 This Product
GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Ceramic Camper Cookset | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Ultralight Solo Backpacking Kit | Best Campfire-Safe Cookware | Best Backpacking Cookset for Two |  Best Value Cookset for Groups | |
| Price | $170 List Check REI (on sale!) | $75 List | $70 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $90 List Check REI (on sale!) | $90 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A lightweight and highly packable cook set with a ton of components, but the serving ware is tiny and the small capacity makes it difficult to cook for groups | This ultralight, durable kit is perfect for solo backpackers and travelers looking to save weight without sacrificing essential cooking performance | Whether traveling or in the comfort of your own home, these tried-and-true cast iron skillets are perfect for preparing gourmet meals | A packable, durable, and lightweight cookset for minimalist 2-person meals in the backcountry | A comprehensive and budget-friendly cookware set that works well for families of four or small groups on the road |
| Rating Categories | GSI Outdoors Bugaboo... | Snow Peak Ti-Mini So... | Lodge 3.2 Quart Cast... | GSI Outdoors Halulit... | Stanley Wildfare Cor... |
| Cooking Performance (30%) | |||||
| Ease of Cleaning (25%) | |||||
| Features (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Packability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | GSI Outdoors Bugaboo... | Snow Peak Ti-Mini So... | Lodge 3.2 Quart Cast... | GSI Outdoors Halulit... | Stanley Wildfare Cor... |
| Components | 3L pot, 2L pot, 2 strainer lids, 9" skillet, 4 14 fl. oz. mugs w/ insulated sleeves, 4 14 fl. oz. bowls, 4 7.5" plates, 4 sip-it tops, pot gripper, welded sink | 30 fl oz pot, 16 fl oz cup, lid, mesh bag | 3.2 qt Dutch oven, 10" frypan/lid | 1.4L pot, strainer lid, 2 14 fl. oz. mugs with insulated sleeves, 2 14 fl. oz. bowls, 2 sip-it tops, 2 folding sporks, welded sink | 8” fry pan, 4 qt pot, lid with vent, cutting board, silicone trivet, 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 cutlery set, spatula, spoon, bungee cord closure |
| Cooking Surfaces | Ceramic nonstick | Uncoated titanium | Cast iron | Hard anodized aluminum | 18/8 food-grade stainless steel |
| Servingware Material | BPA-free polypropylene | Titanium | N/A | Recycled polypropylene | Plastic |
| Packed Size | 9.1 x 9.1 x 5.8 in | 5.2 x 4.25 in | 16.5 x 10.38 x 4.63 in | 5.5 x 6 in | 8.5 x 10.5 x 6 in |
| Measured Weight | 3.76 lbs | 0.4 lbs | 12.3 lbs | 1.2 lbs | 4.7 lbs |
| Avg Boil Time (seconds) | 150 | 125 | 270 | 138 | 180 |
| Weight of Pot Closest to 1.5 L (with Lid and Handle) | 1.35 lbs | 0.26 lbs | 5.9 lbs | 0.76 lbs | 1.13 lbs |
The Bugaboo is a thoughtfully designed cookset that includes a comprehensive set of dishes for four people, along with a 2L and a 3L pot, a skillet, and we like that carry bag even transforms into a dish tub to help with clean-up at the end of the meal.
The ceramic non-stick surfaces of the cookware worked well, and we appreciate that it doesn't contain harmful chemicals that may leach into our food. It also cleaned up fairly easily.
We found the overall capacity a little tight for trying to serve four people a full meal. The skillet is small, and the servingware is also quite small. There are no utensils included.
The nonstick surfaces of the pots and frying pan work well, but you'll need to make sure you use non-scratching utensils on them to avoid damaging them. The handle also has a tendency to get hot, so you'll need to be mindful of that when cooking.
We found it harder to clean the oddly-shaped stackable cups and bowls. If you have larger hands, it's more difficult to clean the bottom of the mugs, and it's important to clean them well before stacking everything together.
Though decently lightweight, this is a niche design that is too big and heavy to consider for backpacking and a little too small to appreciate when weight doesn't matter while camping near the car.
This set is functional and features the components you need to cook for a group of four, but having tested better options, we don't really recommend it. Our tester liked using this set the least of the full group cooksets and noted that it felt outdated. Too heavy to carry into the backcountry, and not functional enough for car camping (the cups are small and hard to clean, plates aren't large enough for a full meal). If you're enticed by the nesting packability and the carrying bag that converts to a wash bin, this could be a decent set for you. We just tested better ones.
And if you want something a little more practical for car camping with a group or family of four, check out the Gerber ComplEAT 16-piece Cookset, which was our favorite car camping set. It costs a little more than the Bugaboo, but we think it's worth it. If you can't swing the price of the Gerber, the Stanley Wildfare Core Full Serve 26-Piece is also a decent set that'll save you some money. If you're headed out for a solo mission or find yourself responsible for your personal gear within a larger group, the Snow Peak Ti-Mini Solo Combo 2.0 has been our go-to for several years. The cooking performance and features are limited, but it's everything you need for coffee and oatmeal in the morning and dehydrated meals at night.
