Once upon a time the best camping plates and bowls were ones that co-ordinated beautifully with our campervan – and didn’t rattle around too much in the cupboards. Now, we’ve sold our classic VW, we’re collecting together our camping kit for trips under canvas rather than a tin roof.
Our van came with a set of enamel plates, and we added to those over the years with some melamine camping plates and bowls that matched the colour of the camper. Because of that, we thought they should go along with the vehicle. So they did – and now we need a new set of camping tableware.
Things have moved on, though, since we last bought any camping bowls and plates, so the question is – what sort is best? Should we stick with classic enamel camping plates and bowls, or opt for a set of bamboo plates and bowls?
In a hurry? Click here to see my top pick as best camping plate set
I’ve chosen the pastel set because it’s a good value and attractive choice that comes as a complete set including cutlery, cups, bowls and plates for four.
We know only too well how hardwearing and fast-growing bamboo is, since we have a patch of Phyllostachys Nigra in our back garden, which likes to throw up new shoots wherever it can detect sunlight in spring and early summer. Bamboo camping plates are thus an eco-friendly choice, but there are alternatives. Including stainless steel camping plates and bowls as well as melamine, enamel and plastic camping dishes.
This guide takes you through my search for the best camping plates and bowls in the UK right now, which I’m sharing to save you time and money. Whether you want the best backpacking plates and bowls – in which case you’ll require lightweight camping plates – or to find a set of metal dinner plates for camping.
Also covered is what to look for when choosing the best camping dinnerware. Lack of sound as they clattered around in the 40-year-old cupboards used to be top of the list, but camping trips with the car are an entirely different ball game. As are plates for camping when you’re backpacking!
Best Camping Plates and Bowls Contents
- Compare each camping plates set
- 7 best camping bowls & plate sets list
- Choosing the best camping plate set
- Best camping plates and bowls recommendations
Best Camping Dish Set Comparison Chart
| Name | What’s included | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foodle 28 piece pastel crockery set | 4 plates, bowls, cups & cutlery | Eco-friendly, lightweight, includes knives, forks & spoons | Check here |
| Lekoch 16 piece bamboo set | 4 small & large plates, bowls & mugs | Complete set for 4, environment-friendly, dishwasher safe | Check here |
| Camper Smiles 12 piece melamine set | 4 small & large plates & bowls | Cute design, plates & bowls for 4, cool bag included | Check here |
| Olpro 8 piece melamine camping set | 2 dinner & side plates, bowls & mugs | Tough melamine, set for two, range of designs | Check here |
| Summit stainless steel 2 piece set | 1 plate & 1 bowl | Ultra hardwearing, stackable, plate & bowl for 1 | Check here |
| Harfield plastic camping tableware set | 1 plate, bowl, mug & cutlery | Virtually unbreakable, cutlery included, attractive shade | Check here |
| Shopivaa boxed plastic camping set | 6 plates, cups, cutlery, salt shaker & box | Complete boxed set for 6, salt shaker included, 3 colours | Check here |
Top 7 Camping Plate and Bowl Sets
- Pastel plates, bowls & cutlery set – Best overall
- Lekoch bamboo camping tableware set – Best natural finish
- Camper Smiles melamine crockery set – Best for campervan fans
- Olpro melamine camping tableware set – Best patterned set
- Summit stainless steel plate & bowl set – Best metal set
- Harfield plastic camping tableware set – Best set for one
- Shopivaa boxed plastic camping set – Best boxed set
Camping Tableware Sets – What To Look For
Things to look out for when selecting the ideal plastic, melamine, bamboo or enamel camping set in the UK include the material it’s made from, what items are included, the design and the size of each plate and other helpful items or features.
Items
Do you want a complete set of camper dishes to kit our your classic vehicle or would a lightweight camping bowl or two suffice? Maybe you want the best plastic plates out there, or are actually after serving plates and bowls for family meals. Sets listed here range from including plates or bowls only to including cutlery, cups or even in one case, a storage box. One also comes with a cool bag.
Size
Do you require dinner plates, side plates or both? Think about what sort of meals you eat – is it a quick bite of breakfast or lunch only, or a full-on family dinner? Maybe you’d like both. Also, how many items do you need? Sets in this guuide can cover anything from one person to six.
