Gear junkies and gadget heads don’t often adhere to the adage that there is no need to reinvent the wheel. If it can be made better, lighter, or more multipurpose we’re all about it. The spork is a classic tool used by many that has been lacking improvement for far too long. Sure you can find varying sizes and materials to suit your needs but little has been done to address a fact we have all known since the cafeteria days of elementary school; a spork kinda works for everything without really excelling at anything. As a fork, the tines are lacking. As a spoon the drips are numerous. As a knife? Well, there is a reason it is every school district’s utensil of choice.
Morsel addressed all the spork’s major flaws and came up with a single utensil to rule them all. One end has a legit spoon that doesn’t leak. The other side is a full size, fully functional fork that actually forks. The outer fork tines are serrated to cut into tough foods and the spoon is rubberized making it a great spatula as well.
The whole thing is long enough to get to the bottom of those meals re-hydrated right in the packaging while keeping fingers at a hygienic distance. The rubberized edge and unique shape get right into food bag corners maximizing each stir without leaving powder bomb surprises behind. Also, it is boiling water and dishwasher safe. Plus it scrapes up and transports every last tidbit of food right where you want it.
What I Love About the Morsel Spork XL
No drips - Meals in the back country rarely involve tables so when a spork leaks it usually lands right on the hungry hiker. No one wants the trail name Bear Bait. The Morsel’s spoon end keeps soupy dinners off the user and does its part to leave no trace. Likewise the fork side is equipped with a hole near the prongs to drain fluids when not desired making it perfect for ramen and the like.
Specificity - Different food consistencies require a specific tool for each, not a poor combination of them all. This utensil has a designated piece for each action and does them all extremely well. It will cut open an avocado and scoop out every molecule of potassium filled heart-healthy fatty acid goodness. When it comes to food the Morsel really is a jack of all trades.
Length - The XL version has a deep reach. It grants the freedom to eat straight from the bag without getting food on fingers or fingers in food.
Effective - When backpacking I want to consume every single calorie I have carried. When car camping I want to scrape up every bite to facilitate easy dish cleaning. The Morsel’s ergonomic design aids in both. It doesn't matter if dealing with tight corners, odd shapes, lipped edges, flat edges, or tall walls, there is a surface designed for each included on this spork.
What I Don’t Love
Retains flavors - My back country dish duty routine consists of licking my spork clean and maybe a swipe or two of a bandanna. I often can’t spare the fuel to sanitize by boiling and never want to dig the required cathole to use/bury soap. Be that as it may, titanium sporks don’t hold onto flavors but the Morsel spork does. It is not a huge inconvenience I just prefer not to taste last night’s dinner after stirring my morning coffee.
Portability/packability - The 10.5 inch length I adore while using becomes a nuisance the moment I finish a meal. Such a long utensil won’t fit in my bear can until the can is nearly empty and it doesn’t pack well in smaller stash pockets. I prefer to keep all my little ditties in the zippered mesh pocket on the bottom of my pack’s lid and it frustrates my OCD to no end that the Morsel doesn’t fit. I suppose I can’t have my cake and eat it too with an XL spork. (Fortunately, Morsel also make a Mini spork.)
The Verdict
The Morsel spork is constructed to be sturdy while remaining lightweight. The manufacturer claims it won't break no matter how it is stowed. The pros vastly outweigh the cons and it does things I didn’t know I needed a utensil to do.
Mandy Esch is an international pro skater turned avid outdoorswoman who enjoys backpacking, camping, fly fishing, cliff diving and passing on what she learns along the way. In her backpacking blog, Mandy shares video trail reviews and trip planning guides. Follow her adventures at www.backcountrydirtbag.com.
1 comment
hillslug98239
Good to know about the flavor retention. I’m loving my Morsel XL so far, but I haven’t been in a situation where I’ve encountered the flavor transfer. (A family issue has derailed my adventuring plans for this year, so I’ve only used my gear while car camping.)
I’m paranoid enough that I’m still carrying my long-handled titanium spork — I have this fear of breaking or losing one spork & having to whittle a fork from a branch — so I may reserve the titanium one for foods that would be ruined by flavor transfer (I doubt I want beef stew flavoring in my coconut vanilla pudding).