A can opener is the thing people remember at the campsite, usually with a can of beans in the other hand. At home it barely matters which one you own. At camp, it matters that you packed it, that it survived a season in a damp bag and that it does not need a wall outlet.
This guide is only about that. It leaves aside the kitchen openers on our other pages and sorts the no-power choices by how you get to camp: the flat G.I. openers for a pack, a small crank for a van and full-size steel for a car full of coolers. Chipotles, hominy, tomatoes and beans all come in cans, so a lot of camp cooking with Mexican flavors depends on this small item.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and maker details.
Quick verdict: the best can opener camping trips call for
For most campers, buy the Coghlan’s G.I. Can Opener 2-Pack: two small folding openers of nickel-plated hardened steel, so one can stay in each kit. If you drive to camp and cook from big cans, choose the Swing-A-Way 407, a full-size steel crank. If you want a turning opener in a tiny package, look at the Westmark Sieger Boy.
Below are five of the eight side by side, followed by a full look at each one and how to choose.
Five camp can openers at a glance
Five standout openers, one for each kind of trip, with the details each maker or listing states.
| Can opener | Best for | Type and size | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
Coghlan’s G.I. Can Opener, 2-PackBest overall
|
Most trips, any pack | Folding G.I. pocket type | View on Amazon |
Westmark Sieger Boy Can Opener, 7.8 cmBest small crank
|
A crank without the bulk | Mini crank, 7.8 cm | View on Amazon |
Swing-A-Way 407 Portable Can Opener, BlackBest for car camping
|
Big cans at a campground | Full-size crank, 7 inches | View on Amazon |
EZ-DUZ-IT Can Opener, WhiteBest made in the USA
|
Heavy use at base camp | Gear-driven crank, 7.25 inches | View on Amazon |
Victorinox Camper Swiss Army KnifeBest multi-tool
|
One tool for the whole kit | Pocket knife with opener | View on Amazon |
Our picks for the best can opener camping kits can carry
They run roughly from smallest to largest, with the pocket knife last because it is a different kind of purchase.
1. Coghlan’s G.I. Can Opener, 2-Pack – Two Spares for Almost No Weight
Coghlan’s is a camping-gear brand, and this is its version of the folding G.I. opener: a flat steel tab with a hinged cutting tooth. There is no crank, gear or handle to pack around. It goes on a key ring, in a cook kit or in the bottom of a food bag, and you will probably forget it is there until the beans come out.
The listing calls it nickel-plated hardened steel that won’t rust and says it stays sharp for years. It also suggests using it as a cutting edge, groove cleaner and screwdriver, which is the kind of second job a flat bit of steel does well enough on a campsite. You get two in the pack, and that is the real reason it leads this list: one goes in the kitchen box, the other in the tackle box or day bag, and a lost opener no longer means a lost dinner.
It asks for more from you than a crank. You hook the notch under the rim, push the tooth through the lid and walk it around the can a bite at a time. A can of chipotles takes a little patience, and a large can of tomatoes takes more.
Why we like it
- Made of nickel-plated hardened steel, per the listing
- Two in the pack, so one can stay in the camp box
- Sold and shipped by Amazon when we checked
- Doubles as a small flat tool, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 702 |
|---|---|
| Type | Folding G.I. pocket opener |
| Length | Not stated |
| Material | Nickel-plated hardened steel |
| Also does | Cutting edge, groove cleaner, screwdriver (listing) |
| Count | 2 |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
If you want the smallest thing that will open a can on any kind of trip, from a backpacking weekend to a week at a campground, this is the one to buy first. Having a spare in the pack matters more on a trip than it does at home.
Skip it if your hands are weak or sore. A pocket opener takes grip and repetition, and a crank will suit you far better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very small and flat
- Pack of two
- Coated steel, which suits damp kit
Cons
- Slow on large cans
- You have to walk it around the rim
- Takes practice the first time
2. US Shelby P-38 and P-51 Can Openers, Stainless – Both Classic Sizes on One Order
The P-38 is the opener most people mean when they say military can opener. It came with canned U.S. rations from 1942 until the 1980s, and Wikipedia lists Mallin Shelby Hardware of Shelby, Ohio, among the firms that made it. The P-51 is the same idea at about 2 inches rather than 1.5, and that extra half inch gives you more leverage.
This set gives you one of each, and that is its use: you find out which suits your hand without buying a bulk bag. The listing puts them at 1.5 and 2 inches, in stainless steel, each with a hole for a key ring or ball chain. It also prints the method, which is worth reading once at home: open the blade, set the notch on the rim, twist down to puncture and repeat as you turn the can. It adds a warning we agree with, that the lid will be sharp.
