A versatile and durable cookset, designed for the campfire but perfect for stove top cooking too.
Why cook on a gas stove when the option of campfire cooking is at your fingertips? But then maybe you’ve got no time to get the fire going for breakfast the next day? No worries. The Primus Campfire Cookset includes two pots and one frying pan that perform equally well whether they’re used over fire or gas. So why choose one when you can have both?!
Primus Campfire Cookset: The stats
| Included in set: | 2 pots, 1 frying pan, 2 lids and 1 storage sack |
| Capacity of pots: | 1.8 and 3 litres |
| Frying pan size: | 8.2 x 8.2” (21 x 21cm) |
| Total weights: | 3.63lbs (1.65kg) |
| Packed size: | 5.9 x 8.2 x 8.2” (15 x 21 x 21cm) |
| Materials: | 18/8 stainless steel |
Features of the Primus Campfire Cookset
Large pot
The large pot has a 3 litre capacity and features a bale handle. This allows the pot to be suspended over a fire from a tripod or similar. The handle sits in grooves on the sides of the pot to stay in an upright position. It folds down to the side of the pot when not in use.Small pot
The smaller pot has a 1.8 litre capacity and features squeeze together handles. These fold flat against the pot when not in use.
Frying pan
At 5cm deep, the frying pan provides good versatility to be used as a mixing bowl or to eat out of. Additionally, the high sides ensure that food being cooked inside the pan is well protected from flames. The folding handle locks securely into place when extended, and the extra thick, aluminium-clad base provides even heat distribution and helps to prevent burning.
Lids
Both pots have lids that have strainer holes in them. They also have small folding lid lifters that slot into place when in the upright position and fold down flat to the lid when not in use. There are also leather tags on the lifters that can be held for a little protection from the heat of the pot.
Packability
The small pot fits inside the large pot, which sits in the frying pan. It’s not a snug fit, so things move around a bunch and rattle in transit. The whole set fits inside a tough canvas drawstring bag which is an excellent feature, especially when the pots are sooty on the outside.
Primus Campfire Cookset review
There are very few regular camping cooksets around that are truly campfire compatible. Either they have plastic handles or silicone sides, or they are made of lightweight materials that just don’t stand the abuse and high temperatures of campfire cooking.
On the other end of the spectrum, campfire compatible options include Dutch ovens, cast iron skillets and pie irons. These most certainly do very well being used under harsh campfire conditions. But they also come with their own downsides. They’re super heavy, not very portable, take a little bit of effort to look after and aren’t especially easy to use when cooking on a gas stove.
Additionally, the majority of campers don’t, and often can’t, always cook over a campfire. This is where a setup like the Campfire Cookset is invaluable as it caters for the type of camper who likes to mix things up. Breakfast cooked over the stove and dinner cooked over the campfire. Or vice versa. Either way, the ability to do both and is a winning combo!
Usability
Because the large pot only has a bail handle, this limits its usability somewhat. This setup is perfect if suspending the pot over a fire. It’s also good if you don’t need to tend to the contents of your pot very much, for stews and such. However, if you need to keep adding to the pan with lots of stirring, the bail handle is a little difficult to manage. In this scenario it’s best to use the smaller pot or frying pan and then transfer into the bigger pot later, if needed.
The other thing to consider is the depth of the frying pan. Though its extra high sides are a major plus in terms of protection from the fire and multi-purpose usage, they also make it a little tricky to cook things that require the use of a spatula to flip or turn. Pancakes and fried eggs, for example. Certainly not impossible, just not as easy as you might be used to when cooking in a shallower frying pan.
Packability
As mentioned, the pots stack inside each other and pack away in a canvas bag. Compared with regular camping cooksets the Campfire Cookset isn’t quite as streamlined and doesn’t fit snugly together. The bail handle sticks out a little.
That said, when you compare this set to more traditional campfire cookware, like cast iron, this set is a dream. It’s small and light enough to carry in a backpack for an overnight hiking trip. And, depending on what’s on the menu, I often just pack the large pot which is big enough to hold my fold up grill and fire starter kit inside it.
Versatility
Aside from the above-mentioned bail handle (and the difficulty using it for any kind of dextrous cooking), this cookset is actually a highly versatile combo for cooking over a campfire. The pots have almost all basic cooking styles covered. And that’s not just over a campfire. They are also compatible for cooking over gas stoves. This is a big plus on trips where you won’t be cooking every meal over the fire, and it means that you only really need to take one cookset for all your cooking needs. On a wider level, it also means you only really need one cookset in your life. Backpackers will certainly require something more lightweight and specific to their cooking needs. But for car camping, canoe or SUP camping and short overnight hiking trips, the Campfire Cookset has you covered.
What I love the most about the Primus Campfire Cookset
I really like the leather tabs on the lids. Firstly, they add a rather lovely element of class to the cookset! (Almost as classy as the Primus Tupike Stove). But more importantly, they actually function surprisingly well as heat proof lid lifters. This makes cooking over a fire really easy as you don’t have to keep grabbing a pot holder (though you do need one for the handles!).
What I don’t love so much about the Primus Campfire Cookset
In the ideal world, there are a couple of small additions that would improve the cookset for my preferences:
- Volume measurements on the insides of both the pots would be really useful.
- A lid for the frying pan would increase the versatility of the pan.
- I’d prefer for the whole set to fit together a little less clunkily when packed up.
Verdict
A touch on the pricey side for occasional campers. But if you’re after a versatile cookset that’s durable and heavy duty, then the Primus Campfire Cookset is well worth considering. Plus, it adds a whole new element to your camp cooking experience. And because it’s rather pleasing to the eye (as well as mega functional!), this portable cookset is the ideal gift for camping chefs who like to dabble in campfire cooking as much as stove top cooking.
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Primus | Amazon
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.
