Tripods make campfire cooking so much easier.
But they aren’t all built the same!
A lot of so-called campfire tripods will buckle under the weight of a pot full of food. If you don’t want to see your bubbling stew disappear into the flames while you stand by in horror, you need to invest in the right gear.
This article will suggest six of the best campfire tripods on the market right now. I’m sure one of them will be perfect for you.
In a Hurry? Here Are My Top 3 Picks
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Best Overall
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My Choice
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Best Value
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6 Best Tripods for Cooking Over Campfire
Coleman Tripod Grill & Lantern Hanger
If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, I would go for the Coleman Tripod Grill. This tripod comes highly recommended by users, and it’s more than reasonably priced for the quality you get.
I love that you can easily adjust the grill gate so that it’s the perfect height for your fire. The galvanized steel is relatively lightweight, so you can easily load it in and out of your car when you’re packing for your trip.
The 17-inch grill gives you plenty of space to cook a hearty meal for your family, and each leg is sharpened to make it easier to drive securely into the ground. (That means you don’t have to worry about the thing collapsing into the flames with your breakfast!)
Honestly, this is not the best choice if you have a heavy cast iron pot that you want to hang over the fire, but it’s perfect for grilling a meal or making a hot pot of campfire coffee.
If you try to put an iron dutch oven on this thing, there’s a good chance it will break.
This might not be the best choice for hardcore campfire chefs, but for regular campers who want to make memories around the fire, this tripod is probably the best value on the market right now.
Pros:
- Easy to adjust
- Great value
- Not too heavy (5 pounds)
- Comes with grill
Cons:
- Not for cast iron cookware
Stansport Cast Iron Camping Tripod
The Stansport Cast Iron Camping Tripod is a better choice for people who want to cook hearty stews in heavy pots.
Just to be clear, the tripod itself isn’t made of cast iron. (And you wouldn’t want it to be, as that’s definitely not the best material for a tripod!) But this is the perfect choice for people using heavy iron pots and pans, as it’s strong enough to support them.
That reinforcement makes the tripod more than twice as heavy as the best value pick, but it’s worth it if you’ll be cooking a lot of outdoor meals. The wide legs anchor well into the ground, but they don’t lock into place. That means you couldn’t use it securely on a concrete floor.
Overall, user reviews are positive. People love how long this thing lasts and say that it’s perfect for a smaller campfire. But some people are pretty miffed that it doesn’t come with the pot in the picture.
So just be aware that you are purchasing the tripod only!
Pros:
- Strong
- Suitable for cast iron pots
- Lead-free
Cons:
- Not for hard surfaces
- No pot included
Diliboz Campfire Tripod
I like to keep my campfires small and manageable, so I’d keep things simple with the Diliboz Tripod.
This little tripod is a fantastic choice for backpackers. It weighs only 3 pounds, but it can hold up to 100 pounds! The heavy-duty steel is perfect for open-fire cooking, and it’s a popular choice among more experienced outdoors people.
With this tripod, you don’t have to drive the legs into the ground, so you can use it on pretty much any surface. I much prefer cooking with sturdy little tripods like this because there is no faffing to get them set up, and you know it won’t collapse on you.
Though this is nice and secure, it still folds down small for portability. If you aren’t hiking far, you could attach it to the outside of your backpack and use it when you set up on the trails.
For me, this offers the perfect balance between portability and functionality. It’s a no-brainer!
Pros:
- Portable
- Strong
- Great for backpacking
- Use on any surface
- Great value
Cons:
- Not for bigger campfires
Xergur Camping Tripod Board
You can get away with that last tripod for a short hike, but it’s going to weigh you down on a more adventurous camp. If you’ll be covering large distances on foot, you could check out the Xergur Tripod Board.
This little tool helps you secure three branches as your tripod legs, so you can enjoy campfire cooking without lugging a heavy tripod along the trails with you.
This tripod board may be lightweight and simple, but it’s functional, too. The chain and pin will help you adjust your pots to the correct height, so you don’t have to worry about scorching your breakfast.
You’ll have to find and cut some suitable fallen branches, so it’s not the best choice for camping in areas without tree cover.
But I think this device is super handy for the right situation, and it’s good to see how much the users like it, too.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Adjustable pot height
- Great for thru-hikers
Cons:
- Have to find and cut the branches
Stansport Grill Tripod Cooker
The Stansport Grill Tripod Cooker is pretty similar to my best value Coleman pick, but the grill is slightly bigger, with a diameter of 18 inches.
