While I usually make do with whatever I have at hand—by that I mean my kitchen box essentials paired with a campfire, gas stove, or even a hobo stove—there are also highly organised, stylish all-in-one solutions. Among the plethora of options out there, MOKUBO stands out as a no-compromise choice for outdoor cooking enthusiasts eager to impress a group of up to four guests. And I take the term “no-compromise” seriously!

DESIGN AND FEATURES

MOKUBO was crafted by folks who genuinely love to travel and savour good food. After years of overlanding and the constant search for ingredients, utensils, herbs, spices, cutlery, and other essentials, they wanted to have their cake and eat it too. In other words, they aimed to pull over, set up a kitchen, and enjoy a hearty meal without the hassle.

This striking stainless steel box measures 60 x 40 x 27 cm and weighs in at a solid 31 kg. Yes, it’s a hefty piece of gear, but that’s the price you pay for completeness. Inside, you’ll find everything required to wine and dine four lucky diners.

The quality brands included are impressive. Think Zwilling knives, a Primus two-flame gas stove, WMF cutlery, Sea to Summit pots and pans, Gimex glasses, and Flamefield crockery—this kitchen is decked out with top-notch gear. Plus, to get you started, you have six Ostmann shakers filled with assorted herbs and spices.

If you’re on the road in your 4×4 or van, I highly recommend placing the MOKUBO on sliders. Simply open the door, slide out the kitchen, and voilà—cooking made easy! On my last trip, I securely stored the box behind my driver’s seat while travelling and moved it onto the tailgate whenever I was ready to whip up hot drinks or meals.

For those hoping to use the MOKUBO in a garden or fixed location, an optional four-legged stand is available. It even features a shelf for added workspace and a sink for easy clean-up!

NO COMPROMISE COOKING EXPERIENCE

This review isn’t just about listing contents or evaluating their worth; it’s about practical values and whether the “no-compromise” label truly fits.

Like most, I have a fully outfitted kitchen at home where I can conjure up just about anything. Before trips, I usually lay out the utensils and condiments I need every day, taking note of what I use frequently, then cross-check those items with my kitchen box to make any necessary adjustments.

Before my last journey, I decided to switch things up: instead of my typical prep, I cooked exclusively with the MOKUBO for a month. Sometimes inside, sometimes outside. My aim was to see if the MOKUBO could keep pace with my home cooking routines.

Day in and day out, I prepared breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, and tea—all on the MOKUBO. To give you an idea of its capabilities, here’s a taste of what I created:

• Breakfast
  • Porridge
  • Eggs Benedict
  • Full English: sausages, eggs, mushrooms, onions, bacon, tomato, and baked beans
  • Toast
  • Scrambled eggs with salmon
  • Oatcakes

• Main Courses
  • Antipasti
  • Grilled cheese
  • Toasted cheese sandwich
  • Risotto
  • Pasta: bolognese, aglio e olio, and arrabbiata
  • Gnocchi with sage and butter
  • Mediterranean chicken and rice
  • Beef stew
  • Chicken curry

• Baked Goods*:
  • Cheesecake
  • Cakes
  • Muffins
  • Pork pies

*You might be wondering how I baked when the MOKUBO isn’t equipped with an oven. Great question! I supplemented the MOKUBO with the ever-popular Omnia stovetop oven—because who wants to miss out on a treat while camping? And I have one with me anyway.

GAS

The MOKUBO comes equipped with a twin-flame Primus stove, allowing you to use standard camping gas canisters—one of which is conveniently integrated into the box. However, for our extended adventures through the Alps, followed by a trek into the Pyrenees, I decided to elevate my cooking game by connecting to a GASLOW bottle. Why? Because this six-kilogram beauty means I can cook for weeks without worrying about refills. And if I do find myself in need, topping up at an LPG station is a breeze!

INITIAL CONCLUSION

Honestly, I expected I would miss the comforts of a fully stocked kitchen when I relied on the MOKUBO as my primary cooking solution. Sure, we had tested it on shorter trips before—but let’s face it, when you’re only out for a few days, it’s easy to settle for the basics, like roasting meat and potatoes over an open fire.

What truly impresses me is MOKUBO’s thoughtful design and organisation. From spatulas and tongs to pots, pans, cutting boards, razor-sharp knives, glasses, and a small griddle for making breakfast toast—everything you need to whip up a meal for four is there, in one neat package.

Now, the included herbs and spices are fairly standard, so I did pack a few personal favourites. Still, you could easily make do with what’s provided.

The cleverly designed pull-out drawer on the right offers quick access to all your culinary essentials, while doubling as a handy surface for prep work before dumping it all into the pan.

Using the MOKUBO at home has actually been a pleasure, and it adds a touch of luxury and versatility when you’re out exploring the mountains or parked beside a tranquil river.

Take, for instance, our stop at the summit of Monte Jafferau. We unpacked the MOKUBO and set about making tea. With the kettle steaming away on the tailgate, we had curious passersby stopping to inquire about this impressive kitchen unit.

