Many meals, beverages and tales have
been enjoyed at campfires over they years. Enough so the campfire was an essential part of the woods lounging experience.
Times have changed in the SW. Today when camp cooking is to be done or hanging out tie roll sround alternatives to a campfire are the rule.
There are myriad choices on the market and some are very efficient in multiple ways. But some of us still prefer something a bit more old school.
The Solo Stove is in that category Not really a novel design but more an improvement on an old good design. A bit of kit that is simple, efficient, doesn't sterilize the soil, uses available biomass as fuel source and meets the requirements of contained fires during fire restriction times.
Unfortunately, fire restrictions are very necessary in the forested lands of the SW and have been for a while but that's another story.
A simple design that burns just about everything from twigs to pine cones to mesquite and oak cleanly and efficiently The SoloSteve only has 2 pieces nests well in cups or pails and handles a fair amount of weight. I have enjoyed using one for quite a while. They will burn out after use - like 350 pots of coffee or so. Made great coffee and cooked good meals along the way though.
In the last couple of years market focus seems to have shifted from back woods to include the back deck with some later models large enough to roast a fair sized steer and are quite expensive additions to patio entertaining. Similar to Filsons " evolution" in recent years it seems.
The two small sized models are still offered and are often featured in periodic twofer sales.
Mine have served me well over the years and to paraphrase "Silent Cal" Coolidge: " If this is the kind of thing you like, you'll like it."
