Excellent Video Review my Friend,,,, To me,, Snowpeak imaged, developed,,did the R/D and birthed something to enhance your experience Outdoors. Their Creativity and commitment to their design, says it all. The other firepit added Nothing in terms of creativity or enhanced design. Looking at the Bushbuddy and Solo Gasification wood stoves. At least Solo took the Bushbuddy to the Next Level,,, Great Review,,,!!!!
Thanks Joshua, Well said. I share this sentiment too- and romanticise about the Snow Peak's simple core design. Thanks for watching and taking the time to give such kind feedback. Cheers :) PS. I need to check out the BushBuddy and the Solo.
Funny to see how hung up you are on those little handles. To me, they serve a purpose & are just fine. The charcoal plate will last many years unless you leave it lying around in the rain. The additional slots/airflow are actually beneficial to the burning performance. The base clips are an absolute must for safety & should be installed on every "collapsible" fire pit. Yes the build material is very low grade, but I keep mine dry & inside the vehicle. I anticipate getting many years out of it & certainly can't justify paying 5 times as much for a nearly identical product.
Had my Kings with grill grate for nearly two years. Scored it for 103 with my ebay plus discount. It's still performing the same as when I first fired it up. Dust it off after a burn and light spray of oil. After totalling up all the mods for the snowpeak and how mines still fine over nearly two years, you could buy 14 kings units. Japs always make top stuff, but not for over 700 bucks with all the bells and whistles.
Snowpeak quality all the way 💯👍. Buy it once, cry once and it will last you forever. You'll pay less in the long run on the best quality and designed firepit. The knockoff still decent and will last a few solid years and still leaves no trace 🎉🔥
Appreciate this comment! Totally agree. I haven't looked back that's for sure. The message I try to convey to people is that if COST of the fire pit is a barrier for you to get out and enjoy the outdoors, then I'd rather you get a cheap one, and start enjoying with the rest of us. Cheers!
Great to use two sets of tongs for setting up new logs underneath the burn sections. You really get full control of the fire. When I move the firepit, I'll unload some logs and lift it by the legs before reloading ask the big logs for safety 🔥🇨🇦
When we bought our Snow Peak there were no alternatives. It's compact to carry yet large enough for a small group to use. You can see why it's been copied so much. At least you would never get stressed about theft if you owed the Kings. I don't leave our SP on display if we leave camp.
It's a great design and totally agree that it's no surprise its been copied. Thanks for watching Matt and taking the time to comment! I also pack up my Snow Peak if there are any other people around - but if we are alone/remote I usually let it burn out over night😬 PS. Just had a look at your website - really like your photo work. You could teach me a thing or two!
Do you find that you can use the fire pit in most camp sites? When I was travelling around it was pretty much you could only use the dedicated fire pit; how have you approached that?
Hey mate. We haven't been in trouble yet using our own fire pit instead of a designated spot. We usually light our own pit close to the designated spot. Common sense usually prevails. We can demonstrate we aren't leaving any trace we were there - no one seems to mind.
The Snow Peak was recommended to me by a friend alongside the Darche. Snow Peak had me sold until I saw the state (Design and rust) of the grill and for $550 where I need to purchase kit from Drifta raising the price above $650, Its a hard pass. Darche seems to be the happy medium between the Kings and the Snow Peak and its $300 for everything including a cast iron coal plate. Really appreciate the honest review and feedback Dan, subbed.
Thanks heaps for sharing Zappy. Welcome to the channel mate. Sounds like you're making a well considered decision. I'm yet to get my hands on a Darche one, just seen them in a few shops - wouldn't mind having a play. I reckon it will be comparable to the Drifta Stockton, which I really like - the big difference to the kings and snow peak is that it has a very solid (thick) base plate. Hope you get heaps of use out of whichever you've chosen :D Happy camping!😁
Have had ours 10yrs (Snow Peak), it's had *lots* of use, still in perfect nick and very nicely patina'd now. We found two half grills better, the half grill is made of the good steel and doesn't rust, not sure why they don't just make the full grill of the same steel🤷. It's good to have options of these firepits for everyone but the longevity for the $$ would still have us recommend you save up and get the SP, if you can.
I would say the same, but I do admit it seems a bit insane given such a massive price difference. It's better for the world if we all use 1 over a lifetime, and not 5.33 of them - so there is that perspective too. Have things last because its best for the world! I would love to see a pic of what it looks like at 10 years. Could you ladies email me a photo? Thanks Karyn and Kristie, great to hear from you! Cheers
Good comparison mate, very interesting. The plate on the bottom being latched on is great because like with my Drifta version, you can lift the fire pit and move it to another location without you having to worry about then having to realign the base when putting the pit back down. Plus if you do happen to knock it hard in the half dark, it’s much harder to tip the whole pit over which would be quite dangerous. And the handles make it heaps easier to empty out the ash too once it’s cooled down. I’ve found I’ve used the handles heaps for both emptying and moving. Yes the old Kings stuff is certainly made to a price and it’s certainly not the price they’re asking for the stuff. Keep up the great work mate 👍👍
Thanks heaps Grants, appreciating you watching and raising some great points! The convenience of the base plate staying attached when moving it is probably balanced out by the inconvenience of having to latch it down. Definitely a valid point about needing more force to to tip it over when its latched. I agree with that for sure. I didn't talk much about emptying out the pits - so good point there too. It would definitely be easier having the option to hold the handles. I still love the timeless simplicity/minimal design of the Snow Peak😬 I got my hands on a Drifta Stockton Fire Pit now, and will make a review down the track. The base is much more substantial - adding a lot of weight, but its far more solid when its latched together. The grill bridge seems sturdier than the kings too, and I like they have copied the X-stand design for protecting ground underneath when that's needed. Keep making great videos mate :) Dan
@@OTWD yeah there’s a bit to each of the brands. I would have always loved to have got the snow peak version but the price is considerably dearer. I found the grill plate on top rusting is a bit ordinary for the price, especially for hygienic easy cooking …. I do love my Drifta Stockton fire pit for ease of use and the sturdy grill top is great for sitting a camp oven on. I also have ( among a number of fire pits 🤣 ) the original Aussie made Drifta square fire pit which I rate very highly, the heat of that bad boy is nuts !!! thanks bud … hope my vids may help too, all about sharing champ. You keep up the good work too cheers and don’t forget - #stresslesscampmore !
Excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to make it and share it. I just recently ordered the Snowpeak and with your recommendation, I emailed Drifta and an hoping to purchase the grill net and charcoal screen. I have searched for a good replacement here in the US, but have not seen any that look as quality as Drifta. I did mention you and your video in the email I sent them. Have a great day!
Hi Angry Goat, Thanks heaps for watching and taking time to comment mate. It's encouraging to get feedback like this . You won't look back with the Snow Peak! Thanks for mentioning the video to Drifta. Which part of the US are you from? What's the weather like this time of year?
I heard a few stories of them rejecting the claim. Even if it was replaced I would rather the flat bars like the Kings or Drifta Stockton. Cheers for watching !
Thanks for the comparison video . What size is the Snow Peak featured ? We are having trouble choosing between medium and large - the purpose is mainly for warmth in cooler months for two ppl
Hi there - so sorry for taking a few weeks to reply. I do get to all comments eventually! This is the Large Snow Peak. I recommend the Large. It's not that much bigger, and not that much heavier - only consider Medium if you have a tiny vehicle for camping like a hatchback and every inch counts. Large will be a nice size fire to warm up two people 😬Cheers.
Here in Borneo we get the monsoon season (just coming to an end now). All too often camping gear gets put away, then you pull it out after monsoon... and things rusted to heck. I've rather got into the habit of buying the cheap stuff and just replacing it each season, and I suspect I'll do the same here.
Greetings all the way to Borneo 😬 Seems the peace of mind is leading you to spend a bit more upfront! I generally share the same sentiment. Thanks for watching and commenting ! Cheers
I went with the Kings version. I was comparing with the much more expensive Darche, and I honestly couldn't see a difference. The darche coal plate did look to be cast iron but you did point out there's some good quality and affordable replacements. If I was planning to use every weekend I'd maybe have gone for something better than Kings, but I couldn't justify the price.
Hi Steven, Sounds like well considered decision! I hope you make heaps of memories sitting in front of it - that's what its about. I have seen the Darche is store, but I want to get my hands on one to try! It's in similar price range to the Drifta Stockton. Best wishes mate, thanks for commenting. Cheers😁
Unless you camp every week all year round and use the firepit all the time, it's hard to justify the price of the show peak. I have the Kings and have used it quite a few times. No issues at all. Many prices are brand driven only.
Well done! I especially like the bit about selecting the right spot for the fire. I have moved our SP Takibi Fire a few times due to change of wind direction... I slid it on the ground with base and all, and lifted it by the legs (when not to full), and by grabbing the rim using gloves (when not too hot/far). I understand the issue with the SP grill. We uses an olive oil spray to improve cleaning and prevent rust. Our home BBQ grill is like the Kings. It is easier to clean but things like string beans and onion are more likely to get stuck or fall through it. Snow Peak makes great gear. We don't mind spending more for great gear. Love the SP kitchen scissor set and their folding cutting board knife combo...
