For me, who discovered the joy of campfires through mountain stream climbing, campfires were always made by piling up stones next to the riverbank, so-called open fires. To be honest, I was not completely opposed to the idea of a campfire pit, no matter how necessary it was at a campsite, and no matter how sturdy, stable, and "good" it was. The fewer things that stand between me and the flames, the better
So, while a fire pit does its job well, I had a vague hope that it would play a supporting role that doesn't make an impression at all, and for me, the MAAGZ RAPCA was perfect
Developed by a garage manufacturer in Hachioji, Tokyo, a city of manufacturing, this fire pit has a simple structure that is stripped down to the bare minimum, making it hard to believe it is a fire pit. It is surprisingly lightweight and assembled with a minimum number of parts, yet it still has a beautiful appearance
The crowdfunding campaign has reportedly raised over 7 million yen. I certainly understand the desire to own one just by looking at it. However, I've tried a few simple, lightweight fire pits in the past, and while they looked great, they were often too delicate to handle the heat, which left me disappointed. That's something I'm curious about
Thankfully, the manufacturer contacted me and I got the opportunity to use this fire pit. I missed a lot of the opportunity to try it out due to the self-restraint period, but one Sunday in June, I took it out to a riverside barbecue, so I'd like to share my review of it right away
table of contents
Favorite points of MAAGZ RAPCA
- Surprisingly lightweight
- It can be stored compactly and is easy to carry
- Its simple structure makes it easy to assemble
- The size is just right for solo or duo use, or even for groups or families if the number of people is not too large
- An open structure designed for smooth ventilation (so caution is required in windy environments)
- Despite its minimalist components, it is robust enough to withstand high heat
- A simple yet versatile stovetop that can be used in a variety of ways
- It is highly expandable, allowing you to combine various optional parts that will be released in the future, as well as commercially available parts
- Cleaning up and maintenance after use is stress-free, and all parts can be disassembled for a clean look
I tried it at a riverside barbecue
Incredibly lightweight and compact parts housed in a stylish storage case
Let's take a look at the RAPCA that arrived. I already knew it looked stylish, but the storage bag is pretty cool too (see photo below). All parts are stored in a thin, 40cm square case made of durable black canvas, almost like a briefcase. Even including the grate, it weighs just 1,800g (excluding the case's weight of about 130g). A typical group-sized fire pit weighs around 3kg, so its lightness is obvious
There are a ton of campfire stoves out there, but it's hard to find a model that's small enough to be used by a group and can be stored and carried so compactly
We took the parts out of the bag and lined them up (see photo below. Only the top left trivet is not included in the standard set). The base frame, plate, and trivet can all be disassembled and stacked for slim storage
Assembly is easy
Even if the parts are simple, if the assembly is complicated, the benefits are halved. Let's actually assemble it to check how easy it is to assemble
First, assemble the base frame. Insert the frame into both ends of the gently curved joint bridge. It's not particularly difficult to insert, it's very smooth, and you won't have any trouble figuring out where to insert it (see photo below)
Once the lower joint and base frame are connected, it will stand on its own as shown in the photo below
Once the frame is set, the next step is to set the ash tray. The ash tray is made by connecting two thin panels (see photo below)
Just place it firmly on the frame. This also doesn't get lost easily (see photo below)
Finally, place the grate on top of the ash pan (see photo below)
Of course, it may not be easy for people who have never seen a campfire pit before, but for people who want a cool campfire pit that is different from others, it can be set up in a very simple process that doesn't require any special precautions
The trivet is a very simple rod with hooks on both ends, which hooks onto the beams that run along both ends of the frame. The beams have three different heights, so you can place it anywhere you like. There are also grooves in some parts to help prevent it from slipping (see photo below)
The well-thought-out airflow design makes ignition smoother than you'd expect
Once we learned how to assemble it, we took it to a campsite on the riverbank and tried making a bonfire
The size is suitable for solo or duo use, and even for groups and families if not large groups. First, gather some dry branches and light a fire. The method of making a bonfire is the same as a regular bonfire pit
The starter fire started much more smoothly than I expected. At this point, I realized that this fire pit has a very breathable design
First of all, it's not enclosed on all sides. And the bottom of the firewood is designed so that wind can pass in a certain direction between the ash pan and the grate, and air can escape through the gaps in the grate. Because of this, even though the firewood was very dry, the fire spread to the larger logs more easily than expected, and we were able to create a stable bonfire. Of course, this was all without manually blowing air or using a blowtorch or anything like that
However, this characteristic of "making the most of air flow" can also be seen as the flip side, meaning that it is "susceptible to the effects of wind."
