Campfire Defender

Posted by: billstephenson

Campfire Defender - 01/14/17 01:45 PM

I was checking out Popular Mechanics " 2017 Best Outdoor Gear" piece and they have this Campfire Defender product that's pretty interesting.

It's not really "backpacking" gear, but could certainly be used in a group backpack if you did some load sharing.

The concept is sound and of course I looked at it with a view for how it would compliment my campfire tent. In the demo videos they lay the cover on the ground when the fire is burning, but if you stake it up to make a wall behind your fire it could reflect more heat towards you and your tent.

If you laid it down in front of the fire it would make a nice ground cover patio for the tent.

And, if you had it set up and a wind came up it would only take a few seconds to cover your fire, which is the intended purpose, and you could start it back up fast and easy if it was just a popup storm or a fast moving front blowing over, which is very common here.

Now they just need to make it under 8 ounces and $30 and I'm in!! laugh
Posted by: Dryer

Re: Campfire Defender - 01/15/17 08:49 AM

$250....yikes! I have a friend currently rigging his tent with a light weight stove. Basically a sled dog type rig, easily packable, well vented. It's not ultralight by any means but I'm wondering that if a warm tent is the goal, bringing the fire inside isn't the best way. As a Boy Scout, we made tent heaters from a soup can, some cardboard, and paraffin, which did the trick beautifully. The problem I've always had with campfires/tarps is wind change. And around here, it changes every 10 minutes. grin
Posted by: billstephenson

Re: Campfire Defender - 01/15/17 08:43 PM

The price had me coughing a bit too. It does look like it's very well made though.

I can see it for hunting trips and car camping. I still haven't played enough with making a heater for my tent but I should do that. I'll have to snag a soup can and try it. I have a big slab of wax that would work just fine for that.

I remember you mentioning this a few years ago, but not exactly how you made them. Was it like these?



Posted by: Dryer

Re: Campfire Defender - 01/15/17 09:59 PM

Yeah, it's easy. Corrugated cardboard, cut to about 2/3rds the height of the can. Tightly roll the cardboard and slide into the can, corrugation running vertically. Melt your wax and poor onto the cardboard, allowing it to soak up to about 1/2" from top of cardboard. The whole thing burns like a giant wick. You should see a blue flame settle on top of the cardboard.
You'll have to play with this a bit. If the cardboard is too close to the top of the can, it will flame up and become a fire hazard. To low, and it won't have enough oxygen to burn.
Also, when you blow it out, toss it out of the tent. You wouldn't believe how much smoke those things can make.

Make sure your tent has some ventilation so you don't asphyxiate yourself.
Posted by: billstephenson

Re: Campfire Defender - 01/19/17 09:16 AM

Thank you!

I'll have to make one and try it out. I'm gonna have to scrounge for a can though. All of them now have a plastic coating in them. I might have to burn that off first if I can't find one without it, but I've got everything else I need!!
Posted by: Dryer

Re: Campfire Defender - 01/24/17 11:03 PM

Don't worry....the plastic coating burns off pretty quick. grin
Posted by: BudgetBack

Re: Campfire Defender - 09/29/17 05:56 AM

Originally Posted By billstephenson
I was checking out Popular Mechanics " 2017 Best Outdoor Gear" piece and they have this Campfire Defender product that's pretty interesting.

It's not really "backpacking" gear, but could certainly be used in a group backpack if you did some load sharing.

The concept is sound and of course I looked at it with a view for how it would compliment my campfire tent. In the demo videos they lay the cover on the ground when the fire is burning, but if you stake it up to make a wall behind your fire it could reflect more heat towards you and your tent.

If you laid it down in front of the fire it would make a nice ground cover patio for the tent.

And, if you had it set up and a wind came up it would only take a few seconds to cover your fire, which is the intended purpose, and you could start it back up fast and easy if it was just a popup storm or a fast moving front blowing over, which is very common here.

Now they just need to make it under 8 ounces and $30 and I'm in!! laugh


I read Campfire Defender and for some reason I was thinking if spikes in the ground to protect your campfire from people trying to steal it. The reality makes much more sense.