Outwell Appetizer 2 Cooker Gas Stove Black One Size

Outwell

Generally, stoves for family camping with more than one burner are big, requiring a gas cylinder and regulator.

Alternatively, stoves with easier-to-use gas cartridges are small with a single hob, which is insufficient for family camping.

The Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner stove bridges the two. It runs off an easy-to-use gas canister but provides two good-sized hobs.

### Fitting the Gas

If you have looked at gas cartridge stoves, you might have seen the tall long cartridges. 

The Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner stove uses smaller round gas cartridges, known as EN417 gas cartridges.

<MediaImage 
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A gas hose comes with the stove, which screws into the stove and then screws into the gas cartridge.

### Set-up

With the gas hose and cartridge in place, the only other item to fit is the pan holders, which slot into place.

Oh, and the rubber feet. We found that the feet come off or out of position, so ensure they are attached correctly.

### Using the Stove

This is a very simple and sturdy stove. But perhaps a little too simple as it doesn't come with piezo ignition.

You need matches or an external lighter to use it.

<MediaImage 
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We found this was the first area this stove could do with an improvement on, as lighting it become a chore... and used a lot of matches.

Even small hiking stoves can come with ignition, so it's a shame there's none on this stove.

Once lit, though, the gas had a good flow rate and could quickly boil the kettle.

Each burner is rated as 3000W.

### Cleaning the stove

Some camping stoves can have complicated parts and shapes, which makes cleaning them at the campsite difficult.

The simple design of the Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner grill is its big feature: it is so easy to clean.

### Packing away and transporting

This stove is small and lightweight. Packing away is simple as removing the hose and pot holders. 

There's enough space underneath the stove to fit these.

Outwell report a pack size of 44.5 x 22.5 x 8 cm, only weighing 1.3kg.

So, small and lightweight makes this great for taking to and from the campsite and storing at home.... except...

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It does not come with a carry case. This is the second missing feature that lets it down.

The pot holders and hose not attached to the stove could easily become lost or damaged. 

Instead, we're keeping it in its cardboard box to store and transport it. But as we all know, cardboard boxes do not last.

Once the cardboard box fails, I'm unsure how we'll safely keep it together.

The Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner stove has some good features but misses a couple of items to make it great.

Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner stove

The Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner grill is a great small stove but is let down by a lack of ignition and no storage/transport case.

For this, we've scored it down on features and practicality. 

We also found the rubber feet would come off, and one of the pot holders was difficult to keep in place, so not the usual quality we've come to expect from Outwell.

OEX Heiro Solo Camping Stove, All-in-one Stove and Pot, Ideal for Wild Camping, Backpacking Trips or Long-distance Hikes, Camping Equipment

The OEX Heiro Solo Stove is an ideal stove for backpacking, bikepacking, or even a stove for family camping if you want an emergency stove or something to make a quick brew with before setting up your camp kitchen.

I bought this stove for just that. It's something lightweight and self-contained for some more of my solo trips.

## Isn't it a JetBoil copy?

If you've seen this type of stove before, you probably know them as JetBoil stove. 

JetBoil came first to the market with such a stove many years ago. However, a few copies are around, such as this one from OEX, which is getting good reviews.

So, I thought I'd try it myself.

Plus, I managed to buy this for just over £40 using a discount code at Blacks. In comparison, the equivalent JetBoil stove was £90. 

But does this cheaper stove have less to it?

### OEX Heiro Solo Stove vs. JetBoil Flash

Let's compare the specs between these two stoves to see why the JetBoil Flash is more expensive.

First, how do they stack up against each other?

| | Winner |
| ------------------------ | ------------------ |
| 💷 Cheapest | OEX ✅ | 
|🚰 Most Pot Capacity | JetBoil | 
| 🪶 Lightest | Same(ish) |
| 📏 Smallest (packed) | OEX ✅ | 
| ♨️ Heat Indicator | JetBoil | 
| 🔥 Fastest Boiling Time | JetBoil | 
| ⭐️ Best Amazon Review Stars | OEX ✅ | 

<Accordion title="full spec comparison">
| | OEX Heiro Solo | JetBoil Flash 2.0 |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------------|-------------------------|
| Price (at review time) | £45 | £90 |
| Pot Capacity | 0.6 L | 1 L |
| Weight | 370g | 371g |
| Dimensions (packed) | 10 x 15.5cm | 10.4 x 18cm |
| Ignition | Yes | Yes |
| Heat Indicator | No | Yes |
| Boiling Time | 2 mins for 500 ml | 2:30 mins |
| Amazon Review Stars | 5/5 | 4.6/5 |
</Accordion>

The OEX Heiro Solo stove is about half the price of the JetBoil Flash 2.0.

> The OEX Heiro Solo stove is about half the price of the JetBoil Flash 2.0.

However, its capacity is just 0.6L rather than the JetBoil's 1L. 

The 0.6L of the OEX Hiero Stove *should* be enough to heat individual meal pouches or make warm drinks.

But if you do want that extra 400ml, then the JetBoil wins.

JetBoil stoves made their reputation for speedy boiling. However, most modern stoves boil quickly enough. I'm not bothered if one is a few more seconds than the other.

On paper, though, the JetBoil should be a few seconds faster than the OEX Heiro Stove.... if you *really* need to get your warm drink that quickly 😉

More importantly, how much space they take up in your pack, and how heavy are they to carry?

Despite the larger size, the JetBoil is only 1 gram heavier than the OEX Heiro Solo Stove. That's very impressive. 

Of course, the larger size does mean the JetBoil Flash 2.0 will take up more space in your bag, though only by a few centimetres. 

### Which is better? OEX Heiro Solo Stove

The OEX Heiro Solo Stove being half the price of the JetBoil Flash 2.0 is why I bought it.

> The OEX Heiro Solo Stove being half the price of the JetBoil Flash 2.0 is why I bought it.

I felt the slightly larger capacity didn't warrant twice the price. 

Oh, and I forgot, the JetBoil Flash 2.0 has a heat indicator to tell you when the water is hot. 

Again, I didn't think this feature was worth another £45.

## Unboxing the OEX Heiro Solo Stove

The OEX Heiro Solo Stove comes in a box, and the stove is wrapped in a black mesh with a read drawcord. 

This reminds me of many Robens products. However, the mesh felt thinner than the ones on the Robens kit. 

> ...the mesh felt thinner...

The main thing you see is the stove pot, covered with its neoprene insulation sleeve. 

The handle on the pot unfolds. 

Atop the of the pot is a plastic lid. This has vent holes and a pouring spout. 

This enables you to pour the hot water with minimum heat loss or use the pot as an insulated mug and drink directly from it without removing the lid.

<MediaImage 
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Inside the pot is the stove itself. 

## Using the OEX Heiro Solo Stove

The stove screws on top of a threaded gas canister. 

<MediaImage 
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You can also buy legs to support the canister, giving the stove a more stable base. 

I also bought these OEX canister legs from Blacks, though plenty of brands do this (and unbranded from Amazon).

The stove has a fold-out valve to adjust the gas stove. This was smooth to use. 

It also has a piezo ignition, making it very easy to use. 

The pot slots on top of the stove and clicks into place, making a firm connection. 

The built-in heat diffuser/windshield on the pot base helps ensure a fast water boil in the pot.

Inside the pot are indicators so you know how much water is in it.

<MediaImage 
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OEX says the stove will boil 500 ml in 2 minutes. 

