Duraflame Logs to Circumvent Firewood Transporting Laws?

lysol

Explorer
A lot of places don't allow you to take your own firewood. Would Duraflame logs suffice instead?

If anything, I guess it wouldn't hurt to bring a few just in case you need a fire and everything is wet.

I'm curious if anyone has used Duraflame type logs for camping.
 

pugslyyy

Expedition Vehicle Engineer Guy
I always carry a few of those "toxic logs" with me, they do the job in a pinch.
 

SD07NISMO

Observer
I tried burning two of those logs at once one time for a campfire. It burned a lot differently, thick black smoke instead of the usual steady flame. I think they are designed to burn best at a very specific temperature. Also, sitting around the fire everything ended up smelling like parafin wax at the end of the night.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
 

Quest4ADV

Adventurer
Check these out. http://ecogrillusa.com/products/eco-grill


My GF ordered three of them recently to test out for a project. They are kind of expensive, but except for the plastic wrap they're encased in, you just burn the whole log and there's nothing to clean up.

As soon as it drops below 1000 degrees here in FL we'll be trying one :ylsmoke:
 

sourdough

Adventurer
For the reasons mentioned and more, I purchased a Camp Fire in a Can. Works great, less hassel. Now I understand why people buy a 12v frig/freezer, my next purchase.
 

mhiscox

Expedition Leader
I've used Duraflame logs often and consider them an excellent alternative if all you're looking for is "I'm sitting around a campfire" ambiance. I've not had much problem with the smell or having them burning cleanly. It's helpful if its elevated off the ground somehow so air gets all around it.

The biggest problem is that they are boring, and that they are boring for three hours. Once started, they burn pretty much uniformly until they're done or you kill them for good. It's kludgey--and semi-dangerous, according to product instructions--to poke at them and try to break them up. Still, I find them the time savings (and cost savings, given the price of at-your-site firewood) considerable. It seems to me to be one of those "get 75% of the benefit with 10% of the effort" tradeoffs that are sometimes the way to go.

FWIW, I also have a Campfire in a Can and think it's great. Easier than a real campfire but with adequate campfire ambiance. But it's a good deal more complicated to transport and store, and to keep from getting things sooty when handling. Highly recommended, but still nowhere near as easy as the somewhat-cheesy Duraflames.
 

trailscape

Explorer
For the price of the duraflame log, it's still relatively cheaper and easier to just hit a local store and grab a bundle of firewood whenever you reach a new state. Once you plan on leaving said state, just leave any extra in the campsite for the next guy. I haven't really had any issue finding firewood for about 3 bucks a bundle. One thing for certain, I sure as hell wouldn't want to roast anything over a duraflame.
 

PJC

Observer
Been using these as camp fire starters for years. Keep the wrapping on and they store and travel quite well.

Buy a bunch at the end of the fireplace season and save bucks.

Good Stuff...Happy Camper
 

mhiscox

Expedition Leader
I haven't really had any issue finding firewood for about 3 bucks a bundle.
I sure have. Must be because we're surrounded by trees. :sombrero:


One thing for certain, I sure as hell wouldn't want to roast anything over a duraflame.
No, that would be wrong in many ways. (Though to be anal about it, given the findings about the carcinogens in wood smoke, you might not want to cook much over a campfire, either. Also . . . http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/19908)
 

lysol

Explorer
For the price of the duraflame log, it's still relatively cheaper and easier to just hit a local store and grab a bundle of firewood whenever you reach a new state. Once you plan on leaving said state, just leave any extra in the campsite for the next guy. I haven't really had any issue finding firewood for about 3 bucks a bundle. One thing for certain, I sure as hell wouldn't want to roast anything over a duraflame.

This is what I would normally plan to do. There are however a few states that specify that you cannot transport firewood more than like 50 miles from it's origin. Not sure how much that is enforced or whatnot though.

I fully agree with you guys that they are boring. When I was in Vegas, we would get the Crackle Flame Duraflame logs for our home firepit to help with the "boringness" but it just isn't the same. I'll probably just take a few so that if my real firewood get's wet, the duraflames could help dry out the real stuff. Otherwise, I'd be screwed.
 

Woods

Explorer
You guys want boring then come camping in the local mountains with me. When there's no camp fires allowed we break out the smudge pot. Legal cheap heat, but not much in the way of personality. We haven't tried to roast anything on it, but have talked about it. Does make a chuffing sound. Guess that's it's personality.
 

lysol

Explorer
Reviving for another question. I wonder how many of these logs it would take for enough fire for 1 night.
 

Corey

OverCamping Specialist
I too have used them as a fire starter, and also used the much smaller packs or wax/sawdust fire starters.
A lot of the places where I go for free has no firewood down so to speak, or the wood is wet, so these are a great catalyst to get a fire going.

I also now have the Camp Fire In A Can as the area where I go in summer often will have a burn ban in effect for campfires, but the CFIAC can always be used during a campfire ban.
 

madmax718

Explorer
If its not drafty, the duraflame xl size I can get about 2.5 good hours, and then a trickle of a fire for the next 30 min or so.
 

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