver Peak, they were able to make wild blue berry pancakes. They cooked over the GSI bugaboo camp set, which Rob has also reviewed.

However, needing to cut the trip short, the group decided to bail on day 8 instead of staying the full 9 days. It was forecasted for torrential rain for the whole day 9. Camping, portaging, breaking camp, all sucks in torrential downpour. They also still a week long car camping at Grundy Provincial Park and setting up in the rain would also suck. So, they decided to enjoy paddle out instead of being miserable. You, too, can create your happiness!

This last day would consist of 6 to 7 kilometers of paddling, with some decent portage, which would have to be done 3 times. A bit of a slog, but would have been worse in the rain.

On day 8, high cirrus clouds came rolling in, indicative of pro-longed rain to come in the next few days. Luckily the decision to leave was a good one. On their way out, they would pass by old logging camp, largely an empty field now, where nature grew over to see any evidence. Sets of nice little rapids, dammed by beavers. To which, carry overs on the canoe were essential. The ABS canoes are worth the extra weight!

In the end, the trip was a success with lots of beautiful views, blue berries, learning of the quartzite rocks and how to avoid being soaked. This concludes the 8 day Killarney adventure!

Enjoy the trip diary, below!

If you enjoyed this video, you might also enjoy:

Backcountry Camping at McCrae Lake

https://explorationsevo.com/2022/05/backcountry-camping-mccrae-lake/

Moon River Paddling

Moon River Paddling

Killarney Silver Peak

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Join Rob and friends as they embark on an eight day trip in Killarney backcountry paddling! This Episode 2 showcases Killarney Silver Peak in Ontario’s Killarney Provincial Park.

In the first episode, the trip started at the Bell lake put in. Typical of an Ontario summer, and especially more so during COVID, lots of people are looking to get out and about. The put in for the lake is super busy, with cars lined down the parking lot. We left it off the episode at the increasingly dire situation of rain pooling under the tent and draining through, where it was possible to make ripples on the tent floor.

We begin this second episode on Day 4, which is looking to be a nice day, clouds passed, and good day to dry out gear. Hanging everything up, it resembles the enchanted forest of wet items, clothes, foot print of tent, all billowing in the wind.

Exploring the lake and the park, and quintessentially Canadian shorelines, you’ll encounter loon calls, muskegs old dock, beaver dams or even some old foundation of what used to be the lumber industry.

Portaging 600m with food barrels 3 times because of gear. Keep number of back and forth in planning trips. The goal is always one trip, but that is hardly the case. Especially with kids. Rob here gives a brief gear run down, but check out our video here for more in depth gear packing!

Finally, on day 6 we reach Killarney Silver Peak. This is the highest point in Killarney Provincial Park, which is a 5 km hike up and down. At the peak, you can see all the way to Sudbury in the East, and in the West the body of water of Georgian Bay.

Silver peak is part of the La Cloche range, mountain/hill range. La Cloche is made of quartzite, which gives it the iconic white look. If you ever wondered why the rocks have been so bright, it’s because of the high quantities of quartzite. According to Wikipedia, Quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. And over Canada, and specifically in Ontario and the Killarney region, there was 2km thick of ice, creating this pressure, during the ice age.

Along the way, you’ll find wild black, blue and rasp-berries! Be sure you’re confident with your plant identification, before picking!

All this and more, with the episode, below!

If you enjoyed Killarney Backcountry Paddling, check out these videos!

Backcountry Camping at McCrae Lake

https://explorationsevo.com/2022/05/backcountry-camping-mccrae-lake/

Moon River Paddling

Moon River Paddling

Killarney Backcountry Paddling

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Join Rob and friends as they embark on an eight day trip in Killarney backcountry paddling! This is in Ontario’s Killarney Provincial Park. This is Episode 1 of a video diary day paddle trip!

The trip started at the Bell lake put in. Typical of an Ontario summer, and especially more so during COVID, lots of people are looking to get out and about. The put in for the lake is super busy, with cars lined down the parking lot.

Luckily, the first campsite is 150m out and so despite the crowds it’s an easy enough paddle into the site. The is a very rocky tent set ups with guying out and staking to be creative. This tends to be reflective of the shorelines of Ontario for the most part. You have rocky shores of the boreal shield that years of growth of flora has decomposed over the ground to create an uneven ground of dirty over rock.

The one about this particular site is that there is a terribly placed thunder box; everyone can see it from campsite. Hope you’re close with your friends! Regardless, it’s a super beautiful site on the lake.

Over the next couple of days, Rob makes the portages through Balsam lake and David lake, with more in the coming episodes! Encountering also very typical weather patterns of Ontario and micro-climates. Loving the weather, with threats of rain and then no rain. That has been largely the feeling of weather these days in Ontario, when it has been forecasted to be raining all week and then it doesn’t. However, have no fear, you can still make fire when it’s wet!

With the threat of rain, it’s usually accompanied by some wind. While out paddling, it’s so helpful to have the wind at your back and running the wind in a canoe. Makes for easy paddling!