One thing to weigh. The seller, Brand Depot Supply, says these are made to government specifications and specially manufactured for it. That is the seller’s statement and we did not confirm it elsewhere, so treat this as a pair of P-38 type openers carrying the US Shelby name and do not read it as military stock.
Why we like it
- One of each size, so you can compare them
- Stainless steel, per the listing
- Holes for a key ring or ball chain
- Printed instructions in the listing
Key specifications
| Model | BDS-P38-P51-1and1 |
|---|---|
| Type | Folding G.I. pocket opener |
| Length | 1.5 inches and 2 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Also does | Flat screwdriver (listing) |
| Count | 2 (one of each) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
If you have never used one of these and want to see whether the bigger P-51 is worth the extra half inch, this is the sensible way in. A reasonable split is the small one on your keys and the large one in the cook kit.
Skip it if you want a better-known brand standing behind the steel. Coghlan’s is the plainer choice there.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two sizes to compare
- Stainless steel
- Goes on a key ring
Cons
- Sold by a third-party seller
- Spec claim comes from the seller
- Slow on large cans
3. Stansport 3-in-1 Can Opener, 2-Pack – Opener, Bottle Cap and Spoon
Stansport is an outdoors brand, and this is the odd one on the list, in a good way. It is one flat piece of tempered steel that opens cans, lifts bottle caps and works as a spoon. At 3.5 inches long and 7/8 inch wide, it is longer than a P-38, and that extra length gives you something to hold.
The appeal is what it replaces. If you are packing light and eating from the can, you can open the beans and eat them with the same tool, then rinse it and put it away. Two come in the package, so a pair of people each have one.
Do not expect it to work like a good eating spoon or a fast opener. It is a compromise at all three jobs, and Stansport’s listing does not say how it holds up against rust, so dry it after washing. We would carry it for a solo overnight before we would rely on it for a family weekend.
Why we like it
- Three jobs in one piece, per the listing
- Tempered steel, per the listing
- Two in the pack
- One-year warranty field on the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 344-T |
|---|---|
| Type | Flat multi-use opener |
| Length | 3.5 inches |
| Material | Tempered steel |
| Also does | Bottle opener, spoon |
| Count | 2 |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Warranty | 1 year (listing) |
Why we recommend it
If every ounce in the pack has to earn its place, this does the work of two items and takes up less room than carrying both.
Skip it if you cook at camp rather than eat straight from the can. You will have a real spoon anyway, and a plain opener is easier to use.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Replaces an opener and a spoon
- Flat and easy to pack
- Pack of two
Cons
- A compromise at each job
- Rust resistance not stated
- Slower than a crank
4. Westmark Sieger Boy Can Opener, 7.8 cm – A Real Crank in a Small Bag
Pocket openers are small because they have no gears. The Westmark Sieger Boy shows how far a turning opener can shrink: about 7.8 cm long by its title, with a cutting blade and wheel of hardened, chrome-plated steel and a large plastic rotary knob.
That knob is the point. You clamp and turn, as you would at home, so you are not walking a small tooth around by hand. Westmark’s listing says it opens round and rectangular cans of all sizes and works for left- and right-handed users, which is useful if you have struggled with a P-38 going the wrong way around.
Note what the listing says about hands: small to medium. Large hands may find it cramped. Also note the plastic knob, which we would keep away from the fire ring, and that the listing was sold through Amazon Germany when we checked, so shipping may take longer than a domestic listing.
Why we like it
- Blade and wheel of hardened chrome-plated steel, per the listing
- Opens round and rectangular cans, per the listing
- Left- or right-handed use, per the listing
- About 7.8 cm long, per the title
Key specifications
| Model | 12284470 |
|---|---|
| Type | Mini turning opener |
| Length | 7.8 cm |
| Material | Chrome-plated hardened steel, plastic knob |
| Also does | Nothing else stated |
| Count | 1 |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
If you open cans most days on a trip, and a P-38 feels like a chore, this gets you much of the ease of a kitchen opener in a very small package. It suits a van, a car-camping box or a roomy backpack.
Skip it if you have large hands, or you want something that can live on a key ring.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Turning action, not hand walking
- Works for either hand
- Very small for its type
Cons
- For small to medium hands, per the listing
- Plastic knob
- Imported listing
5. Chef Craft Select Can Opener with Tapper, 6.5-inch – Opener and Punch in One
A camp cook often has more than one kind of can to open. Evaporated milk for coffee, juice for a marinade, a can of tomatoes for the pot. This Chef Craft opener has a tapper built into the handle, for punching holes in a liquid can, alongside the cutter for taking lids off.
