The Best Damn Camping Spoon Ever is…a Piece of Wood?

I’m often defending myself over my dedication to one particular piece of camping gear. “No, really, it’s just such a good spoon,” I’ll say to the confused faces of friends and family. Undoubtedly they think I’m a weirdo for my devotion to a utensil–and not just any utensil, but to this simple, wooden spoon.

In their defense, I never saw it coming either. But, sometimes love strikes when you least expect it. Gossamer Gear’s Long-Handle Bamboo Spoon is that love for me. It is a cherished piece of my life in the outdoors. It is glorious.

It doesn’t bend or fold. It is not engineered titanium. There is no “spork” aspect, or serrated edge, or a half-dozen extraneous uses. It is just a spoon. An 8.25-inch-long, 1.4-inch-wide, 15-gram bamboo spoon. And in this simplicity rests the best damn camping spoon ever made.

My first trip with this spoon was into the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. I threw it into my pack, giving it no special thought. By nightfall, however, as I reached into the bottom of my mushroom risotto and came out clean-handed, I knew that backcountry meals would never be the same. Its size and material work wonders for both the body and the soul.

The long handle allows you to dig deep into those freeze-dried meals, sparing your hand all of the sticky mess that comes from reaching a short, metal spoon into the final depths of the bag. Since it is bamboo, it doesn’t conduct heat, stain, or absorb flavors in the ways that metals do. There’s no lingering metallic taste. With the gentlest of tongue baths, it looks fresh and new.

Made with natural materials, the spoon is not only lightweight, but blends nicely with a scenic backdrop of mountains and alpine lakes. Rather than looking like high-tech gadgetry, this spoon looks like it belongs there. It meets every meal with style and grace, bowing in reverence to its environment.

It’s easy to get caught up in all of the bells and whistles of the newest, sweetest gear. The Gossamer Long-Handle Bamboo Spoon sets it self apart by not standing out. In its simplicity, this spoon is, quite simply, the best camping spoon ever. And if loving it so much makes me a weirdo, so be it.

Photos by Stephanie Baker. Product shot courtesy of Gossamer Gear.

Camp Notes is a big high five to the fun of sleeping outdoors and all that comes along with it. You know, camping and stuff.