Pack & Carry Fireplace

Comments about Pack & Carry Fireplace:

I bought a Pack & Carry with the intension of using it as both a grill and a fire pit so I chose the LARGE size to give me ample room for group meals and so I could light a decent fire. While it isn't an absolute necessity the Cast Iron Coal Bed allows more air to circulate for a better burning fire so I also purchased the LARGE Cast Iron Coal Bed which was a mistake. When the LARGE coal bed is in the Pack & Carry there is only about 2"- 3" of room for charcoal or even firewood. Because I only use lump charcoal, which has a variety of large and small chunks, this would have allowed me only to use a small amount of charcoal that results in a less hot, shorter burning fire. If you are a briquette fan, it may not be as big an issue but if you intend to use the coal bed for wood fires, you will still have a problem.

So I returned (with no hassle from Camp Saver) the large coal bed and bought a SMALL Cast Iron Coal Bed to use in the LARGE Pack & Carry. The smaller size not only allows me to use a generous amount of lump charcoal or firewood, the smaller size coal bed fits PERFECTLY in the small mesh pocket on the side of the canvas carrying case!

As a grill the Pack & Carry was awesome using lump charcoal (lit with a Snow Peak GigaPower 2 Way Torch) with NO flare ups even when cooking some big steaks. The grill grate is strong, sturdy and plenty large enough for a big cook-out and can even be easily lifted off the grill (using mitts!) and carried to the eating area. That also means it can be placed in the sink for a relatively easy clean up. The Grill Bridge that supports the grate is adjustable adding cooking flexibility. After the cooking fire burned completely out I was left with ashes and no greasy residue because of the high heat so it was just a matter of dumping out the ashes for a simple cleanup. A wire or regular bristle brush comes in handy for cleaning off the coal bed and any dust that doesn't shake off. As a fire pit the LARGE size has the advantage of holding more wood and it too was awesome and easy to clean up. BTW – you don't need any additional accessories to just use it as a fireplace.

While the Pack & Carry is pretty stable alone, stability is increased by using the Pack & Carry Fireplace Baseplate. It also protects the ground from damage from hot coals & heat. The optional Base Plate Stand raises the base plate another 3" off the ground and adds even more stability allowing you to use it as a grill on top of many surfaces with NO heat damage. I also HEARTILY recommend the additional Pack & Carry Canvas Carry Case because if you buy all of the accessories you need a place to store them and the canvas carry case gives you the room and something sturdy to carry it all in because the Pack & Carry with all the accessories is very HEAVY!!!

Yea it's pricey and heavy and isn't for backpacking but if you want a bulletproof versatile portable grill/fireplace for RV'ing, car camping, around the cabin or even at home. The Pack & Carry can't be beat!

Comments about Snow Peak Pack & Carry Fireplace:

Purchased it recently and used it on my last camping trip. It's great to have because some of the campsite we visit doesn't have a fire ring.

It folded out easy and was a breeze to setup. We also used a platform for it just to keep a little more sturdy.

Holds plenty of wood to keep the fire going. Kids and I enjoyed cooking marsh mellows.

Comments about Pack & Carry Fireplace:

This is quite possibly the coolest portable fireplace ever. It folds up into a small package, but can hold a nice little controlled fire. Great for heat, light, atmosphere, and cooking. We tried it out this weekend (one day after it arrived), and it performed flawlessly!