Campfire Tripods

Campfire tripods have long had a romantic image; probably from all those cowboy movies churned out by Hollywood in the black and white era.

They're great for hanging a kettle or a billy can from, and a strong one will even support a Dutch Oven or a really large cook pot. However, you need a deeper model pot not a shallow one, or you risk the whole thing spilling your chow out over the fire.

You'll find campfire tripods are simple enough to make. They're just three long steel legs about 4 foot long attached to a heavy-duty ring at the top, and cut to a sharp angle at the bottom end so they push into the ground a little more easily.

You can pick one up at a good camping store, or you can make your own campfire tripod out of three short steel fencing posts and some fencing wire or a length of chain. You could also use coat-hanger wire, but it is not as strong.

Then to hold the cooking pot underneath, there'll be a length of chain with adjustable hooks or else no chain but two or three steel hooks of different lengths. Campfire tripods come in many different designs, depending on the whims and experience of the manufacturer, and whatever is handy at the time.

When using the camp fire tripod, you regulate the heat by moving your cook pots closer to - or further from - the flames. It's simple but effective.

Many people camp for years without ever needing a fire tripod. So they're an acquired taste.

Campfire tripods are heavy and they do take up a lot of room. But they're sure great for that John Wayne image, and they will impress your friends. They also look great and "old time" in your souvenir photographs.