Sea to Summit - X-Bowl

Category: Camp Kitchen


The material of these bowls holds the smell of every food you put in it, i ate maple oatmeal and cooked vegetables in it and i still still smell both foods after cleaning soaking and bleaching the rubber bowls. The way it compacts is nice but the smell and taste stays forever.. I would not recommend these.


Pros: Packs well, fairly lightweight, sturdy Cons: A bit difficult to properly clean with the nooks and crannies


I bought this bowl as an alternative to the soft cloth dog bowls to use during day hikes. My dogs stopped drinking from the cloth bowls because they had a musty smell no matter how much I aired them out and cleaned them. This bowl doesn’t have that problem and it fits perfectly into my pack. It works well for all my dogs (90, 20, and 15 lbs). It was well worth the money.


I day trip and take extended (5-14 day) backwoods trips, and I love this bowl for both. It packs flat, which is huge when day tripping or hunting with just a patrol/butt pack, and tho it weighs more than a titanium bowl, the Ti bowls don't pack flat. Coupled with my canteen cup, its perfect for a day hike to the top of Mt. Washington. I used to cook and eat with my cup, but now I can keep my cup clean for boiling water in and use the bowl for eating. If you're a minimalist like me, there isn't a better product out there for the money. I've eaten at least 50 meals out of it, most using boiling water (ramen, oatmeal, condensed soup, fresh venison stew) and it still works like a charm. The only downside is it is too hot to hold when adding hot water, which is why I give it only 4 stars. In the end, I'll never use any other bowl again.


This little bowl is one of the sweetest gadgets I've encountered on my journey to stay a minimalist backpacker. I love the fact that it's easy to store and holds a decent amount of food. Great design and I love the fact that you can use the bowls base as a mini cutting board when needed. My only regret is that there isn't one that's bigger. I will however buy the plate and mug that belong to this set for my trip to the Emigrant Wilderness.


My husband and I love these bowls, we have had them for at least 7 years, used them twice a day riding across the country and now we use them for road trips in our van. We think they are great; very compact, easy to clean and can go in the dishwasher and microwave if needed. We're about to get a second set so we have one set for home camping and bike packing and one in our van. They do hold a little food odor but has never affected the taste of our food. We like them so much we got the collapsible pots for cooking, which we also really like.


I use this bowl for dog food/water while backpacking. The reason I prefer this bowl over others is the wide base. Many collapsible bowls have a narrow bottom and get wider towards the top. I found those bowls tip over easier. This bowl has a wide bottom and the sides expand straight up from the bottom. This bowl is super light and durable.


I once went on a vacation with a small (12 L) backpack. This (and a spork) was my only "kitchen" utensil. It worked great for cereal in the morning, or (with the 'walls' not deployed) a small plate for a bagel/muffin.


This bowl is lightweight, small, and holds plenty of food. My wife and I each have one and we liked how they fold down. We hold the bowl by the bottom so we haven't had any issues of it collapsing while eating. We have not noticed a funny taste from the bowl either. I would definitely recommend.


I have been using these bowls for a few years and they have held up beautifully, though I haven't used the bottoms as an optional cutting board. They have held up well to hot food. Perhaps they are a little bulky for some, but their profile design fits well in the storage bag for my camping cook set.


Solid bowl that feels very durable and light. Made some delicious oat meal out of it and it's the perfect size for a main portion. A little tricky to clean so it's a good idea to bring some kind of scrubber with it.


A bit on the heavy side, but does the job when and doesn't take much room up when collapsed. Be careful when using as a cutting board that you don't nick the sidewalls or you'll have a bowl with a hole in it.


This bowl rules. I also have squishy bowls and they do cram a little better into any nook, this bowl has a freaking cutting board!! I don't know about you but many a trip bushwhacking escapade i've found myself cutting my veggies on a stump and while I don't mind getting forest into my food (hair, socks, etc.) its really nice to have a solid, sterile (enough) work space to prep meals. It has measurements on the inside for cooking, but its in metric so everyone in the US be prepared to do some conversions. Plus is will fit into most pots (unless you're doing solo jetboil or something like that). It also works great as a bowl and plate, so don't waste money getting the set that has all three, its just added weight. Not too sure if it leeches anything as its a weird silicone...Great product though.


I bought this last summer and have only used in maybe 4-5 times and it ripped. I wasn't rough with it at all, I was just cleaning it and the plastric part that folds got a rip in it that stretched over half way around. It still can work as a plate, but not as a bowl. Before it ripped I was happy with its performance, however I found the plate function a little on the small side.


used one of these traveling for 8 months and it was my constant companion. perfect for my morning oatmeal or cold cereal, or cutting up the odd veggie of fruit. never had any of the smell/taste/fallingapart issues listed with either of my bowls (I lost the first one). great for hostel use to if you don't trust the dishes. ONLY problem, it does need a good bit of water to get stubborn food bits out of cracks, so not the best if you are out in nowhere-land.