Finally when the rain comes, Rob realizes there’s a leaking fly. At least the floor is fine with the help of a foot print, and the hydrostatic pressure of the tent floor has held up over the years. Admittedly the tent is 8 years old, so it’s holding up considering the usage!

All this and more in the video diary, below! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed Killarney Backcountry Paddling, check out these videos!

Backcountry Camping at McCrae Lake

https://explorationsevo.com/2022/05/backcountry-camping-mccrae-lake/

Moon River Paddling

Moon River Paddling

Exploring Pelee Island

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It’s been a while since we had some trip diaries. Here we have Rob exploring Pelee Island in Ontario, the southernmost inhabited point of Ontario. You can only get to the island via a ferry. It’s boasted as Canada’s best kept secret! As a point of reference it’s roughly 70km (43 miles for you Americans), as the crow flies, South South East of Detroit on Lake Eerie.

Getting to Pelee Island, you may check out:

Pelee Island Ferries

If you’re looking for some ideas of places to stay attraction points, you may want to check out:

And a huge shout out to Pelee Motors for helping out with the battery issue!

If you enjoyed exploring Pelee Island, you may want to check out:

Rockwood Conservation

Rockwood Conservation

Nashville Conservation

Nashville Conservation

Greenwood Conservation

Greenwood Conservation

Unleash Your Outdoor Chef: A Comprehensive GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set Review!

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Are you an outdoor enthusiast seeking the perfect companion for your culinary escapades in the wilderness? Look no further than the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set. This all-in-one camp kitchen solution is designed to elevate your outdoor cooking experience, whether you’re embarking on a backcountry backpacking trip or enjoying a weekend camping getaway with friends and family.

Jump straight to the video gear review where Rob walks us through the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set. He’s had this set for nearly 9 years, in total usage, is about 36 weeks. Frankly, I think this is a gross under-estimation as he also camps through the winter and it goes through some hard extreme uses.

But given his total time of owning and using the GSI Bugaboo Camper Coosk Set, he’s got some great insights to this cook set! For a set that lasts for 9 years and counting, it’s an investment to make!

GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set: A Comprehensive Review

As an avid camper and backpacker, we understand the importance of having reliable and efficient cookware that can withstand the rigors of outdoor adventures. That’s why we were excited to review the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set after years of using it!

Some quick highlights of Pros and Cons, below:

Pros:

  • Super compact and stackable into itself
  • 9 x 6 inches, perfect for 4 people
  • 3lbs, which is plenty light for backpacking, including bowls and cups!
  • Non-stick (is a preference, but here we placed it in a pro)
  • Locking handle, to secure pots and pans
  • Measurement lines for convenience for things like powdered milk!
  • Carrying bag which doubles as a wash basin

Cons:

  • Non-stick (I know, we stuck it in a Pro. We just have to be more careful with it in the field)
  • Not incredibly robust on the coating
  • Orange tabs on the lid top falls off right off the bat
  • The side walls on the pots are starting to deteriorate; though granted it has been 9 years
  • Cannot replace individual components and you’ll have to replace the whole pot set
  • The little foam insulation pads on the cups… check out the video – too much to describe! haha

A quick note on non-stick pots and pans, it’s important you do not place them on the top of the fire as it will destroy the non-stick coating. This set is only used with stoves.

Design and Durability: Built to Last

One of the first things that impressed me about the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set is its sturdy and durable construction. Crafted from high-quality aluminum and featuring a non-stick Teflon coating, this cookware set is built to withstand the demands of outdoor cooking while remaining lightweight and easy to transport.

Versatility: Everything You Need in One Package

The GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set comes complete with everything you need to prepare delicious meals in the great outdoors. From pots and pans to plates, bowls, and even a folding pot gripper, this comprehensive set has you covered for all your camp kitchen needs. Plus, the nesting design allows for convenient storage and organization, making it perfect for backpacking trips where space is limited.

Performance: Cooking Made Easy

During my camping trip, Rob had put the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set through its paces, cooking everything from hearty breakfast skillets to savory evening stews. I’ve had the change to use it many ‘o times and I impressed by how quickly and evenly the cookware heated up, allowing me to whip up delicious meals with ease. The non-stick coating made cleanup a breeze, even after cooking sticky sauces and marinades.

Portability: Ideal for Backpacking Adventures

As someone who enjoys backpacking in remote wilderness areas, we appreciate gear that is lightweight and compact without sacrificing performance. The GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set ticks all the boxes in terms of portability, with each piece nesting neatly inside the next to minimize space and weight in my pack. Plus, the included carrying case keeps everything organized and protected during transport.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Outdoor Cooking Experience with the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set

In conclusion, the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set is a must-have for any outdoor enthusiast who enjoys cooking delicious meals in the wilderness. With its durable construction, comprehensive design, and impressive performance, this cookware set delivers everything you need to enjoy gourmet meals under the stars. Whether you’re embarking on a weekend camping trip or a backcountry backpacking adventure, the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set is sure to become your go-to kitchen companion. So why wait? Invest in the GSI Bugaboo Camper Cook Set today and take your outdoor cooking experience to the next level!

Without further adieu, check out the review in full, below!

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