Folding Firebox Review

The woodburning market seems to be flooded at the moment. There’s bushbuddys, bushstoves, pocket cookers and Honey stoves to name just a few. A new one on the market has to be a bit special to even make a dent. The Folding Firebox is certainly that; so I’ll show you around it a give you my opinion.

The first thing that strikes you is that when it’s folded up, it's incredibly thin, which makes it great for packing away. I also noticed that it is quite heavy, which is a bit of negative for the bushcraft and hiking market, unless you’re willing to haul around 2lbs of stainless steel. If you take into account the weight of your fuel, then this might be a little more attractive because obviously, the stove primarily relies on natural fuel found in the woods. It’s also ideal for a base-camp situation, where weight doesn’t matter too much.

The Folding Firebox is basically a wood-burning stove. Everything is hinged together and, unlike some fiddly setups, you don’t have to spend ages putting it together. The only thing that is separate is the ash pan and two metal “firesticks.” The firesticks help hold the stove together when folded up.

These metal “firesticks” also have a number of other uses. Firstly, they can be used to lift the hot firebox if you need to move it around. Secondly, you can put the sticks through any one of the drilled holes to place items (either other burners or small cups and pans) at different levels. The holes are half an inch lower on adjacent sides so there are many options. Finally, the sticks can be placed right on top of the firebox so you can cook or boil with smaller cups or pans.

The stove can also be used with other fuel sources. If you remove the ash pan from the bottom and place it on the top, you can use esbit or hexy blocks with the stove. There’s enough headroom between the fuel and the top of the firebox to allow this to happen. Meths burners like a Trangia or Evernew are a bit trickier. You can use the firesticks to put the burner on any level, but you can only use larger pans on the top of the firebox. Smaller mugs and even our ubiquitous Crusader cups won’t fit on the top easily. But, with the assistance of two handy tent pegs, you can use these to place on your cup or smaller pot with no problem.

The thing I like about the Folding Firebox is it’s ease of use. The all-round solid construction allows stable, safe and wind-proof use. It folds up remarkably thin for such a resulting sold construction. The downside is that it’s quite heavy – but I’d be willing to carry it in if I couldn’t use a ground fire for whatever reason.

One other big plus… the price. At the moment it’s advertised at $39. Even with delivery and import tax, that’s a give-away.

All in all, a big thumbs up for this interesting and innovative stove.

There’s more details and full video on http://foldingfirebox.com. In the meantime, I’ve done a short video of the Firebox in wood-burning mode below.

 

Thanks to Ben Probst who sent me the Firebox.

Folding Firebox Review

The woodburning market seems to be flooded at the moment. There’s bushbuddys, bushstoves, pocket cookers and Honey stoves to name just a few. A new one on the market has to be a bit special to even make a dent. The Folding Firebox is certainly that; so I’ll show you around it a give you my opinion.

The first thing that strikes you is that when it’s folded up, it's incredibly thin, which makes it great for packing away. I also noticed that it is quite heavy, which is a bit of negative for the bushcraft and hiking market, unless you’re willing to haul around 2lbs of stainless steel. If you take into account the weight of your fuel, then this might be a little more attractive because obviously, the stove primarily relies on natural fuel found in the woods. It’s also ideal for a base-camp situation, where weight doesn’t matter too much.

The Folding Firebox is basically a wood-burning stove. Everything is hinged together and, unlike some fiddly setups, you don’t have to spend ages putting it together. The only thing that is separate is the ash pan and two metal “firesticks.” The firesticks help hold the stove together when folded up.

These metal “firesticks” also have a number of other uses. Firstly, they can be used to lift the hot firebox if you need to move it around. Secondly, you can put the sticks through any one of the drilled holes to place items (either other burners or small cups and pans) at different levels. The holes are half an inch lower on adjacent sides so there are many options. Finally, the sticks can be placed right on top of the firebox so you can cook or boil with smaller cups or pans.

