TOAKS Titanium Spork Review

Overview

The TOAKS Titanium Spork (SLV-01) is a one-piece, uncoated titanium utensil that weighs 18 g and measures 168 mm. It does one job on the trail and does it cheaply. The trade-off is a handle with more flex than the pricier titanium sporks, and a length that stops short of the bottom of a tall freeze-dried bag.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	18 g (0.6 oz)
Length	168 mm (6 5/8 in)
Material	Titanium, no coating
Bowl finish	Mirror-polished
Handle finish	Matte, with lined indents
Extras	Tail slot that locks onto a standard carabiner; compatible with the TOAKS TITONS connector
SKU	SLV-01
Origin	Designed in the USA, manufactured in China

Performance

Eating. This is where the SLV-01 earns its keep. Outdoor Gear Lab’s testers scored it 9.0 out of 10 for eating, the highest of its four categories. They credited the sleek bowl and the textured handle for the comfort. The two finishes serve different purposes. The polished bowl feels smooth on the lips and wipes clean. The matte handle, with its lined indents, stays put in cold or greasy fingers. A spork this light can feel like chewing on a toothpick, and the handle texture goes a long way toward preventing that.

Cleaning. Titanium doesn’t hold flavors, and the polished bowl lets oatmeal and peanut butter rinse off without much scrubbing. Outdoor Gear Lab gave it an 8.0 for cleaning. TOAKS ships it with no coatings or plastics, so there is nothing to chip or flake. Retailers list it as dishwasher safe, though few thru-hikers will ever put that to the test.

Cooking. As a stirring tool it works in a pinch. Outdoor Gear Lab’s testers stirred natural peanut butter without deforming the handle, and scored the spork 7.0 for cooking. The limiting factor is length. At 168 mm, it doesn’t reach the bottom of a dehydrated meal bag. Anyone who eats out of the bag will end up with food on their knuckles unless they pour the meal into a pot or mug first. TOAKS sells a longer 220 mm titanium spoon at 19 g for that job.

Durability. This is the weak spot. In Outdoor Gear Lab’s testing, the handle started to flex while scooping ice cream, but it bent back easily. Hanging ten pounds of water from the handle was a different story. It bent significantly and could not be reshaped. The testers concluded that normal use is unlikely to cause that kind of deformation. They still ranked it below the Snow Peak for toughness and found it bent more readily than the Vargo Ultralight. In practice, it means no prying lids and no using it as a trowel. Used for eating, the spork should last for years.

Carry. The tail slot is a small, practical detail. It locks onto a standard carabiner, so the spork can hang off a pack strap or a bear canister. It also fits the TITONS connector, which TOAKS sells to pair utensils.

Outdoor Gear Lab ranked it third of ten sporks in its comparison, with an overall score of 79. It wasn’t an award winner. The testers noted that a few other models were a hair better, but called this one well made and useful. They also listed it as the least expensive of the titanium options. Retail listings put it in the low teens in US dollars.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 18 g (0.6 oz), within a gram or two of the lightest titanium sporks
• Polished bowl is comfortable on the mouth and easy to clean
• Matte, indented handle gives a secure grip
• Uncoated titanium doesn’t leach flavor, rust, or flake
• Carabiner-compatible tail slot
• Among the cheapest titanium sporks

Cons

• Handle flexes more than the Snow Peak or Vargo, and can bend permanently under heavy load
• 168 mm is too short for the bottom of a tall freeze-dried bag
• Not the lightest titanium spork (Outdoor Gear Lab found the Vargo lighter)
• Manufactured in China, if that matters to a buyer

Who Should Buy This

This spork suits the hiker who eats from a pot, mug, or wide-mouth bowl and wants a utensil that costs little and gets out of the way. Section hikers, thru-hikers upgrading from plastic, and anyone replacing a lost spork will get the full benefit. Those who eat straight from tall rehydrating bags should buy a long-handled spoon instead. So should anyone who wants a utensil that can pry or dig, or who prefers the rigidity of the Snow Peak.

Verdict

The TOAKS Titanium Spork delivers 18 g of uncoated titanium with an excellent bowl and grip for a few dollars. Its handle flexes under abuse, and its length rules out deep bags. For a pot-and-mug eater, it’s an easy recommendation.