For the larger camping group, ie three or more, it is necessary to have a cooking unit that really is up to the job. I make no apology for intentionally making a blatant recommendation for what I believe is the most versatile piece of cooking kit available on the market today. I have to give this first offering to you a 5 star+ rating. Part of the reason why I reccomend this so much (apart from the fact I'm on my second, my son having inherited the first ) is that normally when campers go home, all of the kit goes into the garage until the next time it needs to be used. Not so when it comes to the Cobb grill / barbeque, (though it does much more than grill and barbeque)No, the Cobb goes into the house for use on a regular basis at home. Read on and find out more.
The Cobb - Cooker, Grill, BBQ
USA, Click the UK and Ireland
Picture Click the Picture
The Cobb is a multipurpose, multi use complete cooking system. It has a large range of accessories in its armoury that will allow you to fry, steam, roast, smoke, BBQ, grill, bake (you can make bread in it) and even boil an egg! The recommended fuel for the Cobb is based on coconut husk, a fuel that will give you up to 2 1/2 cooking hours time. I've found that mine works just as well with 6 to 8 pieces of charcoal briquettes which cost less. At home the Cobb makes a brilliant BBQ when you don't have too many extra guests. Once lit it can be brought into a well ventilated kitchen ( without burning your hands ), i.e. under a cooker hood, and Hey Presto! Alternatively you can easily roast a full chicken dinner with all the trimmings or whatever meat joint you want to cook.
A Youtube video from our Australian friends showing some of the Cobbs talents.
The Volcano 2 Dual fuel, solid fuel and gas
USA click the Not available
Picture in UK an Ireland
The Volcano 11 duel fuel stove is a very handy piece of kit in its own right. A duel burner cooker that will run on solid fuel (briquettes or wood )but also, it will run on propane. It's advertised as being suitable for hiking, which I disagree with. The reason for this is that even collapsed,it's too big for a backpack, not to mention the gas that has to be carried. That said, if you're travelling by car and if you're prepared to accept a more restricted menu, this could be for you. Although extremely useful when camping this could also come in as an emergency backup at home.
HotSpot Notebook Portable Charcoal Grill
At first glance this may not seem an ideal choice of cooker for a family group, but when I first saw this in action it occured to me that for a straightforward small barbeque it can actually be used to feed half a dozen people quite easily. It folds down flat and takes up very little space. When making a decision to buy this sort of kit it is very much down to personal choice, so instead of pushing any view that I have I thought it may be good to add a testimonial. Make up your own mind on this one.
USA Click UK and Ireland
Picture Click Picture
Excellent grill - exactly what I was looking for, June 8, 2009
I had been wanting a foldable grill and didn't even know they existed until I came across this one on Amazon. It not only saves TONS of space on my small patio but it delivers in quality of food too! I've had a few bbq's with this grill so far and the quality of food has been phenominal. I find the easiest thing to do is to buy one of those small charcoal bags that all you do is light it - no need to open the bag. It fits perfectly in this grill. The cleanup is very easy and not messy at all. And I absolutely love that it folds up to be about 1/2" wide. It takes up no room at all on my patio. I gave up my Weber big grill for this one - great decision!!! I highly recommend this grill as it is great for serving about 6 good sized burgers and about 4 hot dogs on the grill at the same time. When I had it delivered at my job - a couple of co-workers had me open it and display it for them. Then after that weekend of testing it out, I reported the good news to them and they bought it too. If you're looking for a small portable, durable, inexpensive, & reliable grill -- get this one!!!
Weber Charcoal Go Anywhere Grill
My only reason for offering this 21 inch grill is because camping is a personal thing. The grill is big enough to easily handle a BBQ for 6-8 people but is also big enough to accomodate a breakfast frying pan while you heat water at the same time. If your kind of camping is to get up, have breakfast, go out sightseeing and buy a meal while you're out ( and why not? )perhaps you're also a group that would enjoy a BBQ and a couple of bottles of wine when you get back to camp, if you are, then this barbeque grill is big enough. It's easy to keep clean, tough enough to cope and can be used at home for a BBQ with a few friends.
The Coleman range is amongst the best known camping stoves in the world today. They are lightweight, sturdy, high powered and extremely tough. Even running flat out you'll get an hours cooking time from a single gas bottle. Within a family camping group this stove would be my recommendation for the second stove I spoke about in the solid fuel stove section at the head of this page. The stove itself weighs only 5 kgs and folds flat for easy storage and transport. As a single cooking unit it is ideal for two people, with transport.
Portable gas stove with solid-steel cooker stand and type-1 regulator and hose
2 adjustable cast-iron burners can be individually set to low, medium, or high
Works with any aluminum pot; 4 removable extension legs; wind deflector
Requires minimal assembly; user manual included; propane tank sold separately
Measures approximately 15-1/4 by 33 by 32 inches; 1-year limited warranty
This dual burner propane stove is extremely popular in the US. One of its best features is that you can cook standing up! It is extremely reliable and very well made. Another highly rated product.
When handled properly spirit stoves are ideal for backpackers and / or hikers. They are very lightweight and it is quite possible to put together a hot meal. Clearly they are restricted as to how much you can actually do on them, but there's nothing wrong with a single pan meal and a hot drink.
My biggest concern with spirit stoves is that the spirit fuel must be carried safely. Putting spirits into the wrong container can spell out disaster, or at very least dissapointment if you arrive where you want to be only to find that the fuel has leaked out. Whether you are travelling on foot or motorised transport I can't stress enough how important it is to carry the fuel in a made for the job container.
Spirit stoves are extremely useful tools and treated right will give you years of service. Here are some that I have used or friends have used that we collectively recommend.