Stylish, solid and portable, this foldable fire pit can be used as a BBQ as well as a safe place to build your fire with minimal impact on the ground.
From backyard BBQs and camp cooking to beach bonfires and wild campfires, the Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit is the ideal way to enjoy fireside al fresco dining, wherever. When folded up it is easily carried like a briefcase, and it takes less than a minute to unfold and get it fire ready. With a protective ashtray as its base you can enjoy your wilderness campfire safe in the knowledge that are minimising your impact on the wilderness, leaving no trace of your presence.
Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit: The stats
| Weight: | 6.1kg (13.4lb) |
| Material: | Powder coated steel |
| Size when folded: | 53 x 39 x 6 cm (20.9 x 15.3 x 2.4 in) |
Design features of the Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit
Carry handle
Once folded up, the Kamoto can be carried easily like a briefcase. It’s not a super light fire pit but the handle is actually really comfortable to carry. I’ve carried it about half a mile to the beach without it being a problem at all – you just need to switch hands every now and then to even out the weight.Components
The Kamoto comprises 6 separate parts. The main folding fire pit, the cooking grid, 2 side wind guards, and a base plate where the wood or coals sit. These all fold together in one easy to carry package, secured with an easily adjustable strap.
Cooking grid
I love that this is a grid and not just a grill with bars going in one direction – big gaps make cooking haloumi (a BBQ staple for me!) really tricky, and there’s absolutely no chance of losing my sausages to the ashes. At 53 x 39 cm (20.9 x 15.3 in), the grid provides a really good sized cooking area with cooler spots around the edges for keeping things warm once cooked. The grid is made of solid and durable stainless steel that is easy to clean. And I like that it’s removable and can be used over other BBQs or fires.
Ashtray
The tray at the bottom of the fire pit catches the ashes as the wood or coals burn, and it also protects the ground from being singed by the heat of the fire. The base is solid, and so long as you have a flat-ish area of ground to put the fire on, it ensures that the whole fire pit is really stable with zero chance of it toppling over.
Wind guards
The two stainless steel wind guards slot into the side of the fire pit securely, making fire starting in blustery conditions a breeze! Once the fire is blazing the sides also prevent logs or coals from falling out onto the floor.
Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit review
My first attempt at unfolding the Kamoto OpenFire Pit was certainly not as straightforward as it should have been. I couldn’t figure out how to prize apart the slotted together components without forcing it in what may have been the wrong direction. I have since learned that the strap that holds the folded fire pit together plays an important role in unfolding. It acts as a kind of lever between the panels to ease them apart and open the whole thing up. Now, set up time is less than a minute with the wind guards and base plate slotting into place really easily.
There are air inlets on the base plate that allow good airflow through the burning coals or wood. BBQ coals get going really easily and don’t need any encouragement once they are lit.
I’d like to complain about it being a bit on the heavy side, but in all honesty it’s pretty light for what it is and as soon as you go scrimping back on cheap thin metal, the durability and robustness goes right out the window. There’s nothing unnecessary about the design of the Kamoto, and if you don’t plan on using it for cooking then leaving the removable cooking grid at home shaves off a couple of hundred grams.
What I love the most about the Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit
The Kamoto is a pretty sweet and stylish looking fire pit. But it’s the ease of use that I love the most about it. Packing and unpacking is super fast and easy (once you’ve figured it out!), and it is way more portable that I first thought it would be. It’s also a really convenient and compact shape once packed down, making it mega easy to pack into the car for camping trips or picnics without taking up way more space than it should. Ever tried fitting a kettle style BBQ into your already over-packed car? Practically impossible without creating its own little space in the trunk. This little guy, however, just slots underneath all your other camping gear with no fuss at all. And I wouldn’t even consider walking to the beach with a kettle BBQ – so awkward to carry. But the Kamoto is easily carried in one hand, leaving your other one free to carry the all important cooler full of beers for a perfect fire-side dinner.
What I don’t love so much about the Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit
It’s a very small gripe as there’s little to dislike about the Kamoto, but once folded up, sometimes the grid slips downwards slightly when carrying it. This is remedied by tightening up the strap as much as possible which usually keeps it in place pretty well.
It’s also a good idea to try and brush off as much soot from the fire pit and grease from the grid as possible after use. This is especially important if you are packing it straight into your car to prevent getting everything else dirty. Otherwise you’ll need to stick it into a plastic bag (once it’s cooled!) or get yourself a pack sack for an extra $30 which is specifically designed for the Kamoto OpenFire Pit.
Verdict
The Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit may not be the cheapest option on the market, but if it’s durability and versatility you are after without having to lug a huge heavy pit everywhere you go, then look no further. This is one simple and highly portable fire pit that doubles very effectively as a BBQ. It’s so compact when folded up that you’ll start throwing it in the trunk even if you may not use it!
I’m a huge fan and enjoy using it more and more each time it has an outing.
Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry
Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company.
