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Primus
Folding Spork
Owner Review by Andrea Murland
January 10, 2014
Tester Information
| Name: |
Andrea Murland |
| Email: |
amurland AT
shaw DOT ca |
| Age: |
28 |
| Location: |
Elkford
& Kimberley,
British Columbia, Canada |
| Gender: |
Female |
| Height: |
5 ft 2 in (1.57
m) |
| Weight: |
130 lb (59 kg) |
I began hiking frequently in 2006 and have
since hiked in Western Canada, Australia, and spent 2 months
backpacking in the Alps. I spend most weekends either day-hiking or on
2-3 day backpacking trips, with some longer trips when I can manage
them. I also snowshoe and ski in the winter, but don’t have a lot of
experience with winter in the backcountry yet. Elevation is typically
500-3,000 m (1,600-10,000 ft), in the Canadian Rockies and the Selkirk,
Purcell, and Monashee ranges. I try for a light pack, but I don’t
consider myself a lightweight backpacker.
Product
Information
Image Courtesy of Primus
 |
| Manufacturer: |
Primus |
| Manufacturer's
URL: |
www.primuscamping.com
|
| Year of
Manufacture: |
2010 |
| Model: |
Folding Spork |
| MSRP: |
US $3.00 |
| Colours
Available: |
White, Black,
Red, Green |
| Colour
Reviewed: |
White |
| Listed Weight: |
10.5 g (0.34
oz) |
| Measured
Weight: |
12 g (0.39 oz) |
| Listed
Dimensions: |
4.1 in (10.4
cm) x 1.6 in (4.1 cm) x 0.9 in (2.3 cm) |
| Measured
Dimensions: |
folded: 4.0 in
(10.2 cm) x 1.8 in (4.5 cm) x 0.9 in (2.3 cm) |
| |
unfolded: 7.4 in
(18.7 cm) x 1.8 in (4.5 cm) x 0.5 in (1.4 cm) |
Description
The Primus Folding Spork is a fork/knife/spoon utensil made from
polycarbonate. The utensil folds in half, with the fork nesting into
the spoon, for packing. As I unfold it, a small tab on the fork side of
the hinge snaps into a slot on the spoon side. A bit of force in the
opposite direction undoes the connection, allowing the spork to be
refolded. The spoon is quite large, measuring 1.8 in (4.5 cm) across.
The fork has four tines, with one of the outside tines having a serrated edge. The Primus logo is
moulded into the plastic just below the curve of both the fork and the
spoon. The handle section has three cut-outs, which I can only assume
are for weight reduction. The surface of the spork is smooth.
Field
Conditions
I got the spork in 2010, and it has been used for some backpacking
trips since then, as well as being carried a lot. It has a permanent
home in my Search & Rescue pack (never know when I’ll need a
spoon!), and since that pack doubles as my summer overnight pack, the
spork is what I usually carry for overnights as well. I have used it
about 20 times in the backcountry, either for dinner or for lunch. The
spork has been used in temperatures ranging from about -20 C (-4 F) to
about 25 C (77 F).
Review
I quite like the Primus Folding Spork. I find the handle comfortable
and long enough that the utensil I’m not using isn’t in my way. I
usually just lick off the spork, but it has proved to be easy to clean.
Sometimes I get some food stuck in the handle cutouts, but it’s never
been enough to affect the folding mechanism, and it’s always been easy
to wash off either in the field or once at home. I like that it folds
down nice and small, so I can shove it in the top pocket of my pack and
it stays out the way.
I haven’t used the knife very much, since I carry a multi-tool when I
hike. It’s been used once or twice to cut cheese and it worked, but it
wouldn’t be my first choice of knife. The fork works fine, as the tines
are pointed at the end, so they spear food quite well. The fork is
narrow enough that I haven’t found that the serrated edge rubs my
mouth. The spoon is what I use most often. It’s large, which is nice
when I’m eating soup (which I often bring on winter day trips). If I’m
eating something more solid, like oatmeal or pasta, I actually make a
point of not filling the spoon completely, as it’s a bit of a stretch
to get it fully in my mouth, and then I have a very large mouthful.
I’ve used the spoon to stir dinners as they cook, and that’s worked
fine. There is no evidence of burning or melting of the tip. The bottom
of the spoon has a couple of scratch marks, probably from the spork
spending most of its time floating around loose in my pack. I worried
initially when I got this spork that the tab that locks the spork in
the unfolded position would break, but there’s been no evidence of
that. It seems quite sturdy.
Summary
The Primus Folding Spork is a great utensil for carrying “just in
case”. It is also great as the only utensil on a backpacking trip. It
works exactly as it’s supposed to.
Thumbs Up:
Big spoon
Compact when folded for storage
Locks open for use
Comfortable to hold
Thumbs Down:
Knife has limited function
Read more reviews of Primus gear
Read more gear reviews by Andrea Murland
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