Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cooking Accessories > Wandspro ClipCroc Dishware Sets > Test Report by Brian Hartman

WandsPro ClipCroc Crockery
TEST SERIES BY BRIAN HARTMAN

TESTER INFORMATION

I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail.

INITIAL REPORT 

August 31, 2018

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Specifications:
Construction: FDA approved, BPA free, food grade polypropylene plastic
Colors: Ice White, Midnight Black, Sky Blue
Made in Australia
Price: Pack of 4 (Plates, Bowls or Dishes): $36.35 AUD

Plate:
Weight: 17.8 oz (504 g)
Measured weight: 18 oz (510 g)
Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 1.2 in (25 x 25 x 3 cm) 
Construction: FDA approved, BPA free, food grade polypropylene plastic

Bowl:
Weight: 9.2 oz (260 g)
Measured weight: 9.5 oz (269 g)
Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.3 x 3.5 in (16 x 16 x 9 cm) 
Construction: FDA approved, BPA free, food grade polypropylene plastic

Dish:
Weight: 13.5 oz (384 g)
Measured weight: 13.9 oz (394 g)
Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.9 x 2 in (22.5 x 22.5 x 5 cm) 
Construction: FDA approved, BPA free, food grade polypropylene plastic

WandsPro describes their products as the world's first clip-together crockery range.  "No fuss, no mess, no noise".  When I heard the tagline, I was intrigued, so I went to their website to learn more.  What I found was a line of high-tech plastic plates, bowls, and dishes with several notable features, including the ability to snap together.  WandsPro, in fact, has gone so far as to trademark three new words to describe the best features of their products: ClipQuiet, ClipClean, and ClipCool.  ClipQuiet refers to the fact that the plates, bowls and dishes conveniently stack on top of each other and snap together so that they don't rattle.  ClipClean means that the crockery can be stowed away immediately after eating, and cleaned later, with whatever mess is on them safely contained.  And finally, ClipCool is a term that WandsPro uses to describe the insulative properties of their products when any two of them are snapped together, creating an airspace between them that prevents the transfer of heat.  Regarding construction, the crockery is made from FDA approved, BPA free, food grade Polypropylene that is dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe.  

The crockery is sold in sets (packs of 4) and is available in three different colors: white, black, and blue.  The plates are 9.8 in (25 cm) in diameter and just over 1 in (3 cm) tall.  The bowls are 6.3 in (16 cm) in diameter and 3.5 in (9 cm) tall, and the dishes are 8.9 in (22.5 cm) in diameter and 2 in (5 cm) tall.  All three products have the manufacturer's name and logo imprinted on the sides and bottom of the product.  And of course, also on the bottom of each product is the indication that it's BPA free and safe to be used in the appliances mentioned above.  

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

When the items arrived at my house, I immediately knew what they were by the shape of the envelope they were packed in.  The envelope looked about as large as I was expecting, and it felt appropriately heavy for what I knew was inside.  

My first impressions after opening the envelope were positive.  The crockery looked sharp in white, although I wouldn't have minded blue or white either.  My main reason for requesting white was for testing purposes.  I wanted to easily see any scratches in the plastic or any stains that might develop over time, although I fully hope neither happens.  Upon detailed inspection, I found the items to be molded perfectly with no sharp edges, no bits of plastic left over from the molding process, and no scratches or marks on the plates, bowls, or dishes.  The plastic was smooth and shiny, but it was also easy to grip, not slippery in any way.  I also found the ClipCroc system to work very well.  It was very easy to clip the items together and get them back apart.  Regarding weight, the items felt substantial, for plastic, with minimal flex.  In other words, I don't think the plates or dishes will sag when loaded up with food. 

After thinking more about the features of this product line, I like the clip together system and see how it could be a very useful feature on a boat or RV, where things get jostled around a lot.  In everyday life, I don't think that I'll use ClipClean and ClipCool much, although I will certainly test those features to see how well they work.  In particular, the ClipCool feature that suggests nesting two plates or two dishes or bowls together when dealing with hot foods or liquids, makes me wonder just how much heat transfers through to the bottom of a single hot plate or dish.  Hopefully, I won't always have to use two plates in a microwave or when filling my dish up with hot food at the stove.  

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

There weren't any instructions with the items I received but I did learn some interesting facts on WandsPro's website.  First off, WandsPro crockery is made in Brisbane, Australia of 100% virgin grade Polypropylene plastic.  It is flexible yet resistant to fatigue, and it's able to withstand heat, fats, and all organic solvents.  I also learned that although ClipCroc crockery is microwave safe, it's not recommended to use these items in the microwave as the heat could distort their shape and cause staining from different food types.  Learning this fact was a real bummer although I understand why and certainly don't want to damage the items.  Therefore, I will refrain from doing so.  

