Campfire Gear
We’ve covered building a campfire, but now we’re going to look at some gear and tools, the essential box of knowledge to keep stored in your brain to help make those marshmallow nights more relaxing.
Quick wood recap:
Fuel: The large pieces of wood that keep the fire going. Live materials won’t burn so don’t go cutting down living trees or chopping off branches. They won’t light well/at all and you’re only damaging the forest.
Kindling: Small sticks, less than 1” in diameter or shingle wood, as examples.
Tinder: Small twigs, dry leaves, old newspaper, corn chips. Generally dry, flammable material to help light the fire. This is used as the base of your fire and is placed in a loose pile in the center of where you’re building your fire.
Fire starters: You can buy commercially produced fire starter squares or oil sticks, but can easily make your own as well.
Light My Fire:
The most common and affordable option to start your fire is going to be matches. However, if you love your tech and gear or are a particularly avid camper, you might be into an upgrade.
First is the multi-purpose kitchen lighter, it’s affordable and reliable. Easy to use, easy to find, and can be found with flexible ends to make it easier to start a flame.
Second are flint strikers that rely on sparks, the way our ancestors survived. LINK https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B074263X2N/ref=as_li_ss_tl?pd_rd_wg=R32Gf&pd_rd_i=B01C7YACQ8&pd_rd_w=WRIRg&pd_rd_r=DXGADMES44W3GN49DSK3&linkCode=gs2&linkId=51c83336739e030c9cccbcbaf93704a0&tag=bryan01a-20&th=1&psc=1 This specific product has multi-tool included and claims to strike sparks that hit 5,000°F and comes in different sizes.
Cooking and Maintaining a Blaze:
Log tongs: These can help you maintain your fire and move logs around for ideal burning.
Campfire Grate/Grill: To help you cook over the fire, grills or grates will help you get multiple pots and pans going at once. They’re super versatile and available in multiple sizes and prices everywhere from Amazon to Canadian Tire.
Another option would be the good old tripod. Adjustable and breaks down easily to travel these fit over your fire, can either hold a pot or pan, and some models can be cooked on directly.
Oven Mitts: Home oven mitts may be good for pulling stuff from the oven, but don’t always stand up to sparks from the fire. Industrial level mitts will stand up better and last longer.
Grilling Tongs: Grab yourself a good set of these guys. None of those salad tossers, these guys are heavy duty and extra-long to stand up to the heat of campfire and avoid singing off your arm hair.
Dutch Ovens and Cast Iron Skillets: We’ve gone through campfire cooking tips [LINK https://nobullrv.ca/campfire-cooking-tips/ ] and specifically, cast iron [LINK https://nobullrv.ca/cast-iron/ ] but it stands to repeat that this is a tried and true staple for camp cooking. Other great additions to your cooking kit include a lid lifter and lid stand. This set [LINK https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/woods-heritage-cast-iron-non-stick-camping-cook-set-0766085p.0766085.html?rq=camp%20lid%20lifter#srp ] from Canadian Tire includes a Dutch oven, pot, 2 skillets, grill, and pot lifter.
Metal Skewers: Great for cooking on the grill, makes clean up a lot faster without the use of pots and pans, and are reusable unlike their wood cousins. Also, wood ones don’t work super well over campfires (feel free to use them on the grill though, but we recommend soaking them first).
Aluminum foil: And finally, the all important, super versatile staple of all things fire and oven related. Truly, what did we do without this stuff? Line your pans with it, wrap dinner or dessert to cook over the fire, use it to store leftovers in the fridge or freezer to easily reheat later. Just avoid putting it in the microwave and you’re golden!
So don’t forget your marshmallows, chocolate, or brats and you’re guaranteed a fabulous weekend by the fire.
