Campers need to have everything planned out to have a good trip. This is to avoid pitfalls which might affect the outcome of the camp. Firewoods are considered an important factor when it comes to making campfires and having a nice time on the trip.
However, making that suitable firewood for your camping can be complicated. When you ask yourself the question, How much firewood do I need for camping? You require some precise answers, which we will discuss today. Here is a chart depicting the duration and firewood needed for camping.
You will need about 3 to 6 bundles of firewood daily during camping. However, it is possible that you will require more firewood if you want to extend the fire hours. Fire during camping can be an awesome moment while discussing with your close friends and family.
Today, this guide will be about campfires, how to make firewood, factors affecting the usage of camp firewood and many other pertinent questions.
How Much Firewood Do I Need For Camping?
Firewoods used to make campfires come in many sizes and quality. While there are many woods to choose from, using the right amount of firewood is ideal to have a pleasant camping trip.
Generally, you will require about 5-6 firewoods hourly, however for cooking it could rise to 8 to 10 firewood logs per hour. Moreover, in many cases, firewoods can be bought in bundles, and a bundle contains about 5 to 6 logs.
These logs are usually pieces of wood divided about 6 and 7 inches in diameter. Sometimes, you may want to get a face cord. These face cords are woods which have been divided, split and arranged accordingly.
It is important to get a good place to store all your firewood while camping, especially for those who want a big fire. Getting a face cord is less expensive than buying small logs.
Though there are some factors which might affect fire burning time, a bundle will get you through thirty minutes to an hour. If you want three hours of fire time, you can expect tree bundles, while five bundles will last for five hours.
When considering general use, the calculations are simple. Since for cooking, you will want brighter fire, this will affect wood type.
What Factors Affect How Much Firewood I’Ll Need?
There are many things that come into play when thinking of firewood while camping. These factors are explained below.
1. Length of the trip
Definitely the longer time you spend on your camping trip will require more firewood, it is therefore necessary to take more wood if you are staying a long while.
While many campers aren’t sure of how much time they will spend on the trips, careful planning will solve these problems. This is to avoid inadequate firewood, especially when you need them the most.
2. Climate & Weather
Rainy and windy weather conditions cause harm to campfires. It is therefore important to check the weather forecast before budgeting your wood.
Generally, budgeting a higher number of firewoods during the winter and rainy season is suggested because these weather situations might reduce burning time.
3. Firewood Type
Another important factor affecting burn rate in camps is the kind of firewood you use. Hardwoods are known to burn slower and brighter than softwoods. They are also generally considered a better choice than interior mode of heating.
For softwoods, like cedar and Ash , they grow and dry out faster, which makes them a cheaper option to hardwoods. However, if you want to heat up your camping cabin, hardwoods are better because it is better seasoned. Some good types of hardwoods that burn slowly are Oak, hickory and beach, which create high heat.
4. Moisture Content
Like it was mentioned earlier, rainy seasons aren’t ideal for campfires even if it doesn’t rain in a day. Wet firewoods badly affect the rate at which fire burns, thereby leading to an increase in the number of required firewoods.
Avoid cutting down trees for fire during rainy seasons because they are usually too wet to burn bright. Damp trees won’t burn well and if they burn at all it will be dim.
5. Park Rules
This is an underrated factor when considering the amount of firewood used in camp because while it doesn’t directly affect firewood, it will help decide if there would be firewood in the first place.
Some campgrounds don’t approve of fires in pits while others allow. There are many fire bans, therefore it is ideal to check land and consult them before having a fire in your camp to avoid prosecution.
What Kind Of Firewood Should I Use For A Campfire?
Here are some suitable firewoods recommended for a campfire :
- Oak: This is a popular wood to consider when making a campfire. It is usually best when it dries, and it burns slowly. The firewood made from Oak trees is considered top quality because it is durable and burns brighter than most woods. Oak firewood can be found in most locations, especially in Central and North America.
- Hickory: Another great firewood to consider when camping is hickory because it burns fast. This is a hotter firewood than Oakwood and maple. It is a dense hardwood which is pretty difficult to split but has less water and great for cooking.
- Ash: This firewood is popularly known as Fraxinus and a member of the Oleascea family. It has about 55 different species and is known as a good firewood for camping. Ash burns easily and doesn’t have too much moisture, which makes it a prime candidate for a campfire.
- Cedar: When looking for campfires which will help you stay warm, get cedar wood. Unlike some firewood, cedar doesn’t create much flame however, it has a great heat signature. Cedar is a perfect choice for campers who want a nice smell and cozy night sleep.
While the above firewoods are great for campfires, avoid these firewoods when camping : Poplar, Willow, Alder and spruce.
How Do I Store Firewood While Camping?
Once you get to your campsite, your primary concern should be how to keep your firewood safe, so that it could burn as quickly as possible. Storing your firewood at home might be pretty easy, choosing the best way to keep it dry isn’t easy.
Many elements will go against you, like wind and water, however storing your firewood is not negotiable. Firstly, the right way to store your firewood at camps is by using tarps. Tarps such as B-air grizzly tarp help keep your firewood away from water.
Depending on the firewood amount you wish to store, you could also consider wrapping your firewood in a tarp or developing a tarp shelter. This tarp shelter is suitable for protecting your firewood from harsh weather conditions. They will keep your wood as dry as possible.
Moreover, you could also consider storing your firewoods under a picnic table if you don’t have a tarp. Picnic table, tent vestibule or a big tree are also a suitable place to store your firewood. The aim is keeping as much firewood as possible safe from water and rain.
How Do I Make My Firewood Last Longer?
When your firewood burns faster, it means you aren’t doing something right. Here are some ways to make your firewood last longer :
Using a top down technique to burn firewood
To slow down the rate of fire burning in camps, you need to create your campfire using a top-down method. Turn your firewood upside down while burning them.
This technique is best used when you have started burning your woods, keep changing the position of your wood for better results.
Avoid burning dry wood
To make your firewood last longer, stop using only dry woods. While it might be pretty difficult to stop using dry woods, because they burn quickly, you will have to pick quality over quantity.
Use firewoods which have about 20% moisture during your camping. By using firewoods with slight dampness, you will increase the lifespan of your campfire.
Hardwoods vs softwoods
Try to get hardwood logs when camping rather than softwoods. This is because hardwoods burn slower than softwoods and generate greater heat than the latter.
Softwoods might be a cheaper alternative, but hardwoods are best when you want a better fire that lasts long.
Close all openings
To make your firewood last longer while camping, impede all air supply by closing all exits like windows or vents in your camp.
Breeze and winds cause fire to burn out quickly irrespective of the woods you choose, ensure you control the air around your camp.
Conclusion
Knowing the required amount of firewood to use while camping isn’t easy. This is because it depends on several factors like wood type, weather conditions, camping duration and park regulations.
There are many types of firewood that are suitable for camping, like cedar, Oak and Ash. Poplar, spruce and willow shouldn’t be used.
Using storage methods like tarps and keeping under the tree is important while using firewood for camping. This is to make them last longer.