Hi d church, thanks heaps for watching mate and taking time to share. Glad you are getting the similar value from Snow Peak products as I do, and well done for persevering with the grill! Agree with the points you've made! 😬
Hi Dan Ive just find your channel, great videos, learning heaps. Mate, Im about to build up my camoing gear and wondering if you would you mind telling me about your billy style kettle?
Hi Alex, thanks heaps for the encouragement and great to hear you are enjoying my videos. I've got an old (~80 years old) willow brand billy that I made a video on - which I'd love to use more, but its too prone to going rusty between uses. I bought the 'Drifta Stockton/Zebra Camp Kettle 2L' and use that as my main one now. This is a partnered product between Zebra and Drifta stockton. Zebra manufacture in Thailand and make exceptionally good value for money stainless steel cookware. The design (billy and tea pot in one) is really handy, and I put it direct on the fire without an issue. Highly recommend it. The trap with buying a billy is the aluminium ones - they wont last in the heat of a fire. Get stainless steel. Hope this helps mate. Best wishes 😬
@@OTWD thanks Dan! Not sure how easy for you is to get your hands on new products, if not apologies for asking this. In case it is, I would love to see a review between king's, snow peak and the Winnerwell Large Flat Firepit. Thanks in advance mate, have a good one.
Good video. I bought the kings based on this. I actually like the latches idea but they will probably fail and if they do i can't see that it matters. 5x the price is hard to swallow. If the kings lasts 2 years (i think it'll last longer) thats 10 years before i've recouped the money on the snowpeak. Appreciate the info you provided here.
Thanks for leaving this thoughtful comment. Sorry for lateness I took a short break from YT. Glad you bought one of these and can have great campfires like I do, they are awesome. I can absolutely empathise with that decision. Best wishes, enjoy. Cheers.😬🍻🙏
After watching the video i had a crazy idea, seeing as you can buy the snow peak pit without the add=ons for about $160 you could then buy any one of the knock-offs for $100 and combine the best of both. That gives you the better quality SP pit with the better grill plate for less than half of the full SP kit.
Hi Nick. Sorry for delay mate - I do get to all comments eventually😬...Let me go and check this theory (making sure the kings grill bridge fits on the snow peak pit). Appreciate the novel thinking and thanks for watching! Cheers mate
We bought a large Snow Peak fire pit from Drifta over 7 yrs ago, and it is still going strong. Not sure how, if needed, you could receive warranty now that Drifta no longer stock them?
Hey mate sorry for delay in replying - this is a really good point. I think you would approach Snow Peak directly. They have strong base in the US - so if language was a barrier that would help. Don't know anyone who has claimed warranty on the fire pit - even about the grill. I dont like cooking on the grill anyway so it was worth chasing replacement. I suppose the lack of stories going around shows how robust the pits are. Cheers to many more years with the Snow Peak. Thanks for watching!
Does it retain a coal base ? Only issue I have found with firepits is you can’t use a camp oven on them as the coal base burns away to quickly. P.S. to stop the grill rusting , season it as you would a frypan.
I have the small Darche fire pit and l am very happy with it. I tend to mainly use charcoal in it to cook with , little to no smoke and it reduces my demand for firewood when bush. The Darche has the handles and clip on base. I love this feature as it makes it very easy to move the firepit and l do move my fire pit a bit. For example , l cook my dinner on it and then we play card after dinner ,l can move the fire pit under the table that keeps us all toasty warm. Another great review. Thank you 🙏
Dan, I think you will find the plate section of the Snow Peak fire pits are "not" 316 Stainless. 316 is considered the most "non magnetic" grade of stainless and the plate section is definitely magnetic on my Snow Peak. I bought mine way before any of the generic copies were available and it's still going strong.
Thanks for watching! It's the Large. I recommend the Large for two or more people, although if wanting to cut weight and size the Medium could work for two people. The XL seems a bit impractical for vehicle touring, and best suited for use in the back yard. Good luck!
Good review on the two fire pits. I have the Kings brand as i couldn't afford the snow peak one from drifter being on a fixed income. My understanding of the ash plate is for when you use heat beads instead of wood, to keep the intense heat from the beads overheating the thinner metal of the fire pit, as well giving the camp oven a flat spot to sit on using a stand or legs on the bottom of the oven.
Hi Alan, Sorry for the delay mate. Thanks heaps for watching and taking time to share your comment. Glad the Kings pit is doing you good service. It's all about getting out there. I hadn't thought of the intense heat of cooking fuels potentially damaging the side walls - it stands to reason - but it would need to be pretty hot! Cheers mate
The grill by itself is not 5x more expensive (and they are usually sold as part of a kit). Quick google search shows the drifta replacement is ~$60 and the snow peak is around ~$90 in Aus. Still, the SP grill sucks!😁
Thanks Dan ! I dont have much money to throw around and your comparison review is up there with the best and by far more informative...... as for the coal grate, thats all it is, even if it was cast iron it would still rust, however, its a functional clean cooking appliance.
Hello Sir, sorry for delay! Took a bit of a break. Back now. Glad you enjoyed the video. Being able to choose between these two fire pits is a highly privileged position to be in by itself. Many people would be saving a long time for the Kings or another alternate. In my eyes, I hope people can have either and enjoy camp fires as much as I do. I think Drifta Stockton are onto a winner with the mesh grate over the cast Iron. Cheers.
I have had an expensive branded pit, which ended up on the high way due to the dirty gear bag tearing on a trip, 😢, now running a Kings pit. The price was the clincher for me. After burning gidgie in it, pretty well non stop for 2 weeks, and cooking on it just about every meal in that time, i cant fault it. I did feel your review was fairly biased, and leaned well away from kings. I do agree a kigs pit will not last as long due to the material, but to be fair, if you get 2 years out of it, and replace it 5 times comapired to the snow peak????????????
Hey Tom, thanks for watching mate sorry to hear you lost your first fire pit under such tragic circumstances 😬 Glad you are getting some good use out of the kings. I bought both fire pits with my own money and tried to illustrate the differences between them, but ofcourse I have my own opinions because I've had such great use out of the snow peak and I have developed my own preferences and opinions. I'm all for people getting out there and enjoying these things, whichever one they choose - that's they main thing. Cheers
this review was more than "fairly biased". he didn't even test fire the kings. as far as i can tell the only disadvantage to the kings is the build materials?
Greetings. I attended a Snow Peak camping trip recently and got hooked on the Takibi fire pit and grill. I jumped in headlong and bought the whole enchilada. TBH, my only reservation was the grill design since I own 4 different outdoor grills. I was very happy to hear that an alternative grill is available but I couldn’t pick up the name of the guy that sells them. Please help as my Australian is a little weak. Thank you.
At 5 times the price of the Kings fire pit, I couldn't justify buying the Snowpit. I've had my Kings one for over 12 months and still haven't used it yet so I'm glad that I didn't spend more than I did. To stop rust forming on either brand, I'd be inclined to wipe a small coating of cooking oil over the whole thing to protect it and it would soon burn off with each use.
Hi Pat, sorry for the delay mate - appreciate your comment! I hope you get some use out of it soon! The oil is a good idea, may I suggest simply packing it up dry, or drying it when you get home from a trip if it was packed up wet? You may find the oil isn't necessary
Great review. Have you ever used these on something like a decorative stone driveway? That's where I plan to use mine, but I'm not sure if the heat will damage the stone or not. What do you think?
Thanks for watching! If you use the base plate, you will be fine. Some small bits of coal and ash do fall through, but the base remains cool-warm to touch - so definitely wont heat damage the ground bellow - just be careful not to have wood overhang the sides too much. Enjoy :)
Campingmoon do one with a stainless base plate , cast iron coal plate and a better canvase bag than the original (IMO)for around $160 delivered probably the same manufacturer of of Darche and the other knock offs, i couldn't justify the high price of the original to the misses but i do understand the term buy once cry once.
When I made my snow peak review video (now a few years old) I compared a number of them doing desktop research, and saw that the Camping Moon was the only one with a stainless base plate. It will probably weather better than the painted low carbon steel ones (eventual rust when the paint/powder coat wears off). Might get my hands on one some day for educational purposes. Thanks for leaving the comment and watching the video KING KAMPER. Buy one cry once is certainly right... but with the cost of living at the momennt...might even cry twice 😂
There would be no point watching this video If you are after a honest review. From the start he’s got it out for the kings fire pit. Handles are a great idea, base plate latches have never failed in 2 years camping 150 plus days a year. Wobbling the grill on the SP forward and back then on the kings side to side.
Thanks for watching John sorry it wasn't what you were hoping for. I bought both fire pits with my own money and no sponsorship from either company. The opinions are my own and I tried to present the differences between the pits, and went to the trouble of making a video that's free for anyone in the world to watch. I can't be much more honest that that.
Hi David, thanks for this comment! I've found the same using the Drifta Stockton fire pit recently ( another one I've tried! ). I think I'll put the gloves on just in case though. Cheers mate.
i bought the kings one only had for a month and welds come apart they did replace it for me ,put now awhile later 3 of the panels have got splits in them through poor quality stainless steel i would think and i would not be game enough to pick up the fire pit while its burning thoses handles come apart very easily great vid mate
Hi Greg, From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry I've taken so long to reply. I need to pick up and put down YT sometimes, and its been busy. Glad that 4WD Supacentre replaced the fire pit with the faulty welds. And sorry to hear your replacement is now having dramas too. It seems the stainless steel type of the Chinese-made ones is what screws down the price down so much. Thanks for the tip with the handles, I'll be careful - it doesn't surprise me you are wary! And thanks again for watching and the encouragement mate. Cheers.