I had just less than that, and it felt like less than 2 minutes to boil. 👍

<MediaImage 
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## Stove Difficulties

The thing I found tricky was removing the pot from the stove. 

It was quite firmly attached, needing a twist. But also quite hot!

Fortunately, the neoprene sleeve insulates well, but you do need to watch where your fingers go. 

## What gas canisters work with the OEX Heiro Stove?

110g, 230g and 500g screw-top gas canisters.

The stove screws into the top of the canister. 

I used this gas canister from Campingaz.

## Is the OEX Heiro Stove the lightest?

No. You can get smaller and lighter stoves. 

However, if you are after an all-in-one-rapid-boil-system, then with just a few compromises, the OEX Heiro Solo stove comes in at a very good price.

How does the OEX Heiro Solo stove measure up? And is it as good as the JetBoil Flash 2.0?

OEX Heiro Solo Stove

Ultimate Outdoors

Go Outdoors

Millets

Blacks

On paper, the JetBoil Flash 2.0 stove is better and has more capacity. 
But at half the price, the OEX Heiro Solo Stove is much better on your pocket.

Years ago, Outwell made the Outwell Kitchen Storer. 

We've been using it ever since and often get questions about where to get one. Fortunately, Outwell now makes a newer version. It's called the Outwell Margate, and Outwell kindly sent us one to review. 😃

## The Old Outwell Kitchen Storer


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The Outwell Kitchen Storer has been an excellent bit of kit. 

It takes plates, cutlery, kitchen utensils, and much more. 

Just keep it filled, ready to take camping, lift it straight into your tent and use it.

So how does the new Outwell Margate compare?

## Introducing the Outwell Margate

The Outwell Marget comes folded. If you don't keep your camping items in it all year round, folding the Outwell Margate will help you store it away for when you do need it. You couldn't do that with the old Outwell Kitchen Storer.

<MediaImage 
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Like the former Outwell Kitchen Storer, this has pockets for useful items and a large zipped pocket at the back for longer items.

Inside there are three compartments. However, unlike the older model, these compartments are held in place by Velcro, so if you need one large and a smaller compartment, you have that option.

Watch our video below to see it in more detail.

<YouTube video="-E8wtzTdBrQ" />

As you can see from the photo below, the Outwell Margate can hold a lot.

<MediaImage 
 url='/uploads/Outwell Marget Packed for Camping.jpg'
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The Outwell Margate is a very handy bit of kit.

Outwell Margate Kitchen Storage Box

Outdoor Action

Camping International

Camping World

This is a recommended item for family camping. 

Yes, you can easily carry your camping kitchenware in something different (we used a big plastic storage box before) but we've found this so much better. 

It gets the Thumbs Up Award from us.

SunnCamp Folding Rectangular Camping Toaster

Cooking toast at the campsite is quick and easy, with no prep and minimal clearing up.

However, you might need a big camping stove with a grill. 

This is not the case.

### Cooking Over the Hob

You can make toast over a simple single-burner camping stove.

The minimalist approach might be to hold bread with tongs over the flame. However, this produces mixed results as the heat isn't distributed, so you'll end up with non-toasted bread with very toasted (burnt) areas.

No, you need a simple folding toaster that goes over the top of the camping stove's hob.

### The Best Folding Toaster

We've been camping for decades and have tried all sorts of contraptions for cooking toast.

By far, this is the best type of folding toaster that we've tried. We've had it for decades, too, and it still works great!

<MediaImage 
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Moreover, it folds flat, making storing and transporting easy.

<MediaImage 
 url='/uploads/2023-7-12/Folded.jpg'
 height='2025'
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A few companies make these and cost less than a tenner. 👍

### Using the Toaster

It works very simply but effectively. 

The mesh on the bottom sits on top of the hob. This mesh distributes the heat more evenly to avoid burnt areas.

The bread sits on the bars on the top side of the toaster.

It doesn't take very long to toast a slice of bread. 

You can see it in action in our video below at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUcLIDiv7hU&t=223s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">3:43</a>

<YouTube video="FUcLIDiv7hU" />

### Alternatives

As this cooks only one piece of bread at a time, you might be tempted by models that can cook multiple slices at a time.

We found these nearly useless.

You might find a round design in camping shops where you can prop four pieces of bread.

However, we found this cooked the bread unevenly, took longer, and the circular heat plate degraded and didn't last.

Our recommended folding toaster is more reliable, cooks toast better, and you'll get quicker results (even four slices).

You don't need a grill on your camping stove to cook toast.

Folding Hob Toaster

WOW Camping

The Outwell Hanmer Trivet is not a big item, and it's not a big price 😀

But it is a handy little gadget. 

<MediaImage 
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Easy to store. Unfold the legs, place hot pans or kettles on it, and protect your camp kitchen. Simple.

### Video

Watch at <a href="https://youtu.be/FUcLIDiv7hU?t=375" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">6:11 in our video</a>

<YouTube video="FUcLIDiv7hU" />

I love a gadget, and this is a handy little item for your camping gear!

Outwell Hanmer Trivet

Outwell Dunton Folding Disk Rack

Folded

Cultery Holder

Washable Base

Sponge Base

A foldable dish rack may not be the most exciting camping gadget ;-)

However, it can provide some much-needed practicality if you are washing up in your tent, caravan, or motor home, and you don't have anywhere to place the wet dishes. Drying each plate immediately after you've washed it soon becomes annoying.

We bought a folding dish rack like the one below for our caravan. It has a plastic drip tray.

It works, but it's bulky to store.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Folding-Dish-Rack.jpg" alt="A typical folding dish rack" width="412" height="429" caption="A typical folding dish rack" />

When camping, we've been using <Link href="/reviews/outwell-wash-base-review/">our Outwell Wash Base</Link>, which has a built-in drying rack. We've also used a slatted camping table in the past too.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2014/07/Washing-up-in-our-camp-kitchen.jpg" alt="Washing up at the campsite" width="590" height="392" caption="Washing up in our camp kitchen using the slatted camping table as a dish rack." />

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/08/Inside-the-Wash-Base-Camping.jpg" alt="Inside the Wash Base" width="2100" height="1396" caption="The Outwell Wash Base has a built-in draining rack." />

At the Outwell 2020 season launch, I saw this new Outwell Dunton Folding Dish Rack and being such an Outwell fan-boy, I just had to try it out. Fortunately, Outwell agreed and sent me one to review. Thanks, Outwell! :-D

## The Outwell Dunton Dish Rack

This dish rack differs from many others in that it has a sponge drip base rather than a plastic one, which certainly keeps things simple. When folded, the rack is protected by the sponge and is held together with elastic.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Folded-Camping-Caravan.jpg" alt="The dish rack folded on our camping table" width="2000" height="1500" caption="The Outwell Dunton dish rack folded up." />

Fortunately, you can easily remove the sponge base from the rack to let it dry. Otherwise, I can see this sponge getting rather smelly over time.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Sponge-Base-Camping-Caravan.jpg" alt="The wet sponge base drying on our camping table" width="2000" height="1500" caption="The sponge base absorbs drips. The rack can be removed from the base to let it dry." />

You can also wash this sponge base in a washing machine.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Washable-Base-Camping-Caravan.jpg" alt="The washing label on the sponge base" width="2000" height="1500" caption="You can also stick the sponge base in the washing machine." />

The rack itself is straightforward. One side is for plates and folds out. There is even a holder for cutlery.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Outwell-Dunton-Folding-Disk-Rack-Camping-Caravan.jpg" height="1500" width="2000" alt="The Outwell Dunton dish rack in use" />

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Cultery-Holder-Camping-Caravan.jpg" height="1500" width="2000" alt="Looking inside the cultery holder" />


### Using the Outwell Dunton Dishrack in our Caravan

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Washing-Up-in-the-Caravan.jpg" height="853" width="1281" alt="Washing Up in the Caravan" />

For us, the Outwell Dunton Dishrack is ideal for our caravan.

