Coleman Aluminum Mess Kit Review

I'd probably bet that anyone who's done some hiking and camping probably has one of these aluminum mess kits from Campmor somewhere in the their camping collection. I can't say that I use it all the time, but over the years my set has gotten plenty of use and I find myself pilfering from it to stock out the gear that I currently use.

When you unpack your Coleman Aluminum Mess Kit you'll get an a frying pan that's just over 7 inches in diameter, a 16 ounce pot, a deep dish plate that's about 7 inches in diameter and finally an 8 ounce aluminum cup. All of these nest together into the frying pan, except for the plate, which sits over the top of the frying pan face down. Then the handle of the frying pan folds over the kit and keeps it secure when you have it packed away with a small bolt.

I have used this kit on and off throughout the years, with the majority of the use limited to the pot, the plate and the cup. I really don't use the frying pan that much. The set has had its share of bumps, drops and scratches over the years, but besides some dents, there's no real damage. If you have a camp stove like a Coleman Exponent or a Whisperlite, the pot and frying pan easily fit on the stove and work well. The aluminum quickly transmits the heat and things do cook quickly and evenly from what I've found.
I still regularly use the plate that came in this mess kit. I have it with my other cooking stuff so that I have an extra plate. The only issue with this plate is that the heat is transmitted quickly so if you put something really hot on the plate, it becomes impossible to hold. You'll have to eat with the plate sitting on a jacket or something. The cup is okay - nothing special, but it does come in handy. However again it transmits that heat so well that it's not really useful for hot drinks since you can't hold it.

My Take

If you want a simple and straight forward mess kit for a single camper, the Coleman Aluminum Mess Kit might be for you. There is a frying pan, pot, plate and cup, all in a small, lightweight, and durable package.