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Here’s what to look for in a good campfire poker if you’re looking to buy one. Read on!
Although a fireplace poker stick may seem like an unimportant tool, it is one of the most crucial items you should always have with you when you go camping. A fire poker helps you manage the fire, turn the wood, and manage external sparks.
While it might seem like any old long stick would suffice, it’s best to use a specially-made poker for added safety and to avoid endangering yourself or the fire.
Below are some of the important features to consider when buying a fire poker.
What's Inside
Handle
Before everything else, the handle is the most important factor to take into account. For safety purposes, it is necessary to use a different material for the handle and the stick’s rod. This prevents the heat from spreading through the stick and burning your hands.
The fire poker handle is made of large genuine wood. In addition, this fire poker has an ergonomic design to allow you to hold and move hot logs and coals with ease, thanks to the hook on the end of the compact fire poker.
Single vs. Multiple Piece Fire Pokers
The most common model type is the single piece, which is simply one length of the stick but accomplishes the job fine.
For multiple-piece type sticks, many pieces of wood are connected. These models are ideal for multiple uses, such as inside and outdoor fire pits.
The 2-piece design of campfire poker makes it simple to install and disassemble, and it can be carried from your home to the camping site with ease since it’s smaller.
Build Material and Stick Durability
The material used will determine how long the sticks will last. Since heavy-duty stainless steel can resist any extreme temperatures that the pits or fires may throw at it, the best sticks are constructed using this material.
However, it is not a must the stick material be stainless steel or iron; simple, high-quality wrought iron would still work. Wrought iron rods are significantly more affordable and as useful for poking.
A premium, durable campfire poker has a 0.6-in diameter shaft and is made of heavy-duty, carbon-rich steel. It is also powder coated with heat-resistant matt black paint.
Type of Hook
The poker stick’s hook design is the last thing you need to think about. This is crucial because it will show you how the poker will contact the flames.
There are various hook varieties available here, including circular hooks, fork hooks with prongs, plain, sharp, pointed hooks, and rake- or fishhook-shaped hooks. Depending on how comfortable you are pulling up logs, you could prefer the rake or fish hook types for the outdoors.
The Takeaway
One of the finest aspects of camping is gathering around the campfire, and thanks to the campfire poker, you can enjoy yourself without having to worry about getting burned.
The best fire poker should have a sturdy steel construction and rust- and corrosion-resistant black coating.
The length of the handle should be ideal for reaching into the fire to shift wood around.
