Outdoors

Kuma takes a minimalist approach to camping utensils

Kuma takes a minimalist approach to camping utensils
The Kuma is a new spork that's designed to be as small and portable as possible
The Kuma is a new spork that's designed to be as small and portable as possible
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The Kuma is a new spork that's designed to be as small and portable as possible
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The Kuma is a new spork that's designed to be as small and portable as possible
The Kuma is held at one end to be used as a spoon and at the other to be used as a fork
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The Kuma is held at one end to be used as a spoon and at the other to be used as a fork
The Kuma will be available with an optional travel pouch
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The Kuma will be available with an optional travel pouch
The Kuma is designed for use when camping or for day-to-day use
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The Kuma is designed for use when camping or for day-to-day use
The Kuma is designed in part with a view to reducing the amount of disposable cutlery we use
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The Kuma is designed in part with a view to reducing the amount of disposable cutlery we use
The Kuma will be available is a number of colors
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The Kuma will be available is a number of colors
Early idea drawings of the Kuma
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Early idea drawings of the Kuma
Prototype designs of the Kuma
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Prototype designs of the Kuma
The final design of the Kuma
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The final design of the Kuma
View gallery - 9 images

With objects you need to take camping or that you need to keep on you at all times, portability is key. Reducing camping cutlery down to an absolute minimum is the approach Micah Baclig has taken with his new spork. The Kuma fits into the palm of a hand.

Eating utensils are often reimagined for portability and convenience. The Baladeo Eco133, for example, is a penknife-like cutlery set designed to be as lightweight as possible, while the Picnic Cutlery set takes a modular approach. The Kuma, however, is even simpler than both of those.

The Kuma is a small oval stainless steel spoon/fork, or spork if you prefer. It looks like a conventional spoon minus the long handle and with prongs at one end for use as a fork. For use as a spoon, it is held at the slightly flattened pronged end with liquid or food able to be picked up in the scoop at the other end. It will be available in a number of different colors and with an optional protective travel pouch.

The Kuma is held at one end to be used as a spoon and at the other to be used as a fork
The Kuma is held at one end to be used as a spoon and at the other to be used as a fork

A crowdfunding campaign is underway for the Kuma and you can pledge from US$10 to receive your own Kuma spork, assuming everything goes to plan with its production. Deliveries are expected to begin in June 2015.

Have a look at the pitch video below for a closer look at the project.

Source: Micah Baclig, Kickstarter

View gallery - 9 images
3 comments
3 comments
Joel Detrow
If it's meant to be reversible, why in the world does the "spork" side still have those tiny, worthless nubs instead of even slightly deeper tines?
Keenan Lee
$10? I'd rather break the end of a regular spork and keep it in my pocket. 50 cents would be a better price if it cost at all.
Gadgeteer
Joel Detrow has a point. (No pun intended.) If I wanted to go minimalist this way, I'd buy the Light My Fire spork, which is more versatile. The titanium version of that can be bought for a couple of dollars more than this Kuma. Or I'd bring a small stainless spoon and a pair of chopsticks.