It is 6.5 inches long and made of nickel-plated steel, and Chef Craft’s listing says the manual design makes it great for camping and that it is dishwasher safe. That is a useful point once you get home with a greasy camp box, since other openers on our pages ask for hand washing.
Six and a half inches is too long for a pocket or a key ring, but it is modest for a kitchen box. We see this as a car-camping tool: it takes little space and covers two jobs. Chef Craft does not state a warranty or a country of origin on the listing.
Why we like it
- Tapper on the handle for liquid cans, per the listing
- Nickel-plated steel, per the listing
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Listed by Chef Craft as good for camping
Key specifications
| Model | 21294 |
|---|---|
| Type | Manual opener with can tapper |
| Length | 6.5 inches |
| Material | Nickel-plated steel |
| Also does | Can tapper |
| Count | 1 |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
If you car camp, cook real meals and reach for canned milk or juice as often as canned beans, this one tool covers both without adding a separate punch to the box.
Skip it if you carry your kitchen on your back. The G.I. openers are far smaller.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two can jobs in one tool
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Comfortable length for a box
Cons
- Too long for a pocket
- Warranty not stated
- No grip material mentioned
6. Swing-A-Way 407 Portable Can Opener, Black – The Full-Size Choice for the Car
If the car is carrying your kitchen, there is no reason to suffer. The Swing-A-Way 407 is a plain steel crank opener that works with no electricity. This black listing is the same 407 model that appears in red on our main can opener guide. We include it here because it is the size to pack when a large can of tomatoes is on the menu, and because the red listing was running short when we checked.
Swing-A-Way lists all-steel construction, a high-carbon cutting wheel it calls skip-proof, soft cushioned grips and a bottle opener on the side, at about 7 inches. The warranty field reads five years, a long term for a tool this simple.
Bring it home, wash it by hand and dry it. A steel gear left wet in a camp box invites rust, and that is true of any opener with moving parts.
Why we like it
- All-steel construction, per the listing
- High-carbon cutting wheel, per the listing
- Built-in bottle opener
- Five-year warranty field on the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 407BK |
|---|---|
| Type | Full-size crank opener |
| Length | 7 inches |
| Material | Steel, cushioned grips |
| Also does | Bottle opener |
| Count | 1 |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Warranty | 5 years (listing) |
Why we recommend it
For a family campground trip with a big cooler and a two-burner stove, this does the job most comfortably, and it can go back in the kitchen drawer afterward.
Skip it if you have to carry it far. With the EZ-DUZ-IT, it is the largest opener here.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Crank action suits large cans
- Easier on the hands than a pocket opener
- Long warranty term
Cons
- Bulky for a pack
- Moving parts to keep dry
- Same model as our kitchen pick
7. EZ-DUZ-IT Can Opener, White – Made in the USA for the Camp Box
The EZ-DUZ-IT Model 87 is a heavy-gauge chromed steel opener with a carbon steel blade and a gear-driven action, and the listing says it is made in the USA. It measures about 7.25 by 2.13 by 1.88 inches, roughly the same length as the Swing-A-Way, so the choice between them comes down to where it is made and which grip you like.
This is the same model family that appears in blue on our budget can opener page. We list the white one here because it is the made-in-the-USA choice for a base camp, and it was in stock from a third-party seller, All The Needs, when we checked. Look at the seller and the return terms before you buy.
Thick rubberized handles should make it easier to hold with wet or cold hands, which matters more outside than in a kitchen. Keep the blade dry: carbon steel can rust if it is packed away wet.
Why we like it
- Heavy-gauge chromed steel, per the listing
- Carbon steel blade, gear-driven, per the listing
- Made in the USA, per the listing
- Thick rubberized grips, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | Model 87 |
|---|---|
| Type | Full-size crank opener |
| Length | 7.25 inches |
| Material | Chromed steel, carbon steel blade |
| Also does | Nothing else stated |
| Count | 1 |
| Made in | USA (listing) |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
If you run a hunting camp, a scout troop or a long stay where the opener will see real use, and you would like it to be made here, this is the one to choose.
Skip it if you are trying to keep the box small, or you would rather buy from Amazon directly.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Heavy-gauge build, per the listing
- Made in the USA, per the listing
- Thick grips for cold, wet hands
Cons
- Third-party seller
- Bulky for a pack
- Carbon steel needs drying
8. Victorinox Camper Swiss Army Knife – If You Already Carry a Pocket Knife
This is a pocket knife first and a can opener second, so count it that way. It belongs here because many campers already carry a knife, and a Swiss Army can opener saves carrying a separate one. The Camper has 13 functions, per its listing: large and small blades, corkscrew, can opener, two screwdrivers, bottle opener, wire stripper, reamer, wood saw, key ring, tweezers and toothpick.
