Of all the non-glamorous travel accessories out there, silverware should be near the top of the list. It may not be very exciting, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful when you’re away from home.
Long the domain of backwoods campers, a small set of utensils is also surprisingly useful for all types of travelers. There is nothing particularly exciting about small, portable sets of spoons, forks, and knives, but depending on the type of travel you take, you might find them much more often than you would expect.
Convenience
The most important reason to bring your own silverware on vacation is simply convenience. While you’re unlikely to have too much trouble if all of your meals come from restaurants, it’s a different story when you’re eating take out or no meals.
Disposable plastic utensils often don’t cut it (literally), and shared kitchens regularly run out of cutlery when other guests break things, or decide they’d rather carry a decent knife with them when they leave.
Hygiene
The other problem is hygiene. If you like street food and small local restaurants, keeping your own silverware on hand is not a bad idea. While the food itself is almost always safe (and delicious), the same can’t necessarily be said for utensils.
In places where tap water is not safe to drink, and flies and other insects are a way of life, silverware can often make you sick more easily than you’ve ordered. Keep a travel pack of alcohol wipes on hand to clean your utensils as needed.
What type?
Travel cutlery can be divided into three main types. They are all useful in different situations, and because they are small, lightweight, and you don’t need to spend a lot on them, there is nothing wrong with choosing a couple of varieties.
Multi-Piece
Probably the most common type of travel silverware, multi-piece sets are just what their name suggests. You’ll typically get a knife, fork, and spoon, often about two-thirds the size of standard utensils.
The knife is usually slightly serrated without a sharp point, and is appropriate for cutting softer items. The spoon is intended for yogurt, soup, or the like, although most can double-duty as a teaspoon if necessary. Some games do come with a separate teaspoon though, if that’s something you hope to use regularly.
The best sets come with a bag or other holder, which makes it easier to keep individual items neat and together, rather than on the bottom of the suitcase. They are made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, bamboo, and titanium.
Due to minimal grooves and the lack of a sharp blade, most multi-piece travel cutlery can be carried through TSA checkpoints, but if you are concerned, store them in your checked luggage.
Examples: titanium, bamboo, and stainless steel.
Simple utensil
More commonly known as “spork,” one-piece travel cutlery has been around for a while. It’s usually a spoon at one end and a fork at the other, often with a serrated edge that can double as a knife.
The cheapest models are made of a hardened plastic, while the most expensive are usually titanium or stainless steel. Some have a folding handle, which allows them to take up even less space when not in use.
This type of cutlery is more useful occasionally. While the fork and spoon components generally work well, the knife is rarely good for much more than cutting soft items, especially since you usually have nothing but your hand to stabilize what you are cutting.
Still, given the choice between that and having a hot soup in hand, it’s not a difficult decision to make.
Examples: plastic and titanium versions.
Chopsticks
If you are on vacation in countries where chopsticks are commonly used, you may not get much value from a knife and fork. Instead, pack a small pair of travel chopsticks and use them when you’re preparing your own food, or if you’re unsure about the cleanliness of utensils wherever you’re eating.
Many travel chopsticks are foldable for easy portability, especially the metal versions. There are a wide variety of materials, in addition to stainless steel and titanium, you will often find wood, plastic and others. Wooden toothpicks are usually a bit easier to hold and use, but they can be more difficult to clean.
Again, it is worth tossing a small packet of alcohol wipes in your day bag along with the toothpicks, for easy cleaning after use.
Examples: titanium, sandalwood, and stainless steel.