I own a couple of these bowls. I recently ran into some Marines hiking on the appalachian trail who had the bowl as well. we were all like-minded in our bowl opinions. - the best bowl yet. I like them so much I use them at home too. Folding flat sure helps in cramped NYC living conditions as well. Plus I'm a sucker for gadgets, and it's feels like a super-hero's bowl. I use these teamed up with the Guyot Designs Micro Bites, and everything's copastetic.


jeez so many picky reviews... I thought this was a bowl for camping and not some 5 star restaurant... you have to clean it, and it haseems a rubbery taste, etc.... it's a camping bowl lol.. suck it up


Bought this after I tried using a Ruffwear bowl to put water in for my dog. This worked WAY better. I loved how it collapsed down nice and small for storage but didn't collapse while my dog used it to drink out of. It does feel a bit flimsy on the sides but other wise its great. I loved it so much I went and bought another one for her food. Looking into picking up other products by Sea to Summit in the near future for my own personal use.


I like this bowl because it is so compact and fits well in my my pack. I have used it for day hikes as well as overnighters. It may not be as light as some titanium stuff out there, but it sure is cheaper. I do find these are a bit hard to clean because food will stick to the plastic and rubber surfaces more than it will to metal surfaces. Overall though, this bowl works well and I like it. I also have the Sea to Summit cup too.


Once collapsed, this bowl fit behind a tent that was already forced into the bottom of my pack for a weekend hike. Before buying, I read other reviews about a rubber taste with hot foods. When I had a hot bowl of oatmeal this morning, I didn't taste anything out of the ordinary. It's the perfect size. I plan on buying one for my hiking partner too. I would recommend this bowl to anyone. Another great product.


I originally got one of these a few years ago to keep in work for when I have chili or soup at lunch. As I got back into camping this past year, I found this bowl to be brilliant as a space saver for meal. I currently have two of them since my daughter started camping with me as well. Very simple and elegant design, easy to clean and versatile as well (we've folded it down so it can serve as a plate too)


This is a good product. It is light, durable, and sturdy when expanded. The cutting surface on the bottom is useful and makes for a sturdy and firm base for the bowl when you have it loaded with chow. The only trouble with the bowl is cleaning it. There are some tough to reach seams at the bottom.


I always test out any new gear at home before taking it on the trail.


Bought for my wife so she didn't have to share the cookpot to eat from. But on the first night of the first trip of use it was bitten into by some marmots or some similar animal in the Sierras. Perhaps after salt from the rubber? Anyway it's of no more use. We both loved it before this mishap though.


Well, at first I didn't care much for this bowl. I was in the back country for a long period of time so I was limited on water for washing it. All of the crevices made it a bit of a pain to clean. But all of the other benefits outweigh that for sure. It was incredibly light and compact and fit in my cramped pack without a problem. A little expensive though.


This bowl is wonderful for backpacking and camping. It is good quality, with a good design. It is very light and obviously, compact. Better than regular bowls. If you have very hot items in the bowl, it can be slightly uncomfortable to hold, but not bad. It is surprisingly stable, and has a good volume. It can also double as a plate if you need it to.


I feel bad for the first poster, because they must have came across a bad bowl. I couldn't have found a better product. Its very easy to clean, and very compact. The cutting board is great. I have used this bowl three times so far, and it shows no sign of wear. I would be curious to find out how the first poster's bowl has worn out already.


My old bowl was getting old and I decided that I would give this a try. It folds to its base (4 in diameter) and is lightweight. It can resist hot objects and is very stable. The bad part about it is when you clean. The surface material sticks and traps food, and it is a pain to get off. Other than that, this is a great product


Just before our trip to the Sierras, we picked up this bowl. I wasn't sure about this at first. It looks different from anything I'm used to, but it worked out great. It packs away nice once its in disc form. The bowl does get hot when filled with really hot liquids, but it was not a big deal, just something to be careful with.


I think its fantastic myself. Its lightweight and holds an entire Mountain House 16oz meal with room to spare. I also like that the sea to summit mug fits into the center of this bowl when collapsed. The two combined take up almost no room in my pack and can fit into so many places. I mostly use this over 2-4 day trips. I have not had any of the issues others have reported about smell/stain/taste with this bowl. I have been with others using this on my trips and they all love it too. With that all said, I think its a toss up between this and the guyout squishy bowl/cup which has the advantage of being .2 ounces lighter and $11 cheaper but holds significantly less than the sea to summit cup/bowl (22oz oz vs 16oz for bowl, and 16oz v 6oz). Plus the sea to summit has the convenient measuring marks in the bowl and cup. So the size plus measuring marks made the difference for me, but I don't think you're wrong with the Guyout either. It depends on your wants/needs.


This bowl is the best thing I've ever bought! It folds down easily,and is extremely lightweight. Since we always follow Leave No Trace etiquette, we do not rinse out our bowls, but literally lick our plates clean. Being able to fold it down makes (ahem) "doing the dishes" much easier. Awesome!


These bowls are fantastic! I brought it on a week long camping/field work trip and it was easy to store, easy to clean, and it fit quite a bit of food. I would reccomend this product to anyone who is looking for a bowl that is easy to carry with them on all of their camping/backpacking trips.