Great video, thanks for being so thorough. I like seeing snow peak vs the generic copies. I do have a problem with companies stealing the engineering and design of another product to make a poor quality look alike. I understand people's gripe with the price of the snow peak products but imo it's just as much of a money grab for another company to sell a product copy that will likely fail in 12mo time. $100/year or $500/10-20+yrs
Totally agree. I think it comes down to where people are at in life and their personal finances and where they choose to invest their money. Our previous Prado looks like a Kings billboard at one stage - It's just where we were at. Now, I prefer to put my money where I want to support, and by things intentionally, once. Hopefully everyone is out there enjoying it. Cheers mate! Sorry for delay, needed to take a break from the tubes...🍻🙏😬
Biased much! Had my Kings for a couple of years now with a fair amount of use. The latches are great, quality on mine is great, and yes, i have moved mine using the handles often, without gloves. For 5 times the price I'm sticking with the Kings thanks. You even infer that getting no coal plate is better than getting one 😂
Glad you are enjoying the Kings fire pit - these are great bits of kit. I bought both with my own money, and these are my own opinions, shared on my own UA-cam channel.
I recently had to make this very decision, would have loved the Snowpeak because I love their gear but went with the Kings. I thought I could try the Kings and upgrade if it didn't last, I think that upgrade will be a while coming
In my experience. If you want to move snow peak fire pit. You can put the grill bridge on it. Then hold both legs and lift it up without gloves. It won’t be collapse.
Hi Rick, Thanks heaps for watching and taking the time to comment😀 Sounds like you are a proud Snow Peak owner too. Glad you have found a way that works but I personally struggle to pick it up by the legs when its heavy with wood/fuel - it just seems very awkward. Maybe I'll give it another go :) Cheers
Dude! Your review had me cracking up! Made me SO GLAD that I bought my Snowpeak. It figures that the Chinese would have come up with a knockoff; I’ve never seen one in southern California - and hope I never do! Anyhow, got the Floga fire pit attachment this evening and can’t wait to try it!
Hi Mate, Glad you got a kick out of it! Surprised the copies haven't taken hold in the states. The floga is not as popular here as it is there. Maybe I'll try it one day. Let me know how it goes 👍👍Cheers from Aus.😁
Another point to seriously consider: IF you support these Chinese knockoffs that are clearly duplicating the original Snow Peak design, you're essentially destroying innovation. If original product makers cannot benefit directly from their creation, they will stop creating. This essentially begins the process of enshittification. Food for thought.
I tend to agree. This happens a lot in all industries. I can't afford to always buy the original of things. But for stuff I am passionate about - I will sure try :)
@@OTWD I know right! We've got a 2 month old and a 2 year old, so a bit behind you guys, no idea how you get everything in! Great vids mate, love the content!
I wonder, does Kings reverse engineer OEM products for a lower cost market or does China manufacture OEM products and the over production get modified for the Kings brand market?
Great question Paul, Not sure how it works! I would expect companies would engage a contract manufacturer in China about what they want to make, and the price is largely based on quantity bought.. Branding is added - and boom! I think designs/IP for many common widgets and products are sold/traded/stolen amongst these contract manufacturers, and so its not hard for them to produce something to suit (recall Snow Peak have NO patent on this design). If people know more about it, please school us! Thanks for watching Paul, Cheers.
Just found this video as I am about to do a review of the Sam Hema version. I actually really enjoyed this video. I have noticed the Kings design is extremely similar to Sam Hema, Darche and a few other brands with subtle differences.
Hi Dave, Sorry for delay mate. I just checked out your review. Thanks for watching mine :) Maybe I didn't look enough at the Kings, but I think it has 3 adjustable heights rather than 4 - this may be unique to the San Hema. I'm glad there is competition in the market because it means they are getting cheaper, so more people can enjoy the benefits :) Best wishes with more trips now we're heading into cooler weather :D
@Out There With Dan thankyou for watching mine as well. When I was researching the 4 height settings, you are right. They all have 3 levels on the sides, but the fourth setting is the bottom of the platform sitting inside the fire pit giving it its highest setting. It's great that each brand is trying to improve on the last. I cannot test the San Hema this winter. Will be using it every trip out.
The biggest difference is that snowpeak builds the firepit with 316ss with a lifetime warranty vs cheapest 201ss that will rust out and need replacement quickly
9:24 nope, that's solution to a big problem, when you camping you can't predict the wind direction, the smoke and the sparks they can easly change direction, that handle on the side come handy to move it, and you can move the fire pit while it burning, and the handle just warm to hold no need for gloves, TRUST ME ON THIS, for the first time it look scary, just go, it just warm on hand, i used to move the fire pit very often while on camping
I wanted a snow peak but the price is insane so I got a Camping Moon. It's very impressive. Good review. We usually go canoeing. ua-cam.com/video/7XX6U_YbHSU/v-deo.html@@OTWD
That's one way to look at it Alan. When Drifta sold the Snow Peak the competition was not as fierce yet, I wonder how sales are going for Tom's Outdoors (now the sole aussie supplier of Snow Peak). I'm an exception to this idea - single income family, upper middle class - and I saw value in the 'heirloom' purchase of the Snow Peak. Its kind of like sports cars, many people can't afford them - or theoretically shouldnt need one, but there's still a lot of middle class people saving up for their dream car because its something they value...I just hope whichever version people opt for they get good use out of them, like I have. Cheers and happy camping😬
@@OTWDI bought a Springbar Traveler tent with all the accessories. I saved a whole year for that setup. Specifically so that when my son is grown with his own family, or even if he just wants to take his girlfriend out for a couple of nights, he's got his childhood tent to take her/ them in. He's only 7 but by the time he's old enough to take a girl anywhere he'll be able to make an impressive show of setting things up 😏
Great comparison, thanks for sharing. I’ve been thinking about spending the extra $$’s for a snow peak as tend to buy based on quality but will now look at the alternate brands, not necessarily Kings tho🤔
Hi Scott. Glad it gave you some fuel for thought mate- appreciate you taking time to comment. Let me know what you end up deciding on😬. The snow peak is really well made, but if I was to buy again - with all the other options now available - it would be hard to justify. Cheers!
Hi Chris, Thanks heaps mate, glad it was useful. Drifta sold snow peak for so long, so I reckon they knew what they were doing (based on years of feedback) when they come up with there own design. Furthermore, they seem to be the only one (that I know of) with an X-base-stand like the snow peak, raising the firepit slightly and minimising the footprint. The flat base of most other WILL kill grass underneath-especially if left in place over a few days, so I definately see value in their unique X-base-stand(Snow Peak and Drifta Stockton). I'm probably passing this kings one to a mate, but if I was looking at my own second fire pit I'd probably focus on the Drifta Stockton. Best wishes! Dan
Thanks Dan for the reply. I am seriously considering a fit pit and the review you gave has made me think the Drifta is probably the best option for me. Also, I came across your channel as I was looking for reviews on the Oztent RV range. Then I noticed you drive a 90 series! I ended up with the RV4 and I already had the Prado! Lol. Maybe a walk around on the car. How you pack it, drawers? Tubs? Etc. I enjoy your videos cause what you do isn’t out of reach of the normal family!
@@Caml80 Heya Chris, sorry its taken a few days. So glad you found the channel and how crazy that we share such similar interests and UA-cam brought us together:)!! You won't look back on the RV4! More videos on the Prado to come this year, I've just bought a lithium powerstation as an alternate to replacing the AGM under the bonnet - looking at building a basic drawer slide and false floor. . What year is your prado? Best wishes and thanks again for watching and commenting!
No need to be sorry life does get busy! I have an 08 GXL V6. Not as thirsty as some think, definitely not as economical as the 3L, but so much quieter, smoother and family sedan like 😂. Plus picked it up before Covid hit for a really good price, it is a fully optioned one from factory so has the dual A/C, privacy glass, automatic etc. Very under rated car I think. Coming from a Freedom ( copy ) canvas tent that I have owned for 20 years, the RV is just so much easier to setup and pack up especially when I’m solo. I didn’t want a swag as I get claustrophobic! I have set up the back of the Prado with fridge slide in a light weight box, and dual battery in rear. I did like the idea of a lithium battery power station but they hold a premium price atm I think, for what they are. I look forward to your review! I originally had a c-tek 250sa which was a carry over from a patrol I had for years. I changed out this to a RedArc 1225 with a lithium charge profile. That way when the AGM does give up I will switch to lithium, mainly for weight saving plus faster charging. Hopefully they will keep dropping in price! I have a full length aluminium flat roofrack, to carry the tent and other light stuff up top. Coming from an old GQ that I was never conscious about how much weigh I carried in it. I am definitely more careful now! As for the rear I use a false floor with plastic tubs. From your videos you’re in VIC S.E? Im out that way. Cheers.
