# Wood Fire on the Trail, Infrared on the Patio

2026-10-15

> A compact cook kit that works the same job in two places: biomass heat you can pack, plus a 13-inch infrared companion that stays put when you want weeknight searing without a full island.

### One job, two places

Most outdoor cooks end up with two problems that look different but feel the same. At camp you need heat that packs small and runs on what you can gather. At home you want real searing power without giving half the patio to a full-size island. You don’t need two lifestyles. You need gear that does the same work in both spots.

We’ve built and sold that mix for years out of Pflugerville. The pieces below aren’t props. They’re tools we keep in the conversation when someone says they camp hard one weekend and grill steaks the next.

### Start with heat you can carry

If you want fire without tanks, look at the [StarBBQ Rocket Stove Camper Box](https://austinoutdoorkitchens.com/products/starbbq-tm-rocket-stove-camper-box-military-grade-ammo-can-portable-stove-starbbq-rsbbox). It’s built from a genuine military-grade M2A1 .50 cal ammo can, cold-rolled steel with the original airtight gasket. That seal keeps dust and weather out when it’s packed. When you open it, the fold-out design and collapsible chimney get you cooking in under 60 seconds. Folding legs lock it steady on uneven ground.

[StarBBQ™ Rocket Stove Camper Box – Military-Grade Ammo Can Portable Stove | STARBBQ-RSBBOX](https://austinoutdoorkitchens.com/products/starbbq-tm-rocket-stove-camper-box-military-grade-ammo-can-portable-stove-starbbq-rsbbox)

Fuel is simple. Twigs and sticks. The rocket geometry pushes biomass heat hard; you’re looking at intense heat over 1,100°F when it’s dialed in. No propane. No charcoal bag. Just what you find near the site. The lid flips into a 15½" × 11½" steel side table, so you have a prep surface without digging another box out of the truck. Off-grid camping, overlanding, bushcraft, and emergency kits are the obvious fits. We’ve also seen people keep one by the fire pit for quick boils when the main grill is full.

Pair it with the [StarBBQ Heavy-Duty Steel Fold-Out Camper Griller](https://austinoutdoorkitchens.com/products/starbbq-tm-heavy-duty-steel-fold-out-camper-griller-portable-campfire-grill-and-griddle-combo-starbbq-fufp) when you want a real cooking surface over an open fire. Half the top is slotted for sear marks. Half is a smooth griddle for eggs, veg, or anything that would fall through bars. Cold-rolled steel with a high-heat powder coat handles open flame. Legs fold out, the surface sits elevated for airflow, and the whole thing packs flat for the truck or trailer. Wood or charcoal underneath. No gas line. No complex setup. Beach bonfires, trailheads, tailgates, and backyard pits all work the same way: set legs, feed the fire, cook.

[StarBBQ™ Heavy-Duty Steel Fold-Out Camper Griller Portable Campfire Grill and Griddle Combo | STARBBQ-FUFP](https://austinoutdoorkitchens.com/products/starbbq-tm-heavy-duty-steel-fold-out-camper-griller-portable-campfire-grill-and-griddle-combo-starbbq-fufp)

Those two pieces cover live fire when you’re mobile. They also teach you something useful for the patio: control comes from height, airflow, and surface choice more than from brand logos.

### Keep a compact permanent station at home

When you want weeknight speed and cleaner control, a small fixed unit beats another camp stove. The [Ruby Series 13″ Companion Pro GRILLER](https://austinoutdoorkitchens.com/products/ruby-series-13-companion-pro-griller-sun13cprogr-high-performance-infrared) (SUN13CPROGR) is built for that gap. Dual infrared burners push up to 30,000 BTUs in a 13-inch width. That’s enough to sear hard without claiming a full bay in the island. 304 stainless steel construction, integrated hood, and a warming rack give you heat control you won’t get from a grate over sticks.

[Ruby Series 13″ Companion Pro GRILLER – SUN13CPROGR High‑Performance Infrared](https://austinoutdoorkitchens.com/products/ruby-series-13-companion-pro-griller-sun13cprogr-high-performance-infrared)

What people miss until they cook on it: it’s not only a grill. You can sear, griddle, steam, smoke, and fry in the same footprint. Small patios, condo decks, and side stations next to a larger cook line are the usual homes for this unit. It also works as a dedicated high-heat zone so your main burners stay free for sides. Infrared gets you to searing temperatures fast; you still manage the flame and the lid like any serious grill.

