For the past three weeks, I’ve been testing the Kessel (cook pot), Dursten Kuksa (cup), and Kanu (spoon) from Überleben, and I’ve loved the entire experience. Cooking outdoors can be frustrating or enjoyable depending on the tools you have for the job. Überleben gifted me the set to review, (thanks guys!), and it has made cooking outdoors much more enjoyable than frustrating.
I love winter and being outdoors. One of my favorite memories as a child was sipping coffee with my Dad from his Stanley thermos in his 1976 F-150 on the way to checking our trap line in snow so deep that eight-year-old me would get buried just trying to walk through it. I’ve been testing these products in cold conditions, and that’s where the real test comes in. I’m going to give you my honest thoughts. If I don’t like something, I’ll let you know, so you know what to expect. I have reviewed the products as a set so I’ll do my best to cover each one.
Let’s take a look at the products themselves.
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What cooking gear did we test?
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- The efficiency is off the charts
- Components work together to be multi-use
- It’s burn-free… well, for the most part!
- This gear is timeless
- The whole kit doesn't fit together
- Handle isn't reversable
First off, the Kessel is a 37 fl oz (1.1 liters) cook pot. It comes in a polished exterior, food grade 304 stainless steel weighing 11 oz, or the Ultralight Titanium weighing 7.4 oz. It measures 5.5 inches in diameter and 3.5 in height. It has an easy-pour spout, steam vents on the rattle-free lid, and a natural wood handle. The main pot handle can be used to hang the pot easily. The assembly comes packed into a waxed canvas stow pouch with YKK zippers and a carry handle sown on.
- The gear is timeless
- The natural hardwood is very nice
- It's hand crafted
- Stylish look with a wide handle
- It doesn't all fit together
The Dursten Kuksa is a cup made of one solid piece of hand-crafted hardwood and can hold up to 8 fl oz (200-240 ml). It has a traditional Nordic design. It has two finger holes in the handle and a full-leather tether with a micro carabiner. It’s sealed with a food-grade BPA-free oil.
- The gear is timeless
- The natural hardwood is very nice
- It's hand crafted
- It doesn't all fit together
The spoon or Kanu is also made from hardwood and is coated with food-grade BPA-free sealer. It weighs under 1 ounce. It measures 6 inches in length and 1.5 inches in width. It comes with a leather lanyard and a micro carabiner.
Though sold separately, the set works together very nicely and these are all versatile and durable products. Some of the items will require a minimal amount of effort to treat and clean from time to time. But, let’s face it, what doesn’t?
Let’s talk about what I liked and didn’t like about these products.
What do I like about them?
Let’s talk about what I most enjoyed from this set of products, starting with the Kessel cook pot.
What I like about the Kessel Cook Pot
1. The efficiency is off the charts

Aside from looking good, the Kessel is efficient (Paid Link). The weight of water vs. how much energy it takes to boil is well-balanced. Most dehydrated meals today, like PEAK Refuel or Mountain House, require 1.5 – 2 cups of water, making this pot excellent for common use.
2. I found it to be resourceful
On outdoor trips, you want every piece of gear you take with you to be multifunctional. It needs to meet more than just one need. And the Kessel does just that.
The lid can be used as a small plate, the handle allows you to hang it off a branch, if needed. Paired with the Stoker Stove (check out our review here), and it fits perfectly. Even though it’s held on with only one bolt it has excellent control.
3. It’s burn-free… well, for the most part!

Having received a third-degree burn from boiling water on the beach to make coffee, I like that there are a few things to keep you from minor or major burns: For starters, I could place the lid on where the steam vents prevent the steam from rushing up to my hand while pouring. Secondly, the hard-wood handle lid handle makes it so you don’t have to touch metal, and that made the whole experience better.
I have to mention one more thing that really made this kit stand out for me and that was the Waxed Canvas case with YKK zippers! The fact that they went the extra step to put in quality zippers on the case speaks to the care they put into their products. Way to go, Überleben!
4. This gear is timeless
The Kuksa and the Kanu have found a solid place in my pack. I didn’t expect to like this cup and spoon as much as I did.
Over the years, I’ve used collapsible, metal, and plastic cups. Some have worked well while others work very well.
And when it comes to spoons, I thought I had found the ultimate solution in the very popular 8.5-inch titanium spork that you can get for under $15. At the time I thought that was the last spoon I’d ever need. But, now I would pay to have the Kuksa and the Kanu, here’s why: it’s not because they’re trendy, although they are right now, it’s because they are timeless. Something is amazing about using gear that has proven to work over centuries of use. Let’s get into some specifics…
What I like about the Kuksa Cup & Kanu Spoon
While the Kuksa cup and the Kanu spoon are sold separately, there are a lot of things they have in common, so I’ve combined my feedback for these two products here.
1. Kuksa & Kanu: Natural Hardwood