When tent camping, we use the site's wash-up facilities, if available. However, when we have a caravan, we wash up there rather than use the campsite's facilities.

As mentioned before, our current caravan dishrack is less than ideal, and the Dunton dishrack is more compact and handles the drips better.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Using-the-Dunton-Dish-Rack-in-Caravan.jpg" alt="Dunton dishrack in the caravan" width="1219" height="864" caption="Using the Dunton Dish Rack in our caravan" />

The compactness here, though, was a slight problem. For a sink full of items from a family meal, the dishrack can't hold it all at once.

Another issue I found was with the pop-up legs. They could do with being slightly larger to hold plates better, as it is too easy to knock a plate, and they all come tumbling down like dominoes.

The jury is still out on the sponge base. It worked well and better than the plastic drip tray of our old rack. With our good weather, it was easy to dry on the line outside. However, if it had been wet, I wonder how much it would dry properly, and how long before it would start to smell.

The base is currently at home for washing with the rest of the rack in the caravan. I hope we remember to bring it with us the next time we go! :-)

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Drying-the-dish-rack-cloth.jpg" alt="Drying the dish rack cloth" width="1159" height="837" caption="Drying the dish rack cloth at the campsite." />

### Verdict

The plastic of the dish rack feels strong.

The design is simple but looks reliable. And it doesn't take up much space when folded.

The small size is good, as there's not often a lot of space on camping tables, caravans, or motorhomes. But the small size can limit how much the rack holds, which may be a problem if you have a big family - but then a bigger family should have more people to help with the dishes ;-)

The arms holding the plates could be slightly longer as it is easy for plates to topple.

I'm also not convinced about the sponge base. Only a longer-term test will tell if it starts to smell or deteriorate. I'll update this article if I notice any problems.

### Alternatives

The RRP price for this is quite high. As more stock appears in camping shops, I expect it will be available cheaper.

There are some alternatives available. I've already mentioned <Link href="/reviews/outwell-wash-base-review/">the Outwell Wash Base</Link>. This can not only work as a drying rack, but it's also useful when the campsite has a washup facility.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/08/Outwell-Wash-Base-Camping.jpg" alt="The Outwell Wash Base on our camping table" width="2100" height="1396" caption="The Outwell Wash Base" />

There are also some other silicone alternatives, such as <a href="https://amzn.to/316cw8b" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this one from Amazon</a>. I've not tried it, so I can't vouch for it, but it has good reviews.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Alternative-Dish-Rack.jpg" alt="Silicone dish rack" width="1500" height="1285" caption="An alternative option I found on Amazon. Can't vouch for its quality, though." />

The Outwell Dunton is a foldable dish rack ideal for camping, caravans, camper vans, and motor homes. We give it a try.


Outwell Dunton Foldable Dish Rack Review

An ingenious little design to solve a much-overlooked problem.

Towsure

Outwell Collaps Water Carrier Navy Night

Outwell Collaps Water Carrier

Tap on the Water arier

Water Carrier Collapses

Collapsed Water Carrier

Water Carrier Capacity

For years we've used this large plastic water carrier.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Old-Water-Carrier-Camping.jpg" alt="A plastic water carier" width="1139" height="1080" caption="Our old water carrier." />

It holds 10 litres of water, is very rugged, and has been to many campsites.

There's one problem: it's quite bulky to take.

## Trying the new Outwell Collaps Water Carrier

Of course, a simple answer is to take a folding water carrier. There are plenty of those available. However, some can develop leaks where they are repeatedly folded. Some don't stand up too well. We like to keep a tap available on one of our camping tables, like in the picture above, so a water carrier that can be left standing is a must for us.

Enter the new (and improved) Outwell Collaps water carrier.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/03-Water-Carrier-Camping.jpg" alt="Another view of the Outwell Collaps water carrier" width="1920" height="1080" caption="The Outwell Collaps water carrier holds up to 12 litres of water." />

This holds more water than our current water carrier. It's also more comfortable to carry when full, with a rounded handle built into the lid.

And, of course, it collapses to take up much less space when transporting.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/02-Water-Carrier-Camping.jpg" alt="Showing height of collapsed water carrier" width="1920" height="1080" caption="The water carrier folds up so it is only as high as the base." />

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/Collapsed-Water-Carrier.jpeg" alt="Photo of the water carrier collapsed" width="728" height="410" caption="When collapsed it is only 8.5 cm high." />

## Tap Issues - Fixed

This is not Outwell's first version of the Collaps water carrier. Previous versions of this model had issues with the tap that could break.

The tap still sticks out, so you must be careful when transporting the water carrier. However, it is now a new and more rugged design. So far, we've not experienced any problems with it. However, it's not been through lots of camping trips yet. If we find problems later, we'll update this article.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2020/06/01-Water-Carrier-Camping.jpg" alt="Close-up picture of the tap" width="1920" height="1080" caption="The tap on this works really easily." />

## Verdict

There are other collapsing water carriers around. However, the material on this one from Outwell feels thick and rugged, and I'm sure it will last the test of time.
From what we've seen, we're giving it the Thumbs Up.

The Outwell Collaps Water Carrier holds 12 litres of water yet folds down to just 8.5 cm high so it won&#8217;t take up lots of space in your car boot.


Outwell's Collapsible Water Carrier

Leisure Outlet

Attwoolls

Collaps Colander

A colander is not the most exciting bit of camping kit; I'll give you that.
However, for campsite cooking, we've found this bit of kit from Outwell invaluable. We've been using this for years!
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2014/04/Collaps-Colander.jpg" alt="The Outwell colander and bowl collapsed together" width="590" height="332" caption="The Outwell colander and bowl collapsed together. This saves so much space when travelling to the campsite for such large-sized family cooking items." />
As the name suggests, it's a colander, and it's collapsible to make it easy to get to the campsite.
Ours also came with a large collapsible bowl, and a lid, so it all packs down into a great package that's perfect for cooking meals for your family at the campsite.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2014/04/Using-the-collapsable-colander.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="332" caption="We're using the collapsible colander to drain spaghetti at the campsite." />
And it's not just for pasta. Check out making these <Link href="/camping/camping-tips/recipes/campfire-potato-cakes/">Campfire Potato Cakes</Link> or <Link href="/camping/camping-tips/recipes/how-to-cook-campfire-potato-wedges/">Potato Wedges</Link>.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/10/Mash-the-potatoes-Camping-Cooking-Food.jpg" alt="Collaps bowl with the mashed potatoes in" width="1920" height="1080" caption="Mashing the potatoes" />
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2015/07/Preparing-the-Potato-Wedges.jpg" alt="Preparing the Potato Wedges" width="960" height="550" caption="Preparing the potato wedges in our Outwell Collaps colander" />
It gets the Thumbs Up from us.

The Outwell Collaps Colander is something we've used for years. It's a great bit of kit for family cooking at the campsite.


The Outwell Collaps Colander - a handy bit of kit for campsite cooking

A handy bit of kit for family cooking at the campsite.