Bought at REI in Anchorage and have used on a dozen trips. Packs flat and the built in cutting board surface in priceless. I notice no scent after use as mentioned by one reviewer and it is very durable thus far. Am on line tonight to buy a couple of more for my hiking buddies.


Awesome idea!! Only problem is there is a smell from the first food we put in them that we cannot get rid of, even after multiple thorough washes at home. Otherwise it's a great, compact bowl. Just can't get used to the Texas BBQ chicken flavored, maple oatmeal.


This is a great tool. Actually I bought this to begin replacing set of two bowls and mugs which I gave to daughter and son-in-law while we were at Yosemite. Bowls and mugs collapse and nest perfectly into my cooking pot. Works well for cold and hot food.


I bought this to add to my cook system. Based on the listed specs (5" diameter) it should fit in my Evernew 1.3 pot. It doesn't fit because it is actually 5 7/8". No big deal, REI is great about returns. But the listing on the website needs to be fixed


After buying and using this bowl, I wondered why I didn't buy a collapsible bowl a long time ago. It takes almost no space inside a pack. I read some of the other criticisms of this bowl, but I haven't experienced anything negative.


I got this bowl for my dog b/c he didnt like the fabric dog bowls. he would pick up the fabric bowl and flip it over and eat his food off the ground. it's a little heavier then the dog specific bowls but it what he likes!


Great product! Used it on a five day trip in the backcountry and was very happy with it. Nice and compact for packing and not to small or to big for backcountry meals. I highly recommend this product.


This works great if you have a table to rest it on. Other wise you have to be very careful when you hold it in your hand. I have had it collapse down while trying to hold it with one hand.


I like this bowl. I have used it on several outings, backpacking and dump camps and the bowl has performed well. It was easy to clean, compact, and lightweight. It's a good product.


I really liked the idea of a collapsible bowl, but over time, the creases where the bowl collapses began to disintegrate and crack. It did not stand the test of time and regular use.


Packs down slim & holds more than I expected. Base as cutting board is very sweet. Not the lightest but definitely not the heaviest...the extra oz or so makes up in function.


This is quite useful when away from home. Easy to clean, easy to store, and the bottom doubles as a cutting board which we didn't realize we were going to need until we did!


I was on the road for 16 days with my Luna Dog. Whether she needed a drink of water or her kibble, this bowl was stellar. Pack flat, dries quickly and is easy to use.


I got two of these to use as a water and food bowl for my dog when backpacking. It fit well in his pack. Worked well to easily pull out and give him a drink.


We've bought several of these collapsible bowls. We have one in each car and a few extra for walking and hiking in the desert. Great for rehydrating our dog.


There is a bad plastic taste ending up in the food and hot drinks from the bowl and cup.


I was really excited to try this bowl but in the end I wish I had bought the Guyot bowls. They pack down, just not enough to be great.


great bowl. folds up into nothing. i was able to fold 2 of them up and store it in the top part of my 1.3 liter pot.


Easy to clean, lightweight, hard bottom. Only thing is sides are slightly easy to bend, but I never spilled anything


It's not as insulating on the bottom for hot foods, but good for everything else. Cleans very well in camp kitchen.


I loved the limited space needed to travel with this collapsable bowl. Was sturdy when filled with food.


It only works for two uses, the third one broke, the idea is great but you should improve the durability.


I just returned from a hiking trip and this does not disappoint, lightweight, efficient, I could go on


I use these for my dog when we're camping. They're easy to stow and also pretty easy to clean.


Packs easy in the fannypack. Dog can share one water bottle using this folding bowl.


I use this as a water bowl when i go hiking for my dog. Super useful and dries fast.


Nice and light weight; but the chipmonks like to chew on the soft bowl material


I own a few of these bowls and I like them all. Very sturdy and easy to clean.


Smart buy. Served multiple purposes on hike in Smokies, Lite weight & compact.


Fell apart after two days in the bush


I purchased an X-Bowl / X-Mug pair to save backpack packing space. I was initially impressed with the function of both... they are fairly rigid in use and compact down nicely... but both show damage from packing & carrying after the first week-long backpack trip using them (where our group communally packed dinnerware in a shared mesh bag). The collapsible silicone has relatively low resistant to damage from punctures and cuts. My bowl especially has cuts on the outer rim and damage on the folds exposed in the collapsed state. The cup has a hardened rim that helps reduce "rim damage" and when stored inside the bowl receives some protection from the bowl (but it too shows some damage). If you use these, I suggest packing them in a hard protective enclosure (nested in a pot?) to protect them from compression and abrasion against hard/sharp surfaces. Packed this way and used with care, I believe these would last many trips.... To the product designers, I suggest providing the bowl with the same hardened rim as the cups and to provide better packing guidance to the user (or to provide packing protection along with the product?). In my case... my cookware carries a nested burner with no good protective "open spot" to store and protect these... so I think they were a 1-trip item for me and I'll return to using my rigid bowl / mug on my future trips.

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