There are a handful of items in my backpacking kit that seem insignificant, but actually make a world of difference. They’re not the most exciting pieces of gear, nor do they incorporate cutting-edge technology. But at the end of the day, they just work, and they work every time. My aluminum spork is one of those items. It’s the little things that matter, and my spork is no exception.
In the past, I’ve used a variety of different utensils while backpacking, everything from the clunky, spoon-and-fork pocket knife contraptions to plastic disposable cutlery. For a while, I really liked the clever little Light My Fire sporks. But the aforementioned contraptions are heavy, disposable cutlery melts, and the colorful Light My Fire Sporks always broke at inopportune times.
The Alpha Light Spork – Long from Sea to Summit solves each of these problems and provides additional value of its own. Here’s a breakdown of its greatest advantages.
Weight and Durability
According to rei.com, the Alpha Light Spork – Long weighs 0.4 oz and is made of hard anodized, “aircraft-grade 7075-T6 aluminium alloy.” So far, I’ve never used my spork for anything remotely related to aviation, but apparently it would do in a pinch. I actually thought my spork was titanium for a long time until I looked it up. Material specifics aside, it’s very durable and lightweight. I’m sure you could break it if you tried, but under normal circumstances it’s not going to snap or melt.
Handle
Overall, the spork measures 8.5 inches long. The length seems like a minor detail, but it makes a noticeable difference. Cooking injuries are some of the most common injuries in the backcountry. The spork’s long handle allows you to stir boiling food without accidentally scalding your fingers. It also allows you to reach the bottom corner of a freeze-dried food package without getting grub on your gloves. After using a long spork, I would never buy a short one.
One Piece Contruction
The Alpha Light Spork is punched out of a single piece of aluminum. While there are a variety of folding sporks on the market, this one bypasses a point of failure with boring simplicity. A folding spork might save you a little space, but I’ve never had an issue packing this utensil. The single-piece construction also makes it easy to clean, which is always a plus.
Head Design
Some sporks miss the mark completely and end up functioning poorly as a spoon and as a fork. I don’t have that problem with this spork. The metal tines stab into food easily, and the spoon is deep enough to scoop liquids. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough that I usually don’t think about it.
Minor Criticisms
Overall, I’ve been extremely pleased with this spork, but I do wish it was offered in a few different colors. Colors are fun, and they help to prevent you from losing your spork at night. Also, I imagine this spork could be a dollar are two cheaper, though I don’t know for sure. Lastly, the design, while functional, isn’t visually or haptically appealing. It hardly matters in the backcountry, but it does matter on the rack at REI. But these are minor complaints, and I would readily recommend this spork to anybody in the market for a new utensil.
Persistence Outdoors 