Oxygen is one of the three essential elements of a fire. But it’s the easiest one to neglect when you’re busy with the other two, putting fuel on the flames. If any of these essential sides of the fire triangle are missing your fire will dwindle and die. These handy camping bellows will get any fire - indoors or out - roaring.
The effect of directing a stream of air into the heart of fire is powerful and will compensate for less-than bone dry wood, wet conditions or a lack of kindling. Taking bellows camping or when having a fire outdoors might seem like a luxury but these compact tools can turn a fire from a flicker into a blaze and so are always worth having in your backpack or barbecuing kit. They work just as well indoors on your wood burner too. Here are the ones we’d recommend.
Epiphany Outdoor Gear Pocket Bellows
Extendable steel
This simple telescopic tool lets you blow directly into the heart of a fire with impressive results. Made from stainless steel and pocket-sized, it extends to 20 inches so you can keep your eyebrows away from the flames and unsinged. Will fit in any survival kit and is effective enough to turn wet wood into a blaze, when camping, in your backyard, or in the house.
Amagabeli Wood Fireplace Bellows
Classic, human-powered bellows
These traditional bellows will add a rustic touch hanging by your fire. They are not just for decoration though: open them to draw air in through a hole in the bottom which is then forced out when you compress them, in a controlled and targeted stream that will get any fire blazing.
MIGI WOLF Electric Charcoal Fire Starter
Barbecue starter that blows heated air
Charcoal can be difficult to light but not when this electric starter is involved. It produces an 1100-degree airstream that can help ignite anything including charcoal, kindling, or briquets. You simply press the red trigger and your barbecue will be ablaze in 60 seconds. Releasing the trigger cuts off the air instantly.
Bottom line
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Camping bellows are an essential addition to any fire lighter’s kit. Humankind has been blowing on or fanning flames since we first discovered fire. The fire triangle of heat, fuel, and oxygen only works when all three elements are present. Bellows allow you to get oxygen right to the heart of your blaze. Our favorite is the Epiphany Outdoor Gear Pocket Bellows. This classic design is simple but incredibly effective and compact enough to keep in your backpack. We wouldn’t want to start a campfire without one.
If you want more of a technological gadget the MIGI WOLF Electric Charcoal Fire Starter works well for igniting barbecue charcoal in just 60 seconds. It means you don’t need to use any chemical starters that might taint your precious steaks and burgers either.
