We tested the Stanely Adventure Nesting Two Cup Cook Set on a fall trail and found it a great culinary companion. As the name suggests, the Nesting Two Cup cook set is limited to a small party. It consists of three pieces so you can be a third wheel with a steaming cup of food.
Related: Best Camping Cookware
The set includes a cooking kettle and two nestling insulated cups. The set is made entirely of stainless steel so that you can get maximized conduction even on the smallest stoves. The kettle marks a 20oz maximum capacity, while the cups are a generous 10oz. In its entirety, the 0.88 pounds is the most ergonomic piece of kitchenware.
Performance Comparison and Our Testing Results
Cooking Performance
This nesting cook set gives you premium service on a winter or fall hike. Not only can you carry food from the start, but prepping small meals in between your hikes will be a piece of cake.
The stainless-steel kettle allows quick heating, be it a small stove or a low-flame burner. The kettle retains its conductivity regardless of the temperature outside, ensuring a fully cooked meal.
The two 10oz nesting cups are insulated and designed to retain the temperature of your food for longer periods of time.
Since the kettle has a 4.3-inch base, you might not be able to fry or sauté larger portions of your meal. The cook set gives you the best cooking performance when it comes to liquid-based meals or drinks.
The lid of the set has vent holes that can function dually as a sieve for straining, broadening the horizons on the menu front. Be it prepping your dehydrated rations, soups, noodles, or your favorite beverages, this cooking set will divide three neat portions to be had on the go.
Durability
Stanley passes on the durability test with flying colors. The kettle’s stainless steel is tough, resists corrosion and rust, and is easier to clean than many of the alternatives on the market. The insulated cups do their job well enough and don’t rattle or scratch the inside of the kettle once they are nesting.
The only drawback is the irresistibility of the scorching of the kettle. It doesn’t pose a huge threat to the durability; however, the polishing might be a bit of a hassle.
Our fall hikes needed multiple coffee runs, and we were pleasantly surprised at its reliability for consistent use, so, we would like to think that this product is in it for the long haul.
Portability & Weight
To begin with, the Stanely Adventure Nesting Two Cup Cook Set gets the highest score on portability. It is compact, and the nesting feature helps keep every piece in one place.
The kettle is 5.8 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide, so you can carry it in your backpack or just hoop it to a zipper with a ring. To add to its portability, the entire set is made of stainless steel, which practically weighs nothing.
The set weighs ½ a kilo or 8oz when it’s empty. If you carry your food from the start of the hike, the weight of the set exceeds 13oz. In either case, carrying a cooking set with such a weight-to-dimension ratio is quite comfortable. It really complimented our hike as there wasn’t much to carry, and the kettle could be used in a fire pit and we did not have to bother with a burner.
Ease of Use
Stanely outdid itself when we saw precise directions and images for ease of use. The two cups nestle snuggly inside the kettle, so there is no scratching and rattling. But the star of this set has to be its movable latch.
The latch rotates around its joint and proves to be a foolproof lock when clasped on the vented lid. Once undone, the latch rests perpendicular to the kettle so you can use it as a saucepan. It locks around its position so it neither loses or springs back while in use.
To add to its ease, the kettle is marked with levels up to 20oz, so cooking by the book is made easy. The vented lid can be used as a dish rack for drying up your dishes once they are washed so, you don’tdon’t have to worry about water pooling around your backpack.
Value for Money
As opposed to its pricier competitors, the Stanely Adventure Nesting Two Cup Cook Set is a far better option. The durability of the set ensures value for the money, while the style goes a long way in camping, hiking, one-day treks, and even a small picnic.
This three-piece set isn’t easily dented, fractured or cracked. The stainless steel doesn’t give way against cleaning tools such as steel wool or a dishwasher. You can carry the set without the cups if you are on a solo trip and the service provided will still be premium.
Pros and Cons
Our testing found more pros than cons with this cooking set. We really enjoyed the exclusivity it provided to our cooking as we could ration and portion as we pleased. We found the storage very compelling as there weren’t loose pieces to keep track of.
However, a non-stick coating would have been nice. Once the food sticks to the bottom of the kettle, it takes a tardy soaking time to clean and needs a bit of scrubbing to keep it spotless.
We would have liked a bit of a frying experience, but considering its use, we think sticking to quick meals is its forte.
Final Verdict
We suggest you keep the Stanely Adventure Nesting Two Cup Cook Set as your go-to for a part of less than five people. If you have a few days of outdoor adventure and consider your rations to be ready-made, this cook set will be your loyal companion.
If you are averse to carrying extensive cooking tools and stoves, this cooking set will nestle straight onto a campfire and keep going even after the weather cools down. However, if you are carrying food that needs sautéing, frying or slow cooking, you might need to consider a few other options.