Archive for field kitchens

So You’re Wondering What a Chuck Box Is?

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from people seeing our products for the first time, “Wow, I remember when my grandfather built one of these for camping. My brother (or sister, or aunt, or … ) still uses it today.” That, in an nutshell, is a chuck box: a kitchen cabinet made of solid wood (historically heavy plywood) and built to last through the generations.

The My Camp Kitchen Summit and Outdoorsman are the chuck boxes of your dreams. We build them with Baltic Birch plywood, which is very lightweight while maintaining its strength. It is also beautiful, with a gorgeous golden grain. We use brass and zinc-plated hardware, creating a sleek and high-quality look. Our kitchens are built to be passed on from generation to generation.

A Camp Kitchen Built for Rugged Overlander Conditions

We tried to break it! And I mean we really tried. My friend Johnny was kind enough to do the honors.

We have a favorite campsite in the Rockies up above the town of Como, Colorado. There is a great four-wheel drive trail in the mountains just beyond the campsite. This is where we took the Outdoorsman for a ride. You can watch the video at our Videos page.

The Outdoorsman was packed with the normal gear we use on camping trips. This includes a single-burner propane stove, a small propane lantern, a couple of propane canisters, a pot and pan set, utensils, silverware, savory spices, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, paper towels, plates, cups, a Henkel knife set, a number of nonperishable food items, and a bottle of wine.

Sunday morning, Johnny showed up bright and early along with Herb, Matt, and Sarah (three of my kids); John, our videographer and my nephew; my brother Dorraine and his wife, Ruth; and Mike, a good friend from Canada. We packed up the Outdoorsman and strapped it onto the hitch platform Johnny uses to tote extra gear on his Jeep. Herb drove his SUV with John and his video gear. Herb opened the sunroof on his SUV, and John stood on the seat with half of his body and camera outside.

The first couple of miles is a modest gravel road, then we turn off onto a US Forest Service four-wheel drive road. This is when the fun really began. Johnny loves speed and rough rides, so he was right at home going as fast as he could over the rocks and rough terrain and through many water crossings. From the point at which we started on the FS road, it is about 10 miles to the continental divide overlooking Breckenridge. My brother, five years my senior, drove Sarah’s truck to the divide—a major feat for someone who doesn’t like to drive. He’s no wimp, that’s for sure.

Neither was the Outdoorsman. It was exposed to it all—dust, water, and a rough beating. You have to see the video to appreciate it.

After reaching the summit, we paused for a breather and took photos of the spectacular views. Then we headed back down just below tree line to our favorite campsite.

It was then that we set up and opened the Outdoorsman and found everything was intact!! Nothing broke, and it was dry inside despite all of the water it had been exposed to. Some dust did find its way in, but nothing that got in the way of cooking a great meal. I was very pleased.

We certainly don’t recommend such abuse on a regular basis, but taking the Outdoorsman four-wheeling with sane drivers is a piece of cake.

My sincerest thanks to everyone who tried so hard to break my kitchen.

Happy camping and cooking,

Richard

Sweat Equity

Recently while enjoying a coffee at Starbucks with a friend, we were discussing My Camp Kitchen’s new release, the Outdoorsman.

When I told him we offered a kit the customer could put together and finish themselves, he replied, “That’s great, your customers can use a little ‘sweat equity’ to get high value while saving money.”

Although it usually refers to building up equity or value in a house by doing a lot of work yourself, or in other instances, acquiring ownership in a business by investing labor rather than cash, “sweat equity” fits our new Outdoorsman kit rather nicely.

If you’d like to build some sweat equity while saving money, check out the Outdoorsman kit today!

My Camp Kitchen—When Flimsy Aluminum Isn’t Good Enough

I was recently camping in Steamboat Springs with some friends. I brought a Summit with me, of course. Many neighbors came by and were looking at my kitchen, as they are wont to do.

One person in particular had a lot to say about our kitchen. He had an aluminum kitchen set up in his campsite and was really impressed by the stability of My Camp Kitchen’s Summit. Apparently, the aluminum kitchens are wobbly. You’ve gotta be really careful around them—no kids playing and beware in windstorms. He kept pushing the Summit from a variety of angles and could not get it to budge. He was seriously impressed. Fortunately, I had some brochures, so he is going to check us out online.

Rave Reviews of My Camp Kitchen

Overland Journal gave My Camp Kitchen rave reviews! When comparing My Camp Kitchen chuck boxes to other field kitchens, Overland Journal ranked us first in our class (kitchens with container for cooking gear as well as surface upon which to cook) in its Spring 2011 issue. See below for excerpts from the review.

Overland Journal ranks Summit at the top for versatility, convenience, and features

From lightweight to luxurious, we look at the best kits for cooking outdoors.

Photograph by Chris Marzonie for the Overland Journal

Overland Journal, “Spring Field Test”

Excerpts from the review discussing the My Camp Kitchen™ Summit:

Overland Journal Review of the SummitThe My Camp Kitchen [Summit] is a new product. Constructed entirely of Baltic birch and red oak, the Summit Traveler is a fine example of good old-fashioned woodcraft using a simple, cleverly executed, elegant design. This is a camp kitchen your grandfather might have built in his workshop and passed down as a family heirloom. I met the maker, Richard Snogren, at the International Sportsmen’s Expo in Phoenix and got the impression that his product is a labor of love. After using it in the field, it’s obvious that it’s also the result of personal experience. He’s obviously spent some culinary time in the field and knows what he is doing.

The Summit scores impeccably on volumetric efficiency, thanks to the folding base and wood panel construction…. Put together with dovetail and dado joinery, the build quality is high. Years of use will only add character and a patina of adventure.

Once set up, the Summit is a joy to use. Swing open the cabin doors and you have three compartmented areas facing the chef, with a large counter in front. Additionally, there is a voluminous area below the counter and inside the base available for food boxes or any other large items you want accessible.

The Summit scores at the top

Overland Journal Review of the SummitThe Summit scores at the top for ease of use and ergonomics…. The working height and accessibility to cutlery, tools, specs, and paper towels couldn’t be better. This kitchen is immensely comfortable to use.

If you can afford the required cargo space for this kitchen and you’re serious about having a first-class work area to prepare fine meals, the Summit Traveler is a wonderful choice. The simple set-up and takedown, coupled with proper ergonomics and high-quality construction, score high points.

My Camp Kitchen Summit ranked first in these categories:

  • System Versatility
  • Convenience
  • Features

Learn More

If you have any questions, please give Richard a ring at 303.972.4721 or contact us today.
Thanks for reading, and happy camping!

Note: the Summit was referred to in the original article as the Summit Traveler. Since printing, the name has been changed.

Thank you for your interest in My Camp Kitchen!