Wayfayrer Vegetable Curry & Rice 300g Ready to Eat, Hot or Cold, Meal Pouch Recommended for Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expeditions, Camping, Hiking, Fishing and Outdoor Adventures

Wayfayrer trail foods are made by Vango.

They are ready-to-eat pre-cooked meals that are ideal for camping, hiking, or other outdoor activities.

Wayfayrer

Trying Wayfarer Meal

We've tried a few different '*meal-in-a-bag*' makes over the years, but surprisingly, not tried the popular Vango Wayfayrer meals yet.

Fortunately, Vango sent us a few over to try for our recent backpacking adventure, so here's what we thought of them.

## Wayfayrer Meal Review

Vango makes a range of Wayfayrer food covering Breakfast, Main Meals, and Desserts. <a href="https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/14-wayfayrer" rel="noopener noreferrer">You can click here to see the full range on the Vango website.</a>
We tried a Vegetable Chilli and a Chocolate Steam Pudding.

### Cooking the Meals

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2019/07/Cooking-the-Wayfayrer-Backpacking-Camping.jpg" alt="Cooking the Wayfayrer Food" width="2000" height="1500" caption="Heating the Wayfayrer meals on the camping stove." />

The instructions say to simply leave in a pan of boiling water for 7-8 minutes. It's that simple.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2019/07/Instructions-for-Wayfayrer-Meal-Backpacking-Camping.jpg" alt="Wayfayrer Instructions" width="1920" height="1080" caption="Instructions for Wayfayrer Meal" />
We had backpacked to the campsite, and so we hadn't brought a lot of cooking gear with us. In theory, this shouldn't be a problem, as using the Wayfayrer food means you don't need to do much cooking. However, the pouches are quite large for a small pot you might take backpacking, so make sure you have a pot big enough.
Alternatively, you can empty the contents into the pan, and heat it directly.
BTW, if you are backpacking, each pouch weighs about 300g

### Eating the Wayfayrer Food

As their slogan says *'Real Food'*, but with a shelf-life of 3 years, and it sealed in a bag, you might think it isn't going to taste that real.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2019/07/Inside-the-Chocolate-Pudding-Packet-Backpacking-Camping.jpg" alt="Wayfayrer Chocloate Pudding" width="1920" height="1080" caption="Inside the Chocolate Pudding Packet" />
Our lad, when first looking into the cooked Chocolate Pudding, said it looked like cat food! Not the best endorsement but after taking his first bite, it was soon devoured.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2019/07/07-Backpacking-Camping.jpg" alt="Eating the Wayfayrer Chocolate Pudding" width="2000" height="1500" caption="Eating the Wayfayrer Chocolate Pudding" />
Yes, it did taste like 'real food'. Perhaps not quite as good as a fresh meal, but not bad at all considering all you had to do was re-heat a bag in water.
You can, of course, save on bringing plates and just eat out of the packet. A long-handled spoon is ideal if you do this. However, I preferred to empty mine into my mess tin and it out of that.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2019/07/Use-a-long-handled-sppon.jpg" alt="Use a long handled sppon" width="2000" height="1500" caption="If you are eating out of the packet, it's best to use a long-handled spoon. Otherwise, you can get quite messy, especially with chocolate pudding!" />
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2019/07/The-Wayfayrer-Vegetable-Chilli-Backpacking-Camping.jpg" alt="The Wayfayrer Vegetable Chilli" width="1920" height="1080" caption="The Wayfayrer Vegetable Chilli" />

## Verdict

We were pleased with the Wayfayrer meals. The ones we tried were good.

You pay for the effort already put into the meals, so if you buy many of these, the price can soon increase. They typically cost £4.50 to £5, however you can get them cheaper <Link href="/?post_type=product&amp;p=81771&amp;preview=true#section-datafeedr_tab">if you shop around</Link>. Of course, you are paying for the convenience of having a good meal without needing to do any cooking. And if you eat out the packet, with very little washing up too! :-)

The Wayfayrer meals are also approved by the Scouts Association and Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, so if your child is off on a camp or expedition for a few days, these are something simple they can cook and still get some meals. Some retailers sell them in bundles for D of E expeditions, which can save you some money (<Link href="/?post_type=product&amp;p=81771&amp;preview=true#section-datafeedr_tab">see our price search below</Link>).


For example, on the Wayfayrer vegetable chilli, the nutritional information published (per 100g) says Energy: 510kj/122kcal. Protein: 9.0g. Carbohydrate: 9.9g. Fat: 3.9g.  So, a well-balanced meal. The ingredients list didn't read like a chemistry experiment either, so that's good too.

We're happy to give these the Thumbs Up Award.

The Wayfayrer meals are pre-cooked in a bag that you can reheat by boiling in the bag.


Wayfayrer 'Ready' Meals

OutdoorGear

Taunton Leisure

Winfield Outdoors

Charlies Stores

Cotswold Outdoor

Browse our collection of reviews of outdoor gear from the brand <a href="https://robens.de" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robens</a>.

Robens

Robens Telescopic Tripod

Robens Tripod Packed

Robens Tripod Chain

Hanging a pot from the tripod

Campfire tripods can sometimes be bulky items to take to the campsite. This one from Robens isn't.
For years, I have been using <Link href="/go/landmann-tripod-charcoal-barbecue/">the Landmann tripod</Link>, but this Telescopic Tripod from Robens has taken the top spot for my favourite campfire tripod.

## Easy to Transport

As the name suggests, this is a telescopic tripod... no, not a tripod for telescopes... but a campfire tripod with telescopic legs, which means it can pack down to just 53.5 x 6.5 cm and weighs less than a kilo.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/08/Robens-Tripod-Packed-_.jpg" alt="Robens telescopic tripod folded" width="2000" height="1500" caption="This campfire tripod packs down really small. It even comes with its own carry case." />

## Using the Tripod

To set-up the tripod, you simply pull the legs out and lock them into place. They have a button release mechanism to collapse them so that they can take quite a bit of weight (up to 15kg). If you extend the legs to their full length, then the maximum height of the tripod is 120 cm.
At the ends of the legs under some red caps are ground spikes so that you can firmly place the tripod into the ground.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2019/02/Hanging-a-pot-from-the-tripod.jpg" alt="The tripod with a campfire pot hanging from it" width="1230" height="692" caption="The Robens telescopic tripod with the Robens campfire pot (not included)" />
This is a sturdy bit of kit, with hard anodised alloy legs.

## The Chain

Of course, a tripod is no use without a sturdy chain.
This is the one area of the tripod that I mark it down on.
The chain is very sturdy. No problems there. However, securing it can be a bit fiddly.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/08/Robens-Tripod-Chain-Cooking-e1549187466967.jpg" alt="The Robens Telescopic Tripod Chain up close" width="885" height="1490" caption="Be careful securing the tripod's chain." />
At one end of the chain is your put hook. Nothing wrong there.
At the other end of the chain is a 'pin'. You need to make sure you thread this through the chain and make sure it is secure before putting any weight on it, such as a pan full of very hot liquid and food!
Compared to the other tripod we've been using, a better mechanism to secure would have been good.
However, as long as you are careful of this point, it works OK, and we've not had any accidents.

The Robens Telescopic Tripod is an excellent addition to your camping toolkit, especially if you like cooking over a campfire!


Robens Telescopic Tripod Review

Primus | Stainless Steel Campfire Cookset - Small | Nesting Pots & Pan for Camping and Outdoor Cooking

Primus

Primus Campfire Cookset

Our first impressions of the Primus Campfire Cookset is that the whole set looks very smart. From their highly polished stainless steel, down to the little leather Primus tags on the pot lids.