I bought the drifta Stockton pit thinking it would last forever and sadly within months of using started to rust badly( contacted drifta and they said they all do🙄) fairly disappointed with their response and now find the stainless sides are splitting. These cheaper pits are not going to last anywhere near the snow peak but then in this throw away society you can buy 5 of the kind one. My drifta one came in around the $300 from memory so not super cheap.
I would love to support a brand like snow peak but camping is a luxury for us, and a fire pit is not a necessity so we don't have one if we did then it would be a kings. Yeah they are cheap and not as good but they get people camping cheap. A fire pit is a possibility.
What can happen in a life time of a person ? What will be the camp cooking in 10-20 years from now ? .. it will be good as anyones guess is it. I don't think its a great point to go for for a expensive one. I would go for the cheaper .. but still do the job, look after it.. it will last longer. I did same when I bought similer product to Jetboil. its probably 15 time cheap. still do the great job after 5 years ..
I hope that in my lifetime I'm still enjoying my Snow Peak fire pit, and given the primal nature of fire in 'the evolution humans, I think I'll still be enjoying it throughout my life :) I agree that most people will do just fine with a cheaper alternative brand. I'm glad to see more people being able to enjoy the outdoors in the same way I do. Thanks for watching and sharing a different perspective.
Have you considered contacting Snow Peak about the rust on the grill? It seems to me that if it appears to be happening to everyone, even with careful use and cleaning, that they may see it as a design problem and replace it for you Dan. Another great video. Hope the family are all well, Matt and the Price Clan
Hi Price Clan, I've been meaning to email you guys. Promise it's coming - hope you are doing well too. Thanks again for being part of the heart and soul of the channel. Great Idea - I hadn't thought to do that because I do not really like the shape of the grill bars anyway (not sure what use I'd get out of a new one). Although It may be worth investigating so I can share what Snow Peak's position is for anyone else in the same situation. Cheers
It's chrome coated steel and not sure why SP cheaped out on the large grill piece. Oddly enough if you buy their half sized grill bridges for the Takibi, they are made of stainless steel.
Going well mate. Hope you and the family are well 😊 Quick question regarding the fire pit/ base directly onto the floor. When you have a fire in your backyard does it leave like heat patch/burnt grass under the plate?
@@jakepetherick7686 One night usually OK, would pack it up next morning if you can! Snow Peak X-stand or Drifta Stockton FirePit Kit with stand minimises the foot print! Its a consideration for caravan parks/unpowered sites too.
Just see how you go I reckon, if you haven't got one just get the one you want and see :) Our clan doing well. Heath is a monster standing up already at ~9 months - keeping us honest for sure. How's your little one?
Great video. Torn between the drifta and snow peak due to price. I had the trail X one which didn't last long. We love our camp fire and cooking so looking in to the longevity of the product. I know snow peak would last as per heaps of review, couldn't find a drifta fire pit review though. How old is your snow peak and are any rust on the grill and body of the firepit?
Thanks RS Doms glad you appreciate the video. Sorry for taking a while to respond mate. As shown in the video (skip to grill section) my SP grill is rusty and I use the Oz Braai Camp Braai most of the time, or the Drifta Stockton replacement grill. I actually got my hands on the Drifta Stockton pit since making this video, and I'm liking it! The base is very sturdy, its more like steel plate rather than sheet. Bit heavier but feels more sturdy. I'll do a review on that pit later - but in short - you won't be disappointed. Cheers mate.
So 5x more expensive for the SnowPeak. Like many products, one countries' industry has been innovative and invested in R&D, and China has built a cheaper, inferior replica (like all Kings). Not everyone can afford premium prices, but I'd encourage people to support innovators, not replicators.
Hi Owen, Thanks for watching and taking time to craft a comment. I agree with this. I've bought a lot of kings gear- when I wasn't willing or wasn't able to buy anything else (probably most people
@@OTWD I've ordered and received the Drifta grill and coal plate over the last week and can immediately see the ease of cleaning benefit. Probably why 99% of oven grills are designed like that rather mesh.
Great vid mate. Can’t wait to break mine out again and throw a few lamb chops on it. I threw out my cast iron charcoal “trivet” and put in a larger wire mesh type like you did so the coals form a better/wider bed to cook over. Looking forward to a video on your aeropress!! I used mine heaps during our harvest to keep the eyelids open!!😁 Oh and I really liked the new intro!!! Especially you getting a face full of steam!!😂 you should add the leech shot in too!!😁🤣 So funny!
Thanks Jase;) Good idea about the leech. I'll see what I can figure out! Coffee coming soon. I love the aeropress too. Daily coffee made in a cup for the drive to work. Poetry in a cup, perhaps. Stainless steel mesh is the way to go I reckon, although the Snow Peak one does look larger and hence raises it even higher....maybe I need to get one (in the name of science!). Take care down south ;)
Please be careful with the chinese 'copies', many chinese stainless products may be cheaper but contain heavy metal deposits within the steel including lead, just do your research and read the warning label IF provided.
@@OTWD Hi , there have been a lot of alerts in the USA of these especially cooking/camping bowls, plates and cups, phthalate compounds and lead have been found with some utensils whether its impure steel or external factory coatings.
Your review was very biased and was not undertaken in a fair way at all. Personal views snuck in rather than the true review. Assumptions is not a proper way to review
Snow peak...say it....PEEK, i just spent the last 20 minutes googling snow pig. Im partially blind and cant read the title, i use the voice search interface.
Hi mate. I hope you found the info you needed on the topic and I'm sorry I led you to waste a bit of time. I can't do much about my natural accent unfortunately. Best wishes.
I decided to make this video and I bought both fire pits with my own personal money. It took a lot of work to put together, and its my own thoughts on the two fire pits. No company input either way. I do not appreciate the unnecessary assumptions and judgement.
Excellent Video Review my Friend,,,,
To me,, Snowpeak imaged, developed,,did the R/D and birthed something to enhance your experience Outdoors. Their Creativity and commitment to their design, says it all. The other firepit added Nothing in terms of creativity or enhanced design. Looking at the Bushbuddy and Solo Gasification wood stoves. At least Solo took the Bushbuddy to the Next Level,,,
Great Review,,,!!!!
Thanks Joshua, Well said. I share this sentiment too- and romanticise about the Snow Peak's simple core design. Thanks for watching and taking the time to give such kind feedback. Cheers :) PS. I need to check out the BushBuddy and the Solo.
Funny to see how hung up you are on those little handles.
To me, they serve a purpose & are just fine.
The charcoal plate will last many years unless you leave it lying around in the rain.
The additional slots/airflow are actually beneficial to the burning performance.
The base clips are an absolute must for safety & should be installed on every "collapsible" fire pit.
Yes the build material is very low grade, but I keep mine dry & inside the vehicle. I anticipate getting many years out of it & certainly can't justify paying 5 times as much for a nearly identical product.
Totally agree with your points here. The handles are simple and very handy, nothing really to go wrong there. The clips on the base are awesome too.
Had my Kings with grill grate for nearly two years. Scored it for 103 with my ebay plus discount. It's still performing the same as when I first fired it up. Dust it off after a burn and light spray of oil.
After totalling up all the mods for the snowpeak and how mines still fine over nearly two years, you could buy 14 kings units.
Japs always make top stuff, but not for over 700 bucks with all the bells and whistles.
The best comparison review on these firepits i've seen on UA-cam, thanks Dan!
Sorry for delay, took a bit of a break. Thanks heaps for this kind comment. Glad it was valuable. Happy campfiring... 'day for it!😬
Snowpeak quality all the way 💯👍. Buy it once, cry once and it will last you forever. You'll pay less in the long run on the best quality and designed firepit. The knockoff still decent and will last a few solid years and still leaves no trace 🎉🔥
Appreciate this comment! Totally agree. I haven't looked back that's for sure. The message I try to convey to people is that if COST of the fire pit is a barrier for you to get out and enjoy the outdoors, then I'd rather you get a cheap one, and start enjoying with the rest of us. Cheers!
Great to use two sets of tongs for setting up new logs underneath the burn sections. You really get full control of the fire. When I move the firepit, I'll unload some logs and lift it by the legs before reloading ask the big logs for safety 🔥🇨🇦
When we bought our Snow Peak there were no alternatives. It's compact to carry yet large enough for a small group to use. You can see why it's been copied so much.
At least you would never get stressed about theft if you owed the Kings. I don't leave our SP on display if we leave camp.
It's a great design and totally agree that it's no surprise its been copied. Thanks for watching Matt and taking the time to comment! I also pack up my Snow Peak if there are any other people around - but if we are alone/remote I usually let it burn out over night😬 PS. Just had a look at your website - really like your photo work. You could teach me a thing or two!
Do you find that you can use the fire pit in most camp sites? When I was travelling around it was pretty much you could only use the dedicated fire pit; how have you approached that?
Hey mate. We haven't been in trouble yet using our own fire pit instead of a designated spot. We usually light our own pit close to the designated spot. Common sense usually prevails. We can demonstrate we aren't leaving any trace we were there - no one seems to mind.
Dan, thanks for the quick response on the grill replacement. Much appreciated. Also, shout out to the Aussies for all things Overlanding. Cheers!
The Snow Peak was recommended to me by a friend alongside the Darche. Snow Peak had me sold until I saw the state (Design and rust) of the grill and for $550 where I need to purchase kit from Drifta raising the price above $650, Its a hard pass.
