Photographs : Sage Brown | Words : Myles Haselhorst | Location : Chet’-Woot Forest | Publication : All Good Things
My must-have list for a fun night around the fire :
Carey Schleicher-Haselhorst grew up in the mountains of northern Arizona and fondly remembers the annual task of cutting firewood with her family every fall. Running around in the woods, the distinct smell of split pine, a crispness in the air, bonfires at night, all the stars overhead. The essence of those memories informs the selection of products she offers at CORD, which she owns and operates in the Alberta District of Portland, Oregon. Her shop caters to those who want to get outdoors, whether that’s a short walk in the woods, work in the garden or forest, sunning and swimming at the river or a camping excursion in the mountains. Of course, she also loves campfires, especially in the cooler months of autumn, when the risk of wildfire has subsided. There’s something ritualistic about an outdoor fire—the dark of night, the mesmerizing glow of flames, swapping stories, sharing a nip of whiskey or a hot drink. And there’s the ceremony of making the fire itself—axe in hand, splitting wood, that first flame as it catches the kindling, stoking the fire late into the night. CORD has everything you might need for an evening campfire this fall, either at a friend’s backyard or out in the wilderness. A good place to start is the CORD x NS XL Tote in Safety Orange. Waterproof, durable and huge, it’s designed to carry anything for all adventures. Pack it with warm clothes, a drink or two and everything on Carey’s must-have campfire list and you’re set to go.
CORD x NS | XL TOTE
Waterproof, durable and huge, our very own Cord x NS XL Tote is designed to accompany you on any and all of your outdoor adventures. Pack it with warm clothes, a drink or two and everything on our must-have campfire list and you’re set to go.
SILKY | GOMBOY
The Silky Gomboy is among the most versatile tools we offer. Great for work around the yard but also always on hand as a survival essential. Out camping, it’s perfect for making firewood out of fallen trees and limbs found scattered over the forest floor. The compact, folding blade allows you to toss it in your bag or carry in your back pocket.
CORD | WOOD HAULER
Our wood hauler was designed to serve you through years of wood gathering needs, whether that’s from the woodpile to the stove in your home or off the forest floor to your campfire during adventures in the woods. It’s cleaner, quicker and can carry a ton more than the crook of your arm.
GRANSFORS BRUK | SMALL FOREST AXE
There’s nothing like splitting your own wood and kindling for a campfire. Gransfors Bruk definitely makes the best axes for the job. Our favorite is the Small Forest Axe. Its stout, hand forged design handles all camp tasks and its compact handle makes it a perfect pack axe for any outing.
RANGER FIRE PIT
Solo Stove's patented design makes for one of the best fires you will ever stand beside—and it’s virtually smoke free. We love the Ranger in particular for its travel friendly size. A great centerpiece for a party in any backyard, it’s even better on car camping excursions in the deep woods where a no-trace approach means avoiding building a fire directly on the ground. Plus, it looks cool.
FIRE STARTEN STUFF
Why tear up grocery bags when you can use these little disks designed specifically to help start fires? Always good to have a fire starter of some kind on hand to catch the kindling, especially when it’s windy or your wood is a bit damp. All natural and colorful, a little portion of each disk goes a long way. And they come in a pocket-sized tin that you can toss in your bag.
MARATAC | LIGHTERS
Matches are never around when you need them. Or they don’t strike. Or the wind blows them out. Maratac Lighters, on the other hand, are small enough to clip to a key chain and their threaded o-ring sealed cap guarantees that the lighter fluid never dries out. This means you always have a reliable fire source when you need it. Plus, we love their sleek, functional design.
POCKET BELLOWS
Sometimes a campfire simply refuses to start or you’ve let the coals die down enough that the next log won’t catch. These Pocket Bellows really are a must-have to solve the problem. Such a simple and perfect design, they extend from 3 1/2 up to 20 inches. Take a deep breath, blow and you have a roaring fire again.
BAREBONES | BEACON LANTERN
Even the biggest bonfire casts only so much light in the dark of night. We always pack a few Beacon Hanging Lanterns to add a little extra glow to the campsite or ambiance for a backyard gathering. Rechargeable with a built-in USB cord, these lanterns are as functional as a flashlight but definitely more dynamic in all the different ways you can use them.
MORA | COMPANION
A sharp, sturdy knife is an essential, so we always pack a Morakniv Companion during excursions in the woods. Whether Random tasks around camp, cutting picnic provisions or whittling for fun around the fire, the Companion is the perfect knife. And its solid polymer stealth allows you to safely toss it in your bag or clip to your belt, always at hand.
RUMPL | PUFFY BLANKETS
Cold nights, warm fire, but you still want a little extra comfort. Rumpl Puffy Blankets are hands down our favorite travel, camp, everyday, home and cabin blanket. They pack down to almost nothing, resist water and dirt and are windproof and washable. Always with us for camping trips, days at the beach or just wrapped up on the couch reading a book.
STANLEY | FLASK
A little bit of whiskey and a camp fire go hand and hand. Stanley has been around in my life as long as I can remember. Dad’s coffee on the construction site when I was a kid and now a flask in pocket by the fire.
INSULATED CAMP MUG
A Stanley Legendary Mug will keep camp cocktails or beers cold throughout the night. And it’s a welcome friend the next morning, when it’s cold and crisp and you’ve just rekindled the fire, a fresh pot of coffee in the press. This is our go-to drink vessel for all excursions. It’s also perfect for simple everyday use on the back porch or job site.