Hey campers,
Was wondering if anyone has any experience with this in the wild. Things look cool on the internet…
Its a choice between this and the lavabox, I really like the certifications of the Howl, and build of it, looks a bit more finished and “professional” if you will.
Ahh man, that’s tough
I’ve had the privilege of hiding under an awning in a downpour with the makers of both at separate Overland Expos
The LavaBox dudes were super chill and nice but I gotta recommend the Howl as far as a useful campfire
In my experience the lava box will throw a stupid ass big flame, if that is what you prioritize,
but the Howl will actually do a better job heating you.
the one major benefit the lavabo has is you can get clip on things to cook on it, but in my experience it’s kinda a hat trick more than it is a main use (most people don’t want to lose their campfire to cook)
Especially if you get there mounting plate kit for the R1 (though it’s always out of stock) you’d have a really clean package
I just received mine. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet other than to give it a test run and do a leak check. I bought it with the mount and the build quality on both is extremely high. The design is also really nice. From the quick test it does work as shown in the videos and gives off a pretty large flame. I will say that the horizontal heat generated is pretty low for the amount of propane you will likely go through but it will give a good campfire ambiance. Honestly I think it depends on expectations. Its also relatively small (both a pro/con) so sitting around it with more than a couple of people would likely be a bit awkward.
As an engineer who works in manufacturing I was def impressed with the build quality and customer support of Howl. Based on this purchase I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase from them again. How useful the product ends up being for me is still TBD.
I got an R1a few months ago and have used it for a handful of nights. On a scale of 1 to 5, I give the R1 5 stars for build quality, 5 stars for ambiance creation, and 3 stars for heat generation. It does not use as much propane as I expected. A 20# bottle will last for three evenings, depending on how high a flame you want and how long you run it. I jumped on the carry bag and am really glad I did, it should be part of the package with every R1.
The one question I would have is whether they will be updating it any time soon. They just came out with a V.2 for the R4 and I have to wonder how long it will be before those improvements carry over to the R1.
I have the r1 and have been happy with it. Super happy with the build, probably a bit better than my last cheap gas pit. Is it worth the extra money is debatable
I really dig my Howl R1. The quality of the product and the build is very GFC like in my opinion. It does like to consume fuel, and that may be that I haven’t quite dialed it in but I can get about 3 nights off of my 10lb tank. That being said the heat output is very nice.
Don’t mind the clutter but it locks into the rally mount really well and that pairs nicely with the GFC MOLLE panel.
Other photos for context.
I have that same gadget attached to my R1
Thanks everyone for the input. Howl is on the way!
Thanks for the input…what about the Ignik Firecan Deluxe. Did you happen to see them or try it? This is the one I am eying at the moment.
I just picked up a Howl. I love a good camp fire, but burn bands can put a halt on that, and so can damp wood. Furthermore, I’m a firm believer of only taking wood from downed or dead trees. I kind of like to leave nature in place. 
I came from the Igkik fire pit. The Howl R1 blows it out of the water. The lavabox will have the largest flame out of all of them but the larger the flame/draw on a propane tank, the more likely it will freeze over especially in colder climates.
Thanks…you ever try and cook/grill over the Howl? I like the idea of dual purpose, which is why I keep looking at the Ignik FC deluxe.
I’ve grilled some hotdogs/sausages but not really meant for cooking. If you’re wanting to cook, I’d still go with the Lavabox. The ignite was just really bad quality imo.