Darche seems to be the happy medium between the Kings and the Snow Peak and its $300 for everything including a cast iron coal plate.
Really appreciate the honest review and feedback Dan, subbed.
Thanks heaps for sharing Zappy. Welcome to the channel mate. Sounds like you're making a well considered decision. I'm yet to get my hands on a Darche one, just seen them in a few shops - wouldn't mind having a play. I reckon it will be comparable to the Drifta Stockton, which I really like - the big difference to the kings and snow peak is that it has a very solid (thick) base plate. Hope you get heaps of use out of whichever you've chosen :D Happy camping!😁
They ALL will rust. Snow Peak is WAY higher quality! You'll have it for a decade+ no question.
Thanks for the review, SP is expensive but the quality and durability is there in the price, buy it once, cry once.
Thanks for watching mate. I tend to agree. These days I plan toward buying once 😬
Answered a lot of questions for me thanks! I will pull the trigger on the snow peak.
Hi Conor, Thanks for watching and glad it was useful! You won't look back 😁
Have had ours 10yrs (Snow Peak), it's had *lots* of use, still in perfect nick and very nicely patina'd now. We found two half grills better, the half grill is made of the good steel and doesn't rust, not sure why they don't just make the full grill of the same steel🤷. It's good to have options of these firepits for everyone but the longevity for the $$ would still have us recommend you save up and get the SP, if you can.
I would say the same, but I do admit it seems a bit insane given such a massive price difference. It's better for the world if we all use 1 over a lifetime, and not 5.33 of them - so there is that perspective too. Have things last because its best for the world! I would love to see a pic of what it looks like at 10 years. Could you ladies email me a photo? Thanks Karyn and Kristie, great to hear from you! Cheers
Good comparison mate, very interesting.
The plate on the bottom being latched on is great because like with my Drifta version, you can lift the fire pit and move it to another location without you having to worry about then having to realign the base when putting the pit back down.
Plus if you do happen to knock it hard in the half dark, it’s much harder to tip the whole pit over which would be quite dangerous.
And the handles make it heaps easier to empty out the ash too once it’s cooled down. I’ve found I’ve used the handles heaps for both emptying and moving.
Yes the old Kings stuff is certainly made to a price and it’s certainly not the price they’re asking for the stuff.
Keep up the great work mate 👍👍
Thanks heaps Grants, appreciating you watching and raising some great points!
The convenience of the base plate staying attached when moving it is probably balanced out by the inconvenience of having to latch it down.
Definitely a valid point about needing more force to to tip it over when its latched. I agree with that for sure.
I didn't talk much about emptying out the pits - so good point there too. It would definitely be easier having the option to hold the handles. I still love the timeless simplicity/minimal design of the Snow Peak😬
I got my hands on a Drifta Stockton Fire Pit now, and will make a review down the track. The base is much more substantial - adding a lot of weight, but its far more solid when its latched together. The grill bridge seems sturdier than the kings too, and I like they have copied the X-stand design for protecting ground underneath when that's needed.
Keep making great videos mate :) Dan
@@OTWD yeah there’s a bit to each of the brands.
I would have always loved to have got the snow peak version but the price is considerably dearer. I found the grill plate on top rusting is a bit ordinary for the price, especially for hygienic easy cooking ….
I do love my Drifta Stockton fire pit for ease of use and the sturdy grill top is great for sitting a camp oven on.
I also have ( among a number of fire pits 🤣 ) the original Aussie made Drifta square fire pit which I rate very highly, the heat of that bad boy is nuts !!!
thanks bud … hope my vids may help too, all about sharing champ. You keep up the good work too cheers and don’t forget - #stresslesscampmore !
Show us a metal that doesnt suffer from fire 🔥
All metal deteriats with fire and weather
Excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to make it and share it. I just recently ordered the Snowpeak and with your recommendation, I emailed Drifta and an hoping to purchase the grill net and charcoal screen. I have searched for a good replacement here in the US, but have not seen any that look as quality as Drifta. I did mention you and your video in the email I sent them. Have a great day!
Hi Angry Goat, Thanks heaps for watching and taking time to comment mate. It's encouraging to get feedback like this . You won't look back with the Snow Peak! Thanks for mentioning the video to Drifta. Which part of the US are you from? What's the weather like this time of year?
Aren't snow peak havce lifetime warranty? Have you try to claim iit for the grill?
I heard a few stories of them rejecting the claim. Even if it was replaced I would rather the flat bars like the Kings or Drifta Stockton. Cheers for watching !
Thanks for the comparison video . What size is the Snow Peak featured ? We are having trouble choosing between medium and large - the purpose is mainly for warmth in cooler months for two ppl
Hi there - so sorry for taking a few weeks to reply. I do get to all comments eventually! This is the Large Snow Peak. I recommend the Large. It's not that much bigger, and not that much heavier - only consider Medium if you have a tiny vehicle for camping like a hatchback and every inch counts. Large will be a nice size fire to warm up two people 😬Cheers.
Here in Borneo we get the monsoon season (just coming to an end now). All too often camping gear gets put away, then you pull it out after monsoon... and things rusted to heck. I've rather got into the habit of buying the cheap stuff and just replacing it each season, and I suspect I'll do the same here.
Greetings all the way to Borneo 😬 Seems the peace of mind is leading you to spend a bit more upfront! I generally share the same sentiment. Thanks for watching and commenting ! Cheers
I went with the Kings version. I was comparing with the much more expensive Darche, and I honestly couldn't see a difference. The darche coal plate did look to be cast iron but you did point out there's some good quality and affordable replacements.
If I was planning to use every weekend I'd maybe have gone for something better than Kings, but I couldn't justify the price.
Hi Steven, Sounds like well considered decision! I hope you make heaps of memories sitting in front of it - that's what its about. I have seen the Darche is store, but I want to get my hands on one to try! It's in similar price range to the Drifta Stockton. Best wishes mate, thanks for commenting. Cheers😁
Unless you camp every week all year round and use the firepit all the time, it's hard to justify the price of the show peak. I have the Kings and have used it quite a few times. No issues at all. Many prices are brand driven only.
@@brettn5100 I'm not convinced even that would make a difference. I think the grate is the only point of difference between them all.
Well done! I especially like the bit about selecting the right spot for the fire. I have moved our SP Takibi Fire a few times due to change of wind direction... I slid it on the ground with base and all, and lifted it by the legs (when not to full), and by grabbing the rim using gloves (when not too hot/far).
I understand the issue with the SP grill. We uses an olive oil spray to improve cleaning and prevent rust. Our home BBQ grill is like the Kings. It is easier to clean but things like string beans and onion are more likely to get stuck or fall through it.
Snow Peak makes great gear. We don't mind spending more for great gear. Love the SP kitchen scissor set and their folding cutting board knife combo...
Hi d church, thanks heaps for watching mate and taking time to share. Glad you are getting the similar value from Snow Peak products as I do, and well done for persevering with the grill! Agree with the points you've made! 😬
Hi Dan Ive just find your channel, great videos, learning heaps. Mate, Im about to build up my camoing gear and wondering if you would you mind telling me about your billy style kettle?
Hi Alex, thanks heaps for the encouragement and great to hear you are enjoying my videos. I've got an old (~80 years old) willow brand billy that I made a video on - which I'd love to use more, but its too prone to going rusty between uses. I bought the 'Drifta Stockton/Zebra Camp Kettle 2L' and use that as my main one now. This is a partnered product between Zebra and Drifta stockton. Zebra manufacture in Thailand and make exceptionally good value for money stainless steel cookware. The design (billy and tea pot in one) is really handy, and I put it direct on the fire without an issue. Highly recommend it. The trap with buying a billy is the aluminium ones - they wont last in the heat of a fire. Get stainless steel. Hope this helps mate. Best wishes 😬
@@OTWD thanks Dan! Not sure how easy for you is to get your hands on new products, if not apologies for asking this. In case it is, I would love to see a review between king's, snow peak and the Winnerwell Large Flat Firepit. Thanks in advance mate, have a good one.
Good video. I bought the kings based on this. I actually like the latches idea but they will probably fail and if they do i can't see that it matters. 5x the price is hard to swallow. If the kings lasts 2 years (i think it'll last longer) thats 10 years before i've recouped the money on the snowpeak.
Appreciate the info you provided here.
Thanks for leaving this thoughtful comment. Sorry for lateness I took a short break from YT. Glad you bought one of these and can have great campfires like I do, they are awesome. I can absolutely empathise with that decision. Best wishes, enjoy. Cheers.😬🍻🙏
After watching the video i had a crazy idea, seeing as you can buy the snow peak pit without the add=ons for about $160 you could then buy any one of the knock-offs for $100 and combine the best of both.
That gives you the better quality SP pit with the better grill plate for less than half of the full SP kit.
Hi Nick. Sorry for delay mate - I do get to all comments eventually😬...Let me go and check this theory (making sure the kings grill bridge fits on the snow peak pit). Appreciate the novel thinking and thanks for watching! Cheers mate
@@OTWD interested if you ever tried this
We bought a large Snow Peak fire pit from Drifta over 7 yrs ago, and it is still going strong.
Not sure how, if needed, you could receive warranty now that Drifta no longer stock them?
