I'm going where thar ain't no campfire grates - the edge of civilization as we know it! I have some iron grates that mules just to lug around for me, but I don't have one light enough to carry on my own aging back. I've looked at the Purchell Trench, and it seems well made, but I have a question that people here might be the best source for - Does anyone grill BWCA fish? I'm sure a Laker might work, but I've only fried everything else, and those darned Y bones would make eating it from the whole carcus a real chore. I've seen some pictures on other threads here of fish fillets on a Voyagers model, but I'm not sure how good that works compared to frying.

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions for a lightweight, yet durable campfire grate.

I have a trip planned for this September, and I will be buying a Purcell Trench grill for sure. I think the larger one is the one I'll be getting. I also plan on grilling some fish, but my way will probably be to wrap the skinless fish in foil with some olive oil and seasoning, and just lay the foil packet on the grill. That's what I plan on doing anyway.

If you can't swing the price of the Purcell. The GSI works fine but it's a bit heavier

DIMENSIONS 16.25" x 8.125"
WEIGHT 1 lb 6.2 oz
DIMENSIONS 16.10" x 8.20" x 0.50"
MATERIAL Steel

$9.99







GSI grill

Lamplig stainless trivet from Ikea - $6.99.

Purcell Is the way to go if you can afford it. I Love mine and it is priceless in utility.
SunCatcher



Cooking Steak first night, and boiling water, etc.
I slide mine in the front of my pack opposite the straps.
Rides nice there and comes with handy carrying case.

Purcell fan too.




T

I bought this grate at Cub Foods on clearance from their grilling section last summer. Regularly priced at $15 or something, bought it for $5.

There's some kind of black coating all over it--would this be safe to use on a campfire? I would imagine so if it was intended to be used in a grill, but you never know.

Shown with MSR MiniWorks for size.

That looks like a cookie cooling grid. The coating is probably a teflon or similar coating. Probably not a good idea as a grill, but I'm leary of meatal coatings for food.

quote TallMatt: "I bought this grate at Cub Foods on clearance from their grilling section last summer. Regularly priced at $15 or something, bought it for $5.


There's some kind of black coating all over it--would this be safe to use on a campfire? I would imagine so if it was intended to be used in a grill, but you never know.


Shown with MSR MiniWorks for size.


"

That's for using on a grill to cook things like fish and vegetables on. I really don't think it would hold up to well as a cooking grate.

I carry one of the grill baskets and I keep all of my foil in precut pieces in it.
Wrap lake trout or wally in foil and add seasoning and use this to cook.

Grill basket

quote OldFingers57: "
That's for using on a grill to cook things like fish and vegetables on. I really don't think it would hold up to well as a cooking grate."

I plan on putting it on top of the fire grates (don't do any quetico or PMA) for steaks, fish, etc. Guess I could just use tinfoil?

Check and see if you have an old Weber grill or Smokey Joe lying around. That is what we always bring into the woods. It is lite weight and very durable. If you do not have one then look around this spring. People are always throwing out old grills. We just bungy them to the backpack and we are set to portage.

quote SunCatcher: "Purcell Is the way to go if you can afford it. I Love mine and it is priceless in utility.
SunCatcher





Cooking Steak first night, and boiling water, etc.
I slide mine in the front of my pack opposite the straps.
Rides nice there and comes with handy carrying case."

Thanks for posting info for the Purcell grill SunCatcher. I've wanted one of those for a while after seeing it posted on another site. Until now, I could never track down the manufacturer's name.

Hans Solo

+ on the Purcell.

Purcells seem nice, but let's face it- waaaaay overpriced and just not quite wide enough. I've been using, with success, the stainless grate from a small portable gas grill. I'd estimate the dimensions to be about 9x15". Can't weigh much more than some of the Purcell models, and if you've already got a grill like this- free! Cardboard and some duct tape make a nice, light sleeve to pack grill away in.

I've been watching this thread with interest to see if anyone would suggest the $239 Slatgrill. When I saw that product for the first time, my first thought was "Cool!" Then I saw the price. Has anyone bought one of those?

