REASONS TO BUY
Super fast boil times
Very nonstick
Dishes and silverware for two
Thoughtfully designed
REASONS TO AVOID
No frying pan
Not ideal for larger groups
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS Review
A top-tier backpacking set that heats efficiently and offers enough room for a stove and a fuel canister to fit inside
Credit: Ross Patton
RELATED: Best Camping Cookware Sets of 2024
Our Verdict
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS is made for backpackers who want their pot to heat food and liquids with speed and efficiency. We were particularly impressed with the cooking capability of the heat exchanger-equipped pot. Besides the incredibly efficient main pot, this set includes two insulated bowls, two smaller bowls, two lids, two sporks, a pot strainer lid, and a carrying case that doubles as a wash tub. These dishes and utensils sandwich together inside the main pot with enough room left over for a stove, a fuel canister, and even some food. Considering all that it includes, the overall package is relatively lightweight and compact. This set is easy to use and versatile – especially for two people – earning our nod as the best camping cookware for backpackers.
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 This Product
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Two-Person Backpacking Cookset | Best Cookware for Car Camping |  Best Value for Car Camping |  Best Cookware for Foodies | Best Value for Solo Backpackers |
| Price | $130 List | Check Price at Amazon | $90 List $90.00 at Amazon | $57.89 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $24.99 at Public Lands Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A solid option for folks in the market for an efficient backpacking cookware set for two people | Though the thick and durable stainless steel cookware set is a little heavier than other options, the entire set easily nests into one large pot | A wonderful stainless-steel set for the value-oriented car camper | Heavy-duty cast iron prioritizes cooking performance, offering a gourmet cooking experience whether at home or on the road | A high value stainless steel solo cook set intended for the backpacker |
| Rating Categories | GSI Outdoors Pinnac... | Stanley Even-Heat C... | Stanley Adventure B... | Lodge 3.2 Quart Cas... | GSI Outdoors Glacie... |
| Cooking Performance (35%) | |||||
| Features (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Packability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | GSI Outdoors Pinnac... | Stanley Even-Heat C... | Stanley Adventure B... | Lodge 3.2 Quart Cas... | GSI Outdoors Glacie... |
| Measured Weight | 1.4 lbs | 8.2 lbs | 4.8 lbs | 12.3 lbs | 1.0 lbs |
| Material | Hard-anodized aluminum w/non-stick coating | Stainless steel | Stainless steel (pot and pan bottoms have additional layers) | Cast iron | Stainless steel |
| Cooking Surfaces | Hard-Anodized, non-stick coating | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Cast iron | 18/8 stainless steel |
| Components | 1.8 L pot, strainer lid, 20 fl oz mugs w/ insulated sleeves (2), 20 fl oz bowls (2), sip-it tops (2), folding sporks (2), welded sink | 4.75 qt stock pot, 1.8 qt sauce pan, vented lids, 8.5" frying pan, collapsible cutting board, spatula, spoon, trivets and locking bungee | 3.5 L pot, vented lid, 7" 3-Ply frying pan, cutting board, spatula with extending handle, serving spoon with extending handle, 6" plates (4), ⁴ 22 oz bowls, sporks (4), dish drying rack, heat resistant trivet, locking bungee | 3.2 qt Dutch oven, 10" frypan/lid | 1 L pot, folding handle frying pan, bowl, cup, stuff sack |
| Avg Boil Time (seconds) | 78 | 240 | 252 | 270 | 236 |
| 3 L Pot (>2.4L) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 L Pot (1.5-2.4L) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 L Pot (0.5-1.4L) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Frying Pan | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Frying Pan Lid | N/A | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Packed Size | 5.9 x 6.4 x 5.9 in | 10.3 x 6.7 in | 11 x 6 x 11 in | 16.5 x 10.38 x 4.63 in | 6.7 x 6.6 x 3.5 in |
| Weight of Pot Closest to 1.5 L (With Lid and Handle) | 0.7 lbs | 1.78 lbs | 1.9 lbs | 5.9 lbs | 0.74 lbs |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS offers top-notch performance for backpackers, especially in groups of two. This cookware set really stands out when considering cooking performance. The heat exchanger helps to boil water with astonishing speed, and the non-stick coating eliminates the need for oil in most instances. Though designed for two, you can also consider parsing down the accessories for a lightweight solo trip into the wilderness.
Performance Comparison
This set likely has everything you'll need for a backpacking trip and can even store your fuel canister inside.
Credit: Ross Patton
Cooking Performance
The first part of cooking performance we consider is the efficiency with which the largest pot in each set boils water. To see how evenly they distribute heat, we then cook an egg with the appropriate pot or pan of each set. The cooking performance of the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS is phenomenal. The pot is composed of hard-anodized aluminum with a non-stick Teflon coating, which heats up very quickly.
The heat exchange ring affixed to the bottom of the pot helps boil water significantly faster than models that are missing this feature. When we conducted our time trials, the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS boiled two cups of water in an incredible one minute and 20 seconds. At this rate, you can take less fuel with you on your trips. Having to carry less fuel on trips shaves weight and saves you money.
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS boils water extremely quickly thanks to its anodized-aluminum material and heat exchanger.
Credit: Ross Patton
During our egg-cooking test, it was clear that the Dualist HS distributed the heat from the stove flame evenly. The performance was astonishing – we cooked a scrambled egg in 55 seconds.
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS heat distribution is top-notch.