The stove can also be used with other fuel sources. If you remove the ash pan from the bottom and place it on the top, you can use esbit or hexy blocks with the stove. There’s enough headroom between the fuel and the top of the firebox to allow this to happen. Meths burners like a Trangia or Evernew are a bit trickier. You can use the firesticks to put the burner on any level, but you can only use larger pans on the top of the firebox. Smaller mugs and even our ubiquitous Crusader cups won’t fit on the top easily. But, with the assistance of two handy tent pegs, you can use these to place on your cup or smaller pot with no problem.

The thing I like about the Folding Firebox is it’s ease of use. The all-round solid construction allows stable, safe and wind-proof use. It folds up remarkably thin for such a resulting sold construction. The downside is that it’s quite heavy – but I’d be willing to carry it in if I couldn’t use a ground fire for whatever reason.

One other big plus… the price. At the moment it’s advertised at $39. Even with delivery and import tax, that’s a give-away.

All in all, a big thumbs up for this interesting and innovative stove.

There’s more details and full video on http://foldingfirebox.com. In the meantime, I’ve done a short video of the Firebox in wood-burning mode below.

 

Thanks to Ben Probst who sent me the Firebox.

Random Pictures of a Passing Season

This weekend was a nice relaxing one with no agenda at all. On Saturday I went into Broaks Wood with Billy. We took the big  camera and took a few pictures of the passing summer.

Everything looks a bit weary and there wasn’t a lot of activity. We did see what I think was a Roe deer and later a Muntjac. The Roe is quite unusual for these woods, but it was on the outskirts.

I’ll leave you with the pictures.

Random Pictures of a Passing Season

This weekend was a nice relaxing one with no agenda at all. On Saturday I went into Broaks Wood with Billy. We took the big  camera and took a few pictures of the passing summer.

Everything looks a bit weary and there wasn’t a lot of activity. We did see what I think was a Roe deer and later a Muntjac. The Roe is quite unusual for these woods, but it was on the outskirts.

I’ll leave you with the pictures.

A Day in Poor Park

It seemed like an eternity since I was in Poor Park woods. I was quite surprised to see many of the trees in the woods turning to an autumn hue, especially the towering poplars, whose top-most leaves have already turned a golden yellow. The blackberries are all spent and there was a slight musty smell that always pre-empts the onset of autumn.

I was greeted by a doe and two young fallows already in their dark winter coats. As they spotted me they ran to the east. I tried to cut them off by doing a loop to the south and coming up on the east side. I laid in wait, but they had obviously stopped just out of sight to the north. I stalked up on the east side northwards to meet them, but they had cut back south west and into some dense woodland. I had the choice of looping around to the north-west at the risk of giving myself away by being upwind, or work my way through the woodland, directly following their tails.

I chose the latter option. Despite moving quickly, I didn’t gain on the small group, and even though I was following accurately (judging by the fresh fewmets) I wasn’t able to get any closer to them. I gave up near one of my regular rest spots.

My next project was to have a look at a new stove Ben Probst had sent me called the Folding Firebox (http://www.foldingfirebox.com/) This is a market that appears appears saturated with wood-burners like the honey stove, bushbuddy, bushcooker, pocketcooker and a few others. I will do a full review mid week on video; however, I was initially impressed with this very smart, innovative firebox.

It is pretty heavy though,and I think this may be it’s main drawback for those who like to keep their weight down.

My excursion in Poor Park woods continued coming across a classic fox kill site and …

…a fresh badger latrine, which proves the badgers are still using the woods, even if they aren’t permanently located in them.

I finished off the day by laying down just off a cross-track and falling asleep in the late summer sunshine. I came round to see two fallow does about 30 yards away. I didn’t have the energy to scrabble for the camera. I just watched them slowly wander along the trail and skip across the cross-track and into the denser woodland.

After they had gone, I collected up my small rucksack and made my way back to the car. There wouldn’t be that many more fine, warm days  left this year. I was glad I had made the most of this one.

Thanks for the visit.

