On a recent outing I was introduced to this little item by ExPo's own
rmarz. It's becoming more and more common for State & National Parks to ban ground fires, and require visitors to have their fires in a metal container. I was ready to drop $200 on a Snow Peak Fire System, but I didn't know anyone who's ever used one, or even seen one up close...
...Then - on a recent cold night in the Southern California high desert, rmarz breaks out this little beauty, and everyone proceeds to huddle around it as we build our campfire in it. I was instantly in love!
Not only is it great for a decent campfire, but it's also a grill. As anyone whose ever camped with me knows, I like to do 90% of my cooking over an open fire. This thing is perfect for me! Not only can it cook my food, keep me warm, and keep me on the right side of the law . . . but it also collapses VERY SMALL, and it is inexpensive to replace should it get damaged!
I picked mine up on
www.amazon.com for $29.99 - A quick google search of "notebook grill" will turn up similar online bargains.
Compared to the Snow Peak Fire System (Medium) which costs $175, and measures 14"L x 14"W x 10"H, the Notebook grill costs between $30 - $40, and measures 18"L x 12"W x 14"H.
I'm very happy that the Notebook Grill has become a permanent addition to my standard camping load-out!