pots and pans?

[redshoes]

Hello,

just wondering, If I'm planning on doing alot of my own cooking in hostels and such, should i bring cookware? like portable pots and pans(the kind you use when camping)

or will they have these things in the hostels?

and if i do need some, do you recomand any brands? i went to canadian tire to buy my backpack (BEST BAG IN THE WORLD) and saw some that weren't to pricey but they were kinda bulky and hard to pack.

thanks!
christal.

[Jules80]

hi christal! can't answer the first question, but if someone else tells you that you do need some, check MEC. my brother just bought a really compact set that he loves - i think it was abou 50$.
jules

[Kim]

Oh no, all hostels that have kitchens have the goods to go with it as well. You may not have a huge selection of pots, pans etc. but the hostels are always well stocked with dishes, cookware etc.

Kim

[redshoes]

thanks Kim and Jules!

i think what I'm going to do is wait and see how heavy my pack is, and if i have more then enough room I'll go out and buy a portable pot and pan thingy. but no dishes!

Christal

[Eagle]

redshoes, just to concur with what the others have said, you won't need either pots & pans or dishes at Hostels. The kitchens are all well equipped and some Hostels provide a full buffet service as well so you don't need to do any cooking at all. I quite enjoyed the "full English breakfast" at the Hostel in York, and not having to do dishes was a bonus! They also offered prepared "bag lunches" at a small charge, but required pre-ordering for those.

It wasn't quite clear from the posts whether you have bought a Backpack yet. There's lots of of information and advice on the Boards regarding the criteria to look for. You'll probably notice that Eagle Creek (with a detachable Day pack) is a big favourite here! IMHO I wouldn't consider Canadian Tire the epitome of quality Backpacks. Not sure where you're located but you might check the selection that can be ordered on this Board, as I believe you'll get a better quality product. Kim can relate the perils of travelling with a cheap Backpack if you're interested.

Cheers!!!

[redshoes]

Eagle

I have bought my pack, but I did asked the guy if it had a warranty and he said yes, and he also loaded it up with tons of camping gear and I walked around with it, and it felt nice.

How does it sound.
Woods Backpack, 60L
Roomy 60L capacity provides lots of room for packing for long trips
Durable 600-denier ripstop grid polyester construction
Internal aluminum frame helps stabilize loads
Top-loading main compartment with divided bottom section
Top pocket with inner and out zippered compartments; two zippered side pockets
Full air mesh padded back for added comfort and air mesh padded hip belt to help stabilize the load
Adjustable harness system for conforming fit
Side and front compression straps secure and compress the load; daisy chain webbing to secure extra gear
Rain cover tucks neatly into bottom zippered compartment
32 x 14 x 10"

thanks for your concern i hope i bought a good one it was like 130 CAD!
Christal.

[Libby]

I tried out a Woods 60L backpack at Canadian Tire and I remember it to be quite nice. Unfortunalty, it didn't fit me correctly so I picked up this one at a specialty store in Halifax.

www.wanderfritzen.de/shop/images/Great%20Escape_t.jpg

Does it look familiar? Because the Woods I tried on was quite a bit like the Tatonka I bought.

When I go camping I'll only buy Coleman or Woods products.

[redshoes]

it does look the same! was it cheaper? i dunno i love my pack, it took me along time to find one, I live in london ontario so there is really no good stores for this kind of stuff.

christal

[Libby]

I paid close to 200 for my pack and it was worth every penny. It still looks really good and I've used it for more than just my trip.

I tried on all the pacs at the MEC store and nothing fit me comfortably either.

[Eagle]

redshoes, I'm not thoroughly familiar with the Woods line but from your description it sounds like a good product. I was wondering whether the design was configured more for "camping" as opposed to "travel"? The important thing is that it's properly fitted for your torso size, and from what you've said you're quite comfortable with it.

It doesn't appear to have a detachable Daypack (which I find quite handy for "carry-on") but there's no reason you can't use a separate, foldable Daypack to achieve the same result. 60 L. is about the "right size" IMO, but of course keep in mind the "pack light" philosophy.

Happy travels!!!

[eurolien]

hello,

If you stay in a hostel, it is not prob, but I go camping so i take 2 pots with me and a dish, a cup and knive and fork (iron!)

My backpack is a LANDCRUISER 60 L from LAFUMA
great value! 94 euro = 115 dollars
no detach-daypack but if you buy a nice flexibel one, you can fold it and but it in the side-pockets. that is what I did anyway.

[Shmemily]

Libby - Where did you buy your pack?? It looks like something I'm looking for and I've had ZERO luck with packs. Tried on a billion but it seems I have a strange body shape or something?? Was it just a local store or do you know if you can buy them elsewhere?

Thanks!