GSI Infinity 4 Person Compact Tableset
MSRP: $34.95 (BUY NOW)
WEIGHT: 26.7 oz
DIMENSIONS: 7.7” Diameter x 4.4” Height (in Stuff Sack)
MATERIAL: Clear Polypropylene
INCLUDES: 4 14fl oz Mugs with Insulated Sleeves & Drinking Lids, 4 16fl oz Bowls, 4 7.5” Plates, and a Mesh Stuff Sack.
PRODUCT USE: Destination Camping for 4 People
Lets talk about “Green”. One of the cardinal rules of camping is to leave no trace. Over the years it’s become more and more apparent how deep these efforts can go, and how you, as a consumer, have the power to choose how “Green” you want to go. We all know how ‘easy’ it is to bring paper plates, plastic silverware, and Styrofoam cups to the campsite, then at the end of the meal, toss them into the mythical place of ‘away’. Luckily lots of great companies out there have made the effort to not only make strong, long lasting, reusable campware, but some have gone a step further and made the products themselves better for the environment. GSI’s line of Infinity Tableware is a great example of how to not only be green, but to also be ultra functional.
The GSI Infinity 4 Person Compact Tableset was a no-brainer addition to my Overland camp cookware just for the fact that it took up no additional space tucked away in my Pinnacle Base Camper Large. As I have now spent a few months using each piece everyday, I have come to really appreciate the genius of the design. When Bryon and I first hit the road in the new EEXP I had been on the search for a collapsible cup/bowl set to have in addition to the tableset, but didn’t find one that met all of my needs in time. For the first 4 weeks, the cups, bowls and plates were all I had for mixing up burgers, scrambling eggs, and marinating meats. Camping usually brings out the creative genius in all of us to some degree or another, but the GSI Infinity 4-Person Compact Tableset was even more useful and capable than I had imagined.
Bowls: Both the bowls and mugs of this set share the same rounded triangle shape for optimized, space saving and stacking. While that shape may sound obscure for “real life” use, I find the shape of the mugs and bowls to actually fit quite nicely in my hands. Also, the rounded bottoms fit the curve of a spoon just fine, as to not leave a morsel behind. The high walls allow for a healthy portion without wasting space by adding sloped sides. Most camp settings don’t come with a sit down table, so it’s nice to be able to hold your food and drink comfortably while you chow down. The only slight issue I’ve had with the rounded triangular shape of the bowls, is that it’s a little difficult to get a smooth whisk going for eggs, however I still manage to get 4-6 eggs into a decent scramble. Also they do have ml, cup, and oz measurements on the inside of the bowl, which can be seen through to the outside.
Mugs: The removable insulated sleeve that fits snug on the mug is great. It slides off easily when it’s time to clean, and they dry out quickly as well. If I really want to keep my beverage or food hot, I will leave the bowl ‘attached’ to the mug for added insulation. The two items fit together just so, to keep enough pressure as to not slide off. There’s also the added benefit that if you slosh the goods over the side, you are not getting anything on the mug coozy. The lids that fit on the mug have two openings on either end of the curve, good for both righties and lefties. Bryon’s only gripe with them is that beer just doesn’t “feel right” being consumed out of that shape.
Plates: Okay, they’re small, a bit too small to be your only plate. But the convenience of how they tuck so neatly into the pot set, is hard to discredit. While there isn’t room for anything “extra” in the camper, I find that I end up using them frequently enough to be allowed to stay. Having those additional four plates when you come across hungry campers and overlanders, or even being able to have prep plates for chopped veggies and raw meat, is something of a luxury that can make all the difference of a happy cook. With that being said, I’m still on the search for full-sized, round plastic plates that will fit under the base of my pot set.
Areas For Improvement:
The lids for the mugs would have an option to seal completely to be used for leftover food storage, as well as to keep a beverage from spilling.
The plates would be enlarged to fit under the large pot of the Pinnacle Base Camper setup, to get a more usable plate (even adding four large extra plates to the set would be great).
Pros: Super lightweight, compact, easy to clean, does not take on odors, BPA free, will not leach plasticizers or other chemicals into your food and beverages (YAY!), and completely recyclable. Also, even if you don’t have the Pinnacle Base Camper as a way to store it, the stuff sack it comes with makes it easy to tuck the set in the smallest of places.
Cons: No large plates included, does not have a sealed lid for mugs
Overall, the compact nature of the design outweighs any of my gripes with the size of the plate. Also, the added benefit of this product being as green as you’re going to get for this kind of durability makes me pretty darn happy. Whether you’re buying this to pair with the Pinnacle Base Camper Large, or just to have on it’s own, especially for those impromptu meals on the road, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with your purchase.
(Disclaimer: GSI provided the 4 Person Compact Tableset to Exploring Elements for review consideration.)