Hey mate sorry for delay in replying - this is a really good point. I think you would approach Snow Peak directly. They have strong base in the US - so if language was a barrier that would help. Don't know anyone who has claimed warranty on the fire pit - even about the grill. I dont like cooking on the grill anyway so it was worth chasing replacement. I suppose the lack of stories going around shows how robust the pits are. Cheers to many more years with the Snow Peak. Thanks for watching!
Does it retain a coal base ? Only issue I have found with firepits is you can’t use a camp oven on them as the coal base burns away to quickly.
P.S. to stop the grill rusting , season it as you would a frypan.
Not sure what brand I have now I think it might be Darche. Only used it twice. Must take it out of the bag and have a look at it now.
Might be handy on those cold Flinders Ranges nights ;)
I have the small Darche fire pit and l am very happy with it. I tend to mainly use charcoal in it to cook with , little to no smoke and it reduces my demand for firewood when bush.
The Darche has the handles and clip on base. I love this feature as it makes it very easy to move the firepit and l do move my fire pit a bit. For example , l cook my dinner on it and then we play card after dinner ,l can move the fire pit under the table that
keeps us all toasty warm.
Another great review.
Thank you 🙏
That's awesome Dave! Thanks for watching!
Dan, I think you will find the plate section of the Snow Peak fire pits are "not" 316 Stainless. 316 is considered the most "non magnetic" grade of stainless and the plate section is definitely magnetic on my Snow Peak. I bought mine way before any of the generic copies were available and it's still going strong.
At 13:50 Dan mentions that the plate is not 316 Stainless.
Is your SP the small, medium or large version? Cheers
Thanks for watching! It's the Large. I recommend the Large for two or more people, although if wanting to cut weight and size the Medium could work for two people. The XL seems a bit impractical for vehicle touring, and best suited for use in the back yard. Good luck!
@@OTWD
Ordered the large. Seems to be the sweet spot 👍 Pricey, but...
@@outdoors5352 You won't look back mate 😉
Good review on the two fire pits. I have the Kings brand as i couldn't afford the snow peak one from drifter being on a fixed income. My understanding of the ash plate is for when you use heat beads instead of wood, to keep the intense heat from the beads overheating the thinner metal of the fire pit, as well giving the camp oven a flat spot to sit on using a stand or legs on the bottom of the oven.
Hi Alan, Sorry for the delay mate. Thanks heaps for watching and taking time to share your comment. Glad the Kings pit is doing you good service. It's all about getting out there. I hadn't thought of the intense heat of cooking fuels potentially damaging the side walls - it stands to reason - but it would need to be pretty hot! Cheers mate
So, the Snow Peak grill is 5x more expensive and the grill part is unuseable after a few fires? Deal.
The grill by itself is not 5x more expensive (and they are usually sold as part of a kit). Quick google search shows the drifta replacement is ~$60 and the snow peak is around ~$90 in Aus. Still, the SP grill sucks!😁
Thank you for taking the time to review and share! Nice video and will help me further in deciding which item to purchase
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment. Happy campfires 😬
Kings for the win
Certainly offers value if you you after them😬 Thanks for watching
Thanks Dan ! I dont have much money to throw around and your comparison review is up there with the best and by far more informative...... as for the coal grate, thats all it is, even if it was cast iron it would still rust, however, its a functional clean cooking appliance.
Hello Sir, sorry for delay! Took a bit of a break. Back now. Glad you enjoyed the video. Being able to choose between these two fire pits is a highly privileged position to be in by itself. Many people would be saving a long time for the Kings or another alternate. In my eyes, I hope people can have either and enjoy camp fires as much as I do. I think Drifta Stockton are onto a winner with the mesh grate over the cast Iron. Cheers.
I have had an expensive branded pit, which ended up on the high way due to the dirty gear bag tearing on a trip, 😢, now running a Kings pit. The price was the clincher for me. After burning gidgie in it, pretty well non stop for 2 weeks, and cooking on it just about every meal in that time, i cant fault it.
I did feel your review was fairly biased, and leaned well away from kings. I do agree a kigs pit will not last as long due to the material, but to be fair, if you get 2 years out of it, and replace it 5 times comapired to the snow peak????????????
Hey Tom, thanks for watching mate sorry to hear you lost your first fire pit under such tragic circumstances 😬 Glad you are getting some good use out of the kings. I bought both fire pits with my own money and tried to illustrate the differences between them, but ofcourse I have my own opinions because I've had such great use out of the snow peak and I have developed my own preferences and opinions. I'm all for people getting out there and enjoying these things, whichever one they choose - that's they main thing. Cheers
this review was more than "fairly biased". he didn't even test fire the kings. as far as i can tell the only disadvantage to the kings is the build materials?
Greetings. I attended a Snow Peak camping trip recently and got hooked on the Takibi fire pit and grill. I jumped in headlong and bought the whole enchilada. TBH, my only reservation was the grill design since I own 4 different outdoor grills. I was very happy to hear that an alternative grill is available but I couldn’t pick up the name of the guy that sells them. Please help as my Australian is a little weak. Thank you.
@@gregdaniels7479 Hi Greg. Sold by Drifta here in Aus - Google Drifta Stockton Stainless Steel Grill Net For Snow Peak Firepit. Cheers
At 5 times the price of the Kings fire pit, I couldn't justify buying the Snowpit. I've had my Kings one for over 12 months and still haven't used it yet so I'm glad that I didn't spend more than I did.
To stop rust forming on either brand, I'd be inclined to wipe a small coating of cooking oil over the whole thing to protect it and it would soon burn off with each use.
Hi Pat, sorry for the delay mate - appreciate your comment! I hope you get some use out of it soon! The oil is a good idea, may I suggest simply packing it up dry, or drying it when you get home from a trip if it was packed up wet? You may find the oil isn't necessary
Great review. Have you ever used these on something like a decorative stone driveway? That's where I plan to use mine, but I'm not sure if the heat will damage the stone or not. What do you think?
Thanks for watching! If you use the base plate, you will be fine. Some small bits of coal and ash do fall through, but the base remains cool-warm to touch - so definitely wont heat damage the ground bellow - just be careful not to have wood overhang the sides too much. Enjoy :)
@@OTWD awesome thank you.
Campingmoon do one with a stainless base plate , cast iron coal plate and a better canvase bag than the original (IMO)for around $160 delivered probably the same manufacturer of of Darche and the other knock offs, i couldn't justify the high price of the original to the misses but i do understand the term buy once cry once.
When I made my snow peak review video (now a few years old) I compared a number of them doing desktop research, and saw that the Camping Moon was the only one with a stainless base plate. It will probably weather better than the painted low carbon steel ones (eventual rust when the paint/powder coat wears off). Might get my hands on one some day for educational purposes. Thanks for leaving the comment and watching the video KING KAMPER. Buy one cry once is certainly right... but with the cost of living at the momennt...might even cry twice 😂
There would be no point watching this video If you are after a honest review. From the start he’s got it out for the kings fire pit. Handles are a great idea, base plate latches have never failed in 2 years camping 150 plus days a year. Wobbling the grill on the SP forward and back then on the kings side to side.
Thanks for watching John sorry it wasn't what you were hoping for. I bought both fire pits with my own money and no sponsorship from either company. The opinions are my own and I tried to present the differences between the pits, and went to the trouble of making a video that's free for anyone in the world to watch. I can't be much more honest that that.
Handles don’t get hot ironically - we moved our fire the other weekend when going to move it under the awning 😊
Hi David, thanks for this comment! I've found the same using the Drifta Stockton fire pit recently ( another one I've tried! ). I think I'll put the gloves on just in case though. Cheers mate.
what a great video. Incredible time and effort put in. Made my mind up
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment. Hope you enjoy one of these fire pits on many starry nights to come😬
i bought the kings one only had for a month and welds come apart they did replace it for me ,put now awhile later 3 of the panels have got splits in them through poor quality stainless steel i would think and i would not be game enough to pick up the fire pit while its burning thoses handles come apart very easily great vid mate
Hi Greg, From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry I've taken so long to reply. I need to pick up and put down YT sometimes, and its been busy. Glad that 4WD Supacentre replaced the fire pit with the faulty welds. And sorry to hear your replacement is now having dramas too. It seems the stainless steel type of the Chinese-made ones is what screws down the price down so much. Thanks for the tip with the handles, I'll be careful - it doesn't surprise me you are wary! And thanks again for watching and the encouragement mate. Cheers.
Great video, thanks for being so thorough. I like seeing snow peak vs the generic copies. I do have a problem with companies stealing the engineering and design of another product to make a poor quality look alike. I understand people's gripe with the price of the snow peak products but imo it's just as much of a money grab for another company to sell a product copy that will likely fail in 12mo time. $100/year or $500/10-20+yrs
Totally agree. I think it comes down to where people are at in life and their personal finances and where they choose to invest their money. Our previous Prado looks like a Kings billboard at one stage - It's just where we were at. Now, I prefer to put my money where I want to support, and by things intentionally, once. Hopefully everyone is out there enjoying it. Cheers mate! Sorry for delay, needed to take a break from the tubes...🍻🙏😬
It's called Mark up between the two
Hi Greg. Thanks for watching mate. They are totally different alloys of stainless steel.
