Long Term Report - Orikaso Fold Flat Picnic Set
Roger Caffin
1-Nov-2005

Product Information

'Manufacturer': Flatworld (UK) Ltd Brand Name: Orikaso Made by: Remploy Workscope Ltd, UK Supplied by: Axis Outdoor, USA Contents of set: 2 cups, 2 bowls, 2 dishes Materials: Food Grade Polypropylene and dyes Studs on dish - unknown black plastic Stud on cup - metal, no nickel Thickness: 0.8 mm (measured) Temperature limit: 120 C (248 F)   (from Marvelox) (measured)   (from Marvelox) (measured) Weight of cup: 37 g (1.05 oz) 38 g (1.08 oz) Capacity of cup: 250 ml (8.4 fl oz) 250 mL (8.4 fl oz) Weight of bowl: 29 g (0.82 oz) 32 g (0.91 oz) Capacity of bowl: 550 ml (18.6 fl oz) ~550 mL (18.6 fl oz) Weight of dish: 43 g (1.22 oz) 41 g (1.16 oz) Capacity of dish: not stated >550 mL (18.6 fl oz) MSRP: not quoted by Flatworld

Product Description

In brief, these are flat sheets of plastic which can be folded up into a cup, a bowl and a dish. For more information see my Field Report

Preamble and Summary of Field Report

I mentioned in my Initial Report that I was possibly in the market for replacements for my current walking crockery: a cheap rigid plastic Decor bowl, a cheap rigid plastic Decor mug and a small rigid Tupperware-style plastic bowl for soup - all bought from the local supermarket. Sometimes, depending on the trip, I also take a flat bit of polyethylene sheet for cutting on. In my Field Report I mentioned that my wife and I had tested these Orikaso items on a number of our walking trips to see if they might be better, with the verdict of "Well, not really ...".

What this really meant was that I had been trying to use them somewhat outside their design intention. On these trips I had been trying to use them for hot liquid foods without a stable base to put them on, and this was not very successful. I think that they are really meant for use on a picnic - as the name implies. From looking at the pictures on the web and on the packaging, I think that they are really meant for mainly dry foods and should be used mainly on a solid flat surface. So for the Long Term Report part of this Test I have been using them as 'picnic ware'.

As reported in the Field Report, I quickly discovered that the cup was not reliable in my hands: I tended to get leaks over the edge from the folds. This was separate from the leaks through the hole in the press-stud: that I had fixed with a blob of sealant. The leaks from the folds were so bad that I stopped using the cup during the Long Term Report phase: I had had too many 'accidents'.

Durability

Basically, these things are sheets of plastic folded up like Origami. Paper wears out at the folds, so my first question was how well would this plastic sheet last at the folds. I mentioned in my Field Report that I had taken one of each item and folded it up and unfolded it pretty well every day for the whole two month Field Report period. I continued doing this for the Long term Report period as well. This means one set was folded and unfolded about 6 * 30 = 180 times. The other set was folded and unfolded only about 20 times.

The result of all this folding and unfolding was that the creases looked almost the same at the end as at the start. Some of the creases in the bowl developed faint white lines right at the fold, but there were no tears, not even any incipient tears at the edges. This stuff is tough.

There is a stainless steel press-stud on the cup and six plastic press-studs on the plate. They are all still snapping together just as well as at the start. However, I did notice that the plate which had not been folded many times had a slight tendency to undo its press-studs relative to the much used one: the spring in the plastic is quite strong. This doesn't matter when the plate has dry stuff in it, but could be disasterous when it holds a cool liquid. A hot liquid softens the plastic of course, and this reduces the amount of spring. Actually, a hot liquid does make both the bowl and the plate a bit too flexible.

Continuing on from the last point, I mentioned in my Field Report that all three items had developed a bit of a 'set' after a few foldings, and that it was hard to get them to lie flat. This hasn't changed over the entire period of the test. I can squash them flat for packing, but they still remain very springy. Yes, this plastic is indeed tough stuff.