<YouTube video={"8DiIAxmkt5E"} />

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/07/Stainless-Steel-Camping.jpg" alt="The polished stainless steel of the campfire cookset" width="2100" height="1182" caption="The stainless steel pots and pans look smart." />
But does the cookset only have good looks? How practical are they? We take a closer look.

## What you get with the Primus Campfire Cookset

The cookset comes with its canvas bag, which makes it easy to bundle everything together and keep with your camping gear.
Inside the canvas bag, you'll find a frying pan, and two pots.
They fit inside one another, and the handles fold, so when packed away in the bag, the cookset doesn't take up much space.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/07/Pan-Handle-Camping.jpg" alt="Cookset frying pan handle" width="1920" height="1080" caption="The frying pan handle folds for storage and locks into place before use" />
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/07/Smaller-Pot-Camping.jpg" alt="The smaller pot in the Primus Campfire Cookset" width="1920" height="1080" caption="The smaller pot also has folding handles." />
The handle on the larger pot has a notch in for hanging over a campfire.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/07/Big-Pot-Camping.jpg" alt="Primus Pot on tripod over campfire" width="2100" height="1182" caption="The big pot in the set has a notch in the handle for hanging over the campfire." />

## Other Features

A few other features we like about this set of pots and pans are the lids.
You get two lids; one for each of the two pots in the set.
Each lid has a little leather tag on the handle, which gives you something to pull to lift the lid off without burning your fingers.
The lids also lock into place. Locking lids are not only a useful safety feature but if you do have the pot sitting in the embers of the campfire, you don't want the lid accidentally falling off and covering your meal in ash.
The lids also have small holes, which not only help prevent liquids boiling over but with the lid locked into place, provide for a way to drain food such as pasta.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/07/Holes-Camping.jpg" alt="Holes in the lid of the pan" width="2100" height="1182" caption="Holes in the lids are useful for draining. The leather tag on the handle helps with removing the lid when it's hot." />

## How Practical is that Stainless Steel

Well, shiny things don't always stay shiny for long.
We've been using this cookset throughout the summer, both on <Link href="/camping/primus-tupike-stove-review/">the gas camping stove</Link>, and also with the large pot over the campfire.
Of course, when cooking over the campfire, pots will get covered in soot. Fortunately, this simply washed off the polished stainless steel. So despite a lot of regular use, they still look as good as new :-)

## Verdict

The Primus Campfire Cookset is, as you would expect for something like this, a bit more expensive than a cheap set of pots and pans. However, from our experience of them, they are a good quality product, and if you shop around, you can find some good deals for them.
They get the thumbs-up from us.

The Primus Campfire Cookset looks very smart, but how practical and useful is this set of pots and pans? We take a closer look.

The Primus Campfire Cookset

We really like the Primus Campfire Cookset. It get's the thumbs up form us.

Robens Bighorn 3 Legged Pan

Robens Bighorn Review

Cooking on the Bighorn

Food Gone

We love a good campfire. To us, it's all part of the camping experience.
But what makes the campfire extra special, is being able to cook over it.
Now, if you're not used to campfire cooking, expect a bit of a trial and error to get it right. However, <a href="http://www.robens.de/en/Products/accessories/campfire-accessories/bighorn-3-legged-pan" rel="noopener">with something like the Robens Bighorn</a>, you can't go far wrong, and your family will wonder where your campfire culinary genius came from! :-)

<YouTube video={"IpRznZVCwP8"} />

## The Robens Bighorn

The Bighorn is a big cast iron pan that you place over the top of your campfire.
It sits on 3 legs (supplied with the pan), above the hot coals and flames of your campfire.
Anything you can fry or griddle can be cooked on the Robens Bighorn.
It is a large pan (44cm across), and ideally, you would place it over a campfire that's set on the ground. But since not many campsites allow this, you'll want to use it over a fire pit that's big enough.
Fortunately, our <Link href="/camping/outwell-cazal-fire-pit-review/">Outwell Cazel firepit</Link> was the perfect size.

## Before you use the Robens Bighorn - "Seasoning"!

No, not seasoning for your food, but seasoning for the Bighorn.
"Seasoning", in this case, is not herbs and spices, but creating a natural waterproof non-stick coating for your pan.
This is something you have to do on most cast-iron campfire cookware. It's not a complicated process, and you can do it over your campfire. Just allow a bit of time before you start cooking the first time you use your Robens Bighorn.

### Step 1 - clean your new Robens Bighorn with mild soapy water

The first time you use your Robens Bighorn, give it a wash to clean off any dust from the factory.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/04/First-Clean-Camping.jpg" alt="Cleaning the Robens Bighorn" width="2100" height="1182" caption="The first time you get it out to use, wash with mild soapy water." />

### Step 2 - Coat with Vegetable Oil

Once your Bighorn pan is dry, give it a coating of vegetable oil. Make sure you cover the top, bottom, and the sides of the pan with the oil.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/04/Apply-Oil-Camping.jpg" alt="Applying a coat of oil to the Robens Bighorn" width="1635" height="857" caption="Apply a coat of vegetable oil on the top, bottom, and sides." />

### Step 3 - Heat over the Campfire, then Re-apply more Oil

Next, place the pan over the campfire, and let the oil cook in.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/04/Reapply-Oil-Camping.jpg" alt="Reapply oil to season the pan" width="1920" height="1080" caption="Reapply oil after it has cooked in" />
After about 20 minutes, the oil should have baked in. You then need to apply another coat of vegetable oil.
Always apply the oil to a towel or kitchen paper, and then apply to the pan. Avoid pouring cold items directly onto the pan.
To handle the pan, I recommend using a pair of Hot Gloves (<a href="https://amzn.to/2HuqqEs" rel="noopener">click here to see on Amazon</a>). These are great items to have in your campfire cooking kit.
You'll need to repeate the process of applying vegetable oil and letting it back in several times to the cooking surface of the pan.
As the fire gets hot, it will probably be less than 20 minutes between each coat of oil, and you'll soon have baked in enough 'seasoning' to create a natural non-stick waterproof surface to your pan.

## Cooking on the Robens Bighorn

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/04/Cooking-on-the-Bighorn-Camping.jpg" alt="Cooking on the Robens Bighorn" width="2100" height="1182" caption="Cooking on the Bighorn" />
Anything you can fry or griddle can be cooked on the Bighorn. This means you can cook up quite a feast over your campfire, making you an instant campfire chef! :-)
Make sure you turn food regularly to avoid it sticking - remember the heat from the fire is hotter in some places than others. If you need to add some more oil to the pan, then do so, a little at a time. This will help avoid item's sticking and will further build up the waterproof protection to the cast iron.
We really like griddled tomatoes, but you do have to be careful that the acid from the tomato's juice doesn't ruin your non-stick surface, especially if they start to burn.
Obviously, watch your kids with this. The cast iron pan is one big hot plate!
Fortunately for us, we've trained our kids to be respectful of the fire from an early age. They love getting involved with campfire cooking.