Materials
Some of the following sets are made from eco-conscious materials like bamboo or wheat straw, while others are crafted from classic melamine or practical plastic. A metal option is also included – which I don’t recommend for campervan owners or touring caravans. Simply because they’re noisy when rattling around while you’re on the road!
Design
Do you like the design? For some this might not matter much, while for others buying a set you don’t really like the look of could mean you buying again in the future when a prettier set catches your eye. It’s all about looking for something that suits you – in style terms as well as practicality.
Other useful features
Some sets come with the back-up of a 2 year warranty, or they may include cutlery, a cool bag, or even a storage box to store and transport them in. Weight may be an issue if you’re looking for hiking plates and bowls. How resistant to breakage they are can also be a factor – especially if you’re clumsy, accident-prone or are camping with children.
Top Outdoor Plate Set Reviews
28 piece camping side plates & bowls set
Best overall
- 4 side plates & 4 bowls
- Polyester
In pretty pastels, there’s one side plate, cup, dinner plate and bowl each for four – plus the cutlery you need is included too.
This pretty pastel set includes cutlery as well as plates, bowls and drinking cups. This has the look of stoneware plates and bowls, but is as lightweight and strong as you’d expect tough plastic to be.
The camping crockery and cutlery can be used in the microwave or dishwasher too. There are side plates and dinner plates – so one is ideal for a sandwich or toast, while the other is best for your main meal of the day.
High points:
- Super strong
- Includes cutlery
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
Low points:
- Made from synthetic materials
Click here to view these camping bowls and plates
Lekoch 16 piece bamboo tableware set
Best natural finish
- 4 large and small plates, bowls and cups
- Bamboo
If you love the natural look of bamboo, this eco-conscious set for four people shows off the plant material beautifully.
There are some beautiful products made from bamboo that show off the natural features of the plant – and this is one of them. This is a complete set of camping plates, bowls and cups for a family or group of four. Couples can eat twice before washing up, while anyone travelling alone can simply do the dishes once a day if they like. It saves trekking across a muddy field to the campsite washing up area.
You can even use these at home for indoor or outdoor dining, before cleaning in the dishwasher. That’s bamboo – it’s certainly a stylish, robust and environmentally conscious choice.
High points:
- 4 small plates, large plates, bowls and cups
- Eco-friendly construction
- Dishwasher-safe
Low points:
- Plain design
Click here to view this bamboo camping plates, bowls and mugs set
Flamefield Camper Smiles 12 piece melamine set
Best for campervan fans
- 4 small plates, large plates and bowls
- Melamine
No camper fan could resist this set of melamine crockery. It comes with a cool bag and you can buy mugs and tumblers to match.
If you’re in the market for a set of melamine plates and bowls, then I love this Flamefield one. But of course I would, as a lifelong VW van fan. It’s perfect for campervan owners, actually, and not only because of the cheery camper design. Take it from me, melamine makes far less noise in your camper or towing caravan’s cupboards than metal – even when it’s coated with enamel.
Kids will love these, and with a cooler bag to keep everyone’s food and drinks chilled, mum and should also be full of ‘camper smiles’. If you like, you can buy matching mugs and tumbler sets to go with these too.
High points:
- Tableware set for 4
- Colourful campervan design
- Cool bag included
Low points:
- Mugs sold separately
Click here to see this melamine camping set of plates and bowls
Olpro melamine 8 piece camping set
Best patterned set
- 2 side & dinner plates, bowls & mugs
- Melamine
If you want something that’s not plain, this set for two comes in various patterns. It’s also made to last from tough melamine.
If there are two of you, this set of melamine picnic plates and bowls could be perfect. Especially if you like funky, retro-inspired style. With a bowl, two plates and a mug each, you’re all set for three meals a day when camping out or caravanning. The pattern can make for an appealing set of wildlife, flower and leaf plates and bowls.
These camping cups and plates plus bowls are available in other designs too – if you want to see those, click the link then scroll down a little on Amazon to view ‘Compare with similar items’. This pretty set also receives consistently high ratings and rave reviews.