In the world of mobile kitchens, the MOKUBO truly embodies a no-compromise approach—and it looks fantastic while doing it!

from €2,745 | MOKUBO

Bookmark the page and follow us on Instagram and Facebook if you want to see me prepare each of the above mentioned meals.

Disclaimer: The images of the kitchen and its contents in this article are not your typical pristeen, polished, and clinically clean studio shots. The kitchen bears traces of regular use.

The post MOKUBO takes overland cuisine to new heights appeared first on overland-europe.

Picture this: you want to go on a short (or long) camping trip, expedition, vehicle-supported adventure, or just for a picnic. In fact, picture anything out of doors, where you might need some running water and a basin…something a little more refined than a canister emptying onto the ground—which is an absolute no-no inside a vehicle.

TYPICAL SOLUTION

A typical built-in solution could include a fresh water tank, a grey water tank, a pump, maybe a dedicated battery, some hoses, a basin, a tap, and a cabinet to put it all in. And I haven’t even touched on getting it out of the car/van to use it more remotely.

Anyway, even if we focus on just the fitted and fully equipped cabinet in the back of the vehicle, all the components quickly add up to a not insignificant dent in the wallet, and a watertight assembly will certainly consume valuable time that I’d rather spend elsewhere.

BOXIO ALTERNATIVE

Composting toilets are the first thing that spring to mind when I hear the name BOXIO. But I’ll cover that separately.

BOXIO have taken one of the most popular Eurobox sizes, namely 400 x 300 x 280 mm (including the lid), and neatly packed a five-litre fresh water tank, five-litre grey water tank, tap, basin, hand pump and hoses into its confines.

I’m talking about a product that stacks with my other Euroboxes, provides cold running water from a tank, via a tap, into a practical washbasin, and collects the dirty water in a separate tank. I can use it in the car, in the tent, or anywhere I happen to be. Another benefit of being stackable is that, if you have children, you can simply adjust the height to suit them.

Supplied as a self-assembly kit, the well-manufactured components are a breeze to put together and the required tools are included in the set. There are even stickers to distinguish the fresh water from the grey water tank. The tap folds down when not in use, and the hand pump does not need a battery. To make it even more attractive, the cost won’t break the bank either.

TEST IT

I did. Over and over again. Ok, if you really want to split hairs: it doesn’t have running hot water. But, come on, who cares. I can boil up some water and add it to the basin because there’s a plug to stop the water running away while shaving or doing light washing up. There is even a sieve insert to catch bits of food and other small items before they disappear through the drain and into the grey water tank.

To test BOXIO’s true versatility, I ordered the BOXIO SANITARY set—including the WASH PLUS set which comes with a shower head, a shaving mirror, and some stainless steel balls that make cleaning the canisters a lot easier—pour in some water, add the balls, screw on the lid, and give it all a hearty shake.

However, hygiene needs to be taken seriously and that’s not limited to the tanks alone, but includes the hose from the fresh water tank to the tap. Periodically rinse cleanse the system with a suitable agent (such as Katadyn Micropur Forte) to prevent microorganisms thriving—especially in summer and when the unit has stood idle for any period of time with water in its system.

To use the basin, first make sure there is fresh water in the tank and the pressure release valve on the hand pump is closed. Pump three to ten times until you can feel some resistance, and then open the tap. Voilà.

Tanks can be sealed using the provided caps, so that the contents do not slosh around and leak when you are driving.

It goes without saying that the contents of the grey water tanks need to be disposed of responsibly and not simply emptied on the ground or in a river.

As far as the WASH PLUS set is concerned,

• the mirror is unbreakable and sticks to the inside of the lid
• the shower head easily replaces the neck of the tap—simply pull the neck off the tap body and press home the shower head fitting. The shower head has its own remote on-and-off lever, and the spiral hose will extend to more than 1.5 metres.

VERDICT

Horses for courses. For those who need a practical solution that works in the back of a 4×4, van or boot of a car, and still has the use-me-anywhere versatility, the BOXIO WASH comes with a host of arguments that speak in its favour, including an acceptable price tag of €190 (or €160 in their online shop at the time of writing).

If you want the luxury of a fitted kitchen and bathroom in your car/van/truck, then you’re probably installing a tailored interior with all the amenities you need. But…if you still need an outdoor sink to clean hands or wash veggies before they land on the grill, then this easily stowed box just enhances the overall outdoor experience with a minimum of effort.

The materials used are durable, and the workmanship is good. Considering the overall price, the metal tap (faucet) is beautifully made and has a smooth action for an easily adjusted flow rate.

So, to answer the question I set out at the beginning: yes, this is a well-made, durable and versatile product for a fair price which can provide a useful solution in many instances.

from €160 | boxio.de

The post BOXIO WASH: The mobile wash basin has received a lot of hype recently. Is it really that good? appeared first on overland-europe.