ADV Kitchen Gear

I love to cook and I love to use good tools to get the job done. Twenty years ago, any cooking device that was produced for camping was a compromise of what you had available in the kitchen at home.  Today things have changed! With the advancement in materials, production, design and manufacturing techniques, most of my ADV kitchen gear is a pleasure to use. From super sharp MSR knives to titanium cutlery, the equipment available today is a far cry from the flimsy or heavy camping utensils your parents had to use.

Since we first set out back in 2003 we've been continuously refining our camping and meal prep gear. As Items break we replace them, or as newer, stronger lighter equipment becomes available we swap out the old and bring in the new. The result of years of experience, testing, braking, burning and learning is that today, we carry a super lightweight range of cooking equipment that allows us to prepare and cook incredible meals anywhere in the world. Whilst on the road I've had the opportunity to cook for friends, political leaders, criminal bosses, Mongolian herdsmen and captains of industry.

So, with a hour to spare I've actually listed (for the first time) what I'm carrying, who makes it and what it does. As time allows, we'll be writing up our thoughts and reviews on how these items have performed,I guess as much for your benefit as our own. Some of items we carry may surprise you, so may how long some of them have lasted.  Check out below for some ideas of what to carry to make sure your next adventure tastes better.

What cooking equipment do we carry?

All of the items listed in both kitchen equipment and foodstuffs (see: ADV Meal Essentials) are easily packed into one pannier with space to spare. Of course if you’re planning a solo trip you’ll carry less anyway. Those of you two-up on a motorbike have to be a lot more selective and will have to choose which items are, for you, absolutely essential.

My Kitchen Equipment:

Cooking Gear

• 1 MSR Dragonfly stove. 2RTW report see here: MSR DaragonFly Stove Review
• 1 MSR 11 oz. fuel bottle.
• 1 MSR Expedition Service kit.
• Small frying pan. (I prefer not to use the camping variety but use a small 7” non-stick frying pan. I have only had buy 2 during our 11 years on the road. They last a long time!).
• 1.6 litre LifeVenture 2 nesting saucepan kit.
• 1 grill rack. (Essential for cooking on an open fire).
• 6 metal skewers (Essential for cooking on an open fire).
• A few sheets of tin foil. (Essential for cooking in an open fire).
• 4 egg poacher ‘pouches’.

 Eating Gear

• 2 MSR Alpine stainless steel bowls.
• 2 MSR Alpine stainless steel plates.
• 3 titanium stackable mugs (one spare for a visitor).
• 2 stainless steel tumblers. (This is a luxury as I got fed up with drinking absolutely everything from a mug as the years passed!).
• 2 pairs of chopsticks. (It’s a real treat for us to carry these as we had them given to us as a gift during our time in Japan).
• 2 teaspoons.
• 2 MSR titanium forks.
• 2 MSR titanium spoons.
• 2 small tin saucers. From our time in India and great for a side of salsa or other spices.

Prep Gear

• 2 MSR ‘mug mate’ reusable coffee filters.
• 2 MSR Alpine Kitchen Knives.
• MSR folding chopping board.
• Larger thin chopping board.(easily slides down the inside of a pannier).
• 1 small plastic bottle (great for mixing a dressing and because I like it as its cute!)
• 1 small grater. (Great for grating cinnamon into hot chocolate or grating lemon zest and I also carry it because it’s cute too!)
• 1 vegetable peeler.
• 1 can opener.
• 1 mini Norton knife sharpener stone.
• 1 small wooden spoon. (Yes, I’m old fashioned I prefer wooden spoons).
• 1 small wooden spatula.
• 1 MSR folding spatula.
• 1 MSR pan handler.

Extra Gear

• Clothes pegs – Good for clipping open bags closed.
• Zip lock bags.

Remember to pack and carry a pack of antibacterial wet wipes. They great for wiping your hands clean after you've eaten but also work to help clean up dishes, forks and utensils, when water of facilities are short.

I know, this list looks long and I can hear some of you saying ‘Huh! Why not carry the kitchen sink too!’. Well, I do ...the small foldable variety! I use it for everything from washing dishes when we are in ‘proper’ campsites, hand washing clothes, washing my hair and holding water for a ‘bucket shower’ when there are no showers.