Food, as essential as it is, often takes a back seat to things like sleeping bags and tents and pocket knives when you're camping. Nothing wrong with granola bars and a bag of almonds, but we can do better. Eating grub that's not in gel or bar form is even more rewarding (and satisfying) at the end of a long day of hiking. While it would be ideal to have a sherpa carry a cooler of hamburger patties and silverware, the next best thing is to kit up with some lightweight cooking and eating gear and chow down like a happy camper for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All you'll need is a fire.

—Kevin Sintumuang

Camping Cookware F. Martin Ramin for The Wall Street Journal

1. Sea to Summit Three-Piece X Set

You could go full-on cowboy style and eat out of the pan you cooked your meal with, but if you want to retain some sense of civility despite not showering for days, this lightweight, collapsible set of nesting mug, bowl and plate will do the trick. Made out of silicone, they rinse off easily and won't crack in sub-zero temperatures.

2. Snow Peak Titanium Straw

A morning cup of orange juice is a luxury when you are in the woods. (Tang doesn't count, sorry.) With this simple titanium straw you can easily indulge. Just pack an orange (or two), jab in the straw and voilà, fresh-squeezed O.J. without any of the mess. $20,

3. Snow Peak Titanium Spork

Many wilderness campers swear by the cost-to-weight ratio of the average plastic take-out utensils, but come on, you deserve better. These titanium sporks are tougher, just as light and come in bright colors that will cheer you up even if you're just eating instant ramen noodles on top of a tree stump.

The Off Duty 50

4. REI TiWare Nonstick Cookset

This four-piece nesting titanium cookware weighs only 18 ounces but is as useful as the complete set of pots and pans you received as a wedding present. The lids double as fry pans, the non-stick coating means perfect eggs in the morning and they heat up super quickly so you won't waste any fuel.

5. MSR Alpine Deluxe Kitchen Set

It's hard to get the chef experience without packing lots of single-purpose, full-sized tools. The Alpine set gives you a lightweight alternative. Most of the tools fold down (including the cutting board) and have several uses: the ladle is also a measuring cup and the spatulas have a cheese grater or a serrated edge. $55,