Being in uncomfortable climates or on difficult trails can make sipping coffee out of the natural hardwood Kuksa a relaxing experience. A little comfort can go a long way.
2. Kuksa & Kanu: Hand-Crafted
Both pieces are crafted by hand, meaning there is no other one like it. Each one has its own unique quality and look to it.
3. Kanu: Well-balanced, comfortable grip

The handle is comfortable with its wide grip. There were a few times while testing that my hands got pretty cold and when that happens, it can be hard to cook and eat with a spoon that has a tiny/thin handle. I have no problem keeping a firm and controlled grip when I am stirring or eating with it.
4. Kuksa: Stylish look with a wide handle
The Kuksa has a solid handle that will help to prevent the food or drink you’ve worked so hard for from slipping out of your hand.
What do I not like about it?
I did my best to mention the things that stood out to me. Here are some of the things I didn’t like, or at least some additions that I would love to see.
1. It doesn’t fit together

The Kessel, Kuksa, and Kanu are all solid pieces, but it would be great to be able to store the cup and the spoon in the pot, instead of storing all the pieces separately. Not sure if this would even be possible, but in my opinion, this would make it stand far above any competitors. I tested it and the spoon can fit in it already and if the cup handle were a little smaller, they would all fit!
I realize that even with a similar product you can’t store a cup or spoon in the pot, but I think having a complete kit that fits together would be incredible.
While we are at it… Finding a way to connect the Stöker stove to the Kessel stow pouch would be amazing and would help keep anyone from losing gear in a busy campsite.
2. Non-reversible handle
The handle on the Kessel cook pot is amazing in how it curves over the top of the pot, giving it excellent balance whether it’s full or empty, plus allowing it to be hung. But I can’t help but wish that the handle was reversible for when you would need it to be.
For example, when you want to eat right from the pot itself. However, if that meant it would lose the secure fit, then I am completely happy with the current design.
3. Short Spoon Handle Limitations

I really like the Kanu spoon for its design, function, and overall quality, however, it is limited in what I can use it for. I know many other hunters/hikers who may never use this spoon because they need a longer handle to make dehydrated meals with.
Many of the current market meals require stirring and some of the packages are deep, so trying to stir boiling liquid in a deep bag with a short-handled spoon may be a problem. I’m not saying to lose the current spoon, but if Überleben had one that could compete with the longer-handled spoons, I think it would open up a lot of possibilities.
Overall, I am very excited to keep using this gear and its whole ecosystem of gear from Überleben for years to come. I am excited to see what they come up with next and to maybe get that longer spoon and a pot that can hold it all together. I think that If you like timeless gear that connects you to the past and helps you slow down and enjoy life, you may want to give this a try.
Who is this cooking gear for?

This one is easy! Anyone who wants to get away from generic, run-of-the-mill products and use gear that is unique to you (Paid Link). That’s who this is for. If you like to bring a little history into your experience without sacrificing quality, then this is for you.
If you like to have gear that can be handed down and passed on that can speak to the quality of your life, this is for you.
This is for the person who doesn’t want mismatched gear, but would rather have a heating/cooking system that will work well together and fit together to make cooking or simply stopping on the trail to sip some coffee, a better experience.
Who it is NOT for?
If you are the kind of person who wants to get home, throw all your cooking gear in the dishwasher and then back in storage, then this is not for you. From time to time, you will have to treat the hard-wood spoon and cup with a food-grade oil to keep the wood from drying and splitting. I know many people find tasks like this enjoyable, but many do not. And if that’s you, then you may want to go a different route.
If you are heating your Kessel pot from the Stoker backpacker stove (Check out our review of that), which uses organic materials such as pinecones and sticks, you will have a bit more soot buildup that requires extra cleaning after use. Not a big problem, I went to my local store, and for under $3 I could buy “Bar Keepers Friend” which will take away almost all the build-up after letting it soak in for only a minute. So this one is all about with the right cleaners.
Where should you buy it?
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4.7
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3.5
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4.3
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