Zia Grills - Gotta Love Em!
Let's say you want to grill some meat, a fresh fish, or even some veggies.
I'm grateful to Gary, the Zia Grill Guy, for making full-size grills that you can order by contacting him (see link below).
If you like, these can be used over an open fire, or with the FireFly, the FireFly XL, or many other wood burning stoves.
I'm promoting his gear here because I want folks to be able to get a really light titanium grilling option for their backcountry cooking.
Gary is a fellow titanium maven, working with titanium rods rather than the titanium sheets I use
to make my trowels and stoves. Contact him if you want a custom pot support in addition to the gear you see here.
Zia titanium grills are the lightest backpacking grills on the planet. Full size grills weigh less than an
ounce but are capable of supporting up to 2 pounds of weight, meeting many needs of the ultralight
hiker while camping in the wild. Quite simply, they are very lightweight, strong, and durable grills
that could be just what you need to complete your backcountry cook kit. They function well to support a
lightweight pot containing 2-4 cups of liquid, for cooking a trout or steak, or for warming up a foil
wrapped meal or a can of chili. Even if you prefer using a fuel stove, a grill is a great backup
in case you run out of fuel or somebody in the backcountry gives you some fish or game. Bonus!
Grills are made of pure titanium, which is not altered by the heat of a moderate campfire or even charcoal
briquettes. However, a heavily weighted grill can sag if placed over a very hot fire. The sag is completely
reversible, and the grill can be returned to its normal shape after it cools down. If your intention is to
use the grill with a load greater than 2 pounds over a very hot fire, it is recommended that you consider a reinforced
"Mega Grill".
A full-size grill is easy to bend and shape while
remaining quite strong. Moderate bending will not harm it. In fact, a full-size grill
can even be carefully bent into thirds, at right angles, which results in a self-standing pot support.
Occasional use in this manner will not result in the metal snapping.
The default arc of a full-size grill will support approximately 1.3 pounds (2 cups of water in a 4.5 ounce titanium
pot) and allow the weighted grill to lie in a flat position. If you want the grill to support more weight,
simply bend it gently over your knee to increase the arc. Titanium has a great memory and will tend to spring
back to whatever arc you choose. Zia grills are all fabricated by hand, so there will be minor variations from one
grill to the next. Full size grills are all about 11 x 4 inches. The
symmetry might not be perfect, but every grill will function fine in the field.
Grills are shipped in a heavy duty ziplock bag, which makes for easy storage in your pack. You can clean it by
hand, in the dishwasher at home, or in the backcountry by simply burning off any food dregs in the fire.
PLEASE NOTE:
Gary can no longer offer to ship his products outside the USA, due to the increased postal costs.
If you would like to inquire about his Regular and Mega grills,
you can