Credit: Ross Patton
With a 1.8-liter capacity, the Dualist HS pot is plenty big enough to cook full meals for two people. Even with larger groups, this pot is large enough to cook a side dish for four. The scratch-resistant PFOA-free Teflon non-stick coating performs as though you're cooking with butter. But make sure to keep those metal utensils and sharp knives away from this pot if you want that performance to last.
We were able to whip up a warm meal with the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS in no time.
Credit: Ross Patton
Features
Camping cookware sets can range from a single pot designed for one person to boil water to massive sets that would suffice for a large base camp. Considering that the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS is a super-compact backpacking set, it has most of the things you'll need to prepare and consume a simple meal for two. We appreciate the strainer on the lid, the folding sporks, and the wash basin that helps make cleanup much simpler than trying to do dishes in the pot on its own.
Compared to base camping sets, the Dualist HS falls a bit short in the features department. While this backpacking set focuses on efficiency, the larger, more complete sets include dishes for several people, multiple pots, and frying pans.
The Pinnacle Dualist HS includes quite a few accessories when compared to other backpacking kits.
Credit: Ross Patton
Ease of Use
The GST Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS set is one of the easiest to use of any cookware set we've tested. The handle action is simple – you give it a light squeeze, and it unlocks. Once it's free, it locks into place when fully extended. To close it, you simply reverse the process, and it locks the set shut inside the pot.
The heat exchanger adds a bit of weight to the bottom of the pot, but this helps to balance it in place on top of infamously unstable backpacking stoves. The dishes, lids, and sporks are simple and intuitive.
The heat exchanger on the bottom of the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS adds weight but also helps to balance the pot on a stove.
Credit: Ross Patton
Durability
Durability is an important factor to consider. Generally speaking, the lighter a cookware set is, the less durable it is. The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS is not the most durable set of camping cookware we've gotten our hands on. But keep in mind that we are also comparing this super lightweight version to heavier-duty, base-camping cookware sets.
The pot is made of aluminum, which isn't as strong as stainless steel, cast iron, or titanium. You'd have to really try hard to bend it, but the difference in material strength is worth mentioning nonetheless. But the handle and hinge are made of stainless steel, so no worries there. The main weakness of this set is the dishes. The bowls are all plastic, and there's no way around the fact that plastic simply isn't as strong or long-lasting as metal, though it does help to reduce the weight of the set.
The dishes included with the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS are made of lightweight plastic.
Credit: Ross Patton
Packability
Since 1985, GSI Outdoors has been creating top-tier cookware geared toward outdoor use. Over the decades, they've come up with several innovative products that are designed to be as lightweight and compact as possible while still offering the performance of larger, more cumbersome products. The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS camping cookware set is a perfect example of their ingenuity and experience.
The Dualist HS set includes the main pot, a lid with a pour spout and a strainer, two bowls, two insulated “mugs,” two lids for those mugs, and two sporks. The pot handle is also the latch that secures the entire set. The security of the spring-loaded latch allows you to tie the whole set to the outside of a backpack. Several other models with a similar design feature handles that don't latch shut, so you'll have to get creative if you want to secure everything inside.
Backpacking sets such as the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS are designed to be as light and compact as possible, even considering the number of dishes, silverware, and other accessories that they can hold.
Credit: Ross Patton
The Dualist HS also includes a carry bag that is constructed of welded rubber so that it can hold water. This feature is useful for transporting water from the source to your camp and also for washing dishes. The whole package has extra room inside, and with some thoughtful stacking, it's possible to fit a stove, a fuel canister, and even a pre-mix meal inside.
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS has room for a stove and a fuel canister in addition to the included cups, bowls, and sporks.
Credit: Ross Patton
Weight
Depending on the type of camping you're going to be doing, the weight of a set may or may not be as important to you. If you have a vehicle, an animal, or a boat carrying your gear for you, it doesn't really matter how much a cookware set weighs. But if you're backpacking, every ounce counts. Considering the size of the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS and everything the set includes, its overall weight is very reasonable.
The Dualist HS is much lighter than any base camping cookware set we've seen, with the complete set weighing only 1.4 pounds. In order to normalize our comparison process by eliminating additional pots, pans, and dishes, we also weighed each set's largest pot, handle, and lid on its own. The Dualist HS pot is in the middle of the pack, weighing 0.7 pounds.
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS pot, handle, and lid weigh about 3/4 of a pound.
Credit: Ross Patton
Should You Buy the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS?
The Pinnacle Dualist HS is at the top of our list for backpacking cookware sets. The heat exchanger ring on the pot offers incredible cooking performance and also conserves fuel. The handle and latch are super-solid, and the wash tub is very useful for cleanup. The dishes and sporks stack together nicely, with enough room left for a stove, a fuel canister, and even a meal. The whole set is easy to use and easy to clean. Although it falls short in terms of durability and extra features, if these are concerns for you, consider a base camping set. But it's tough to imagine a better-made set for backpacking duos.
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS insulated “mugs” slide inside of the bowls.
Credit: Ross Patton
What Other Camping Cookware Should You Consider?
Backpacking cookware sets are generally not the most affordable piece of gear. But if you're cooking for one and you don't mind sacrificing a bit of performance, the GSI Outdoors Glacier 1-Person set costs substantially less than the Pinnacle Dualist HS. If you're looking for a two-person set but aren't a fan of non-stick coatings, check out the MSR Fusion Ceramic 2-Pot Set – just be aware that this set does not include dishes or silverware. For base camping, our top recommendation is the GSI Pinnacle Camper. This set includes most of the things that a group of four will need to cook and eat a large meal.
—Ross Patton and Trish Matheny
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