Biased much! Had my Kings for a couple of years now with a fair amount of use. The latches are great, quality on mine is great, and yes, i have moved mine using the handles often, without gloves. For 5 times the price I'm sticking with the Kings thanks. You even infer that getting no coal plate is better than getting one 😂
Glad you are enjoying the Kings fire pit - these are great bits of kit. I bought both with my own money, and these are my own opinions, shared on my own UA-cam channel.
I recently had to make this very decision, would have loved the Snowpeak because I love their gear but went with the Kings. I thought I could try the Kings and upgrade if it didn't last, I think that upgrade will be a while coming
Hi Paul, sorry I didn't make the video sooner then perhaps :P Thanks heaps for watching. I wish you many happy camp fires in the kings pit mate!
Minute 30 in and i know my pick!
Hope you get some great campfire memories out of whichever one that is! Cheers
In my experience. If you want to move snow peak fire pit. You can put the grill bridge on it. Then hold both legs and lift it up without gloves. It won’t be collapse.
Hi Rick, Thanks heaps for watching and taking the time to comment😀 Sounds like you are a proud Snow Peak owner too. Glad you have found a way that works but I personally struggle to pick it up by the legs when its heavy with wood/fuel - it just seems very awkward. Maybe I'll give it another go :) Cheers
Thank you for sharing the leach experience! Made me laugh and smile for a life-time!!! Will never forget...
Glad I lived to make another video.. Thanks for watching😬
Dude! Your review had me cracking up! Made me SO GLAD that I bought my Snowpeak. It figures that the Chinese would have come up with a knockoff; I’ve never seen one in southern California - and hope I never do! Anyhow, got the Floga fire pit attachment this evening and can’t wait to try it!
Hi Mate, Glad you got a kick out of it! Surprised the copies haven't taken hold in the states. The floga is not as popular here as it is there. Maybe I'll try it one day. Let me know how it goes 👍👍Cheers from Aus.😁
Winds change and sometimes you do need to move a fire in a container to better spots.
Hi Donna, Yep I can appreciate that happening! Thanks for watching.
Another point to seriously consider: IF you support these Chinese knockoffs that are clearly duplicating the original Snow Peak design, you're essentially destroying innovation.
If original product makers cannot benefit directly from their creation, they will stop creating. This essentially begins the process of enshittification.
Food for thought.
I tend to agree. This happens a lot in all industries. I can't afford to always buy the original of things. But for stuff I am passionate about - I will sure try :)
The latch is definitely a plus for moving the pit. The snowpeak design is no good.
Fair enough. I have never felt it needed handles. Main thing is we are getting use out of them😀Thanks for watching
Solid comparison mate, would love to see a video of how you pack the car for a family trip!
I'll keep that in mind! Thanks for the video idea, Luke. A few people have asked about that. The short answer...like a big game of tetris ! Cheers😬
@@OTWD I know right! We've got a 2 month old and a 2 year old, so a bit behind you guys, no idea how you get everything in! Great vids mate, love the content!
I wonder, does Kings reverse engineer OEM products for a lower cost market or does China manufacture OEM products and the over production get modified for the Kings brand market?
Great question Paul, Not sure how it works! I would expect companies would engage a contract manufacturer in China about what they want to make, and the price is largely based on quantity bought.. Branding is added - and boom! I think designs/IP for many common widgets and products are sold/traded/stolen amongst these contract manufacturers, and so its not hard for them to produce something to suit (recall Snow Peak have NO patent on this design). If people know more about it, please school us! Thanks for watching Paul, Cheers.
Just found this video as I am about to do a review of the Sam Hema version. I actually really enjoyed this video. I have noticed the Kings design is extremely similar to Sam Hema, Darche and a few other brands with subtle differences.
Hi Dave, Sorry for delay mate. I just checked out your review. Thanks for watching mine :) Maybe I didn't look enough at the Kings, but I think it has 3 adjustable heights rather than 4 - this may be unique to the San Hema. I'm glad there is competition in the market because it means they are getting cheaper, so more people can enjoy the benefits :) Best wishes with more trips now we're heading into cooler weather :D
@Out There With Dan thankyou for watching mine as well. When I was researching the 4 height settings, you are right. They all have 3 levels on the sides, but the fourth setting is the bottom of the platform sitting inside the fire pit giving it its highest setting. It's great that each brand is trying to improve on the last. I cannot test the San Hema this winter. Will be using it every trip out.
The biggest difference is that snowpeak builds the firepit with 316ss with a lifetime warranty vs cheapest 201ss that will rust out and need replacement quickly
This is consistent with my research. Although I think if an owner looks after the 201ss fire pits they can last.
Good stuff. Good editing.
Thanks for watching. Appreciate the kind comment.
9:24 nope, that's solution to a big problem, when you camping you can't predict the wind direction, the smoke and the sparks they can easly change direction, that handle on the side come handy to move it, and you can move the fire pit while it burning, and the handle just warm to hold no need for gloves, TRUST ME ON THIS, for the first time it look scary, just go, it just warm on hand, i used to move the fire pit very often while on camping
Now do camping moon, also cheap, but all stainless, great build quality.
Thanks, in first video on the channel I made a comparison table and noted this difference to the others. Might try the camping moon one day.
I wanted a snow peak but the price is insane so I got a Camping Moon. It's very impressive. Good review.
We usually go canoeing.
ua-cam.com/video/7XX6U_YbHSU/v-deo.html@@OTWD
The people in the market for a kings fire pit probably aren’t going to be buying a snow peak anyways.
That's one way to look at it Alan. When Drifta sold the Snow Peak the competition was not as fierce yet, I wonder how sales are going for Tom's Outdoors (now the sole aussie supplier of Snow Peak). I'm an exception to this idea - single income family, upper middle class - and I saw value in the 'heirloom' purchase of the Snow Peak. Its kind of like sports cars, many people can't afford them - or theoretically shouldnt need one, but there's still a lot of middle class people saving up for their dream car because its something they value...I just hope whichever version people opt for they get good use out of them, like I have. Cheers and happy camping😬
@@OTWD I can definitely resonate with that point of view.
@@OTWDI bought a Springbar Traveler tent with all the accessories. I saved a whole year for that setup. Specifically so that when my son is grown with his own family, or even if he just wants to take his girlfriend out for a couple of nights, he's got his childhood tent to take her/ them in. He's only 7 but by the time he's old enough to take a girl anywhere he'll be able to make an impressive show of setting things up 😏
If the latches and handles fail then you've got a Snow Peak instantly. Kings for me anyway.
Hey Malcolm, That's one way to look at it! As long as we're getting out there... Happy Camping , Cheers😬
Great comparison, thanks for sharing. I’ve been thinking about spending the extra $$’s for a snow peak as tend to buy based on quality but will now look at the alternate brands, not necessarily Kings tho🤔
Hi Scott. Glad it gave you some fuel for thought mate- appreciate you taking time to comment. Let me know what you end up deciding on😬. The snow peak is really well made, but if I was to buy again - with all the other options now available - it would be hard to justify. Cheers!
There are 2 Snow Peaks in our extended family and they are great. Have survived much abuse.
Cheers Michael! Thanks for watching - Glad to hear stories of happy Snow Peak owners!!!
How much did drifts pay you
Nothing. Thanks for watching.
Just the comparison I was looking for. Great review.
Any thoughts on the Drifter copy of the Snowpeak?
Hi Chris, Thanks heaps mate, glad it was useful. Drifta sold snow peak for so long, so I reckon they knew what they were doing (based on years of feedback) when they come up with there own design. Furthermore, they seem to be the only one (that I know of) with an X-base-stand like the snow peak, raising the firepit slightly and minimising the footprint. The flat base of most other WILL kill grass underneath-especially if left in place over a few days, so I definately see value in their unique X-base-stand(Snow Peak and Drifta Stockton). I'm probably passing this kings one to a mate, but if I was looking at my own second fire pit I'd probably focus on the Drifta Stockton. Best wishes! Dan
Thanks Dan for the reply. I am seriously considering a fit pit and the review you gave has made me think the Drifta is probably the best option for me.
Also, I came across your channel as I was looking for reviews on the Oztent RV range. Then I noticed you drive a 90 series!
I ended up with the RV4 and I already had the Prado! Lol.
Maybe a walk around on the car. How you pack it, drawers? Tubs? Etc.
I enjoy your videos cause what you do isn’t out of reach of the normal family!
@@Caml80 Heya Chris, sorry its taken a few days. So glad you found the channel and how crazy that we share such similar interests and UA-cam brought us together:)!! You won't look back on the RV4! More videos on the Prado to come this year, I've just bought a lithium powerstation as an alternate to replacing the AGM under the bonnet - looking at building a basic drawer slide and false floor. . What year is your prado? Best wishes and thanks again for watching and commenting!
No need to be sorry life does get busy!
I have an 08 GXL V6. Not as thirsty as some think, definitely not as economical as the 3L, but so much quieter, smoother and family sedan like 😂. Plus picked it up before Covid hit for a really good price, it is a fully optioned one from factory so has the dual A/C, privacy glass, automatic etc. Very under rated car I think.
Coming from a Freedom ( copy ) canvas tent that I have owned for 20 years, the RV is just so much easier to setup and pack up especially when I’m solo.
I didn’t want a swag as I get claustrophobic!