## Cleaning Up

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/04/Food-Gone-Camping.jpg" alt="Cleaning up the Bighorn Pan" width="2100" height="1400" caption="After the food has gone, you should be able to wipe the Robens Bighorn clean" />
If you have built-up enough layers of seasoning beforehand, then cleaning the Robens Bighorn should be quite easy.
Rubbing the surface with some kitchen paper towels should get a lot of the food off it, especially if you leave it to cook over the fire a bit longer, which can help break down stubborn bits of food to ash.
To finish off, apply some vegetable oil to a kitchen paper towel, rub that over the pan, and let that bake in. This will both help clean it, but also re-season it ready for next time.
Let the new coat of oil cook-in before removing the pan from the fire. Then let the pan cool down naturally.
Never take the hot pan and wash it with soapy water. The hot pan could crack when cold water is added to it. Even when cold, too much soapy water could remove the seasoning from your pan and cause it to rust.
With regular seasoning, the Robens Bighorn will last you for many years. Just after one use, we already have a nice shiny non-stick surface, ready for our next family cookout ;-)
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2018/04/Re-season-Camping.jpg" alt="The non-stick Robens Bighorn" width="2100" height="1182" caption="After cleaning off the food, reapply another coat of oil to top up the seasoning." />

We love cooking over the campfire, and the Robens Bighorn is our new favourite campfire cooking must-have item.

Robens Bighorn

A great option for family campfire cooking. You won't need to be a campfire guru to enjoy a great cookout with the Robens Bighorn.

Carry to Wash Up

Inside the Wash Base

Outwell Wash Base

Over the years, we've used a few things to take our dirty plates, pots, and pans to the campsite's washing-up facilities.

For many years, we just used a plastic washing-up bowl. It is cheap, simple, and does the job well.

The only problem is that the solid bowls can be awkward to pack into your car with the rest of the camping gear.

The next step was to use Outwell's Collaps sink. This does the same job as the plastic washing-up bowl, but now it is easier to pack. We also found that using it when collapsed was useful, as it would make a great flat surface.

This year Outwell introduced the Collaps Wash Base, which takes the concept slightly further.

## What is the Outwell Wash Base?

It looks like a shopping basket from a distance, but there's more to it than that.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/08/Outwell-Wash-Base-Camping.jpg" height="1396" width="2100" alt="Outwell Wash Base" />

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/08/Inside-the-Wash-Base-Camping.jpg" height="1396" width="2100" alt="Inside the Wash Base" />

Inside you'll find grooves for stacking plates and a plug and strainer, meaning you can use it both as a sink and as a draining board.

The handles are great for carrying dirty pots and pans to the campsite's wash-up. We then wash and dry the plates, stacking them in the Wash Base, ready for carrying back to our tent or caravan.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2016/08/Draining-at-Wash-Up-Camping.jpg" height="1500" width="2000" alt="Draining at Wash Up" />


## Verdict

Yes, a simple plastic washing-up bowl will do the job. However, we think this is a really neat design and having used it now for months of camping; we know it's up to the job.

Oh, and being collapsible, it's easy to transport too :-D
It gets the thumbs up from us.

We've been giving the Outwell Wash Base a good test.


The Outwell Wash Base is a very useful kit for family camping.

Light My Fire Lunch box with cutlery - LunchKit 6 pcs - BPA Free and biobased plastic camping plate set for 1 - Picnic kit made in Sweden

Light My Fire

Light My Fire Meal Kit

Light My Fire is the company behind the famous Spork. A spoon that's also a fork (with a little bit of a cutting edge too).
We now have a collection of Sporks in my backpack for picnics and camping.
With one eye on her Duke of Edinburgh award, our daughter bought this Meal Kit from Light My Fire. And yes, it does contain a Spork ;-)

## Light My Fire Meal Kit Review

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2014/06/Light-My-Fire-Meal-Kit-all-packed-away.jpg" alt="Light My Fire Meal Kit all packed away" width="6016" height="4000" caption="Light My Fire Meal Kit all packed away" />
The meal kit comes in this neat triangular shaped box with a large band around the box, so your meal contents doesn't empty into your backpack.
This box conceals the 'meal kit'.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2014/06/Light-My-Fire-Meal-Kit-Contents.jpg" alt="Light My Fire Meal Kit Contents" width="6016" height="4000" caption="Light My Fire Meal Kit Contents" />
There's quite a lot packed inside this little triangular box:

<ul>
<li>The lid is designed to be used as a plate, and the body of 'the box' can be used as a bowl.</li>
<li>There are two SnapBoxes. One is 170 ml and the other 320 ml.</li>
<li>A 'pack-up-cup' .</li>
<li>A strainer/cutting board.</li>
<li>And of course, a Spork.</li>
</ul>

You can see this set packs a lot into a little case, and ideal for backpacking or picnics.
The two SnapBoxes seal tight and are ideal for storing things you don't want to leak. It should be noted that isn't the case with the main box, but it's still good if you're going to store some things, but make sure it's not anything that could leak.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2014/06/The-cups-flexible-bottom-folds-into-the-top-of-the-cup.jpg" alt="The cup's flexible bottom folds into the top of the cup" width="6016" height="4000" caption="The cup's flexible bottom folds into the top of the cup" />
The cup is quite a neat design, with the bottom of the cup folding into the top.
The only downsides we can see with the cup design is that it's not as stable as a mug when full, so be careful not to knock it over. The hinge on the lid is also showing signs of wear already.
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2014/06/Using-the-Light-My-Fire-Meal-Kit.jpg" alt="Using the Light My Fire Meal Kit" width="6016" height="4000" caption="Using the Light My Fire Meal Kit" />

## Sandwiches or a Meal?

The Meal Kit is ideal for packing away some sandwiches in the big box with lots of other nibbles in the smaller SnapBoxes.
We even found taking a home-made pasta salad was fine in the big box.
Another excellent use for this meal kit is when you take a small stove or <Link title="Old School: How to cook with a Trangia" href="/camping/camping-tips/how-to-cook-with-a-trangia/">trangia</Link>. The various boxes can hold items to cook, and even something to make a brew too.
All in all, this is a great little meal kit for an individual heading off outdoors.

## Multiple colours

If you're interested in getting one of these Light My Fire Meal Kits, there are many different colours you can choose. Everyone can get their favourite colour ;-)
Note, the Light My Fire Meal Kit we bought is version 2.0. The original meal kit is slightly different.

The Light My Fire Meal Kit is a well designed solution for backpacking or picnics. Our daughter bought one for her Duke of Edinburgh Award, so we took it for a test drive to see how good it is when used for real.

The Organised Picnic with the Light My Fire Meal Kit

Zyliss E990001 Hot Mug Cafetiere, Plastic/Silicone, Grey, Coffee Travel Mug/Insulated Coffee Mug/Filter for Ground Coffee/Mug with Lid/Camping Mug, Dishwasher Safe

Coffee Mug Cafetière

***This ****Coffee Mug Cafetière is what you need if you like fresh coffee when camping****.***


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/06/Coffee-Mug-Cafetiere.jpeg" alt="The Coffee Mug Cafetière" width="3008" height="2000" caption="The insulated Coffee Mug Cafetière is ideal for taking camping" />

Like 50% of people, a good cup of coffee is what I need the first thing in the morning (my wife is with the other 50%, and needs a cup of tea).



I am usually the first up in the morning on camp, and before the I start the campfire (yes, a breakfast campfire is excellent too), I get the kettle on.



We don't mind campsites with little in the way of facilities, but we do like our respective cuppa first thing in the morning.



We have a small gas stove and whistling kettle (<Link title="A Guide to Gas Camping Stoves" href="/camping/portable-gas-camping-stoves/">see here</Link>) which is mainly for this purpose (we generally only use this stove for heating water).



Making a cup of tea is easy enough.



Unfortunately, I am used to real ground coffee, and instant coffee just isn't the same anymore.