If your outdoor kitchen already has cabinets, this companion size drops in without a remodel. Grill cabinets and trim kits from our line fit about 90% of grill brands, so you’re not locked into one layout if you expand later. Islands ship about 98% pre-assembled when you’re ready for a bigger build. For now, a 13-inch infrared unit plus a solid prep surface covers most Tuesday nights.

### How the kit works in real use

Think in jobs, not in “collections.” Job one: boil water and cook a one-pan meal with gathered fuel. Rocket stove. Job two: feed four people over a fire pit with mixed proteins and breakfast the next morning. Fold-out grill/griddle over wood or charcoal. Job three: hit a steak hard after work without lighting a full hybrid or dragging gear from the garage. 13-inch Companion Pro on LP or NG, hood down, infrared on.

You can run all three in one weekend. Friday night camp with the ammo-can stove and the fold-out griller. Sunday patio sear on the Ruby companion. Same cook, different heat source. That continuity matters. You stop relearning technique every time you change location.

Fuel notes worth keeping straight: the Rocket Stove Camper Box is charcoal/wood-style biomass only in practice, it runs on twigs and sticks and never needs gas. Separate hybrid charcoal units in our lineup that include a gas appliance need LP or NG for that side. Don’t mix those expectations. Match the tool to the fuel you actually have on site.

### Setup habits that save time

Pack the rocket stove as a sealed can. Check the gasket before a long trip. Practice the under-60-second setup once in the yard so you’re not figuring out chimney and legs in the dark. Keep a small dry twig bundle in a side pouch for first light; wet wood kills rocket stoves faster than wind does.

For the fold-out griller, preseason the steel the same way you’d treat any bare high-heat surface. Oil lightly after cooks when you can. On site, set legs on stable ground and give the fire a clean bed so heat rises evenly through the slotted half and the griddle half. Move food between the two zones instead of chasing perfect fire under the whole pan.

On the Companion Pro, learn your infrared sweet spot with the hood. Short preheat, lid management, and a clean drip path matter more than max BTU bragging. Use the warming rack for rested meat while you finish veg on the main surface. If you add accessories later, griddle plate, other Ruby pieces, the upgrade path is there without tossing the base unit.

### Where this fits in a bigger outdoor kitchen

Portable fire gear doesn’t replace a full cook line. It fills the gaps. A hybrid dual-zone charcoal/wood grill or a 36-inch Ruby with Pro-Sear infrared still makes sense when you host a crowd. The 13-inch companion is the sidekick, not the whole show. The StarBBQ pieces leave the property with you. Together they keep you cooking whether the “kitchen” is a clearing or a finished island in stainless cabinets.

Cabinets in our builds are 304 stainless. That matches the Companion Pro’s material story and keeps cleaning and weather resistance consistent across fixed pieces. If you’re sketching a first island, leave a 13-inch bay or a countertop spot for a compact infrared unit and store the fold-out griller and rocket stove nearby for fire-pit nights. Free design help is on the site if you want a layout checked before you cut stone.

### Buying and shipping without drama

We ship free freight to the 48 contiguous states on qualifying orders; typical transit runs 5–10 business days. Local pickup in Pflugerville saves 5% if you’re close enough to roll a trailer to 16004 Central Commerce Dr. Dealers are listed on the dealers page if you want hands-on before you buy. Warranty details live on the warranty page, read that rather than trusting memory or forum posts.

Questions on fit, fuel type, or how a 13-inch unit plays with an existing island? Call (888) 934-9449 or (512) 487-5116, Monday–Thursday 9am–4:30pm CST, or email contact@sunstonemp.com. Bring your patio depth and how you actually cook. We’ll match gear to that, not to a catalog fantasy.

Wood fire when you travel. Infrared when you stay. Same cook, honest tools, no extra theater.

Page: https://austinoutdoorkitchens.com/blog/wood-fire-on-the-trail-infrared-on-the-patio