Bought it on impulse at Walmart for $9 because I needed new pots and pans. Is it a good buy? I noticed the handles don’t have any plastic or rubber covering, so I’m wondering if they get too hot to handle.
I’ve got this set. It’s pretty cheap (obviously). If you apply too much heat for too long, the metal starts warping. The handles weren’t really a big issue for me since I usually wear gloves with stuff like this. For the price, it’s not bad, but don’t expect it to last long.
@Aris
Ah, so this might be more of a temporary or backup kit? Or maybe just a backup set to a nicer one? Thanks for the info! I think I’ll invest a bit more in a better set and keep this one as a backup for now.
@Harlyn
Try using this kit first. See what works and what doesn’t. You’ll save money in the long run by buying what you really need, even if it costs a bit more up front.
Ozark Trail is Walmart’s own outdoor brand. You’re probably getting what you paid for.
Jesse said:
Ozark Trail is Walmart’s own outdoor brand. You’re probably getting what you paid for.
I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about Ozark. Some say it’s ‘good value’ while others think it’s ‘cheap and unreliable.’ I guess it depends on the specific item you get.
@Harlyn
Not trying to be snarky, but that sounds pretty typical of Walmart products—fine for the price or they fall apart quickly. In Ozark’s defense, though, it’s a ‘use as intended’ thing. These products are made for specific tasks, and sometimes people try to use them for more than they’re designed for.
What exactly are you planning to cook with that, aside from water?
That was the set I tried putting on the fire for a while. It didn’t hold up well to the intense heat of a stove because it doesn’t spread heat evenly.
If you’re going for something cheaper, I’d recommend the gray aluminum kits. They work better.
Don’t buy it!!! I tried to make eggs with it, and the pan warped. The eggs burned and I ended up just going to CFA for breakfast.
I had a mess kit when I was a cub scout, but I don’t really see the point of them. A small pot and cup for cooking is really all you need.
I use this kit for most of my camping trips. Like others mentioned, it does tend to warp after some use, but it’s lightweight and cheap. I actually have two sets, mostly just for the fry pans. I’ve never used the included cup, but having both a pot and a pan is useful when cooking things like burgers and corn. The heat control isn’t great, but it works better on my two-burner propane grill than on my MSR pocket rocket stove, where it’s harder to manage the flame and avoid burning. I’ll probably keep using them for their compactness, but I prefer carrying a titanium 750 mL pot for backpacking trips.