MSR Folding Spork Tenting Utensil Evaluation

Backside Line

The MSR Folding Spork is a light-weight, compact choice constructed for ultralight backpackers, thru-hikers, and minimalist campers who wish to shave ounces with out sacrificing fundamental performance. Its intelligent folding design makes it practically invisible in a pack, but it nonetheless reaches deep into meal pouches, maintaining palms clear and pots empty.

Whereas it handles comfortable, mushy meals nicely, it struggles with denser meals, and the light-weight plastic development feels a bit flimsy. Sticky or pasty meals can cling to the textured floor, and the folding mechanism doubtless gained’t maintain up for those who eat like Cookie Monster. One CleverHiker workers member has been utilizing theirs for over 6 years with none points. 

Regardless of these limitations, the spork performs its core duties reliably, is straightforward to pack, and excels in conditions the place weight and area financial savings are the highest priorities. For hikers and ultralight fanatics on the lookout for a easy, practical, and budget-friendly utensil, the MSR Folding Spork is our high decide.

Nonetheless wish to see what different intelligent designs are on the market? Head again to our greatest tenting utensils gear information.

How We Examined

We examined this mealtime multi-tool on a Colorado River raft journey with a feast match for kings and on a number of nights backpacking with typical dehydrated meal pouches. We additionally put it via quantitative exams at residence, turning into intimately accustomed to each final attribute and quirk that units it other than the competitors.

Performance

That is your traditional, trusty spork, however with the added benefit of each an extended attain and collapsible packability. It handles the fundamentals of a multi-use utensil decently, nevertheless it has some downfalls.

The 1.75-inch by 1.5-inch spoon is a pleasant dimension, balancing capability and luxury. In principle, it might maintain about 5 milliliters of liquid if it weren’t for the massive spork prongs. The massive slots let about 80% of the liquid slip proper via.

As a fork, it has no downside with comfortable meals however struggles with something denser than a potato. Most backpacking meals fall into the forgiving mushy class, so it’s not a dealbreaker—however for automobile tenting with actual meals, you’ll need one thing sturdier.

The large win with the MSR Folding Spork is its lengthy 8-inch attain, mixed with its packability. This factor can match inside even small cook dinner units whereas concurrently reaching down into the deepest depths of a Mountain Home Meal.

Design

The MSR Folding Spork has a intelligent folding mechanism, however the total really feel undoubtedly reminds you it’s a budget-friendly choice and needs to be dealt with as such. To break down it, squeeze the perimeters of the deal with, flexing the plastic. This opens the locking mechanism and permits the spork to fold neatly in half. It’s easy, efficient, and streamlined, nevertheless it feels prefer it might undoubtedly put on or break over time. 

In hand, it’s light-weight and slightly floppy beneath a full load of chow. The odd feeling, textured plastic can cling to pasty meals, and the spoon bowl is a contact too deep, making it tough to scrape clear with a single chunk. The close to round spoon additionally isn’t the most effective for cleansing pots, both.

That stated, these are minor quibbles, and it’s our job to nitpick gear. The spork nonetheless performs its job, folding away neatly for packing and saving weight with out breaking the financial institution.

Development

The MSR Folding Spork retains prices and weight down by utilizing minimal materials. We haven’t had any main failures but, however the folding mechanism depends on bending that plastic, which in all probability gained’t survive perpetually. We even noticed a few tiny plastic burs on the spork – an indication of low value or rushed machining. Stirring and scraping denser meals proves the fabric is superflexible, which is good that it resists snapping, nevertheless it isn’t very efficient. 

The feel isn’t the smoothest both. It’s slightly tough, which suggests pasty meals like peanut butter or mashed potatoes like to cling to it. That may make consuming a bit messy and cleansing slightly extra annoying than with smoother supplies.

Weight & Packability

In case your major targets are shaving ounces, saving pack area, and maintaining your palms clear whereas emptying Mountain Home pouches, the MSR Folding Spork is an enormous win. At a mere 0.35 ounces (10 grams), it’s the lightest utensil in our full information.  It’s uber ultralight, and its compact, 4.25-inch packed dimension makes this spork practically invisible in your pack. It may well even be hung by the deal with if you need it to dangle in your pack like a tiny culinary decoration.

Not like different ultralight sporks that compromise on usability, this spork nonetheless provides you a full usable size.

Ought to You Purchase the MSR Folding Spork?

The MSR Folding Spork is constructed for ultralight backpackers, thru-hikers, and minimalist campers who wish to shave each ounce from their pack with out giving up fundamental performance. Its compact, 4.25-inch folded dimension and featherweight 0.35-ounce design make it good for anybody prioritizing minimal weight and area. It retains your palms clear, reaches deep into Mountain Home pouches, and collapses neatly when not in use.

That stated, it’s not ultimate for campers on the lookout for a sturdier and extra sturdy utensil. If you happen to’re somebody who eats heavy, non-mushy meals within the backcountry, this fashion is likely to be a letdown. The light-weight plastic and folding mechanism gained’t stand up to excessive abuse, and sticky meals cling to the textured floor.

Regardless of its limitations, the Folding Spork provides wonderful worth for hikers and ultralight fanatics. You get a completely usable spork that saves weight and area whereas nonetheless performing the fundamentals.

What Different Tenting Utensils Ought to You Contemplate?

You possibly can see how the MSR Folding Spork stacks up towards different choices in our full information to the most effective backpacking utensils.

Humangear GoBites Bio-Uno Evaluation: The Bio-Uno nonetheless shaves helpful weight, however is far sturdier and long-lasting. The twin fork and spoon ends present devoted features in comparison with a single mixed spork finish. The Bio-Spin folds in half to realize a packed dimension even smaller than the MSR Folding Spork.

UCO Utility Spork: The Utility Spork weighs solely .5 ounces however you get the dual-end utensil with a devoted spoon and fork ends. It’s additionally one of the reasonably priced utensils.

Snow Peak Titanium Spork Evaluation: This spork’s performance, high quality, and sturdiness are manner past the MSR Folding Spork due to its titanium development. It options a big spoon, a cushty deal with, and vibrant colours. It’s a little heavier and dearer than the MSR Spork, although.