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Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cooking Accessories > Wandspro ClipCroc Dishware Sets > Test Report by Jamie DeBenedetto
Product Information Back to contents
Product Description Back to contents
The ClipCrocs are made from #5 plastic, also known as Polypropylene (PP). This type of plastic is commonly used in kitchenware because it lasts a long time, is difficult to break and has a high tolerance for heat. This plastic choice makes the ClipCrocs dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. However, the MFG says long-term dishwasher and microwave use might weaken the clips causing the dishware's signature "clip-together" feature to be less effective. Arrival Condition and Informational Material Back to contents All pieces arrived in good shape. No detectable defects or damage from shipping. I did not receive any
informational material with my shipment. The website was very detailed, though,
and I feel confident I understand how to use the items correctly. Expectations and First Impressions Back to contents
Right off, they do feel decently light but at 604 g / 21 oz for all six pieces together they certainly aren't ultralight. They also aren't flimsy, which is a good thing. If I try to twist or bend them they hardly budge. Although the plastic is smooth they are not slippery to handle. Both the dishes and the plates have little elevated rings on the underside designed to aid grip as well as keep them put on any surface. (See picture on the right) They are certainly stackable at least two by two. I don't foresee any issues with them unclipping while being carried in a pack but I'm curious how they will do rattling around in my camper trailer. I'll give that a go to see how the clip-together holds up and how quietly they ride. ClipClean, in my opinion, is the most interesting feature of the crockery. WandsPro claims the dishware can be left dirty, snapped together (with a clean one on top of course) and then transported without mess until the user has time to wash them properly. Living in an arid environment I am very water conscious, I rarely like to use potable water to clean things unless I'm at a basecamp where I know I have a large supply. I am planning to use the ClipCrocs on some day trips where I most certainly won't have extra water so I expect I'll get in at least a few good tests of this feature. As of now I find the ClipCool feature is a little ambiguous. From the website it sounds like they are saying the dishware is a good insulator from hot food transferring heat through the plastic and onto the person's hand or lap but the caveat is the user needs to have two pieces clipped together. This doesn't seem all that practical in a field application. I plan to see how the crockery manages heat from the microwave, from hot food, and while being stored in a hot environment like my garage or travel camper.
Collective Use and Field Conditions Back to contents August Day hike near New River, Arizona (AZ). Elevation 2,000 ft (610 m). The temperature was around 97 F (36 C), partly cloudy. One use of the larger plate. September Overnight backpacking trip in the Prescott National Forest, AZ. Elevation around 6,500 ft (2,000 m). Temperatures ranged between 50 and 85 F (10 and 29 C), sunny and clear both days. Four uses of the bowls. Day hike along the Verde River, Tonto National Forest, AZ. Elevation average 1,500 ft (500 m). Weather was clear and sunny with a high of 103 F (40 C). One use of the dish (small plate). October Day hike in the Superstition Wilderness, AZ. Elevation around 2,400 ft (730 m). Temperatures ranged between 64 and 77 F (18 and 25 C). One use of the dish. November Three-day camping trip in Usery Mountain Park near Mesa, AZ. Elevation 2,000 ft (610 m). Temperatures were in the low 70's down to the mid 40's (22 to 7 C). All ClipCrocs were used: bowls three times, plates five times, and dishes four times. January Day hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, AZ. Elevation around 2,600 ft (800 m). Temperatures were in the upper 50's F (14 C). One use of the plate.