High points:
- Several cool designs
- Two plates plus bowl and mug
- Ideal set for a couple
Low points:
- No cutlery included
Click here to view this set of camping melamine plates and bowls
Summit stainless steel 2 piece set
Best metal set
- 1 plate and 1 bowl
- Stainless steel
Made from steel, this set of camping plates and bowls is sold as a set for one person. They’re both robust and stackable.
While I wouldn’t recommend keeping metal camping plates and bowls in the cupboards of a moving vehicle, they can be a great alternative to melamine, bamboo or enamel plates for camping. With a dinner plate and bowl included, this set provides tableware for breakfast, lunch or dinner for one.
These are far more hardwearing than your average plastic camping plates and bowls and should last for years. Just don’t put them in the microwave. You can buy as many sets as there are members of your group or family, so nothing is wasted; nor will you be one bowl or plate short.
High points:
- Ultra hardwearing
- Suits any size of family or group
- Stackable for easy storage
Low points:
- Not microwave or dishwasher safe
Click here to view this stainless steel bowl and plate set
Harfield plastic camping tableware set
Best set for one
- 1 plate, bowl, mug and cutlery
- Plastic
This tough set for one person made from plastic also includes cutlery and is ultra lightweight and hard-wearing.
I’ve got to be honest – I wanted to include a set of blue enamel camping plates in this guide, but the reviews put me off doing so. There were too many complaints of the enamel wearing off – and often rather quickly. So as an alternative to the typical enamel ones I suggest this hardwearing plastic set.
A key advantage of this particular set is the fact that it comes complete as a camping plate, bowl and cup set. Cutlery is also included, thus giving one person everything they need for an overnight outdoor trip. Being made of virtually unbreakable plastic, these blue plates and bowls are tough as well as ultra lightweight.
High points:
- Virtually unbreakable
- Cutlery included
- Attractive blue finish
Low points:
- Plastic material
Click here to see these plastic plates and bowls for camping
Shopivaa 32 piece picnic and camping tableware set
Best boxed set
- 6 plates, cups, cutlery & storage box
- Plastic
Though there are no bowls in this set, everything else is included, even a salt shaker. A storage box keeps it all clean and tidy.
If you want cheap plates and bowls, this set might be just right – even though it actually contains no bowls at all. It does, however, include cups, cutlery and even a salt (or pepper) shaker. You could easily eat soup or cereal from the cups instead if you liked.
Surely these are the most compact camping dishes around? There are four camping plastic plates, cups, knives, forks and spoons for six people, all contained in a handy storage box complete with a handle. You can also choose between yellow, green and white.
High points:
- Storage box
- Salt shaker
- Ultra compact
Low points:
- Plastic build
Click here to view this set of plastic camping plates and cutlery
Camping Dinner Set – FAQs
Which dinnerware is best for camping?
When choosing a camping plate and bowl set, think about what you’ll use it for and where. Which meals, and are you camping with a car, caravan or camper van, or using public transport when backpacking? Factors to consider include the size of each plate or bowl, how many a set includes, what it’s made from and perhaps how it looks.
What are camping plates made from?
Camping plates can be made from metals such as strong stainless steel, lightweight aluminium or even ultra tough titanium. The main material may also be plastic, melamine or bamboo. All of these are suitable for frequent transportation and outdoor use.
What are the most durable plates and bowls made from?
The strongest outdoor plates and bowls include durable stainless steel camping tableware. Tough melamine or bamboo and affordable plastic are also options to consider. Metal dishes are the strongest, but you may prefer another material as they’re noisy when being moved or used.
Which are the best camping plates and bowls for you?
I hope this guide has been helpful in tracking down the best alternatives to enamel plates and bowls for camping, caravanning or your campervan.
Having the right set of camping plates and utensils can make life on the road or campsite so much easier, making outdoor meals a pleasure. They’re perfect for kids, BBQs and picnics too!
For more on camping equipment, you can check out articles on top camping tables, the best BBQs for camping, choosing camping cutlery, top picnic backpacks and more, or find out about the best New Forest farm shops to buy food from.
Note – This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy via these, I may earn a small fee. This has absolutely no effect on the price you pay. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
3 comments
Comments are closed.