I have set up the back of the Prado with fridge slide in a light weight box, and dual battery in rear. I did like the idea of a lithium battery power station but they hold a premium price atm I think, for what they are. I look forward to your review!
I originally had a c-tek 250sa which was a carry over from a patrol I had for years. I changed out this to a RedArc 1225 with a lithium charge profile. That way when the AGM does give up I will switch to lithium, mainly for weight saving plus faster charging. Hopefully they will keep dropping in price!
I have a full length aluminium flat roofrack, to carry the tent and other light stuff up top.
Coming from an old GQ that I was never conscious about how much weigh I carried in it. I am definitely more careful now!
As for the rear I use a false floor with plastic tubs.
From your videos you’re in VIC S.E? Im out that way.
Cheers.
I bought the drifta Stockton pit thinking it would last forever and sadly within months of using started to rust badly( contacted drifta and they said they all do🙄) fairly disappointed with their response and now find the stainless sides are splitting. These cheaper pits are not going to last anywhere near the snow peak but then in this throw away society you can buy 5 of the kind one. My drifta one came in around the $300 from memory so not super cheap.
I love Japanese camping gear
Me too. Thanks heaps for watching :D PS. Can't wait for more Jimny videos😉
I would love to support a brand like snow peak but camping is a luxury for us, and a fire pit is not a necessity so we don't have one if we did then it would be a kings. Yeah they are cheap and not as good but they get people camping cheap. A fire pit is a possibility.
I'm all for whatever gets people out there, enjoying and using it. Thanks for watching and sharing that perspective😬!
At the end of the day there both fire pits and you can just make a circle of rocks
That's one way to look at things. There are benefits though!! Thanks for watching😬
The grill is not stainless steel. the smaller half size grills are stainless steel
Might investigate the smaller one - Thanks Jose!
Cooking a steak in a frying pan, when you could grill it over coals - is a culinary crime against humanity.
Glad the culinary police weren't there...
Thanks Dan, got a heap out of this review. Cheers Simmo.
No probs Simmo. Thanks for this kind comment. Best of luck! Dan
What can happen in a life time of a person ? What will be the camp cooking in 10-20 years from now ? .. it will be good as anyones guess is it. I don't think its a great point to go for for a expensive one. I would go for the cheaper .. but still do the job, look after it.. it will last longer. I did same when I bought similer product to Jetboil. its probably 15 time cheap. still do the great job after 5 years ..
I hope that in my lifetime I'm still enjoying my Snow Peak fire pit, and given the primal nature of fire in 'the evolution humans, I think I'll still be enjoying it throughout my life :) I agree that most people will do just fine with a cheaper alternative brand. I'm glad to see more people being able to enjoy the outdoors in the same way I do. Thanks for watching and sharing a different perspective.
omg the leech attack! I hope you are ok!
I survived to make a few more videos. Thanks for your concern! Cheers😬
Have you considered contacting Snow Peak about the rust on the grill? It seems to me that if it appears to be happening to everyone, even with careful use and cleaning, that they may see it as a design problem and replace it for you Dan. Another great video. Hope the family are all well, Matt and the Price Clan
Hi Price Clan, I've been meaning to email you guys. Promise it's coming - hope you are doing well too. Thanks again for being part of the heart and soul of the channel. Great Idea - I hadn't thought to do that because I do not really like the shape of the grill bars anyway (not sure what use I'd get out of a new one). Although It may be worth investigating so I can share what Snow Peak's position is for anyone else in the same situation. Cheers
It's chrome coated steel and not sure why SP cheaped out on the large grill piece. Oddly enough if you buy their half sized grill bridges for the Takibi, they are made of stainless steel.
@@OTWDhow did you get on with this? Keen to understand snow peaks customer support as the rusting grill is clearly not wear and tear
Thank you! This was so helpful! ❤
Welcome, glad it helped.🍻😬
Brilliant. Thank you.
Happy firepitting!
Great video mate
Thanks Jake. Hope you're travellin well :D
Going well mate.
Hope you and the family are well 😊
Quick question regarding the fire pit/ base directly onto the floor.
When you have a fire in your backyard does it leave like heat patch/burnt grass under the plate?
@@jakepetherick7686 One night usually OK, would pack it up next morning if you can! Snow Peak X-stand or Drifta Stockton FirePit Kit with stand minimises the foot print! Its a consideration for caravan parks/unpowered sites too.
Just see how you go I reckon, if you haven't got one just get the one you want and see :) Our clan doing well. Heath is a monster standing up already at ~9 months - keeping us honest for sure. How's your little one?
Ill still only pay $93 for the kings for something i only use 5 times a year
Great video. Torn between the drifta and snow peak due to price. I had the trail X one which didn't last long. We love our camp fire and cooking so looking in to the longevity of the product. I know snow peak would last as per heaps of review, couldn't find a drifta fire pit review though. How old is your snow peak and are any rust on the grill and body of the firepit?
Thanks RS Doms glad you appreciate the video. Sorry for taking a while to respond mate. As shown in the video (skip to grill section) my SP grill is rusty and I use the Oz Braai Camp Braai most of the time, or the Drifta Stockton replacement grill. I actually got my hands on the Drifta Stockton pit since making this video, and I'm liking it! The base is very sturdy, its more like steel plate rather than sheet. Bit heavier but feels more sturdy. I'll do a review on that pit later - but in short - you won't be disappointed. Cheers mate.
My drifta pit rusted quickly and I am disappointed in driftas response to my concern saying they all do rust👎
@@gilesy7169 Thanks for your feedback Good thing I went with SP large fire pit. Was lucky enough to get it on sale at Tom's outdoors.
So 5x more expensive for the SnowPeak. Like many products, one countries' industry has been innovative and invested in R&D, and China has built a cheaper, inferior replica (like all Kings). Not everyone can afford premium prices, but I'd encourage people to support innovators, not replicators.
Hi Owen, Thanks for watching and taking time to craft a comment. I agree with this. I've bought a lot of kings gear- when I wasn't willing or wasn't able to buy anything else (probably most people
@@OTWD I've ordered and received the Drifta grill and coal plate over the last week and can immediately see the ease of cleaning benefit. Probably why 99% of oven grills are designed like that rather mesh.
Great vid mate. Can’t wait to break mine out again and throw a few lamb chops on it. I threw out my cast iron charcoal “trivet” and put in a larger wire mesh type like you did so the coals form a better/wider bed to cook over.
Looking forward to a video on your aeropress!! I used mine heaps during our harvest to keep the eyelids open!!😁
Oh and I really liked the new intro!!! Especially you getting a face full of steam!!😂 you should add the leech shot in too!!😁🤣 So funny!
Thanks Jase;) Good idea about the leech. I'll see what I can figure out! Coffee coming soon. I love the aeropress too. Daily coffee made in a cup for the drive to work. Poetry in a cup, perhaps. Stainless steel mesh is the way to go I reckon, although the Snow Peak one does look larger and hence raises it even higher....maybe I need to get one (in the name of science!). Take care down south ;)
If you camp everyday, buy snow peak. Otherwise kings will do the job. Not gonna spend $500 plus on something that gets burned and burned.
Winnerwell XL for the win!
I've heard this before...I may need to investigate😆
We are the DROPBEARS BELIEVE IN THE DROPBEARS THEY ARE EVERY WERE
That's a pretty lousy choice on the car brand that will "last a lot longer" 😅😅
I'd buy the G-Wagon if I had the money😅
Please be careful with the chinese 'copies', many chinese stainless products may be cheaper but contain heavy metal deposits within the steel including lead, just do your research and read the warning label IF provided.
I haven't heard this. Thanks for caution. What's the risk of heavy metal inclusions in stainless steel? Only a concern if you cook/eat off it?
@@OTWD Hi , there have been a lot of alerts in the USA of these especially cooking/camping bowls, plates and cups, phthalate compounds and lead have been found with some utensils whether its impure steel or external factory coatings.
Your review was very biased and was not undertaken in a fair way at all. Personal views snuck in rather than the true review. Assumptions is not a proper way to review
Thanks for watching. Sorry it wasn't what you were after. I'm happy to share my personal views on my UA-cam channel.
Two words “thermacell”
Thanks for suggestion Richard. I won't lie....I had no idea what that was until I googled it😁
Snow peak...say it....PEEK, i just spent the last 20 minutes googling snow pig. Im partially blind and cant read the title, i use the voice search interface.
Victorian accent gonna confuse ppl every time
Hi mate. I hope you found the info you needed on the topic and I'm sorry I led you to waste a bit of time. I can't do much about my natural accent unfortunately. Best wishes.
Salt gets rid of lechers and put rid on your legs and on clothes
Thanks Donna, no salt handy that day unfortunately....and I would have had fun trying to put it on my own back!
There is no comparison lol. Snow peak is 100% better quality than the king crap. You might got free from King crap no a great review got pay to do it.
I decided to make this video and I bought both fire pits with my own personal money. It took a lot of work to put together, and its my own thoughts on the two fire pits. No company input either way. I do not appreciate the unnecessary assumptions and judgement.
gawd you must have got eaten alive by mozzies
Won't be the last time! Thanks for watching.
who in their right mind would buy snowpeak?
Someone who wants to buy it once
Plenty more things I could waste my money on that I'd be less proud of😅