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Campfire Tools: Shovel, Poker & Tongs for the Fire Ring

A folding shovel and a long poker-and-tongs set are the two things we keep at every fire ring. The shovel's number-one job is putting the fire dead out — spreading the coals, mixing in dirt, and stirring it cold without dumping all your water — and the tongs are how you pull foil packets, corn, and foil desserts out of the coals without scorching your hands. After that the shovel keeps earning its keep digging catholes, leveling tent spots, and scooping ash.

Our picks

The one we'd grab

IUNIO Folding Camp Shovel

A folding entrenching tool — folds compact, sturdy steel, comes with a carry pouch. It's one of a hundred that do the job; this is a safe pick, not a magic one.

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Fire tools pick

Long-Handled Poker and Tongs Set

A 32-inch poker and 26-inch tongs — handles the logs and grabs food out of the coals at arm's length, so your knuckles stay well off the heat.

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How to choose

What to look for (it isn't much)

Here's the truth: there are a hundred folding camp shovels and most of them are fine. You want three things — it folds down small, it's actually sturdy (metal, not flimsy), and it comes with a pouch so it isn't rattling loose in the gear bin. The fancy multitool versions with a saw edge and a bottle opener are fun, but none of that is the point. Buy a solid one and stop thinking about it. Our pick above is the standard — representative, not special.

The other tools for the ring: a poker and tongs

The shovel puts the fire out — a long poker and tongs run it while it's going. They let you nudge the logs, rake the coals into an even bed, and (the part the kids care about) pull the campfire corn and the foil-packet dinners out of the coals without scorching your hands or losing dinner to the fire. A 30-inch-plus handle is the whole trick: it keeps your knuckles well off the heat. Our fire tools pick above covers that.

Putting the fire dead out

If you only remember one job for the shovel, make it this one. Spread the coals flat, stir in dirt, add water sparingly where it's still hot, and keep stirring until everything is cold to the touch — the full walkthrough is in our campfire safety guide. That's the method that saves your water and actually puts the fire out, not just quiets it.

Common questions

Do you need a shovel for camping?
It's one of the most useful things you'll pack. The main job is fire safety — spreading and stirring the coals to put the fire dead out without wasting water — but a folding shovel also digs a cathole, levels a tent spot, scoops ash, and clears debris. A folding one packs small and earns its place in the bin.
What kind of shovel is best for camping?
A folding (collapsible) metal shovel with a carry pouch. You want it sturdy enough to actually dig and small enough to pack — past that, the differences between brands are minor. Multitool versions add a saw edge or fire starter, which are nice-to-have, not need-to-have.
Can you put out a campfire with a shovel?
Yes — it's the main reason to keep one at the ring. Use it to spread the coals out flat, mix in dirt or sand, and stir while adding a little water, until the ashes are cold to the touch. See our campfire safety guide for the full method.
What are camp fire tongs and a poker for?
They let you manage the fire and your food from a safe distance — repositioning logs, raking coals into an even cooking bed, and pulling foil packets and campfire corn out of the coals without burning your hands. A long handle keeps you back from the heat.

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