This is not a review as the tripod was not thoroughly tested across a range of conditions. It was bought as part of a Wilkinson's sale package that seemed good value with a pair of large billy cans and some enamelware, but it was the main thing I wanted.
Positives first - the aluminium tripod is light and sturdier than it first appears. Packed size in its own bag is 73cm, extended on its telescopic legs it's 133.5cm high with a sturdy adjusting chain to hang the pot from. The 3-section legs operated smoothly and the button-catches were a little fiddly but locked the legs out effectively.
So, I took it with me to my local Wildlife Trust work day - a hot meal is provided for the volunteers during the winter. The legs flexed under the weight of the Dutch oven but it held steady and seemed safe. The fire was large and hot, being a mixture of cuttings from hedgerow scrub we were clearing, and the tripod was placed over one end with one leg in the hot ash = FAIL! Before we could hang the pot, the tripod leg had melted away and the tripod collapsed over, no harm done.
The instructions give no warning about excessive heat and it seems reasonable to me that a fire tripod should withstand the heat of a wood fire, albeit a big one. Maybe it would be OK over a small fire but I'd not trust it - be warned if you have one.
My advice - if you want a fire tripod, buy a solid iron-rod one from one of the makers on here.
Positives first - the aluminium tripod is light and sturdier than it first appears. Packed size in its own bag is 73cm, extended on its telescopic legs it's 133.5cm high with a sturdy adjusting chain to hang the pot from. The 3-section legs operated smoothly and the button-catches were a little fiddly but locked the legs out effectively.
So, I took it with me to my local Wildlife Trust work day - a hot meal is provided for the volunteers during the winter. The legs flexed under the weight of the Dutch oven but it held steady and seemed safe. The fire was large and hot, being a mixture of cuttings from hedgerow scrub we were clearing, and the tripod was placed over one end with one leg in the hot ash = FAIL! Before we could hang the pot, the tripod leg had melted away and the tripod collapsed over, no harm done.
The instructions give no warning about excessive heat and it seems reasonable to me that a fire tripod should withstand the heat of a wood fire, albeit a big one. Maybe it would be OK over a small fire but I'd not trust it - be warned if you have one.
My advice - if you want a fire tripod, buy a solid iron-rod one from one of the makers on here.
