There are many potential dangers to leaving a campfire burning overnight. If you live in a dry climate, embers might drift away and trigger a forest fire. On the other hand, in wet or cold conditions, you might have the opposite problem. Your fire may get extinguished during the night by rain, snow, or wind, forcing you to re-build and re-ignite it in the cold morning hours. In a true survival situation, that could be devastating.
Obviously, it's not ideal to have your fire burn out of control, or to have it simply burn out. In a perfect world, it'd be advantageous to keep the fire going overnight, but also keep it controlled and safe. A new product has been developed which claims to do just that. It's called the Campfire Defender, and it'll be debuting soon at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show in Utah.
The Campfire Defender is based on a piece of high-tech fabric which can withstand temperatures up to 2,500°F. The manufacturer says it's the same material used to used to stop temperature transfer in nuclear reactors and nose cones of ballistic missiles. Since campfires generally reach 1,700°F, this fabric can easily take the heat.
This product is designed with two functions in mind. First of all, it covers your campfire, acting as a heat-resistant shield. This blocks stray embers, and prevents the fire from spreading uncontrollably. It also shields your fire from the elements, so a sudden downpour won't wipe out your source of warmth.
Secondly, the Campfire Defender controls airflow to the fire through an adjustable pinwheel vent. The vent allows only a small amount of oxygen through — enough to keep coals smoldering, but stop them from burning out completely. According to the manufacturer, this can extend the life of coals by up to 8 hours, so you can uncover and stoke the fire back to life after a good night's sleep.
The Campfire Defender comes in a kit, which includes the following items:
- 68″ x 60″ Campfire Defender
- Fire stake (2-piece, placed in the center of the fire)
- Utility gloves
- 8 glow-in-the-dark aluminum tent stakes
- LED flashlight
- Canvas carrying bag
MSRP for the Campfire Defender kit is $250. To learn more about the kit, check out the video demonstration below, or visit CampfireDefender.com.