The solution: take a small Cafetière along camping. However, taking more stuff, especially something glass, is not a great solution.


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/06/Pulling-out-the-Cafetiere.jpeg" alt="The filter" width="3008" height="2000" caption="Here's the filter. You plunge it down turning the Cafetière into your insulated coffee mug." />

Then I bought this mug with a built-in Cafetière.



Such a simple idea that works really well.



Just pull out the mesh, place the ground coffee in the bottom of the mug, add warm water and brew, then plunge the mesh down.



This cuts down on what needs packing, and there's less washing up ;-)



The mug appears to be insulated too.



Now if only it had a lid and was bigger!


This Coffee Mug Cafetiere proved just the solution to having real coffee when camping. No need for separate cafetiere, and no need for instant coffee!




Landmann Tripod Charcoal Barbecue

Landmann

Landmann BBQ tripod grill

## Landmann Tripod Review


We've been using our Landmann tripod this past year and have been very impressed.


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2012/11/image1.jpg" alt="Landmann BBQ tripod grill" width="2310" height="1536" caption="Our Landmann BBQ Tripod Grill fresh out if its box." />

The Landmann BBQ Tripod grill has been an affordable and versatile piece of kit.



The tripod comes with three legs that are in three separate pieces that slot together.  You then bolt in a bracing piece to give the frame tent, which is the only fiddly bit. You will have to unfasten these bolts when packing the tripod away.



The grill can be lowered and raised by pulling on a chain.  This gives a real medieval feel to cooking.   It gives you an option of raising food away from heat, or lowering food over a fire.



The pan has legs that screw on.  This is not something we take apart for transport, and so a bit bulky (fortunately we have a trailer), but we have also left it at home on occasions and just used the tripod and grill over a campfire.



Although in BBQ mode you put coals in the pan, it also works well as a small fire pit for campsites that require fires off the ground.



Now, this isn't a heavy duty cast iron tripod (which you would pay a lot more for), <del>and I wouldn't hang my Dutch Oven from the chain</del>. However, I have used the Dutch Oven plenty of times in the pan with coals, which provides a good stable base.



*Update*: Correction. I have hung my heavy duty 8L Dutch Oven from the Landmann Tripod over the fire. It was fine! See the picture below.


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/09/campfire-cooking-nipstone-camping.jpg" alt="Family campfire cooking at Nipstone Camping, with Landmann Tripod and Dutch Oven" width="429" height="300" caption="Family campfire cooking at Nipstone Camping, with Landmann Tripod and Dutch Oven" />

For the price, this makes a handy bit of kit for cooking over a fire, and my little lad loves raising and lowering the food by pulling on the chain.


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2012/11/image2.jpg" alt="Using it as a firepit" width="1600" height="1200" caption="Using the Landmann tripod as a fire pit with grill keeping things warm." />
<MediaImage url="/uploads/2012/11/image3.jpg" alt="Breakfast cooking on the tripod grill" width="1600" height="1200" caption="Cooking breakfast using the tripod." />


This great little package gives you a fire pit/BBQ, tripod, and Grill. Perfect for camping and campfire cooking.




Landmann Tripod Charcoal Barbecue & Fire Grill Review

Outwell Cazal Fire Pit review

It can be hard to find a good fire pit that doesn't take up a lot of space to transport.

You can often put things inside the fire bowl when transporting (as long as everything is wrapped up not to get mucky), but then the legs get in the way.

Yes, you can unscrew and reattach the legs on most fire bowls, but that takes time...and have you ever tried to find a screw you dropped in the long grass at a campsite?

The Cazal fire pit from Outwell solves that problem with its legs that fold away.

## Outwell Cazal Fire Pit Assembly

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2015/06/Assembling-the-Cazal-Fire-Pirt.jpg" height="550" width="960" alt="Assembling the Cazal Fire Pit" />

When you first open the box of the Cazal Fire Pit, some assembly is required. You have to screw the legs onto the fire pit's body.

It's best to do this at home first to avoid losing the screws in the grass at the campsite.

Once this is done, you don't need to do any assembly when putting it up or packing it away at the campsite.

The legs fold flush against the body.

You pull a ring and set the legs in the standing position to put them up.

## Using the Cazal Fire Pit as a BBQ

The fire bowl is a good size that will enable you to have a small campfire off the ground.

You can also use the Outwell Cazal Fire Bit as a BBQ, so it's still useful on campsites that allow BBQs but not campfires.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2015/06/Using-the-Outwell-Cazal-fire-bit-as-a-BBQ.jpg" height="550" width="960" alt="Using the Outwell Cazal fire bit as a BBQ" />

It has a small grill inside the fire bowl where you place your coals (or wood if having a campfire).

There's a large grill for cooking on.

This grill has a couple of handles to make it easy to lift out. A thoughtful design touch.

## Protection from flying sparks

The Outwell Cazal fire pit comes with a guard as well. This helps protect your tent from getting small holes from campfire sparks that may fly up into the air if there's a breeze.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2015/06/Hands-off-my-sausages.jpg" height="550" width="960" alt="Hands off my sausages" />

It's also useful for keeping small fingers away from the hot coals or pinching the cooking food!


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2015/06/GOWTK-Thumbs-Up-Award.png" height="141" width="270" alt="GOWTK Thumbs Up Award" />

The Outwell Cazal Fire Pit has proved a good bit of kit. Apart from the legs being a little short, we've had no issues with it on camping trips.

It gets the thumbs up from us as another good bit of kit for family camping.


<InfoMessage title='**Update - after years of use**'>

After years of use, I'm pleased to report that the Outwell Cazal Fire Pit still works despite much use. This has proved to be a great bit of kit.

Check out our adaption of the Cazal Fire Pit with foil to turn it into <Link href="/camping/camping-tips/recipes/diy-pizza-oven/">a DIY Pizza Oven</Link>.

<MediaImage url="/uploads/2015/06/Making-a-DIY-Pizza-oven-when-camping.jpg" alt="Cazal Fire Pit for cooking pizza at the campsite" width="960" height="550" caption=" Making a DIY Pizza oven when camping using the Outwell Cazal Fire Pit." />

</InfoMessage>

Want a fire pit you can easily transport to the campsite? Want also to use it as a BBQ? The Outwell Cazal Fire Pit could be the answer.


Outwell Cazal Fire Pit

Lifeventure

Lifeventure Ellipse D of E plates

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is not all about hiking and camping, however that is part of it.
With so much outdoor gear available, it's hard to know what to get if you're not familiar with it. This is why the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme approve certain items as D of E Recommended.

## Lifeventure Ellipse Cookware Review

The Ellipse Range comprises of a plate, a blow, a mug, and a knife/fork/spoon set, so that your son or daughter has everything they need at meal times.
These aren't pop-up or foldable. There is some flex in these plastic bowls, but what's import is that they're simple and they're rugged. Just what's needed to survive being repeatedly shoved into backpacks.
The knife, fork, and spoon fit together, which helps prevent them getting lost in your bag.
They're also one of the cheapest items you will need to get for the D of E - which is just as well as I'm sure someone will leave them behind at some point.
They come in three colours: purple, grey, green, and blue.
It's recommended to stick to one colour when buying to make it easier to spot your items when in a group.
Here's a video from Lifeventure. More details on the Ellipse Cookware can be found on the <a title="Lifeventure Website" href="https://www.lifeventure.co.uk/product/cookware/ellipse-cookware" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lifeventure website</a>.
<YouTube video={"rSXAU2Kd6R0"} />
<hr/>

## Not just for D of E

We've been using this plate/blow/cup/cutlery set for camping and they've proved themselves quite rugged and still look new, despite being used extensively.
They've not twisted or cracked, and appear to be up to the job.
The only area for slight improvement would be to see the set stack inside one another to save a bit more space when packing away.
Other than that, the Ellipse Cookware gets a thumbs up from us.

