Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink

Product Description

,Makita LS1040 10-Inch Compound Miter saw,Makita LS1216LX 12-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw,Makita LS1221 12-inch Compound Miter saw Kit,Makita SP6000K1 6-1/2-Inch Plunge Circular Saw,Metabo KGS305 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw At last, a portable camp sink that really works! Our sinks are great for collection and carrying of water for purification, cooking, washing dishes or personal bathing. They’re ideal for backpacking or group camping and they make a great gift for the outdoors person who has everything. Now available in a compact 5 Liter size, which holds 1.3 gallons and makes an excellent dog bowl; a 10 Liter (2.6 gallons), and for large groups a 20 Liter size (5.2 gallons).


This review is from: Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink (Sports)
I got this as I transitioned from solo backpacking to family camping trips as children have come into the picture, with the expectation that I would be changing my dishwashing habits due to an increase in volume of dirty dishes. That didn't turn out to be the case. Though the concept really seems cool, and this product is very well made, after using it I have been left to wonder whether this isn't a solution in search of a problem rather than the other way around. Here are my thoughts based on my experience:

* It did not change my washing habits - Like many backpackers, I carry with me into the wilderness an ethic of conservation, both in the sense that I want to leave wilderness much as I found it for future travelers, but also in the sense that when you hike into the back country for days or weeks, you have only those resources that you carry in with you. As such, I didn't find this item as useful as I thought I would. I still just use the pots I used for cooking to also clean up with. I couldn't bring myself to fill this thing up with a ton of water just so I could wash the dishes like I do at home. It's also just one more thing to haul, whether on your back or in your car camping kit.

* It really does work best when full. Being soft-sided, the water inside acts to support the structure, so it'll hold up better when it's more than half-full rather than less. Consider this as there are different sizes: You'll want to get a size that both will fit the stuff you want to wash, but also will hold only as much water as you are willing to put in it. (e.g. It will not work well if you get the largest size and only put a gallon of water in it)

* It is well made and sturdy, and it does not leak. It also coils up into a surprisingly small stuff bag that comes with it.

* I found that this actually makes an excellent addition to our beach outings, allowing water to easily be hauled up the beach for building sand castles and moats. It stores tiny and is light, which is great when you have to walk a little way to the beach. It also makes for a reasonably efficient cooler for your drinks. Don't want to lug the giant cooler? Just fill this portable sink up with chilly ocean water and pop the drinks right in. Re-fill as necessary...

* This has also done duty at larger family picnics at regional parks, where the water source is usually from the municipal water district. Good for hauling water and for cleaning up picnic supplies on the spot, and for cleaning up grubby kids before going home.

So, I struggle a bit on this one: three stars or four? I give it four based on the quality of the product, and the fact that it coils up so small, but I think it may be mis-cast as a backpacking or even a camping item - at least for this user. I've used it more for suburban picnics and beach trips, where it's packability and water carrying ability shine, but I suppose that's OK.