Reviews You Can Rely On

Sea to Summit AlphaLight Spork - Long Review

This extra long utensil is the perfect tool for camp cooking but not without a minor sacrifices in comfort
gearlab tested logo
sea to summit alphalight spork - long spork review
The Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long Spork
Credit: Sea to Summit
Price:  $12 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Sea to Summit
By Leslie Yedor ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 17, 2018
75
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 10
  • Eating - 35% 5.0
  • Durability - 30% 9.0
  • Cooking - 20% 9.0
  • Cleaning - 15% 8.0
RELATED: Best Spork

Our Verdict

The Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long takes the versatility of a combination utensil to a whole new length. It not only doubles as a spoon and a fork, but its extra long handle makes it ideal for cooking in the backcountry. No need to worry about messy fingers or missing out on the last few bites when using this product to cook in a dehydrated food bag. Unfortunately, prioritizing cooking comes at the cost of comfort. Most of these technical utensils may seem strange to eat with, but this model is particularly awkward with its long handle and the L-shaped bend where the shaft meets the bowl.
REASONS TO BUY
Great for JetBoils and dehydrated food bags
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Awkward shape for eating
Doesn’t pack well
If ease of use with a JetBoil or dehydrated food bags is your primary concern, this is your spork. If comfort while eating is a must, even in the backcountry, then some of the other contenders ay be a better fit for you.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  Best Buy Award 
Price $12.00 List$9.95 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
$12.00 List
$11.95 at Amazon
$8.95 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
Check Price at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
75
86
81
79
65
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line While not the most comfortable utensil to eat with, the extra long handle is ideal for backcountry cookingThe best model for your on-the-go meal needsThis model has an exceptionally low weight and top-notch durability, making it the ideal backcountry utensilA great option for the backcountry due to its comfortable and lightweight designThis sturdy plastic model offers the best price to performance ratio
Rating Categories Sea to Summit Alpha... Snow Peak Titanium... Vargo Titanium ULV Toaks Titanium humangear GoBites Uno
Eating (35%)
5.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
6.0
Durability (30%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
Cooking (20%)
9.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
Cleaning (15%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Specs Sea to Summit Alpha... Snow Peak Titanium... Vargo Titanium ULV Toaks Titanium humangear GoBites Uno
Material Aluminium alloy Titanium Titanium Titanium High-temp nylon
Measured weight (oz) 0.4 oz 0.6 oz 0.3 oz 0.6 oz 0.5 oz
Length 8.5" 6.5" 6.5" 6.625" 6.5"
Dishwasher safe? No Yes Yes Yes Yes - Top rack recommended

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long is 8.5-inches from tip to tines, a full 2-inches longer than the other competitors, and it only weighs 0.42 oz. With these specs, this utensil was clearly designed with one purpose in mind- feeding hungry backpackers. Although somewhat unnatural in your hand, this technical piece of backpacking equipment also received high marks for its strength and simplicity to clean.

Performance Comparison


sea to summit alphalight spork - long spork review - this is a cooking-forward utensil that also works for shoveling food...
This is a cooking-forward utensil that also works for shoveling food from pot to mouth on backcountry ski missions.
Credit: Leslie Yedor

Eating


As you can see reflected in its low score in this category, consuming food with this utensil is quite possible, but it's certainly not its best attribute. Its small bowl only held 2.75 cc's of fluid so putting down a large quantity of soup or stew is going to require some patience. The long handle feels clumsy in hand, and holding your utensil midway down the shaft draws your attention away from your food.

sea to summit alphalight spork - long spork review - eating with such an unusually long utensil takes some getting used to.
Eating with such an unusually long utensil takes some getting used to.
Credit: Leslie Yedor

The rough texture of the aluminum alloy is also not as pleasant as the smooth surface of the titanium models, but the sides are soft on your gums. While the act of eating is easily accomplished with this utensil, it's not difficult to get distracted from your food by its unusual feel. At the end of a long hike when you're too hungry to care, you'll be psyched for the added reach to help you wolf down every last bit from the bottom of your bowl.

Durability


The long shaft and the thin metal make it slightly more prone to bending with significant torque, but with standard use (think cooking, not back-up aid-wall pin), it will last the duration of your adventure from start to finish.

sea to summit alphalight spork - long spork review - while a little odd for eating, this model excels at backcountry...
While a little odd for eating, this model excels at backcountry cooking.
Credit: Leslie Yedor

Cooking


This utensil is the king of camp cooking. Its extra-long handle and curved bowl are excellent for stirring and sauteing. No need to worry about singeing your tips while making breakfast halfway up El Cap as this model keeps your fingers high above the flame.

sea to summit alphalight spork - long spork review - designed with cooking in mind, this model was our favorite for...
Designed with cooking in mind, this model was our favorite for backcountry meal prep.
Credit: Leslie Yedor

JetBoil Cooking Systems have cooking cups that range around 6 to 8.5-inches deep. With shorter utensils, cooking and eating out of JetBoil cup means getting your fingers dirty or foregoing the bottom few inches, but not with this utensil. If you plan to regularly cook and eat out of a JetBoil or dehydrated food bags, this model is a must-have.

Cleaning


While it rinses and wipes clean fairly easily, it holds onto oils and tastes without more thorough washing. Hoping to run it through the dishwasher as part of your post-trip de-mob? Sorry, this product is the only model we tested that is not dishwasher safe.

sea to summit alphalight spork - long spork review - the gritty texture causes food to cling a little tighter, but a...
The gritty texture causes food to cling a little tighter, but a little snow and some elbow grease left this model sparkling.
Credit: Nicky Bunn

Value


This product is one of the least expensive metal models we tested. If you're looking for a utensil geared for backcountry cooking and don't mind some awkwardness while eating, this product fills that niche at a reasonable price.

sea to summit alphalight spork - long spork review - this niche backpacker's cooking tool, utensil hybrid maximizes...
This niche backpacker's cooking tool, utensil hybrid maximizes versatility and thrives in a backcountry setting.
Credit: Leslie Yedor

Conclusion


The Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long is a product designed for the specific purpose of backcountry cooking. It is great for getting at hard to reach spaces, easy to keep clean, and made of strong material, but its awkward feel while eating knocked it out of the awards.

Leslie Yedor