Zorali Pack and Stash Fireplace – Review

Hilary has a soft spot for a warm outdoor fireplace, so we slung her the Pack and Stash Fireplace from Zorali in exchange for a piping hot review. Here’s what she thought of the portable metal toe warmer and potato roaster.

Remember the wholesome family Sunday outings at a nearby picturesque picnic area, with wicker baskets, enamel mugs, every kitchen utensil you don’t need, a litre of tomato sauce, and a burnt sausage in hand? 

These experiences were some of my happiest memories as a kid, and I’ve recently started to bring back the same wholesome vibes on weekends when I’m staying close to home.

So one Sunday arvo my friends and I came together for a campfire lunch at a local picnic area, to catch up, soak up the bush, and eat some (hopefully) delicious tucker.

As the picnic area was sans fireplace, we had to BYO. Cue, the portable and practical Zorali Pack and Stash Fireplace. 

I’ve seen a lot of iterations of the portable fireplace and was keen to put this reasonably lightweight, slimline version to the test.

Like most Zorali products, this Pack and Stash Fireplace has a modern design, and can be easily carried, thrown in the car, van or caravan and like all Zorali products, comes with a lifetime warranty. Which, to be honest, is pretty vital when you see the $280 price tag, combined with the relatively minimalist design, which had me questioning its durability.

I’m (very) fussy when it comes to gear, and as a regular camper and red-wine-by-the-fire lover, I really hoped this fireplace would become my new must-have camping buddy.

A good campfire has a few essential qualities, which I put to the test during its inaugural outing.

Ambience

Despite its seemingly small size (42 x 42cm) once it got going, the size of the fire is enough to keep the toes toasty and provide a pleasing ambience.

Due to the small size of the firebox, you can’t put too much wood in at once, so it stays pretty contained. This is a benefit if there are kids or pets around, as it seems safer than the usual built-in fire pits which can get a bit unruly.

Fuel

Being a fireplace, wood is most definitely required.

Now, I ALWAYS bring my own wood (as you should too, the critters call those scavenged logs home!) and I made an effort to bring smaller logs (about 30cm long), which worked well.

Although the unit is pretty sturdy, I wouldn’t feel comfortable draping long, heavy logs over it, or having them stick out too much. This makes the size of the wood a bit limiting, so keep that in mind when sourcing/buying wood.

Read more: 19 Camping Meals to Make Camp Cooking a Breeze

Coals

Coals are essential to cook on, as we know from many a childhood campfire. Just fire = raw, charcoal-encrusted sausages.

The small grate that sits within the bottom of the fireplace means air can be drawn in from the underneath to help burn through wood quickly to build coals.

Due to the small size, it’s hard to have both a fire and coals simultaneously, so if you’re using it predominantly to cook, understand that it might lack a bit of heat while you sizzle your snags.

Read more: Campfire Baked Potatoes

Set Up & Pack Down

In true form, I didn’t read the instructions prior to setting up, but it’s pretty simple and intuitive, so that’s a big plus!

The solid baseplate is good for preventing fire from spreading, although it means you need a flat surface, which could be tricky in some situations. 

The grill bridge and grate fit on easily and are super adjustable, so you can change the height depending on your preferred fire intensity. 

My only issue was when it came to packing up and we had all of these hot coals we had to deal with. Being the responsible person I am, I didn’t want to dump them in the bush, for both enviro and fire safety reasons. 

This reason alone has me questioning if this fireplace is good for day trips or best saved for extended camping trips where you can let it go out at the end of the night and deal with the coals the next morning.

A sealable, metal bucket would be a good item to have if you plan on using this fireplace regularly and want to have minimal impact on the environment.

Price

To be honest, the price tag seemed a bit steep for me, as someone that enjoys a meal cooked on a fire, but more as a novelty than on-the-reg. 

It’s a lot of effort (wood, waiting, stoking, tidying up afterwards), but for a larger group in the right setting, it’d be well worth it.

I’m sure I’ll pull the Pack and Stash Fireplace out of the garage a couple of times a year for the occasional picnic/camping trip, and over its lifetime cost-per-use will make sense. But right now, as a fun bit of unessential kit, forking out $250+ puts me off. Time will tell if it’s worth the higher price tag…..

Final Thoughts

Our group thoroughly enjoyed our perfectly crusty, slightly charred, and smoky baked potatoes, and all left the picnic feeling a little more relaxed, satisfied, and smug after a wholesome afternoon out in the bush.

I’ve stashed the fireplace away in the garage, looking more charred and rustic now that it’s been put through the fire (literally), ready and waiting for the next opportunity to bake a spud or sizzle a snag.

As much as I love a campfire, the availability of built-in fire pits at my favourite campsites will probably mean the Zorali Pack and Stash Fireplace will gather dust for a few months until its unique ability to conjure a safe, food-friendly fireplace out of nowhere is required.

Hilary was sent the Pack and Stash Fireplace by Zorali and was allowed to keep it afterwards, the views are her own.