Pocket Travel Cutlery Set

Why I Like It

There’s a specific kind of mild frustration that comes from being handed a plastic fork that snaps on the first bite, or eating a meal with a spork that’s clearly engineered to do neither job well. If you travel, camp, or just eat lunch away from a real kitchen with any regularity, printed cutlery is worth having in your kit. Not because it’s fancy — because it’s yours, it fits your bag, and it doesn’t cost you anything to reprint if it gets left behind.

The key thing Wally wants you to hear here is material: food-safe filament only. Standard FDM prints have micro-layer gaps that can harbor bacteria, and not all filaments are formulated for food contact. Look for PETG or PLA labeled food-safe, or go the extra step and coat finished prints with a food-safe epoxy sealant. Avoid ABS for anything that touches food — it’s not rated for it and the outgassing during printing isn’t pleasant either.

Print the handles at 30% infill minimum — you want some rigidity on the fork especially, since leverage gets applied to the handle on every bite. The set packs flat and lives beautifully in a zipper pocket. Make a few sets in different colors, toss one in your daily bag and one in your camping kit. It’s one of those prints that quietly earns its place.

What Filament Should You Use?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the three most common filaments for EDC gear so you can pick the right one for your setup:

TL;DR: Use PETG for most EDC prints — easy to work with and tough enough. Use ASA if the piece will live outdoors or in direct sunlight. Use ABS if you need maximum rigidity and heat resistance and have an enclosure on your printer.