I have a Purcell as well. I love the thing.

quote Jackfish: "I've been watching this thread with interest to see if anyone would suggest the $239 Slatgrill. When I saw that product for the first time, my first thought was "Cool!" Then I saw the price. Has anyone bought one of those?"

I think that price is for the titanium model which weighs only ~1 pound which is amazing. I don't have one but I've played around with one. Very solid. If you like to cook over fire, you would like it. It is large enough that you can get some coals burning but it isn't huge.

The Purcell Trench is probably more functional for cooking over a traditional fire. For grilling meat or fish directly on the grate, get the model like mine that has the diamond pattern grate on top of the tubes/bars. That prevents the meat from falling between the bars.

if weight/size is a huge priority and you have $ to burn..... i saw the (slatgrills.com) at the MWM show. they are very versatile and you can slide 1 of those small burners in them.the titanium 1 was show priced at $189.00.... but i just bring in a flipp'n grate wheather there's a fire grate or not, there cheap and nice, you can slap almost anything in them.

quote Jackfish: "I've been watching this thread with interest to see if anyone would suggest the $239 Slatgrill. When I saw that product for the first time, my first thought was "Cool!" Then I saw the price. Has anyone bought one of those?"

It better come with 4 - 14 OZ Kobi Ribeyes and 4 10 oz Lobster tails and a case of beer. But even then it's over priced :-)

Ordered a Purcell Trench Voyager. What a delightful fellow.

quote Beaverjack: "Ordered a Purcell Trench Voyager. What a delightful fellow."

You will love it, and the guy is great!!

My vote goes with crutch5. I use an old round Weber grill. take a few feet of baleing wire along and grab three dead poles and hang the grill from a tripod, or lay it across some rocks, works for me. Made a stuff sack to keep the black off of the other gear when packing it. I don't know for sure but an oldtimer told me to never use a fridge rack as they give off toxins when heated, don't know for sure by why tempt fate. FRED

Fred, some of the old time fridge's used galvanized metal. Galvanization I think is Zinc coated, and when heated gives off a gas??? I think that is why the old timers said that, not supposed to breath galvanized smoke.
The think about Purcell trench grills are they are made of HOLLOW tubular Stainless, and are hand made and welded. This is a work of art and takes a person with the correct skill sets to take this material and make such a product. They are worth every penny, because of their strength, light weight, durability, and construction.
I wouldn't give you $.02 for a slat grill (just me) looked at em several times and not for me.
SunCatcher

quote SunCatcher: "Fred, some of the old time fridge's used galvanized metal. Galvanization I think is Zinc coated, and when heated gives off a gas??? I think that is why the old timers said that, not supposed to breath galvanized smoke.
The think about Purcell trench grills are they are made of HOLLOW tubular Stainless, and are hand made and welded. This is a work of art and takes a person with the correct skill sets to take this material and make such a product. They are worth every penny, because of their strength, light weight, durability, and construction.
I wouldn't give you $.02 for a slat grill (just me) looked at em several times and not for me.
SunCatcher"

I'll give you $.02 each for as many as you want to sell Paul.

Purcell for those who like to travel light sells sticks simple titanium rods that you support using logs or rocks they work great...

I made my own slat grill from an old aluminum street sign. The dimensions were a little bigger. I made mine 24" wide, so that I could get 2 10" fry pans on it. It also fits in my Granite Gear pack vertically. I also made mine a little taller, so that I could use my MSR Dragonfly stove. I set it up to accomodate 2 Dragonfly stoves. Most of the weight is in the stainless steel grill bars. I have made some aluminum grill bars, but have not tested them yet.

It was easy to cut the slats on my table saw. It was a little loud, but the aluminum was thin enough that I just used a plywood cutting blade.

I do like the simplicity of the Purcell Trench Grill. I would opt for the Streamside Voyagers Grill.

Ok, I got my Purcell, and am trying to figure out how to fit it in my pack without it getting all bent up. It fits nice on the outside in the lil' side pocket, strapped at the top, but that precludes laying the pack on its side.

I have one of these! Love it.



roll up grill grate