Ah, the spork. Of all the considerations when outfitting for a backcountry adventure, dining utensils might be the most trivial鈥攗ntil you find yourself sans spoon, trying to scoop oatmeal with your driver鈥檚 license.
Out of the many available options, the best comes from Guyot Designs. Known for innovative concepts like the , the Maine-based brand has crafted a small catalog of niche, solution-oriented products that include the satisfyingly simple utensil set.
At $8, MicroBites is arguably the most bang for your buck of any outdoor-dining accessory. Comprised of two pieces, the kit handily covers the requisite duties of fork, spoon, and serrated butter knife. But Guyot Designs takes it one step further with a 1.8-inch-wide, spatula-style tool that鈥檚 perfect for smearing viscous spreads as well as flipping foods like quesadillas and pancakes. It also excels at prying sticky foods from containers or burned pans (helpful if you forgot to pack聽olive oil before hitting the trail) and scraping the dregs off dishes during your postmeal cleaning session.
Ideal for backpacking, the MicroBites kit is lightweight鈥攁t 0.77 ounces, it鈥檚 on par with all but the most weight-shaving ultralight options鈥攚ithout sacrificing durability. Sturdier than the flimsy, disposable plastic utensils the company hoped to replace, the set is also more forgiving than classic metal ones (read: it won鈥檛 scratch that ). Plus, it鈥檚 made of a nylon polymer that can withstand temperatures of聽up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. And nothing you could throw at it on the trail will leave a mark, save chucking it in a campfire.
The MicroBites is a smaller聽version of Guyot鈥檚 larger utensil set, which allows it to nest inside a standard . When it鈥檚 time to pack up, the two pieces snap together to form a single聽sleek unit with aligning cutouts in the handles, so the combined tool can be clipped to your cookware externally. A simple carabiner around the drawstring of a stuffsack does the trick, ensuring it will always be there when it鈥檚 time to chow down.