Stability on flat surfaces

I used the plate and the bowl for snacks and meals in the car when driving on long-distance interstate trips and sometimes while traveling long distances to the start of some of our walks. They worked quite well for this as they were holding dry food and were on a solid base, or even on my legs in the car. (Fresh bread, French myrtille jam... yum.) The flexibility I mentioned was there, but of little consequence. I stored them flat against the inside of our wooden car food box - a sort of large enhanced picnic box. They usually fought me a bit when I went to flatten them in order to slide them back up against the inside of the box, but that was no real problem.

I have also used them on many day walks when we had dry food, fine weather and a hard surface to sit them on - such as on the sheet rock (flat horizontal layers of sandstone) shown below. They were fine for this, especially the rectangular plate. Under these conditions they were just the same as the thin flat sheets of polypropylene plastic I have also used in the past; just harder to pack away later.

The Plastic Surface

I had some concerns about the stippled surface with liquid foods. This simply was not a problem with drier picnic foods (or jam). And the surface resisted abrasion and cutting very well over the Long Term period as well.

Answers to Questions

• Will they stay folded up while in use?
  Certainly, with no problems.
• Will the fasteners last?
  Certainly, with no problems.
• How long will the 'hinges' last? Will they leak?
  I doubt I could wear them out. This plastic is remarkable!
• How flexible do they get when filled with hot food like stew or soup?
  They were too flexible for me to use in a tent with hot wet food. When hot, both the plate and the bowl had to be handled with considerable care.
• How reliable are they when handled?
  Not safe enough: I found that the folds would often 'dribble leak'.
• Can I cut on the dish when it is opened out flat?
  Yes in principle, but the plate and the bowl rapidly ceased to be flat once folded a few times. This was not useful in practice.
• Are the cups really going to handle many, many cups of near-boiling water?
  The size of the cup is a bit small in practical terms, and the creases make for easy dribbles, and the metal stud has a hole (which can be fixed quite easily).
• Will the cup handles collapse after a while?
  The handles survived well, and were effective. However, I have to report that I gave up on the cup.
• How easy is it to clean the plastic?
  Easy enough with dry foods, but more difficult for wet foods.
• Will the press-studs accumulate food scraps?
  This was not a problem with dry foods.

Assessment

Structurally, the Picnic set has survived very well. That plastic is tough!
There are some small design issues which could be improved, and I list them here:

• The whole cup design, or even concept
• The pattern on the surface of the plastic
• The small base area of the bowl (a stability problem)

The plate and the bowl worked quite well for dry foods on a stable base: the picnic setting as shown on the advertising. The plate was certainly the better of the two. 
I do not think they are suitable for holding hot wet foods in a tent over a sleeping bag.
The cup was not a success in my hands.

Would I buy them?

Unlikely for our extended walking use. In a tent my Decor plastic crockery has proved more rigid with hot food and much more stable. The Orikaso plate was fine for day walks, but a plain sheet of polypropylene or polyethylene plastic would be as good. As I don't normally run 'real' picnics I would not have a lot of use for them outside walking. I think I am the wrong sort of customer.

Biographical Details

Reviewer: Roger Caffin Age: 60 Gender: M Weight: 63 kg (138 lb) Height: 166 cm (65") Email address:     r dot [surname] at acm dot org Home: Sydney, Australia

Backpacking Background

I started bushwalking (the Australian term) at 14, then took up rock climbing at University with the girl who became my wife and is my walking partner. Later on we took up ski touring and canyoning. Winter and summer, we prefer long hard trips by ourselves: about a week in Australia, up to two months in Europe/UK. We prefer fast and light in unfrequented trackless country. We would be out for at least three months a year. Over the last four years we have reduced our pack weights from 18 - 20 kg (40 - 45 lb) each to about 12 kg (26 lb), including food, for week-long trips. I designed and made much of our lightweight gear myself.

I am also the maintainer of the Australian aus.bushwalking FAQ web site www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/.