CNOC Curn Collapsible Cups: Ultralight Camp Drinkware
By Six Moon Designs | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Product Reviews
A practical buying guide to the CNOC Curn collapsible cups pair: who they suit, how they fit ultralight kits, and when a rigid camp mug is the better call.
Quick answer
Buy the CNOC Curn Collapsible Cups pair if you want a 250 ml, 11 g cup that folds flat enough to pocket and costs USD 12.60 for two. Skip them if you need a rigid mug for hot coffee, a wide stable base for a stove, or a cup that doubles as a bowl; in those cases choose a hard-sided camp mug instead.
What the Curn cups actually are
The Curn cups are a pair of collapsible beverage cups from CNOC Outdoors. Each holds 250 ml / 8.5 oz and weighs 11 g (.38 oz). They stand upright on a flat surface, and the ring has a double tab so you can hold the cup firmly. They fold small enough to fit in a pocket. That combination is why they show up in ultralight drinkware lists: the weight is close to nothing, and the packed size disappears into a hipbelt pocket or a cook kit.
Where they earn a place in your pack
Think of the Curn cups as a second vessel, not a primary one. They are most useful when you already carry a main bottle or reservoir and want a clean way to drink something other than plain water. Runners with frequent access to clean water can carry one flat and fill it at a tap or stream. Hikers sharing a cold drink on the trail can split a can or bottle without passing the same rim. Anyone mixing a hydration tablet gets a dedicated cup so the tablet does not flavor the whole reservoir. They also work as a simple camp cup for a shared sip of wine or a nightcap.
Fit: how the Curn cups sit in an ultralight kit
The Curn cups are small. At 250 ml they are closer to a teacup than a mug, and they have no handle, lid, or insulation. That is the trade-off for 11 g. They fit best in a kit where the cup is an accessory: tucked beside a Vecto 3L Water Container in a side pocket, or nested loose with a titanium pot and cup. If your cook kit is already tight and you rely on a single pot for everything, adding two cups may be one item too many. If you routinely split drinks or mix powders, the pair earns its space.
The honest limits
Collapsible cups are not insulated, so hot drinks cool quickly and the walls can feel warm on your hands. The soft walls also mean the cup can flex if you grip it hard or set it on uneven ground, so use the double tab and a flat surface. They are not a substitute for a bowl, a measuring cup, or a mug you can set next to a stove. If your morning routine is a large hot coffee you sip slowly, a rigid double-wall mug will serve you better even though it weighs more. The Curn cups are for people who value packed size and low weight over heat retention and rigidity.
Decision rules for buying the Curn cups
- Rule 1: Buy the pair if you share drinks: Two cups at USD 12.60 solve the shared-bottle problem for couples, friends, and anyone who passes a can around camp. One cup alone often means someone waits. Two people, two cups, one shared bottle.
- Rule 2: Buy one if you only mix tablets: If your only need is a clean vessel for a hydration tablet or electrolyte mix, a single cup from the pair is enough. The second cup becomes a spare or a loaner. Match cup count to the number of drinkers, not the number in the pack.
- Rule 3: Skip them for hot drinks: No insulation and soft walls mean heat loss and warm hands. If coffee is a ritual you linger over, a rigid insulated mug is the better tool even at higher weight. Curn cups are for cold drinks, mixing, and sharing.
- Rule 4: Check your cook kit first: Lay out your pot, stove, and bottle. If there is no spare pocket or nesting space, the cups will ride loose. If there is a flat pocket, they disappear. Packed size only helps if your kit has a home for it.
Product facts
- CNOC Curn Collapsible Cups, Pair: CNOC Curn Collapsible Cups, Pair: .38 oz - 11 g beverage cup; capacity 250 ml / 8.5 oz; folds small enough to fit in a pocket; stands upright on a flat surface; double tab on the ring for a firm hold. At 11 g each and USD 12.60 for the pair, these are a low-cost, low-weight way to add a second drinking vessel without giving up pack space.
- Vecto 3L Water Container, 28mm: Vecto 3L Water Container, 28mm: 2.9 oz - 84 g; 3 liters (100 oz); soft, collapsible; dual opening system with a wide fill opening on one side and a narrow mouthpiece on the other. A Vecto in a side pocket plus a flat Curn cup covers both bulk water carry and a clean cup for mixing or sharing, without adding a rigid bottle.
- Lunar Duo Backpacking Tent: Lunar Duo Backpacking Tent: 45 oz - 1270 g; two-person backpacking tent; single-wall ultralight design; large interior space plus two vestibules. If you are splitting a two-person shelter, the Curn cups pair fits the same logic: light shared gear that two people use without duplicating weight.
Who should buy the Curn cups
Best for
- Ultralight backpackers who want a 250 ml cup at 11 g and can accept no insulation
- Runners and fastpackers with frequent water access who want a pocketable cup
- Hikers who share drinks or mix hydration tablets and want a dedicated vessel
- Two-person teams already splitting a shelter and looking to split drinkware weight
Not for
- Campers who want a rigid, insulated mug for hot coffee
- Anyone who needs a cup to double as a bowl or measuring cup
- Backpackers whose cook kit has no spare pocket or nesting room
- People who prefer a single do-everything vessel and dislike extra items
