How to achieve campfire excellence

The best time to road trip is summer, right? Wrong! First, any time is a good time to hit the road. Second: campfires.

If you want to be practical about it, campfires are obviously very useful for warmth, light, and cooking/boiling water. Then again, perhaps you’re an incurable romantic and think about snuggles, smores, whiskey and philosophical flame-staring contemplation (that’s us!).

Fall’s an amazing time for campfires, with brisk air and clear skies. Here are a few things that we think would make your campfire an excellent place to be at the end of the day (beside it, not in it!).

Best Made Co. Sliding Match Safe, $28

First, the basics: to enjoy fireside frivolities, you need a fire to be beside. And for fire, you need matches, which you can keep in this rad little safe. Keep your matches dry and stylish with the Best Made Co. Sliding Match Safe, which is available in five awesome colors with a brass knob/striker. If you get swept up in romance and head back to the RV (wit woo!), you can leave the safe beside the fire and your matches will still be pristine in the morning.

Best Made Co. Sliding Match Safe. Image: bestmadeco.com

Best Made Co. Sliding Match Safe. Image: bestmadeco.com

J Crew Men’s Camp Socks, $16.50

So, these socks are ‘men’s’ socks; however, we’re pretty sure that socks are unisex, so ladies and gents alike, wriggle those toes into these snuggly camp socks that not only keep your feet warm in your boots, but also look super-cool.

J. Crew Men's Camp Socks. Image: jcrew.com

J. Crew Men's Camp Socks. Image: jcrew.com

Kelty Love Seat, $99.95

If you’re RVing or camping with your sweetheart, separate chairs can be an annoying barrier to canoodling. Kelty has addressed this problem with its Love Seat, which allows the two of you to cuddle up next to the campfire and stare into each other’s eyes all night long.

Kelty Love Seat. Image: www.kelty.com

Kelty Love Seat. Image: www.kelty.com

Fjällräven Nordic Heater hat, $80

You might know Fjällräven for its cool and crazy-ubiquitous Kanken backpack, but this half-century-old Swedish brand also makes some cozy headwear for your outdoor adventures. We love the Nordic Heater hat, because its synthetic fur trim is both incredibly warm and also pretty dang cute. Pop it on next to the fire and get toasty.

Fjallraven Nordic Heater. Image: www.fjallraven.us

Fjallraven Nordic Heater. Image: www.fjallraven.us

Poler Sandwich Maker, $52.95

If you were brought up around the campfire, toasting your bread on sticks, chances are you’d have had a campfire sandwich maker, as well. Use this great sandwich maker from Poler for regular grilled cheese, or do what many of us did as kids and pack that bread with chocolate and enjoy the gooey goodness.

Poler Sandwich Maker. Image: www.poler.com

Poler Sandwich Maker. Image: www.poler.com

Cafflano All In One Coffee Maker, $99

Coffee by the fire is an RVer’s right, and the easier you can make good coffee, the better. The Cafflano is the world’s first portable all-in-one coffee maker, featuring a hand mill grinder, metal filter dripper, drip kettle and tumbler cup. Brew it up, grab a spot by the fire and contemplate the great outdoors.

Cafflano All In One Coffee Maker. Image: www.cafflanoshop.com

Cafflano All In One Coffee Maker. Image: www.cafflanoshop.com

Coleman 54 Quart Steel-Belted Cooler, $149.99

If you prefer your drinks cold and housed in a retro-cool container, take a look at the Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler. You can get it in green to match the trees, red to match the fire, silver to match the stars, or black to match the sky they twinkle in. It’s the perfect camp-themed beer trunk.

Coleman 54 Quart Steel-Belted Cooler. Image: www.coleman.com

Coleman 54 Quart Steel-Belted Cooler. Image: www.coleman.com

United By Blue Enamel Steel Mug, $20–$28

Enamelware is a camp classic – durable, vintage-looking, and versatile. So versatile, in fact, that you can fill your mug with coffee, beer, milk, whisky, moonshine… name your poison, then smash your cups together in a hearty cheers – they’re unbreakable. The folks at United By Blue have some great-lookin' options available.

United By Blue Atlantic Enamel Steel Mug. Image: www.unitedbyblue.com

United By Blue Atlantic Enamel Steel Mug. Image: www.unitedbyblue.com

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar 36-piece box, $36

Research has shown that a road trip with chocolate is 89 per cent more epic than one without*. By the fire with a cup of tea or coffee, or perhaps some liquor, chocolate is a camping essential. Yes, we are recommending a 36-piece box. No, we do not think that is overkill.
* Research conducted by Rova's editor and not scientifically accurate.

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar. Image: www.hersheys.com

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar. Image: www.hersheys.com

Laphroaig 10 Year Old whiskey, $40

The fire easily warms up your extremities, but do you want your insides to feel left out? No. So, start a fire in your belly with Laphroaig whiskey. We’ve chosen this particular variety because it’s smoky, just like your fire. One reviewer said of Laphroaig, ‘It’s like drinking a liquid campfire’. So really, it’s not an indulgence, but a necessary part of the camping experience.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old whiskey. Image: www.laphraoig.com

Laphroaig 10 Year Old whiskey. Image: www.laphraoig.com

Gemma PeckhamComment