Campers Swear By This Portable Item To Stay Warm During Winter Without A Fire

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From rain to wind to extreme temperatures, weather at any time of year can pose challenges for campers. For winter camping, staying warm is perhaps the biggest weather safety concern. The obvious camping supplies you should buy to stay warm are often related to starting a campfire. However, wet conditions might make it hard to get firewood to ignite, and burn bans can go into effect no matter the season.

If for whatever reason you are unable to build a campfire, experienced campers suggest this incredibly useful tool: portable propane fire pits. Instead of searching for firewood and trying to get some flames going, you can skip straight to cozying up around the warmth provided by these handy gadgets. Plus, given that you can immediately switch them on and off, and propane fire pits do not produce embers, they are safer to use under burn bans. Not every camper agrees that portable fire pits offer an authentic campfire feel, but they still create actual flames. And if staying warm is your main winter camping priority, portable fire pits are important investments.

In the r/camping subreddit, multiple outdoor enthusiasts recommended LavaBox Portable Campfire. Not only does it provide warmth, but there is also a second burner for cooking. The original LavaBox has these two burners, but for added cooking capabilities, check out the LavaBox Campfire Kitchen. This version comes with a skillet wok (which the company calls a "skwok") and ceramic weave insulating stones that are not easily hampered by grease. Another popular option is the Camco Olympian Big Red Campfire. "It's got a good range of flame, so when it's cold, you can crank it up," says u/ellzray. The flames come out of what looks like wooden logs so that it feels more like a real campfire as well.

To be extra sure that a portable propane fire pit will improve your camping experience, these outdoorsy Redditors recommended testing out your new piece of camping gear before embarking on your trip. This will allow you to see how much heat the fire pit can emit if it has different settings. Familiarizing yourself beforehand might also give you a chance to figure out how to direct its heat toward you rather than simply up to the sky.