Reviews > Cook Gear > Utensils > REI Cookware mini-spatula > Owner Review by Nancy Griffith

REI CAMPWARE MINI-SPATULA
BY NANCY GRIFFITH
OWNER REVIEW
May 28, 2012

TESTER INFORMATION

My outdoor experience began in high school with involvement in a local canoeing/camping group called Canoe Trails. The culmination was a 10-day canoe voyage through the Quebec wilds. I've been backpacking since my college days in Pennsylvania. I have completed all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. My typical trip now is in the Sierra Nevada in California and is from a few days to a week long. I carry a light to mid-weight load, use a tent, stove and trekking poles.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Photo courtesy of REI

Manufacturer: Recreational Equipment, Inc.
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.rei.com/
MSRP: $1.50 US
Listed Weight: 3.2 oz (91 g)
Measured Weight: 0.3 oz (8.5 g)
(The REI website is incorrect in listing this tiny item as 3.2 ounces. It is actually one tenth of that.)
Listed Size: 6.5 x 1.25 x 0.5 in (16.5 x 3.2 x 1.3 cm)
Measured Size: 6.63 x 1.63 x .38 in (16.8 x 4.1 x 1 cm)
Color: Black
Material: Nylon
Made in China

FIELD USE

I bought the REI mini-spatula about five years ago to expand my cooking utensils. Otherwise, I only carry a plastic spork and a sharp knife. The nylon spatula is small and flexible and fits easily into my cookset. Depending on my menu for the trip, I'll decide whether it goes along or not. But given its light weight, it has made the cut especially for some longer trips.

I'd estimate that this spatula has gone on 5 backpacking trips for a total of 26 days.

Backpacking:
La Verkin Creek Trail, Zion National Park (Utah): 3 days; 20 mi (32 km); 5,413 to 6,070 ft (1,650 to 1,850 m) elevation; 40 to 75 F (4 to 24 C).

Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington: 11 days; 100 mi (161 km); 2,600 to 7,200 ft (792 to 2,195 m) elevation; 32 to 62 F (0 to 17 C).

Ohlone Trail, Northern California: 3 days; 30 mi (48 km); 390 to 3,800 ft (119 to 1,158 m) elevation; 36 to 60 F (2 to 16 C).

Sequoia National Park, Sierra Nevada, California: 6 days, 60 miles (97 km); 6,700 to 11,600 ft (2,000 to 3,500 m) elevation; 38 to 84 F (3 to 29 C).

Hunters Trail, Sierra Nevada (California): 3 days; 21 mi (34 km); 3,500 to 5,000 ft (1,067 to 1,524 m); 35 to 63 F (2 to 17 C)

I really like using it for keeping scrambled eggs from sticking to my titanium pot. It is also great for scraping out pots during cleaning since it has a nice straight edge. The flat tip end tapers down to make for a great scraper but that also means that it is very narrow and thin so melting is a concern. This edge is good for stirring while cooking also since it is easier to keep food from sticking with it than with a rounded spoon edge. As with any plasticware I have to be careful to not allow it to get too hot for fear the narrow tip will melt.

The back side of the handle has a series of notches. These provide flat surfaces for holding the spatula against the edge of a pot. I don't like to leave this spatula in my pot during cooking due to the possibility of melting, but this feature works well to keep the spatula from slipping into the pot.

There is a hole in the end of the handle presumably for hanging it but I haven't used this hole for anything to date.

The durability has been great even with some vigorous scraping during cooking and cleaning. There is some slight melting at the tip from allowing it to contact the hot cookpot for too long.

SUMMARY

The REI Campware mini-spatula is a lightweight and versatile addition to my backpacking kitchen. I'm happy to bring it along on trips that include a wide variety of menu items and especially for cooking eggs.

THINGS I LIKE

Light weight
Compact size
Straight edge for scraping
Durable

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

Edge is thin and can melt

SIGNATURE

Nancy Griffith

Reviews > Cook Gear > Utensils > REI Cookware mini-spatula > Owner Review by Nancy Griffith