TRYING IT OUT

Right after receiving these items, I hand washed the plates, bowls and dishes.  In the few days since then, I've eaten cold cereal out of the bowls but that's been it so far.  Because I normally eat microwave oatmeal for breakfast during the work week and I eat-out for lunch, I think most of my testing will occur during evening meals and on weekends when I eat lunch at home.  Based on the size and weight of these items and the fact that I typically camp solo, I don't see myself using them for backpacking, but I am excited to do extensive testing at home this Labor Day weekend as well as when traveling during the upcoming Holidays, and in general for evening and weekend meals around the house.  

SUMMARY

This concludes my Initial Report for the WandsPro crockery.  

LONG TERM REPORT 

January 12, 2019

LONG TERM TESTING AND LOCATIONS

During the past few months I used the WandsPro ClipCroc crockery on multiple camping trips as well as for dozens of home meals.  My trips included visits to the Cuyahoga National Forest and several Metroparks in Cleveland, Ohio (OH), Devil’s River State Trail in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin (WI), and private farmland in Franklin County, Indiana (IN). 

1.) Cleveland, OH – Cleveland is home to many great Metroparks as well as the Cuyahoga National Forest, which is located 20 mi (32 km) south of downtown Cleveland.  Cleveland Metroparks are some of the best I’ve seen (they were recently voted among the best-in-the-nation for the fourth time by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration).  In addition, the Cuyahoga National Forest is a hidden gem in the upper Midwest, with rolling hills, beautiful waterfalls, and deep forests.  

2.) Manitowoc, WI – Devil’s River State Trail is a scenic, unpaved rail trail in Northeastern WI.  It’s quiet, peaceful, and is over 15 mi (24 km) long, extending through three small villages in the area.  I’ve hiked the trail several times and strange as it may seem, I can count on one hand the number of people I run into.

3.) Southeastern IN – My third trip was to Franklin County in Southeastern IN.  The weather was cold but clear on this three-day trip with temperatures in the low to mid 30’s F (0.5 C).

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

As a caveat, my evaluation below comes with the understanding that this product is designed for car camping, picnics, RV’s, and backyard get-togethers.  It is not necessarily intended for lightweight backpackers who evaluate their gear based on minimum weight, space, and multi-purpose use.

I used these dishes a lot during the past four months and found them to be well made, durable, functional, easy to clean, and easily stackable.  First and foremost, I like the strength of the plates.  The fact that I can load them up with food and they don’t bend, break or get soggy is a big plus.  Speaking of breaking, these dishes aren’t only strong but they’re pretty much unbreakable.  Even if I bent them in a vice, I’m pretty sure they would snap back to their original shape once released.  For testing purposes, I dropped the dishes on the floor, from heights up to 6 ft (1.8 m). I also tossed them around, banged them together, and flew them across my backyard like frisbees (the plates fly surprising well).  Verdict - they passed with 'flying' colors!  These dishes are tough!  My testing obviously resulted in some scuffs, scrapes and scratches, but since the dishes are concave, they’re interior surfaces (the parts touching my food), were completely fine. 

Overall these dishes are great, but I found a few minor areas for improvement.  First off, the bottom of the plates and bowls get really hot when they’re holding hot items.  To combat this, WandsPro recommends stacking two plates or two bowls together for insulation and they call it ClipCool.  Ok, but it would be nice if I didn’t have to do that.  Doubling up on everything adds weight and means there are fewer plates and bowls for others.  I'd estimate half of everything I put on a plate or in a bowl is hot, so it's a real issue.

Second, the dishware is touted as being microwave safe, BUT, WandsPro says that "best practice is to avoid using plastic in our microwave for heating foods and liquids."  They further explain that the dishes can warp and stain as a result of being microwaved for extended periods.  Unfortunately I like my food hot, so after reading those comments I stopped using the dishes in the microwave.  As it goes with many things, I didn't realize how much I used my microwave until I stopped using it.
  
Regarding ClipTogether, I can’t say that I used this feature much.  I simply set the plates and bowls on top of each other and let them stack themselves.  Not that ClipTogether doesn’t work, it’s just that I only have two of each item so I don't think it benefits me much.  The dishes worked fine in the dishwasher and always came clean when hand scrubbing.  There are a few light stains on two of the plates from microwaving spaghetti with marinara sauce.  I committed that error before I read the caution about microwaving.  If I knew about the staining and was intent on microwaving, I would definitely pick a different color than white.

SUMMARY

In summary, I can see myself using ClipCroc dishware for picnics and car camping, as well as around my house for cereal, sandwiches and various other meals.  I also think the bowls and plates would be great for a boat, where the tossing and turning motion from waves could cause glass and stoneware to break.

Thanks to WandsPro and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this dishware.

Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cooking Accessories > Wandspro ClipCroc Dishware Sets > Test Report by Brian Hartman