While the good ventilation is nice, the firewood always "burns so well" that it felt a little more difficult than usual to maintain a steady fire for a long time in a thick wooden fire bed. This is just my impression, as I didn't try it with many different types of firewood. Also, there was a brief period of strong winds that day, and I was a bit careless, so sparks flew all over the place, which was quite a shock. While this is a natural consideration when having a bonfire, it seems necessary to take into account that it is more susceptible to the effects of wind than other bonfire stands
*According to the official online store, it seems that the manufacturer is aware of this issue and is currently developing a special windscreen that will reduce the effects of wind and stabilize combustion. This is something I'm really looking forward to
High scalability possible because of its extreme simplicity
Well, the greatness of this fire pit doesn't end with its design and ease of lighting. The trivet, which you set up when placing a pot or grill, is simple; it just requires two rods to be hung in the grooves. What's more, it offers great flexibility, with three height settings that you can place it at any position. Of course, in addition to these standard trivets, you can customize it to your liking by adding optional parts such as iron plates, grill grates, and stoves
While these optional parts are available, I personally find it very pleasing that due to its simplicity, you can use grates from various manufacturers other than the genuine ones, whether they are nets or iron plates, with a bit of ingenuity. For example, the photo below shows a grate I bought at a home improvement store
The Snow Peak half deep grill plate I always use is also like this (see photo below). The top one wasn't wide enough, but the third one was stable enough
Snow Peak's Grilling Net Pro.M, which is also compatible with the M-size fire pit, was also usable. In the photo below, the grilling net is placed, and a grate is placed on the top shelf, and pots and frying pans can also be placed on top of that. The point is that you can be flexible and use various ideas within the range of tools you have. It's great
On this day, I placed a grill on it to enjoy a barbecue, and then I placed the tripod on top of it to cook Dutch oven food at the same time, which was a more elaborate way of using it. Despite having only a few parts, it can be used in a variety of styles depending on how you use it
To dispose of any remaining ashes, simply take the ash pan to a collection point
All parts can be disassembled, so you can wash every nook and cranny with ease. If the connecting parts cannot be separated, they are likely to get dirty or damaged, so this is a subtle but very satisfying point. It was easy enough to use just for making a bonfire, but cleaning up after use was also smooth and stress-free, which really impressed me. Tools that have been carefully designed down to the smallest detail are always a pleasure to use
Summary: This is a great looking and easy to use device that will allow you to enjoy the true joy of campfires even more than regular camping
Despite being extremely lightweight and compact, it is also incredibly easy to use, with the flexibility and expandability to be combined with a variety of tools. The simple and minimalist MAAGZ RAPCA exudes a refined beauty that was born not from an attempt to dress up its appearance, but from a thorough focus on functionality, such as ease of use and clarity. Because it is so minimalist, there are some aspects that complete beginners may need to be a little careful about when using it as is, such as wind resistance, but these will likely be addressed in the future by recommending optional auxiliary parts.
Its unassuming appearance blends seamlessly into the natural surroundings, and while it's not the same as an open flame, it does naturally draw you closer to the flames. Its refined beauty and ease of use will make it an essential addition to any camping or touring trip, from solo to duo or small group
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