This model is an affordable and effective tripod grill, but it will not support as much weight as some of the heavier and sturdier models. I recommend this for lightweight camping equipment and not for a cast iron dutch oven.
This grill is quick and easy to set up, and you can adjust the height to the size of your fire. The grate does get black after each use, so I’d recommend that you quickly clean it after every campfire.
This way, you’ll prevent it from getting so dirty that you can’t salvage it down the line!
All in all, this is an affordable and lightweight option that’ll be fine for most campers. You just need to take care of it so it can take care of you!
Pros:
- Affordable
- Easy to set up
- Grill included
Cons:
- Not for cast iron cookware
- Needs regular cleaning
Jak BBQ J 1001 Charcoal Tripod Grilling Set
This last recommendation seems like a nice bit of kit. But it doesn’t have many user reviews yet, so it’s too early to say whether it performs well.
The Jak BBQ Grilling Set comes with a small fire pit, which will help protect your family from accidental wildfires. It also has a grill, but you’ll need to get your own pot for any more serious cooking.
I think the set looks sleek, and I’m excited to hear more feedback from campers who have used it. Only time will tell!
Pros:
- Looks great
- Comes with a fire pit and grill
Cons:
- It doesn’t have many user reviews
Campfire Tripods Buying Guide
I sifted through so many junky tripods before coming up with my list of recommendations. Proceed with caution if you want to buy one that I didn’t mention in this article.
But if you have found another one you think you’d like to get, the following pointers will help you figure out whether it’s up to the job.
Materials
I would go for a steel tripod because it offers a good balance between weight and strength. Also, make sure it’s free of toxic materials like lead, which you don’t want anywhere near your food!
Some tripods are painted, and I wouldn’t go for these. Over time, you may find that the paint flakes off into your meal—not the garnish you had in mind!
Assembly
You also want to get the right balance between being easy to set up but still nice and strong. A collapsible tripod might seem convenient, but that won’t be the case if it folds itself away mid-meal.
The best way to check this out is to read user reviews.
Portability
If you’re car camping, portability isn’t such a big deal. But backpackers and thru-hikers need to choose more sensibly.
I know that a crackling campfire is a lovely, romantic idea, but honestly you might be better off with a lightweight gas cooking system that you can rely on, especially if you’ll be far from civilization!
If you’re determined to go with a tripod, bring something more compact, like the Diliboz Campfire Tripod or the tripod board that I recommended for backpackers.
Legs
The tripod legs are pretty important. Often, you’ll find that they’re sharpened like spears, and you need to drive them into the ground.
So if you’re camping on a rocky landscape, that could be a bit tricky to manage. (But it’ll be fine in the forest or on the beach!)
I prefer to go for free-standing legs, which are secure on any hard surface. But these tripods tend to be quite a bit smaller, so they won’t be as handy for large campfires or fire pits.
FAQs
How do you put a tripod on a fire pit?
Setting up a tripod over a fire pit is super easy. The legs will go outside the fire pit, so the highest point of the tripod is lined up with the center of the fire.
But depending on the size of the firepit, your tripod might not be big enough.
How do you install a tripod grill?
Installing a tripod grill is straightforward. Most tripods come with an S hook at the highest point; you can clip your grill chain to this hook in seconds.
Usually, you can adjust the height of the grill depending on what you’re cooking and the size of the fire. It will take some trial and error to perfect your technique.
Can you use a tripod as a lantern hanger?
Yes, you can use a campfire tripod as a lantern hanger. This can help you cast the light farther, but there’s no harm in setting your lantern on a table or the ground instead.
Final Thoughts
Tripods make cooking on a campfire a breeze. But you don’t want to waste your money on a junky one that’ll buckle under the slightest weight.
If I were you, I’d go for the Stansport Cast Iron Camping Tripod in most situations. Having said that, I do love the Diliboz Campfire Tripod, which would be more suitable for backpacking and wild camping.
If you’re on a budget, the Coleman Tripod Grill will probably be fine. Just don’t stack too much weight on it because it’s not designed for cast iron pots.
I hope you found this article on the best campfire tripods helpful, and I wish you many happy camping adventures!
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Rachel Horne
Rachel is a freelance adventure writer and founder of Highly Sensitive Nomad. When she isn’t writing, she can be found wild camping in the mountains and swimming in the lakes of Europe.
