In the late 1980s and 1990s, Japan experienced a major boom in car camping, largely driven by Snow Peak’s impact on the Japanese market. Most campers enjoyed open fires during their excursions for cooking and warmth.
New campgrounds were developed to meet the demand, and many were designed with open grass fields for campers. However, this meant that any open fires left unsightly black burn patches across the field, ruining the grass and creating a fire-risk during the dryer months. Soon, many campgrounds began implementing fire bans. Snow Peak staff were displeased when they traveled to campgrounds, only to discover burn marks scattered across the fields in defiance of the regulations.
These events inspired Snow Peak’s then-President Tohru Yamai to develop the Pack & Carry Fireplace (which later became the Takibi Fire & Grill, with the Grill Bridge and Fireplace Grill added for cooking). The portable fireplace was the first of its kind, with an innovative design that allowed it to fold flat for compact storage. Structured as an inverted pyramid, the Pack & Carry Fireplace has four triangular panels that fold into a receptacle for wood and charcoal. After much field testing, Snow Peak’s development team determined that 1.5mm thick stainless steel offered the durability required for high temperatures while still allowing the fireplace to be easy to carry.
The new product solved the problem of burnt patches by keeping the fire elevated several inches off the ground, leaving no trace behind. Though it was initially received with some skepticism from customers who were accustomed to building fires on the ground, the easy-to-use fireplace steadily gained popularity and now is one of Snow Peak’s most popular items.
Today, Takibi Time, or gathering by the fire to share food and drink, is at the crux of Snow Peak’s mission to restore humanity through time outside. Snow Peakers across the world have gathered around their Pack & Carry Fireplace or Takibi Fire & Grill, enjoying evenings of togetherness under the stars.
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