We review the Lifeventure Ellipse Cookware, which is recommended for those taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Lifeventure Ellipse Cookware

Outwell Kitchen Storer

All the kitchen gear goes to the campsite in the Outwell Kitchen Storer

Peg box and laundry bag, which we also have in the Outwell Kitchen Storer

***The Outwell Kitchen Storer keeps all your bits organised on camp and makes transporting them there and back easy. We've found that the Outwell Kitchen Storer has been a big help in getting organised and saving time. ***


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/03/Kitchen-storage-box-1024x576.jpg" alt="Kitchen storage box" width="840" height="473" caption="Our old camping kitchen storage box." />

We used to keep all our camp kitchen equipment, pots, plates, etc., in one larger plastic box with a folding lid.

Everything is together.  The box lifts in and out of the trailer to transport to the campsite.  It sits in the tent and is easy to get stuff out to a camp kitchen set up under our <Link title="The Tarp and Your Tent – Keeping Dry When Others are Wet" href="/camping/camping-tips/the-tarp-tent/">tarp shelter</Link>. Simple. Why would you want anything more?



Well, a big box of bits can get disorganised.



A family getting stuff out and putting it back in doesn't always make everything fit neatly for even the lid to close.  Time to get better organised - and that's exactly what the Outwell Kitchen Storer is all about.



<YouTube video={"PhBfbU2zfx4"} />


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/03/Peg-box-and-laundry-bag.jpg" alt="Peg box and laundry bag, which we also have in the Outwell Kitchen Storer" width="590" height="332" caption="A pegbox and laundry bag, which we also have in the Outwell Kitchen Storer" />

This handy bag is full of pockets to organise those little items that can get lost at the bottom of a box.  It also has dividers making it easier to organise your plates.


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/03/outwell-kitchen-store-easy-transport-300x300.jpg" alt="The Outwell Kitchen Storer is easy to transport" width="300" height="300" caption="The Outwell Kitchen Storer is easy to transport." />

Inside one of the compartments is a removable waterproof compartment, which is ideal for keeping washing up items and taking things to the campsite's washing up facilities...if there is some.


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/03/All-the-kitchen-gear-goes-to-the-campsite-in-the-Outwell-Kitchen-Storer.jpg" alt="All the kitchen gear goes to the campsite in the Outwell Kitchen Storer" width="590" height="332" caption="All the kitchen gear goes to the campsite in the Outwell Kitchen Storer" />

A great addition to the Outwell Kitchen Storer is the Collaps Washing Up Bowl.



We keep ours folded up on the lid when transporting.


<MediaImage url="/uploads/2013/03/The-Outwell-Collaps-Washing-Bowl-is-a-great-addition.jpg" alt="The Outwell Collaps Washing Bowl is a great addition" width="590" height="332" caption="The Outwell Collaps Washing Bowl is a great addition" />

The Outwell Kitchen Storer comes with reinforced sides to help protect the contents. With a couple of big handles to make transporting easier - you could even take it with you to the campsite's washing up facilities so that all your equipment goes away safely and not dropped onto a muddy campsite field on the way back to your tent.



We pop ours in the back of the trailer and keep it ready to go camping. If we need to restock or give items a thorough clean when at home, it's easy to carry into our main kitchen.



The Outwell Kitchen Storer is just a bag, and a simple box is cheaper. However, we've found it's another handy item from Outwell which means we can spend more time camping and enjoying things than rummaging around in different boxes.


<hr/>

*Disclaimer*: Many thanks to Outwell for providing a Kitchen Storer to put it to real-world family test and write up this review. All opinions are our own.


<hr/>

## Update


Unfortunately, the ***Outwell Kitchen Storer has been discontinued***. This is a real shame, as many campers have found this a great piece of kit.



There is <a href="http://amzn.to/2qQaOWo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">something available from another brand</a> that looks similar, but I can't vouch for the quality as we've not reviewed it.



<InfoMessage title="Update - 2020.06.18">


## It's Back!


Just seen this is <a href="https://www.outwell.com/en-gb/ecommerce/camping-furniture/margate-kitchen-storage-box" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">back on the Outwell website</a>! :-)


</InfoMessage>


The Outwell Kitchen Storer is a really handy way to keep your camp kitchen bits together and transport them to and from the campsite. It's helped us.




Cooking Gear Reviews

Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner Stove: Good, but missing a few ingredients

A good price for a rapid-boil stove system.

Outwell Margate: Your camp kitchen packed and ready to go

The best camping stove toaster

A handy little gadget for your camp kitchen

Outwell Dunton Dishrack Review

Outwell's Collapsible Water Carrier

The Outwell Collaps Colander - a handy bit of kit for campsite cooking

Wayfayrer 'Ready' Meals for camping or hiking

Robens Telescopic Tripod Review

The Primus Campfire Cookset

Using the Robens Bighorn for a Family Campfire Cookout

Outwell Wash Base Review

The Organised Picnic with the Light My Fire Meal Kit

Fresh Coffee When Camping with this Coffee Mug Cafetière

Landmann Tripod Charcoal Barbecue & Fire Grill Review

Outwell Cazal Fire Pit Review

Lifeventure Ellipse Cookware - D of E Recommended

Outwell Kitchen Storer - Keep All Your Bits Together

Outwell Appetizer 2-Burner Stove: Good, but missing a few ingredients

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardA good price for a rapid-boil stove system.

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardOutwell Margate: Your camp kitchen packed and ready to go

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardThe best camping stove toaster

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardA handy little gadget for your camp kitchen

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardOutwell Dunton Dishrack Review

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardOutwell's Collapsible Water Carrier

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardThe Outwell Collaps Colander - a handy bit of kit for campsite cooking

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardWayfayrer 'Ready' Meals for camping or hiking

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardRobens Telescopic Tripod Review

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardThe Primus Campfire Cookset

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardUsing the Robens Bighorn for a Family Campfire Cookout

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardOutwell Wash Base Review

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardThe Organised Picnic with the Light My Fire Meal Kit

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardFresh Coffee When Camping with this Coffee Mug Cafetière

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardLandmann Tripod Charcoal Barbecue & Fire Grill Review

Outwell Cazal Fire Pit Review

We gave this the Thumbs Up awardLifeventure Ellipse Cookware - D of E Recommended

Outwell Kitchen Storer - Keep All Your Bits Together

A good price for a rapid-boil stove system.

Outwell Margate: Your camp kitchen packed and ready to go

The best camping stove toaster

A handy little gadget for your camp kitchen

Outwell Dunton Dishrack Review

Outwell's Collapsible Water Carrier

The Outwell Collaps Colander - a handy bit of kit for campsite cooking

Wayfayrer 'Ready' Meals for camping or hiking

Robens Telescopic Tripod Review

The Primus Campfire Cookset

Using the Robens Bighorn for a Family Campfire Cookout

Outwell Wash Base Review

The Organised Picnic with the Light My Fire Meal Kit

Fresh Coffee When Camping with this Coffee Mug Cafetière

Landmann Tripod Charcoal Barbecue & Fire Grill Review

Lifeventure Ellipse Cookware - D of E Recommended