There’s truly nothing better than cooking up a scrumptious meal over an open flame. Doing so, however, can be a tricky process, unless you have a campfire tripod.
With the right cooking tripod, you can rustle up some gourmet grub with relative ease. That being said, there are plenty of excellent models on the market today, so it can be difficult to find the right one for you.
Up next, we’ll discuss the finer points of our top 5 best campfire cooking tripods available. That way, you can spend more time enjoying your campfire cooking and less time researching your gear.
NOTE: Most camping tripods do not come with dutch ovens, even if there’s one featured in a product image. In general, you should expect to buy a dutch oven separately. However, a few models do come with a camping grill, which can be useful for barbecuing and grilling.
#1 – Stansport Tripod
An affordable option for budget-conscious campers, the Stansport Tripod is a durable set-up for campfire cooking.
It has a classic 3 leg design to provide stability, even on uneven ground. Moreover, it’s legs are made from a rugged steel alloy, which is durable enough to withstand years of use in the mountains.
For attaching your dutch oven, coffee pot, or lantern, this tripod has a nickel-plated chain with an easy to use S hook at the end. This chain can also be adjusted to various heights, based on your individual needs.
Plus, when it’s time to pack up camp, the Stansport Tripod folds up nicely for transport, making it a simple, yet functional option for the backcountry chef.
pros
- Affordable
- Rugged steel frame
- Adjustable S-hook
cons
- Relatively low height (43”)
When classic, old-fashioned-style cooking is your go-to method at camp, the Camp Chef Dutch Oven Tripod is a sure bet.
It’s legs are made from a solid steel frame, which provides all the durability you need for extended camping trips in rough terrain. Moreover, this tripod has an easy to adjust plated chain that can be used to hook onto a dutch oven, grill, or other cast iron cookware.
One of the great aspects of this tripod is its tall height. At 50” tall, it provides more clearance over the fire than most other tripods, making it useful, even over large fries. Additionally, it comes with a storage and carry bag for easier transport to and from your campsite.
pros
- Tall height (50”)
- Comes with a carry bag
- Includes an adjustable plated chain
cons
- Longer length is trickier to fit in the car
Budget-friendly to the core, the Coghlan’s Tripod Grill is an all-in-one package for campers that just want to get out and enjoy the outdoors.
This model is made with tent-pole style shock-corded galvanized steel lengths that collapse down into a small packed size for easy storage. When folded down, the tripod is just 18” long, which makes it nice for packing into your car on your way to camp.
It also comes with an adjustable-height chain that can be attached to lanterns for illuminating camp at night. Finally, for added value, Coghlan’s includes a 17” inch grill with this tripod set, which can be used for cooking or as a holder for your pots and pans.
pros
- Collapsible design for easy storage
- Includes a 17” grill
- Lightweight and portable
cons
- Doesn’t come with a carry case
#4 – Texsport Tripod
Offering a nice mix of durability and affordability, the Texsport Tripod is a sturdy 3 legged cooking tool for any camping enthusiast.
It weighs a respectable 7lb and boasts 3 forged iron legs that are 42.5” high. These legs all fold together at the end of your camping trip for easier packing and transport in your car.
Included with this tripod is a 26” long chain with an oversized S hook for suspending dutch ovens, grills, and coffee pots over a fire. The chain is completely adjustable so you can better control the amount of heat that you’re cooking with.
pros
- Made from forged iron for durability
- Lightweight and portable
- Oversized S hook for ease of use
cons
- Relatively low height (42.5”)
#5 – Coleman Tripod Grill
A classic choice from a popular camping brand, the Coleman Tripod Grill is an intuitive option for people that value ease of use in their gear.
This grill has galvanized steel legs that are fully shock-corded for easier transport. As a result, these legs can collapse down into a small folded size for simplified packing and storage when not in use.
To ensure that you have what you need to cook up a lovely meal, this tripod set comes with a 17” grill that can be used to hold pots, pans, and coffee makers. The grill can also be attached to the tripod with a fully adjustable galvanized chain so you can fine-tune the grill’s height to meet your cooking needs.
pros
- Includes a 17” grill
- Shock-corded and collapsible legs
- Fully adjustable chain to lower and raise the grill
cons
- Durability concerns with the grill attachment
FINAL THOUGHTS
For camp cooking at its finest, a campfire tripod is a must-have on any packing list. There are dozens of great tripods to choose from, so it’s critical that you choose one that best suits your unique needs. You can also consider overhead roasters or grill grates for cooking your food.
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