For the thru-hiker, a backpack is a game of Tetris, where every cubic centimeter matters. Today, Sea to Summit makes saving space even easier with the Frontier Ultralight Collapsible line: a collection of camp kitchen items that proves you don’t have to eat like a caveman just because you’re dining under the stars.
Following the brand’s tradition of intentionally minimalist solutions to problems hikers didn’t even know could be solved, the Frontier line replaces bulky, noisy traditional cookware kits with a simplified nesting system that packs down to a fraction of its size.
The engineering behind the Frontier Ultralight line
The brilliance of the Frontier line lies in the pairing of hard-anodized aluminum with food-grade, heat-resistant silicone. While the silicone side walls allow the pots to collapse and disappear into your pack, the aluminum base ensures heat transfer stays even and efficient — because when you’re 20 kilometers out on a day of hiking, the last thing you want to do is wait an extra five minutes for your water to boil.
- The Click-Safe handle: Solving the “wobbly pot” anxiety that haunts collapsible cookware, the new Click-Safe handle locks in with a reassuring mechanical click. Once you’re done using the pot, simply flip the handle to lock the lid (and anything stored inside the pot) in place, keeping everything secure for a hike free of annoying rattles.
- The Frontier UL pots (1L and 2.2L): The 1L “Solo” pot has the perfect dimensions to double as a bowl, while the 2.2L Pouring Pot features an integrated spout and a wide inner radius that makes cleaning much easier.
Click-Safe handle details in use and packed for transport.
But it’s not only the typical kitchen items that get this collapsible treatment.
- The Frontier UL kettle (1.1L): offers plenty of versatility, with its wide rim and glass-reinforced nylon handles. It can also double as a pot for those who want to carry even less weight.
- The Collapsible Coffee Dripper (Pour Over): Because life’s too short to drink instant coffee on the trail. This filter, with a 30g capacity, features an ultra-fine stainless steel mesh, ensuring you get the taste of real brewed coffee while sitting on a mountain summit.
Kettle and coffee dripper from the Frontier Ultralight Collapsible line
Items that don’t collapse during use
Many generic collapsible bowl models suffer from a lack of “structural integrity” — meaning they can collapse mid-use, causing spills or ruining your meal. Sea to Summit solved this with rims and bases made of glass-reinforced Nylon 66. These provide the rigidity needed to hold your soup securely, while the center ring ensures the bowl won’t collapse during use.
“Ultralight gear usually asks you to choose between performance and packability — we don’t like that idea,” says Liam Higton-Shirt, of Sea to Summit’s design team.
“The Frontier line is our answer to that problem: cookware that’s extremely compact, but doesn’t stop being sturdy the moment you actually need it. A line for hikers who obsessively count grams but still want a real cup of coffee on top of the mountain.”
The Frontier Ultralight Collapsible line is BPA-free, PFAS-free, and available in high-visibility colors.
Items from the Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Kit in use and packed for transport
Check out other Sea to Summit content published here on the Gear Tips Blog.
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