Long Term Report

Flatworld Orikaso Picnic Set Long Term Report

Personal Information:
Name: Christine Korhonen
Age: 32
Gender: female
Height: 5'4" (1.6 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
E-mail: chris@wormguy.com
Location: Western Montana
Date: November 22, 2005

Backpacking Background:
I'm in Montana where I'm enjoying the summers and becoming re-acquainted with winter. I'm a lightweight backpacker mentally, if not always in practice. My summer pack weight is around 19 lb (9 kg) with a tent, but my winter pack hovers around 25 lb (11 kg).

Product Information:
Manufacturer: Flatworld
URL: www.flatworld.co.uk
Item: Orikaso Picnic Set (contains 2 cups, 2 bowls, 2 dishes)
MSRP: £9.99
Color: Red

Dimensions:
Listed Weight: 8 oz (223 g) for entire set
Measured Weight: 8.4 oz (238 g) entire set

Orikaso Description:
The Orikaso picnic set is a collection of plastic dishware that come flat and are folded into shape for use, like origami. The set comes with two cups, two bowls and two plates. The whole group can be flattened and snapped together to form a package 9½" (24 cm) square, around the size of a sheet of notebook paper (though a little thicker).

Field Conditions:
For the long term testing phase, I tested the dishes on several backpacking car camping trips throughout Montana and Wyoming. Temperatures ranged from highs of 80 F (27 C) during the day to lows of 27 F (-3 C) at night. Conditions were mostly sunny with some wind, rain, and snow storms. Elevations went from 1000' to 8000' (300 m to 2400 m) above sea level. I also packed the dishes in my suitcase and brought them with me on business trips.

Item Use:
Plate-
The plate/dish is advertised as having eight functions: deep dish, deep/shallow dish, 3-sided dish, spout, funnel, strainer, coffee maker, and cutting board. During the past months, I didn't use any of these configurations. I just kept the plate flat. During the Field Report phase when I tried to eat from the snapped-together dish, I had a tendency to tip the dish and the liquids poured out, usually all over my front. After that experience I didn't use the dish for liquids anymore. Any non-liquid camping food I had didn't need to be in a dish, so I kept the plate flat these past trips. I used the flat plate as a cutting board, and it worked well for that. There are some marks where I cut the plastic, but I wasn't able to cut all the way through to the other side. I also used the plate as a clean surface where I could lay my food during a meal. It was easy to whip the plate out and lay it on a log or a rock, cut my salami on it, and then keep the pieces there for serving.

Bowl-
I like the bowl and trust it more than the dish for holding liquids. I've never had the bowl leak on me. I wish the bowl had a larger base and shorter sides. As it is, it's a little unstable on its small triangular base. The height of the bowl's sides make it difficult to get at the food on the bottom of the bowl without getting my hand into the bowl and usually brushing against the wet and food-strewn sides. I don't think the sides of the bowl should be longer than my spoon. The plastic does soften when hot food, especially hot liquid, is placed in the bowl. This hasn't been a problem and doesn't seem to interfere with the bowl's integrity. I've never been worried that the tabs holding the bowl's shape would come undone on their own.

Cup-
I still use the cup. It is just the right size for a packet of hot coco mix. The cup is smaller than the ones I use at home or at work, and for drinking tea in the field, I'd prefer a larger vessel so I don't have to have so many refills. After being folded into their shapes, none of the dishes lay flat any more, but this is most pronounced in the cup. The way the cup folds together, the back side folds over itself and the handle tucks in. Since I've folded and unfolded the cup a few times, the handle no longer wants to stay tucked. The handle bulges out some, and this becomes more pronounced as the plastic softens when hot liquids are introduced. When the handle is untucked, the cup collapses. The handle has never come out while I was using it, but this is something I watch. I would prefer it if the cup didn't have a handle. In addition to removing the handle, I would like the cup to be taller and hold a larger volume.

Packing:
Since the dishes fold flat, they're easy to pack. I slide them next to the wall of my pack after everything else has been situated. The plastic is rigid and somewhat slippery so the dishes are easy to slide in. They're also easy to pack in my suitcase.

Wear:
There are no signs of wear on the fold lines or snaps. The pieces haven't picked up any stains. All of the pieces hold their folded shape when unfolded, and none lay flat unless forced.

Summary:
With all their faults, I like the Orikaso dishwear. They're fun! My friends are amazed when they see the dishes. They want to know how they work and how to fold them up. I like to use the dishes more for business trips than backpacking. They take up no space in my suitcase and are useful for tea and cereal in my hotel room.

Things I like:
Fold flat, easy to pack
Good cutting board
Fun!

Things I don't like:
Handle and small size of cup
Spout feature of dish
Small base and steep sides of the bowl

Read more reviews of Flatworld gear
Read more gear reviews by Christine Korhonen

Reviews > Cook Gear > Cooking Accessories > Flatworld Orikaso Picnic Set > Christine Korhonen > Long Term Report

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