Camping plates come in a few different kinds of material, but enamel is definitely a classic choice. But even with something as basic as enamel camping plates, you have many different options that can result in drastically different products. Size, for instance, is a big one, as is something like high edges, which can be an important addition to a camping plate when you’re eating large meals off of your lap in the dark. A camping plate is no good, after all, if all of the food ends up on the ground or in your lap.
Enamel Camping Plates
A few things to think about when shopping for new enamel camping plates.- Size – There aren’t many variables and features when it comes to a plate, especially when you’ve already decided on a material, but one is the size of the plate itself. With camping plates it’s usually best to go big, as meals can be quite big, and you are rarely lucky enough to be eating on a level surface.
- Sides – Related to size, you should also be on the lookout for a camping plate with high sides. As alluded to, you don’t always have the luxury of eating off of a level surface when you’re camping. Often you’re eating out of your lap, and if you want to keep your food on your plate and not on the ground or your lap, high sides on your plate helps.
Best Enamel Camping Plates
There aren't too many enamel camping plates out there to choose from, but these are a few of the best.- GSI Outdoors Baked Enamelware Soup Plate - A good all around enamel camping plate. It's more of a combination between bowl and plate, with .75 inch high sides. The plate is actually a stainless steel interior that has an enamel coating on the outside. This is great for strength and durability, but not so much for weight. At 14 ounces, or 396 grams, there are quite a few lighter options in materials like titanium.
- GSI Outdoors Baked Enamelware Plate - The same basic plate as the one above, but without the .75 inch deep sides. It also weighs less, at just 11 ounces, or 311 grams, which is still quite heavy when compared to other materials like titanium. The plate also has a diameter of 10.4 inches.
- Coleman 12-Piece Enamelware Dining Set - If you plan to go camping or backpacking with more than one person, as most people do, it's likely cheaper to get a whole set, rather than just individual plates. This set comes with four enamel camping plates, bowls and mugs, for a total of 12 pieces. No word on the weight or size of individual items, but these seem to be pure enamel, rather than coated stainless steel like the GSI plates above, so they're bound to be significantly lighter.
