There’s more than one way to build a campfire

Have you heard the term ‘there’s more than one way to skin a cat’? That saying provides strange imagery, but nonetheless, it simply means there are many ways to do something. Just like there are many ways to camp, there is more than one way to build a campfire. Want to learn a few more? You’ve come to the right yarn.

1. Teepee fire

Arguably, the most common way to build a campfire is the teepee setup. When the wind isn’t too strong, the teepee fire is going to provide a large amount of warmth and is perfect for late-night campfire stories.

To build the teepee campfire, you need to place all of your kindling in the middle of the campfire pit. Next, form a teepee with medium to large-sized sticks and branches. This means you need to create a triangle shape where they meet at the top and spread out at the bottom. Create gaps to make sure that the air can still get inside, as this is how you get it to really start roaring.

Then you want to light your kindling with a match or lighter and begin to blow air from your mouth to help promote oxygen that will feed the fire. Eventually, as the flames get higher, the teepee you built will light up and you’re all set. All that’s left to do is grab a bag of marshmallows and gather your mates.

Keep in mind that when you build a campfire this way, it burns really hot so you will often burn through fuel logs quickly. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a supply at the ready to continually add to the fire. 

2. Lean-to fire

Don’t let strong winds ruin your campfire evening. A lean-to-campfire is one hack to protect the fire from winds so it can roar all night long. Although it can take a little longer to build this campfire, it champions a stable structure which is your best mate when the elements are playing up. 

To build a lean-to campfire, assort your kindling in a small tipi structure. Above the kindling, you want to lay one log horizontally with roughly four logs vertically, leaning on the horizontal log. This structure provides protection for the smaller kindling at the important stage of getting the fire going.

One thing to keep in mind is that it won’t burn as intensely as other styles of campfire and it doesn’t really radiate heat in all directions.

3. The star

As one of the most aesthetically pleasing ways to build a campfire, the star looks like the typical drawing of a star. To build, you’ll need to first create a tipi kindling structure in the centre of your fire pit. Then, place logs surrounding it and pointing outwards like the points of a star. It’s easy to both build and put out, which makes it the ideal campfire build for stops on a hike or a backpacking trip.

This type of campfire build isn’t going to produce large flames and create a roaring fire. However, it requires little maintenance and has the ability to continue burning all evening long.

4. Log cabin

Unlike your holiday log cabin in the snowy mountains, the campfire log cabin is a structure you can build purely to set on fire. To create, you’ll need to gather kindling and create a small tipi that you’ll set alight. You’ll then begin to build the structure that surrounds it, mimicking a giant Jenga. Place a log on either side of the kindling, followed by another two logs placed on top of these at each end so it creates a box shape. Continue to build the campfire upwards in this same way until a square structure has been built. Having logs roughly the same shape and size will allow you to create a stable structure.

With the shape forcing the flames up, the log cabin works to burn from the inside out.

Each camping trip comes with different weather conditions and varying uses for campfires. If you’re a seasoned teepee maker, try your hand at building another campfire style. Whether it’s one we’ve listed or another you’ve discovered, there are so many cool ways to create a fiery pit of warmth at your campsite to sit and make memories around.