Eating Equipment

Useful or Superfluous?

Is it really worth cooking while travelling and bringing along some basic equipment?

As always, we repeat: only pack what you’ll genuinely use regularly. In short, only bring your supplies and utensils if you have a vehicle, plan to do a lot of camping (and even then), go on long hikes off the beaten track without support, or travel to truly expensive countries like Scandinavia. Otherwise, just a Swiss Army knife and maybe a few small items will be genuinely useful.

Food

Unless you’re on a self-organised or unsupported trek, there’s no need to weigh yourself down with all sorts of freeze-dried, dehydrated, balanced, energy-packed, or even self-heating meals—especially since they’re a bit pricey if you don’t really need them.

If you do bring supplies, you can opt for a less nutritionally calculated but much cheaper alternative: soups, noodles, mashed potatoes, and other packet foods from the local supermarket. Pack them in small, airtight plastic bags to save space compared to a rigid container (though a small one can still be handy for storing fragile items). But again, think about whether you’ll actually use them.

That said, no matter where you’re going, it’s always a good idea to bring some small energy boosters (bars or tablets) for when you hit a slump.

Equipment

Full Cooking Set

Useful for camping and sometimes hiking (though rentals are often available or provided by the organiser). Otherwise, the whole set is completely unnecessary—except for a small spoon (for yoghurts).

But in any case, stick to the bare minimum! That means one plate, one cup, cutlery, and one pot/pan—all as a compact cooking set. Avoid fragile plastic and go for aluminium instead.

A basic set costs around 10 to 15 € and weighs about 250 g, with a diameter of around 15 cm and a height of 10 cm. Also consider bringing a small bottle of washing-up liquid (in a leak-proof container), a sponge, and a tea towel.

Swiss Army Knife

The traveller’s essential multi-tool: corkscrew, can opener, file, tweezers, screwdriver, and more. Don’t hesitate to invest in a good, sturdy one with a sheath (minimum 30 to 40 €).

As for knives, avoid Rambo-style survival daggers and similar gear—they’re completely useless for travel and can cause problems at borders.

In any case, when flying, always put your knife in your hold luggage to avoid confiscation at security.

Stoves

Same basic considerations as for cooking sets. So, only for certain hikes and camping if you’re not staying at sites with kitchens.

Note that there are several types of fuel for stoves. This determines the model you choose, including its lifespan and heating speed.

Petrol Stove

Petrol is cheap, available worldwide, and ideal for low temperatures. However, the smell isn’t pleasant, and transporting liquid fuel isn’t always easy—especially on planes, where it’s banned. Another downside: these stoves are often a bit pricier (starting at around 50 € for a weight of 300–500 g), though they quickly pay for themselves given the low cost of fuel.

In short, while these stoves let you go anywhere and refuel easily, they’re not always the best choice for travellers.

Gas Stove

The most common type. Gas is highly flammable and efficient. Cartridges are practical but more expensive than petrol. However, they’re not available in some countries and are banned in hold luggage on planes (so you’ll need to buy/use them locally). Like petrol stoves, they’re not always the simplest option for long-distance travel.

You’ll find plenty of options between 20 and 30 € for mini-stoves (refills cost less than 8 €), weighing around 100–300 g for the lightest models.

Alcohol Stove

Methylated spirits (preferably solid) are available worldwide, but they heat up slowly and inefficiently. This makes alcohol stoves more of a backup or solo-use option. On the plus side, they’re cheap (starting at 10 € and 100 g for the most basic models), as are solid fuel refills (a few euros for a box of tablets).

In our opinion, this might be the best choice if you want something simple and affordable for occasional or basic cooking.

Immersion Heater

A large electric resistor that heats water when submerged. It doesn’t replace a stove but can be handy if you have a model that works on 110/220 V (bring an adapter) and/or batteries. Prices range from 10 to 15 € depending on the model.

More simply, if space isn’t an issue, an electric kettle can be very useful and save your stove for other tasks.

Miscellaneous Tips

In general, keep your stove and fuel in a separate bag and clean it regularly. A windshield can sometimes be useful (around 15 € and 300 g for a basic one), as can a lighter or waterproof matches (or keep them in a sealed bag).

Water Bottle

A water bottle is essential for hiking. Get one with an insulated cover (around 10 €) and straps to attach it to your bag or belt. Outside of this context, it’s rarely used continuously, so a basic, small (max ½ L) or collapsible model for a few euros will be more than enough for emergencies.

Of course, in many places, it’s also useful to have a water treatment system.