A folding opener on a pocket knife works by hand, closer to a P-38 than a crank, so expect the same patience. In return, it folds away inside a tool that also slices limes and cuts kindling with the saw. The listing says it is Swiss made and that Victorinox guarantees it against defects in material and workmanship for life.
You pay for the rest of the tool, so this makes no sense as a can opener alone. It is also a knife, so check the rules before you take it to a place where blades are not allowed.
Why we like it
- Can opener plus 12 other functions, per the listing
- Swiss made, per the listing
- Lifetime guarantee against defects, per the listing
- Wood saw suits camp use
Key specifications
| Model | 1.3613 |
|---|---|
| Type | Pocket knife with can opener |
| Length | Not stated |
| Material | Stainless steel (listing) |
| Also does | Blades, saw, corkscrew, screwdrivers, tweezers and more |
| Count | 1 |
| Made in | Switzerland (listing) |
| Warranty | Lifetime against defects (listing) |
Why we recommend it
If you want one tool in your pocket that handles the can, the lime and the kindling, buy this and leave the separate opener at home.
Skip it if you only need to open cans. A two-pack of G.I. openers does that job with far less to carry.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Many other useful tools
- Long guarantee
- Well-known maker
Cons
- A knife first, an opener second
- Slow on large cans
- Not allowed everywhere you might go
How to choose a can opener for camping
A camp opener has one job that a kitchen opener does not: it has to be there, working, after a season at the bottom of a bag. These are the things we would weigh.
How you get to camp
This decides almost everything. On foot, the G.I. types, the Stansport or the Sieger Boy are all you should consider. By car, weight stops mattering, and a full-size crank is kinder to your hands.
The size of your cans
A small can of chipotles is no trouble for a P-38. A large can of tomatoes means many small bites around a long rim. If your camp menu runs to big cans, look at a crank. For the kind of pot that takes several cans, our guide to charro beans and refried beans is a good place to start.
Your hands
Pocket openers depend on your thumb and fingers. If you have arthritis or a weak grip, read our can opener guide for arthritis before you pack anything; the manual openers there would travel by car just as well.
Rust
Camp gear gets wet. Stainless steel and plated steel suit that better than a bare carbon wheel, though any of them will last longer if you dry them. Keep crank openers away from the wet end of the cooler.
A backup
The simplest insurance on this page is a second opener. A P-38 weighs almost nothing, so keep one in the cook kit even if a crank is your main tool.
How we picked these eight openers
We have not used these openers for this guide, and we make no claim that Julia’s uses them. We read each Amazon listing through Amazon’s product data for stock, seller, materials and warranty, and checked that each one was in stock and offered new. We required an identifiable maker and skipped the unbranded bulk bags of openers. No listing here appears on our other can opener pages; two are the same models as openers there, in other colors, and we name them above with the reason. For the history and sizes of the P-38 and P-51 we relied on Wikipedia’s entry, and the rest of the page rests on listing and maker details. We also searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall data by brand and found nothing that covers these openers.
Camp can opener questions, answered
What is the best can opener for camping?
For most people, a folding G.I. opener such as the Coghlan’s 2-pack. It is small, needs no power and can stay in a kit for years. If you are car camping, the Swing-A-Way 407 is easier on the hands.
What is the difference between a P-38 and a P-51?
Size. The P-38 is about 1.5 inches long and the P-51 about 2 inches, which gives it more leverage. They work the same way.
How do you use a P-38?
Fold the tooth out, hook the notch under the rim of the can and press down so the tooth punctures the lid. Move it along a little and repeat until you have gone around. Lift the lid with care, since the edge is sharp.
Can you open a can without a can opener?
People do it with knives and rocks, but we do not recommend it. A slip with a knife far from help is a poor trade for an opener that weighs next to nothing.
Do any of these need batteries or power?
No. Every opener here is manual. Powered models are covered in our electric can opener guide, and we would not rely on one at a campsite.
Our final pick for the camp box
Buy the Coghlan’s 2-pack and put one opener in every kit you own. If you drive to camp and cook for several people, add a Swing-A-Way 407 too. For the kitchen at home, our main best can opener guide compares the crank and side-cut models, and our camping griddle guide covers what to cook on once the can is open. If you would rather leave the cooking to someone else after the trip, call to order or look over Julia’s menu.