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Camping and doing the supply of kit thing – what do I need?
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DickBartonFull Member
Had a few camping adventures of late and enjoyed them, but I’m keen to get myself some kit and make sure I’ve got stuff so I can either aid in the prep of stuff or do it myself.
Have wee stove from Alpkit, a few cheap pots and pans and a couple of mugs that can be used to cook with and eat/drink from. Now I’m after some recommendations for some cooking kit – ideally lightweight but usable cooking utensils and a portable grill so I can cook burgers/sausages/bacon on a campfire.
Really liking the look of the Light My Fire FireGrill but I’m thinking it might be bit pricey for number of times it will be used – but is there anything similar for a bit less?
Also probably needing a couple of knives for cooking and creating kindling.
My google powers are pretty weak, so does anyone have any recommendations on the above bits please?
I’m not looking to need a sherpa to carry the kit but also not looking to kit this out for 1 person…also not looking to spend a fortune.
Just ordered up a Light My Fire MealKit, so I think the eating-off-kit part is sorted (admittedly for 2 people).
Spent the weekend away with a mate’s family with my daughter and she loved it all so I’m hoping to get a few more adventures in with her, but need a few bits of kit to make sure we aren’t driving to a chippie or local take away to feed ourselves!
duncancallumFull MemberI rate the tranga stove. You carrying the kit or just camping?
DickBartonFull MemberJust camping for now, so I’m not needing ultra lightweight. Got an Alpkit Kraku stove – seems to do the trick, but again I’ve not used it for much. Will be heading out tomorrow with it and some food to go watch the sunset somewhere, so it’ll be the stove, the 2 mugs, some food and see how that goes.
It is more for camping though…so I’m thinking a campfire more than a stove but I’m wanting a few supplies so when we go, I’m not going to destroy whatever is needing cooked due to my attempts at cooking something directly on a lump of fired wood and flipping it with the blade from my Leatherman!
Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition
Latest Singletrack VideosFresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...rene59Free MemberFor a grill look at Purcell Trench grills.
http://www.purcelltrench.com/grills.htm
They are very expensive and come from North America but you could replicate the design and ask a local fabricator/friend to do similar. This will be a lightweight and durable option which would last a lifetime.
Cheaper than that you can buy a Coghlan’s camp grill, this is still relatively lightweight but not as durable as above. It will be significantly cheaper though.
http://www.alloutdoor.co.uk/stoves-cooking/campfire-cooking/coghlans-pack-grill-c8770-.htm
You could also take the grill part from a cheap BBQ and use that over campfires. The most inexpensive option would be a wire cake cooling rack type thing that can be had for a pound or so. This will be lightweight but won’t last too many times over the heat of a fire.
For knifes I would recommended an Opinel No 8 for general camp cooking and prepping. The carbon steel blade is very easy to keep razor sharp.
http://uk.knivesandtools.com/en/pt/-opinel-no-08-pocket-knife-carbon-steel-blade-length-8-5-cm.htm
And a cheap Mora knife for kindling and firewood processing duties. These are very popular outdoor knives and are very durable and well made considering their low cost/mass produced nature.
http://www.springfields.co.uk/mora-companion-carbon-steel-knife.html
For utensils just use wooden utensils that you can buy for home, or preferably carve your own using the knives above and maybe buy a spoon knife. As an aside it is very satisfying way to pass a couple hours sitting next to a fire.
Get a little bag thing like this to keep your utensils/knife/small chopping board/seasoning/washing up stuff etc in. A fold out/hang up type toiletry bag would also work good.
http://www.seatosummit.com.au/products/kitchen/accessory-bags/
Or one ready made up, and you are good to go at anytime.
http://www.seatosummit.com.au/products/kitchen/kitchen-kits/
For campfire cooking you can’t beat Zebra stainless steel billy cans, but they are quite heavy. These will last a lifetime and used by the likes of Ray Mears.
http://www.heinnie.com/zebra-head-billy-can
You can get cheaper aluminum versions from elsewhere. Don’t discount the cheap pot sets you can get from the likes of GoOutdoors. They are some good offerings from the budgets brands.
CountZeroFull MemberI’d second an Opinel Carbone for general cutting up duties, the carbon blade will stain very easily, but you can patinate it beforehand by finding a small container deep enough to stand the knife up in, put enough cheap apple cider vinegar in to just cover the blade, heat the vinegar in the microwave to finger hot, not boiling, and soak the blade for an hour or two. It goes nice and black, wipe the blade off, give it another soak, and wipe it off again, and it’ll go a dark slate grey; you don’t have to worry too much about it rusting if you leave it wet or cut things that might otherwise stain.
Worked a treat on mine, might have to give it another go sometime soon as it’s starting to wear off.
Enjoy the camping!GreybeardFree MemberIf you’re cooking on a fire you’ll also need a tool to remove the turf or other surface and put it back afterwards; either that or a firebox to raise it off the ground. A lot of campsites don’t allow fires, and a lot of wild camping spots have been ruined by fires on the surface.
DickBartonFull MemberThanks for the pointers folks…and also the point about fires greybeard.
DickBartonFull MemberPerhaps a daft question but how legal are the knives suggested above? I thought lock knives weren’t legal and I also thought any blade over 3 inches were a no-no either…
matt_outandaboutFull MemberDickBarton – a knife carried for a purpose is fine (as long as purpose isn’t crime!)
Edit: I am carrying six fixed blade 10cm knives around Chatelherault country park tomorrow…
matt_outandaboutFull MemberTo OP – if you want to fry sausages, bacon, eggs etc, just use a disposable oven tray and some oil. If the fire is really hot, double tin it. I fry and bake on open fires in disposable baking trays. They weigh very little and cost bobbins.
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