A Day in Poor Park

It seemed like an eternity since I was in Poor Park woods. I was quite surprised to see many of the trees in the woods turning to an autumn hue, especially the towering poplars, whose top-most leaves have already turned a golden yellow. The blackberries are all spent and there was a slight musty smell that always pre-empts the onset of autumn.

I was greeted by a doe and two young fallows already in their dark winter coats. As they spotted me they ran to the east. I tried to cut them off by doing a loop to the south and coming up on the east side. I laid in wait, but they had obviously stopped just out of sight to the north. I stalked up on the east side northwards to meet them, but they had cut back south west and into some dense woodland. I had the choice of looping around to the north-west at the risk of giving myself away by being upwind, or work my way through the woodland, directly following their tails.

I chose the latter option. Despite moving quickly, I didn’t gain on the small group, and even though I was following accurately (judging by the fresh fewmets) I wasn’t able to get any closer to them. I gave up near one of my regular rest spots.

My next project was to have a look at a new stove Ben Probst had sent me called the Folding Firebox (http://www.foldingfirebox.com/) This is a market that appears appears saturated with wood-burners like the honey stove, bushbuddy, bushcooker, pocketcooker and a few others. I will do a full review mid week on video; however, I was initially impressed with this very smart, innovative firebox.

It is pretty heavy though,and I think this may be it’s main drawback for those who like to keep their weight down.

My excursion in Poor Park woods continued coming across a classic fox kill site and …

…a fresh badger latrine, which proves the badgers are still using the woods, even if they aren’t permanently located in them.

I finished off the day by laying down just off a cross-track and falling asleep in the late summer sunshine. I came round to see two fallow does about 30 yards away. I didn’t have the energy to scrabble for the camera. I just watched them slowly wander along the trail and skip across the cross-track and into the denser woodland.

After they had gone, I collected up my small rucksack and made my way back to the car. There wouldn’t be that many more fine, warm days  left this year. I was glad I had made the most of this one.

Thanks for the visit.

Last Show in Britain’s Last Forest

As the Woodlife Trails Roadshow season draws to an end, it is rather fitting that it was here at Hatfield Forest, Woodlife Trail’s adopted home and base, that we should perform our last one.

We are extremely fortunate to be associated with the National Trust at Hatfield and their forward-looking staff and managers seem to be pleased to have our presence at the forest to run our nature-based courses and educate young and old alike introducing them to wildlife, tracking, bushcraft and the forest itself.

It is described as Britain’s Last Forest as it is the only working forest left in Britain. It has never been ploughed-over and the landscape has not changed since it was designated a forest in the 11th century.

There is still wood pasture for the cattle and sheep and the woodland is regularly maintained by coppicing and harvesting. The rare flora and fauna has made it a National Nature Reserve and SSSI and the the  trees (many over 800 years old) are truly magnificent. Every time JP and I set up in the forest we are in awe of it and consider ourselves extremely privileged to be there. But it is only when the public has gone and dusk begins to fall do you really feel the atmosphere of this ancient place.

This weekend, the forest gave itself over to a festival. The Woodfest was originally designed as a celebration of the forest but it now has the exciting addition of a true festival atmosphere complete with two stages for music.

Much of the organisation is down to the Conservation Officer and highly accomplished Melodeon player, Ian Pease (seen here far right).

It has been a long summer of shows and to be honest, JP and I were both glad this was the last one. It is unbelievably tiring standing up and talking to people all day for three days explaining the various exhibits at our stand. But we can be sure, and indeed we are proud, that many, many people, and literally hundreds of youngsters,  have now gone with a better understanding of wildlife and nature; not to mention the looks of joy when they accomplish bow drill for the first time thanks to JP.

The exhibits are now looking the worse for wear, as we allow them all to be touched and felt. There’s nothing a quick replacement or a bit of stitching can’t fix.

So, this weekend was a double celebration. One for the forest and one for Woodlife Trails which ends our season of shows. A huge thanks to all our supporters and public who took time out to see us, to all the organisers and to all our neighbouring stands who had to put up with us!

We have two courses to look forward to in October. In the meantime – I think I’ll go chill out in the woods!