humangear GoBites Uno Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
humangear GoBites Uno | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | Best Bang For Your Buck | Best Overall | Best for Ultralight Backpacking | ||
Price | $3.69 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $9.95 at Public Lands Compare at 2 sellers | $12.00 List $11.95 at Amazon | $8.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This sturdy plastic model offers the best price to performance ratio | The best model for your on-the-go meal needs | This model has an exceptionally low weight and top-notch durability, making it the ideal backcountry utensil | A great option for the backcountry due to its comfortable and lightweight design | Although lacking in durability, this product is comfortable, lightweight, and highly packable |
Rating Categories | humangear GoBites Uno | Snow Peak Titanium... | Vargo Titanium ULV | Toaks Titanium | MSR Folding |
Eating (35%) | |||||
Durability (30%) | |||||
Cooking (20%) | |||||
Cleaning (15%) | |||||
Specs | humangear GoBites Uno | Snow Peak Titanium... | Vargo Titanium ULV | Toaks Titanium | MSR Folding |
Material | High-temp nylon | Titanium | Titanium | Titanium | Nylon |
Measured weight (oz) | 0.5 oz | 0.6 oz | 0.3 oz | 0.6 oz | 0.4 oz |
Length | 6.5" | 6.5" | 6.5" | 6.625" | 8"/4.5" |
Dishwasher safe? | Yes - Top rack recommended | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Among the models we tested, the humangear GoBites Uno is truly unique in its delivery of a sturdy design made of plastic. With a standard length of 6.5-inches and weighing in at 0.53oz, it is mid-range in weight amongst its peers. Backed by a lifetime guarantee and a solid performance in our durability testing, this product proves its value is beyond its tiny price tag. When it comes to comfort, however, you won't be quick to forget you are eating with a piece of unconventional cutlery. With a fork on one end and a spoon on the other, we aren't quite sure if this constitutes a true spork, but it certainly gets the job done when transporting food from plate to palate.
While we tested the standard Magenta option, it also comes in Black, Dark Gray, Light Gray, Light Green, Medium Green, Mint, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Yellow, Pink, Orange, and Red. If you want to get fancy, special order it with personalized text printed on the back.
Performance Comparison
Eating
While still operating above average, this model struggles a bit in this category. The main drawback is its double-ended design. With a spoon on one end and a fork on the other, you lose some of the versatility of the standard combination design. You are forced to pick either a spoon or a fork to eat with or face messy hands when you flip the utensil around mid-meal.
Getting a little food on your hands may not seem like too big of a deal but don't forget to consider the opposite. Sanitation in the backcountry is a challenge. Nature's restroom comes with a beautiful view, but it doesn't provide warm running water and soap. With that in mind, grabbing one end of this product with your dirty hands and then flipping it around to eat food takes some of the yum out of your meal.
We also don't love having to hold either a spoon bowl or fork tines in our hand. While it may feel awkward, it's far from uncomfortable. The thick plastic has smooth edges making it gentle on your palm and fingers. We also measured the total cc's of fluid each bowl could hold and this model was above average, making it a good choice if you're a soup lover.
Durability
This is where this spork shines. Before we started testing, we anticipated a flimsy construction for all of the non-metal versions, but this product proved us dead wrong. It even scored higher in this category than some of the metal options! It held up to scooping straight-out-of-the-freezer ice cream with no distortions, and we even caught a glimpse of it in the hands of a stranger at our local ice cream shop.
This model was one of the shining stars in our break test. It didn't flex, bend, or break when we hung a 10-lb weight off of the bowl with the shaft c-clamped to a table at the midpoint.
Cooking
Once again, this product surprised us and proved to be quite sturdy to cook with virtually no flexing or bending. The handle is long enough to mostly hold the shaft when stirring rather than the tines on the fork end, but the tines are still a bit uncomfortable in your hand.
You may think the plastic material of this model is a safe bet for a non-stick pan, but unfortunately, this product along with almost all of the other competitors were quick to scratch the coating of the pan we tested. Overall it may not be designed for cooking, but it still managed better than average ratings in this category.
Cleaning
The sleek material makes for easy cleaning. A little bit of cool water with gentle rubbing was all it took to remove any food bits.
Dried on mac n' cheese and almond butter were no match for this utensil. As with all plastic, the protein in eggs sticks to the material, but getting it off wasn't much of a challenge.
Value
It's hard not to buy into this product. Its price to performance ratio is practically off the charts making this a great option for your first foray into technical cutlery. If you're willing to shell out a few extra bucks for a more familiar feeling utensil or prefer to avoid eating with plastic, check out our Editor's Choice winner, the Snow Peak Titanium.
It's smart to be wary of plastic due to its potential for well-established negative health effects. Head over to our Water Bottle Buying Advice for more information on the research on BPA and other chemicals found in plastics.
Conclusion
While not our absolute favorite model, humangear GoBites Uno is inexpensive in comparison to the other products and performed above average across the board. We heartily enjoyed all of our meals with it, found it simple to clean, and it resisted melting when cooking. We were surprised by its durability and feel confident using it for everyday lunches as well as extended backpacking trips.