Camping equipment has long suffered from a predictable fate, typically spending the vast majority of the year gathering dust in the dark corners of a garage or basement. For most outdoor enthusiasts, gear is pulled out for a single week or a handful of weekends during the warmer months, only to be promptly packed away again until the next calendar year rolls around. But a new piece of outdoor hardware called Camp Torch was designed with an entirely different philosophy in mind. Conceived by three friends in Boise, Idaho, the system was originally built for the backcountry, but after wandering onto the founders’ home porch, it simply never left.
The result is a modular, highly versatile propane torch capable of producing a flame up to four feet tall that packs down neatly into a compact canvas carrying bag. Because the design utilizes clean-burning propane rather than traditional firewood, it leaves behind no wood, no ash, and no lingering smoke. Homeowners can host an evening gathering on their patio and wake up the next morning without their outdoor living space smelling like a burnt campfire. Equipped with a single, straightforward control knob, the device allows users to dial the flame up and down seamlessly, moving from a subtle, low ambient glow all the way to a roaring, full-scale blaze depending on the mood of the evening.
In a market crowded with over-complicated multi-tool gadgets, the creators behind Camp Torch opted for a product that focuses on a singular, essential job: providing a reliable, beautiful center of gravity for a social gathering. Founders Prince, Jimmi, and Boyd strapped their very first rough prototype to a raft during a river trip and iterated through six distinct iterations before arriving at the final production design. The motivation for the project often stemmed from frustration; some of the nights they most desperately wanted a warm fire were precisely the nights when traditional wood fires were strictly prohibited due to local dry conditions or burn bans. To solve this, they engineered a system that runs cleanly on standard propane, featuring a fully controllable flame height and an instant shutoff valve for maximum safety. To help refine the engineering of the hardware, they brought in industry experts who had previously worked on innovative outdoor products like Jetboil. By stacking the interchangeable metal poles, users can transform the hardware from a low-slung, intimate circle warmer into a towering six-foot-four-inch beacon of light. Crucially, the entire system runs on a standard 20-pound propane tank, sparing consumers the headache of hunting down expensive or proprietary replacement fuels.
A Single Control Knob Controls a Four-Foot Flame
The mesmerizing flame is the entire focal point of the Camp Torch experience, which explains why the designers opted for the simplest possible interface: a single manual control knob positioned neatly on the side of the burner head. Users can turn the knob down low for an intimate candlelit dinner or crank it up to its maximum output when a larger group gathers and the evening conversations grow louder. At peak performance, the towering flame projects bright, warm light across a radius of roughly 60 feet in every direction. This expansive illumination is more than enough to cook meals, navigate a campsite, or wander around the surrounding area after dark without needing to strap a headlamp to your forehead.
When hooked up to a standard 20-pound propane tank, a single fill provides roughly nine hours of continuous burn time on the highest setting, and more than 20 hours when operated on a low, conservative glow. That kind of longevity easily covers an entire weekend of evening gatherings, making it a dependable companion for extended trips into the wilderness or long nights spent in the backyard.
The true versatility of the system, however, lies in its modular height adjustments. The precision-crafted metal poles can be configured into four distinct setups: a low-profile campfire mode utilizing just the bare tripod, configurations featuring one or two intermediate poles, and the full six-foot-four-inch beacon mode. Campfire mode positions the warmth low and central, directing heat right where a seated circle of friends naturally forms. Conversely, the towering beacon mode stretches upward to flood an entire campsite or open yard with brilliant illumination.
For even larger gatherings, the system supports an advanced setup known as Base Camp, which allows three separate torches to run simultaneously off a single propane tank using a specialized splitter. This configuration enables hosts to place one torch by the dining table, another near the seating area, and a third wherever guests naturally tend to congregate. Back at home, this remarkable flexibility ensures the hardware earns its keep year-round. Owners can drop it down to campfire mode beside their patio chairs for a quiet, relaxing evening on the porch, or elevate it to beacon mode to thoroughly light up the entire backyard when hosting friends for a weekend party. Because it transitions so effortlessly between backcountry adventures and suburban living spaces, owners do not need to wait for a special camping trip on the calendar to justify pulling it out of storage.
Steel, Brass, and Precision-Engineered Mechanical Joints
Beneath the striking flame, the physical architecture of the Camp Torch reflects a deep commitment to high-end industrial design. The foundation of the unit is a sturdy three-foot tripod whose individual legs terminate in Hirth-joint tips. This interlocking, serrated gear geometry is typically reserved for heavy precision machinery rather than outdoor recreational gear. Each leg features independent micro-adjustments, allowing the entire torch to sit perfectly level on uneven campsite terrain, rocky riverbanks, or sloping lawns, while the serrated tips bite firmly into the ground when stability is paramount.
Every single knob, fitting, and structural component throughout the assembly is fabricated from durable steel, aluminum, or brass, resulting in a build that contains zero plastic parts. The quick-connect mechanism joining the modular poles allows users to adjust the height effortlessly without needing any tools, while also serving as a future-proof mounting point for upcoming accessories. The entire structural design is currently patent pending, a testament to the rigorous mechanical engineering invested into what might otherwise appear to be a simple fire feature.
Safety features are equally robust, headlined by an integrated anti-tip shutoff mechanism designed to instantly cut off the flow of gas the very moment the torch is accidentally knocked over or displaced. Because the system relies on manual flame control and heavy-duty stability, it behaves entirely differently than traditional campfires when facing unpredictable weather. Rain has nothing to soak and no smoldering coals to drown out, while passing gusts of wind simply dance around the flame in the same natural manner they would interact with any open fire. This precision-controlled combustion, total absence of dangerous floating embers, and an instant-shutoff valve explain why propane-fueled alternatives of this nature are frequently permitted by local authorities in areas where traditional wood fires are strictly forbidden, including during various Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions. However, manufacturers advise users to always consult local fire authorities before embarking on a trip, as stricter regional bans can occasionally encompass propane devices as well.
Packing, Setup, and What Comes in the Box
Despite its imposing presence when fully assembled into a towering beacon, the entire Camp Torch system packs down efficiently into a custom-designed carrying bag measuring 11 by 22 inches. Weighing in at approximately 18 pounds, the packaged unit slips easily behind a vehicle seat right alongside a traditional cooler. Setting up the hardware takes less than a minute and requires absolutely no tools: users simply level the tripod base, stack the desired number of poles, connect the burner head and fuel line, attach the propane hose to an external tank, ignite the gas safely through the designated port, and use the manual knob to dial in the ideal flame height.
The standard package includes the modular torch assembly, a rugged carry bag, a quick-connect regulator and hose, heat-resistant silicone covers, and protective handling gloves. Meanwhile, a growing ecosystem of additional accessories—including specialized heat shields, dedicated patio and deck mounting bases, and advanced cooking attachments—is currently in active development by the Boise-based team.
Shipping is currently focused on the United States, with initial customer deliveries scheduled to roll out following the conclusion of the product’s successful crowdfunding campaign, which has already raised over $530,000 from enthusiastic backers. Launch pricing sits at $499 for a single torch and $899 for a two-torch bundle, representing a discount off the planned future retail price of $599 per unit. The company backs its hardware with a comprehensive 30-day return policy offering a full refund with return shipping covered, alongside a lifetime warranty ensuring that if any component fails under normal use conditions, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. With that level of everyday usability both on the trail and on the back porch, the garage just might be the one place this modular torch never has to visit.
