GrillGuard Stove Windscreen

GrillGuard Stove Windscreen We jump on them when we come across them—exciting new camp cooking accessories that work great and either make our lives easier or solve a problem. The GrillGuard is such a device, and once we saw it demonstrated at an RV show, we realized it would improve our camp meal preparation and enjoyment. The GrillGuard is billed as a windscreen, heat shield and fire–guard made from .032–inch aluminum. Full–length piano hinges join the bottom, back and side panels, and small hinges with pin clips secure the side panels to the base when it is set up. Broken down, the unit folds flat for easy storage and transport, perfect for car camping or RVing. Our first GrillGuard was the standard unit that measures 24x18x18 inches and can fit a Coleman-type stove or one of the small combination stove/grille units. We also use the smaller GrillGuard to hold a pair of 8- and 12-inch Dutch ovens. We also added a larger model to our camp kit that’s 28-inches wide, but the same depth and height as the original. With a brisk wind gusting, much of the heat from a propane stove or Dutch oven setup can be blown away, and it’s possible to have the fire blown out if the wind is bad enough. With the GrillGuard, we have found that it not only provides superb wind protection—even for our charcoal-briquette Dutch oven cooking—but its aluminum surface also reflects heat back that would otherwise be lost to the cosmos. For campers who frequently stack Dutch ovens or want to use a tall turkey deep-fryer or crab cooker, for example, there’s also a 24-inch-wide GrillGuard that measures 28 inches tall for extra wind protection. In its heat-shield capacity, the unit helps protect the surface on which it is used. You can’t build a fire (using charcoal briquettes, for example) right on the aluminum surface because it will damage and probably ruin the metal. We use steel plates to support our Dutch ovens, and those plates also contain the briquettes, so nothing but some radiant heat reaches the aluminum. The average propane stove that gets a bit hot on its bottom surface has that heat mostly reflected back when used with the GrillGuard, and the aluminum is warm to the touch but not enough to scorch a wood table surface. As a fire-guard, a metal device that helps corral the various civilized flames and wild sparks that are part of our camp cooking process is a welcome addition. In a campground surrounded by an extra-dry forest, any further measure of safety is a good one. We haven’t done any scientific measurements of propane fuel used or time to boil water or any such tests, but we know that the extra heat we feel when we reach between the Dutch oven and the sides of the GrillGuard means heat is somewhat contained and is being put to good use where it belongs. We also have far less briquette ash blowing around when using the units. The original 24-inch GrillGuard retails for $64.95. The 28-inch model retails for $79.95. Other sizes are available, and the manufacturer can also accommodate custom requests as special orders. We’ve used the GrillGuards from the Oregon coast to the blustery high desert and it’s been a welcome and permanent addition to our camping hardware selection. Outdoor Adventure Products: 800- 866- 4165; www.grillguard.com