Due to their size, I usually carried only one ClipCroc at a time or two of the same kind so I could use one, then clip the clean one over the top. This nesting feature was quite useful when trying to find a place for them in my pack. Their rigidity made it more difficult than I expected to fit them into my normal day hiking gear. I should note that their sturdy construction was my favorite aspect of the crockery, although I felt it was ultimately the least friendly characteristic for finding a good place for them in my pack. The ClipClean feature was employed on almost every day hike as well as the last day of our three-day camping trip in November. WandsPro's concept is no doubt unique but I'm still on the fence about it. In practice it does work. The seal is good enough between the crocks to keep the food material contained within the covered dish. However, on a practical level for hiking, carrying an extra plate or bowl just to cover the other is not very lightweight minded. Outside of testing I can't see myself ever doing that unless I needed additional dishware for other members of my hiking party. Perhaps a very lightweight lid that could be used over a single plate or as the top to a whole stack would be a good alternative for backpacker use. In the field the ClipCroc's were easy to clean. A simple rinse off was sufficient unless I used them with something oily. In that case, only a small amount of soap was needed to remove all remaining residue. I don't own a dishwasher so I couldn't test that aspect, I can say they clean and dry perfectly fine by hand. Storage is equally as easy. The ClipQuiet feature is great for keeping them all together and reducing space, especially in my travel trailer, which has very limited kitchen storage. I appreciated this feature so much I'm thinking of buying a few more to replace the hodge-podge of dishes I have in my trailer now. I love how sturdy the dishes are. Polypropylene seems to be a good choice for both its insulation properties and its strength. Unfortunately, I never needed the ClipCool feature. The hottest thing I put in the bowls was boiling water for noodle soup when my son and I were backpacking. Although we did feel the warmth through the material, it wasn't so much we couldn't hold the bowls. I've cut things like cheese and apples on both plates with little effect. I can see tiny blade marks but they are certainly not deep. As previously mentioned, their inflexibility was a slight negative regarding transporting them in a pack, but when it comes to using them with a variety of wet and dry foods, this was absolutely an asset. When you're tired and hungry at the end of a long day of hiking, the last thing you want to do is watch your carefully planned meal fall off your plate or tip out of a bowl onto the ground. At home that's not a big deal, in the wilderness, it's demoralizing. I found all pieces of the crockery
very usable with only one drawback. The slick eating surface did allow for
some food shifting. I only experienced this with the plate and it didn't happen
until my very last hike where I was walking around with snacks on the plate
offering them to my hiking partners. I think in the future if I need to do
something like that again I would choose the smaller plates with the higher
sides. Conversely, the slick plastic material does not make them difficult
to handle or tippy. I've used them on lots of different surfaces including
my little travel trailer table, a park bench, my lap, dirt, forest duff, and
river rocks without incident. I could see the bowls potentially tipping if
one were not careful but I didn't have any problems with this personally.
Final Thoughts Back to contents I think WandsPro has a winner with their ClipCroc Dishware depending how they are used. For camping they were very versatile, packable, easy to clean and met all the requirements of my four-person family. For day hikes they met my personal needs perfectly as well. Their rigid construction was a slight hindrance when it came to stowing them but ultimately space is rarely an issue when I day hike so I found it to be a very minor negative overall. For backpacking I would say there are lighter and more packable options out there. Having said that, for my needs as an overnight backpacker only, the crockery exceeded expectations. It's not ultra-light but I didn't mind a few extra ounces for the assurance that it would hold even very hot liquids without risk of failure. I very much appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this test series. My thanks to WandsPro and BackpackGearTest.org for making it happen. -Jamie J. DeBenedetto - 2019
Read more reviews of Wandspro gear Read more gear reviews by Jamie DeBenedetto Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cooking Accessories > Wandspro ClipCroc Dishware Sets > Test Report by Jamie DeBenedetto | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
WandsPro ClipCroc Dishware or as they are called in Australia, "crockery",
is a set of food grade bowls and plates that clip-together for storage. They
are sold in sets of four in three different color choices. I was sent two
of each item to test giving me two bowls, two smaller plates (referred to
as dishes), and two larger plates in the Midnight Black color. The eating
surface of the crockery is shiny and cleaned up easily when I washed them.
I ran my hands around the edges of each piece and everything felt smooth and
well-constructed. The two dishes are high-sided and kind of remind me of a
Frisbee. Both the dishes and the bowls have a single tab with a hole in it
to assist with unclipping the pieces. The plates, being wider and thinner,
use two opposing clips to snap together. (See picture on the right) 
WandsPro
makes several claims about the ClipCrocs: Lightweight, Easy to handle, Stackable,
ClipQuiet storage, ClipClean during transport, and ClipCool to the touch even
with hot food. My family and I will do our best to put these claims to the
test over the next four months on day hikes, kayaking outings and camping
trips. 
Long
Term Findings 