Sporks have been around a very long time. Unbeknownst to me. I have just discovered them. Apparently, you make yourself a nice warming meal and out of your backpack you take a spork. You cut with it, swirl pasta around it and scoop up the sauce with it. I am impressed. And what a great thing sporks are. Try using one and I doubt you will leave home without it.
What is a Spork?
A spork is a combination of utensils. I have discovered it can be a spoon and a fork but some makers put a serrated edge on one side of the fork to act as a cutting device. Therefore, a spork can also be a combination of a spoon, fork and knife. That is what I have. I don’t always find the knife bit cuts but sometimes it does. I wouldn’t use it to cut a steak but would to cut soft foods such as a piece of fish or slice of cake.
History of the Spork
While I was searching the Internet to find a spork, I discovered that it has been around a fair while. In fact the spork dates back a very long time, to around 1874 when Samuel W Francis was issued with a US Patent for it.
What are Sporks made of?
Sporks are mostly made from ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) a plastic that Lego is made from. It is completely safe to use. I was a little worried that continued use may leach chemicals from it but so far so good! To buy a plastic spork click here. This is the type that I use. I take it on my travels but also use it if I ever get casual work roles and take my own lunch. You never know if utensils will be available at your work place so I always take my own.
Other sporks I have found are made from titanium which is a sturdy metal, that does not leave a metal taste in your mouth. To buy one of these click here.
Advantages of sporks
There are a number of advantages. They are:
- a combination of 2 or 3 utensils in 1 – a spoon and fork or a spoon, fork and knife.
- Light (around 25 grams).
- A length of 8cm (3.14”) – which allows them to fit into backpacks or handbags.
- Portable.
- Useful for camping, travelling, hiking or taking to work for lunch.
- Able to cut most softer foods.
- Allows you to eat most foods, especially soup, spaghetti, etc.
There are two disadvantages to sporks that I have found. Firstly, what they are made of can be a concern – can chemicals come out of them? I am assured they are safe. Secondly, they aren’t as strong as metal utensils but they do do the job.
Lastly – how did the spork get its name?
The name spork is a portmanteau (the combination of two words that create a new word). For instance, smog is the combination of smoke and fog and motel is the combination of motor and hotel. Spork is the combination of spoon and fork.
While I was searching to buy my spork I discovered:
- Knoon (knife and spoon in one)
- Splayd (spoon, knife and fork) apparently invented in Australia in the 1940s.
- Spife (like a noon – spoon and knife in one)
- Knock (yes, a knife and fork)
So a spork is versatile and easy to carry around and has joined my favourite travel accessories list of things I always take travelling. It has joined my other items I swear by that include my packing cubes, power bank, travel adaptor plug, travel wallet, electronic device bag and my messenger bag. I’m sure you will find a spork useful in your travels too!
I need one of these SPORKS for my travels! Have been trying to reduce plastic waste and disposables used so this is going to help me do that. Thanks for sharing!
I hadn’t thought of it from that point of view to reduce plastic waste but yes, I guess it does. You can get one via the store.
Nothing says a ‘campfire meal’ like a spork :). They are super handy if you are hiking to your campsite and want to minimize the load you are carrying.
Campfire meal plus sitting on a beach meal plus anytime you need it meal. Very useful for hiking, travelling or even taking to work to use at lunchtime. I love mine.
I’ve never heard of a spork until I came across your post! An interesting idea and I can see how it saves space. Maybe a good idea for camping to save on weight too!
Even though sporks have been around for quite a while I didn’t know they existed either. But I am glad I do now!
Of course, the spork! What a versatile tool for travellers, especially because it’s reusable and doesn’t take up much space!
Absolutely, the spork is extremely versatile and reusable and I love taking it with me cause it doesn’t take up any room. It’s just like having a pen in your bag.
Wow. This is an awesome article. Thanks for sharing. I wrote one about the same topic about two years ago. I was so ashamed of it, I removed it a year later when I realised I wrote so badly and didn’t answer any of the questions I asked myself about it. Such an important topic.
BTW, I am a full-time carry-on only traveller and upgraded last year from a plastic spork to a titanium spork. Best decision I could have ever made. It’s been going well for us and we haven’t had one argument.
I’m glad you liked the article. I am considering upgrading to a titanium spork myself cause I use it that much.