GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Spork and Sticks Camping Utensil Review

Bottom Line

The GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Spork and Sticks fills an obvious niche of people who prefer chopsticks over Western cutlery. However, the cowboy is not totally forgotten in this combo set, as the large spork is perfect for slurping stew. We gave this set a full shakedown at home and on backpacking and rafting trips in the Rocky Mountains. While it’s not our go-to utensil, it has its time and place. 

The chopsticks’ lightweight wooden construction and the sturdy stainless steel spork perfectly complement each other in both weight and functionality. When combined, the utensil has an incredible reach, but at the cost of some stability. 

Though you could argue its practicality until the cows come home, its durability and design are par to GSI’s reputation for innovative and quality camping cookware.

The GSI Spork and Sticks is no doubt very different from our other favorite camping utensils, but for the right backpacker, this set could be a dream come true.

How We Tested

We tested this utensil set along with comparable products both at home and on the trail. We brought it along on rafting and backpacking trips, testing it on dehydrated hiker food and ‘real’ food. We verified its specs with manufacturer claims and professionally evaluated every last feature so you don’t have to.

Functionality

The GSI Spork and Sticks is definitely one of the most innovative designs on our list of favorite utensils, but using it to its full potential takes a little finesse. First, let’s talk about the chopsticks. They are comparable in length to standard chopsticks, but noticeably lighter than quality chopsticks. They also feel like they lack a definitive fulcrum – the key to easy maneuverability. That said, we’re admittedly not the most savvy chopstick users, so the functionality will vary from person to person.

The spork is very easy to use. It has a large, 6mL capacity spoon that cradles a slurpable amount of soup without being too big to feel uncomfortable. The spork features five tiny quarter-inch prongs (compared to the more typical four long prongs) to retain more spoon volume. It even stabs food surprisingly well (but not as good as a fork).

The chopsticks alone will give you almost 8 inches of reach (if you hold them on the very end), and the spork will provide a little over 6. When combined, the combo reaches almost 12 inches long! The caveat is the sacrifice in stability and risk of the set coming apart.

Design

The spork is definitely more comfortable to use than the chopsticks (sure, we didn’t grow up chopstickin’). But we’re not just saying that because we’re terrible at using chopsticks. The spork handle is ergonomically curved to comfortably rest in your hand, with a brilliant upturn at the end for extra leverage. The significant weight is a refreshing change from ultralight plastic and titanium designs. The stainless steel is a familiar material that feels like you’re eating with home silverware. 

Despite their lack of sufficient weight, the chopsticks are smooth and polished for a comfortable hand and mouth feel. 

The standout feature of the Glacier Spork and Sticks design is the ability for the two utensils to nest together for an ultra-long super spork. Although it’s a neat design, it is more novel than effective.

Construction

The Glacier Spork and Sticks are both sturdy and fragile. The stainless steel spork bends fairly easily, but it bends back to its original shape just as easily and isn’t brittle like plastic, so it won’t snap. The stainless steel is very easy to clean, but sometimes food can get stuck in the prongs of the spork. 

The chopsticks will definitely snap without much pressure. They do flex a little before snapping, but it’s best to treat them with more care than your typical backpacking cookware.

Weight & PAckability

The whole set weighs in at 1.94oz (55g), far heavier than any individual utensil. If you choose to leave half of the set at home, the spork weighs 1.41oz (40g), and the chopsticks weigh just 0.35oz (10g). You can save an additional 5g by leaving the stuff sack at home. 

The packed length of the kit is about 8.75in. It’s not the most packable utensil set compared to other collapsible options, but at least it has a bag to keep your utensils clean!

Should You Buy the GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Spork & Sticks Utensil?

Simply put, if you love using chopsticks, this set is for you. If you don’t, there are better options for less money. Such is the nature of these niche items. However, the set offers decent functionality in a thoughtful design.

The spork and sticks complement each other nicely to create a complete set for almost any kind of meal. The spork has excellent capacity, practical prongs, and a comfortable ergonomic design. The sticks lack some heft, but help keep the overall weight down and are effective in the right hands. Together, they form a super spork long enough to steal from your neighbor’s plate. 

For a 2-piece set, the GSI Glacier Spork and Sticks are very reasonably priced, packing a ton of value and versatility into an affordable and relatively lightweight package. For the right backpacker, this niche utensil set is an absolute win.

What Other Camping Utensils Should You Consider?

Don’t worry, there are plenty of traditional camping utensils to choose from in our guide to the best camping utensils. Here are some contenders: 

Outdoor Edge ChowPal Review: The ChowPal is a multi-tool design complete with spoon, fork, and a sharp knife. The stainless steel design can be similarly combined for a very long reach, but not quite as long as the Spork and Sticks.

Humangear GoBites Bio-Uno Long Review: The Uno Long comes the closest to reaching the same length as the Spork and Sticks in a single utensil. It features two dedicated utensils on a single handle and offers significant weight savings over the Spork and Sticks. 

Snow Peak Titanium Spork Review: If you’re particularly intrigued by the spork part of the GSI Spork and Sticks, the Snow Peak Titanium Spork is the most comparable in terms of size. It lacks the same handle comfort, but is much lighter.