Product Review: GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist
Disclosure: I received a free sample from GSI Outdoors for this review. I did received no payment and was not required to write a positive review. Links marked with (eBay⇒) or (Amazon⇒) are affiliate links. This means I get paid a small commission if you buy something after clicking on the links. This money helps to pay for the running of the website.
The esoterically-named Halulite Microdualist camping cookware set from GSI Outdoors is a stylish small 
camping set that contains 1 saucepan, 2 bowls, 2 cups (bowls with lids) and two ‘telescoping foons’ – a combined fork and spoon utensil that has a sliding handle to reduce its size when not in use – see the picture on the right.
When we received the Microdualist set to review, I had in mind that it would be suitable for use in a very small campervan, such as a Mazda Bongo conversion or a Romahome R10. The set only contains one pan, but with two bowls, two mugs and two foons, has enough capacity for two people to prepare and eat basic one-pan camping meals. As an added bonus, it packs away easily and neatly into a storage bag, meaning that it is protected and kept together when not in use.
The pan that comes with the Microdualist set is unusually tall, relative to its narrow width. When we tried our milk-boiling test, we found that 300ml of milk and water took 2 minutes 40 seconds to boil – a slight increase on the times we recorded for the Vango cookware we tried. This is to be expected for a taller, narrower pan – the surface area of the base of the pan is smaller, meaning less hot metal is in contact with the liquid. The pan does however have a snug-fitting plastic lid with a rubber seal that keeps the heat in effectively. The lid also has a few drainer holes, enabling water to be drained off while the lid is held firmly in place – a useful feature.
The Microdualist kit all seemed very well made and was pleasant to handle and to look at – styling has not been neglected. In use, the folding handle of the pan was sturdy and secure and the plastic coating insulated it and prevented it getting hot as the pan warmed up. The pan poured well, too, despite not having a pouring spout.
The bowls, lids and mugs are all plastic and are a reasonable size – they are not aimed at meals requiring a knife and fork but are ideal for servings of camping porridge, stew or soup.
Final Thoughts
The GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist is a stylish, well-made camping cookware kit that is ideal if space is at a serious premium and you just want to be able to cook basic, one-pan food like soup, stew or porridge. The product is obviously primarily aimed at backpackers but I think it would also fit well into a small motorhome.
If you like the style but want more cooking facilities, GSI Outdoors also offers a range of other cooksets – the Pinnacle Camper set is a virtual replica of what we carry in our campervan, while the Halulite Pressure Cooker would be ideal for more elaborate meals and pieces of meat.
Where to buy: GSI Outdoors stuff is not that easy to find in the UK but Tiso.com (in Scotland) have some and a selection is available on eBay (eBay⇒) and Amazon