The three Kupilka theme sets, Start the Day, Slow Down and Fill that Belly, are designed for outdoor diners who want to easily assemble the perfect Kupilka set for two at a more affordable price than individual items. The products in the sets complete each other and it is possible to order the sets with laser markings from our own online store: Kupilka Theme sets.
Kupilka Theme sets are designed to fit different meals of the day
Start the Day set, containing two soup bowls, shot cups and big spoon, was tested by Kai Lehtonen. Read from below Lehtonen's thoughts about this Kupilka set:
Testing the Kupilka's Start the Day-set
Outdoor dining is at its best a comprehensive experience that can be enjoyed on a long hike or a quick visit to the nearby forest. However, only few bring a full cooking arsenal or their heirloom porcelain on their adventures, as there are more suitable tools for the purpose. Kupilka’s Start the Day-set is a combination of a soup bowl, spoon and tiny shot cup. We tested the set’s functionality in outdoor dining.
Start the Day-set includes dining equipment for two people in a gift package. There is everything needed in the set with nothing unnecessary. The “less is more” theme applies excellently to camping gear, meaning that when the equipment works well and is sufficiently versatile, their quantity can be reduced, saving both packing space and weight. It is always a compromise of features. However, the functionality must be good enough to ensure that dining is smooth experience, and the equipment serves its purpose. How did the Kupilka camping dining set perform in this field?
The typical materials used for camping plates are plastic and silicone. A plastic plate is lightweight and easy to clean. Nevertheless, the material is usually quite thin and may feel hot when eating hot food. Plastic plates also run the risk of breaking over time. A place of silicone is usually of a collapsible design. It also insulates heat reasonably well. The downside of silicone is its flexibility, which makes it difficult to get a good grip on the plate. The flexible material can cause food to fall off the plate. On top of that, filling a silicone plate is not the easiest task due to the lack of a firm grip.
In most cases camping utensils are made of plastic or metal. Both work well, but their material strength is usually low, and their ergonomics are often lacking. Additionally, metal feels cold during winter times. Camping mugs are typically made of wood and metal. The previously mentioned properties of metal also apply to camping mugs. Wood is a natural material, but it may crack over time and absorb odors and flavors.
Kupilka uses Natural Fiber Composite as the manufacturing material for its outdoor dining equipment. The material is ecological and has a natural appearance, especially in the light brown Original color option. The design is stylish with a touch of Karelian flair. The set, with its wood-like appearance, is suitable for even the most demanding consumers and for professional use, such as guided tours.
The highlight of the set is its soup bowls. The plate feels quite stable, and its shaped handle significantly facilitates especially the serving of food. You can also get a firm grip from the bottom of the plate. The edges of the plate are quite high, which allows for eating soup and generally mixing food on the plate and having a sufficient portion size. The high edges were also beneficial when eating standing up or on an uneven surface, preventing food from spilling. The plate’s insulation properties against both hot and cold are also quite good and thus the plate is very pleasant to handle. Even sipping broth from the edges of the plate was quite effortless.
The plate, due to its shape and handle, is even suitable for filling with drinking water, for example, from the springs on longer hikes. The plate is not particularly wide and is not the best option for eating solid food when portion size is large. If the meal has several ingredients that you want to keep separate the bowl might not be the best option. For this purpose, a shallow plate is more suitable.
The spoon included in the set was a pleasant surprise. It is long for a camping spoon, and its sturdy, oval shaped handle fits well in the hand. Using the spoon was quite easy. Overall, the spoon is a good choice for this general set with deep plates, but the set could be even better if it were equipped with a spork, a versatile utensil that combines a spoon and fork. Sporks are relatively inexpensive, so it’s easy to upgrade the set if needed.
The set’s camping cup has a handle to enhance usability. The cup is very small in size, and its 0,5 dl capacity is not sufficient for drinking without multiple refills. The small size is justified by the cup’s lightness and compact packing size, as well as the fact that a hot drink cools down quickly in it. The small cup is best suited for serving shots. However, I personally believe the overall functionality of the set would significantly improve with a larger cup.
The handles of the cutlery have holes for attachment. However, the attachment hole of the cup is too small even for small accessory carabiner. The plate and spoon do not fit properly with a medium sized carabiner. Enlarging or rounding the attachment holes would improve the compatibility (*Check the manufacturer’s comments about this). The end user should be able to easily file the holes larger, if necessary, for example with a round file. Anyhow, this is a flaw worth correcting in the next versions.
Cleaning the cutlery was quite easy. Wiping with a damp paper towel was sufficient to clean the spoon for consecutive uses. The set also handled the dishwasher without any noticeable side effects.
Kupilka’s Start the Day-set, despite the name, is suitable for versatile outdoor dining uses. Its most important element, the plate, works excellently. The bowl like plate is the most versatile and best option when looking for a camping plate that can handle almost any situation. Additionally, Kupilka’s functionality is enhanced by excellent ergonomics and handling, as well as the possibility to use it as a water scoop. By upgrading the camping mugs to a slightly larger size and replacing the spoons with multi-purpose utensils according to your own preferences, you can customize the set into excellent companion for shared meals in the heart of nature.
The tester is an entrepreneur from Espoo who enjoys spending time outdoors year-round, regardless of the weather, doing versatile nature activities
Manufacturer's comment
Thank you again Kai for the comprehensive testing. The Kupilka's Start the Day set is designed, as the name suggest, to suit breakfast setting for porridge or yogurt, together with e.g. espresso or ginger shot. It's great to hear that the set is also versatile for other meals!
* Kupilka does not recommend enlarging the holes of the handles in the products. The surface of the products can be damaged, making them difficult to clean. Enlarging the holes can also weaken the handle, making it more prone to breaking. As a solution, we recommend attaching small key ring to the holes, which can then fit onto a carabiner if needed.
As Kai mentioned, the Kupilka 5 shot cup included in the set may be small for dining purposes. The set can be easily complemented with a cup from Kupilka's extensive range of drinkin vessels: Kupilka cups. The Moomin and Mauri Kunnas cups available in Kupilka's selection also fit perfectly with the Start the Day set for breakfast setting.
We wish Kai many memorable moments in nature with Kupilka!
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