New from Cadac: Carri Chef reviewed

For 60-odd years skottel breakfasts have been a hallmark of South African outdoor culture, but there’s more to gas than just this. With a wealth of fittings and accessories, the iconic bottle is a worthwhile investment for any travel enthusiast.

The new Cadac kid

The Cadac Carri Chef is a straightforward skottel with a modern twist – it’s far lighter than its older counterpart and designed to include a three-legged stand.Gone are the days when you had to prop the skottel against a tree to use the cylinder to boil water for tea.

It includes a clever self-lighting mechanism: simply screw the Carri Chef tightly onto the cylinder, turn the tap and spark up your brekkie. There’s also a temperature regulator, so there’s no chance of burning the bacon, but it seems over the top for a skottel, even a more modern one.

The Carri Chef is best for space-conscious campers after a classic skottel. It dismantles into a lean package and comes with three interchangeable pans: the conventional skottel, a shallow pan and a ribbed grill.

At the risk of sounding overly domestic, the pans are also coated with a non-stick surface for painless cleaning, which really counts when you’re outdoors with limited facilities.