Porta-Jet Oven Concepts

Here is some more fun with product design.  Here is a general synopsis of the "interviews" that I conducted with several of my classmates and other random students at the school and the run-down of the findings.

Concept:  Incorporate the use of a convection (JetStream/NuWave) oven with that of the traditional camping stove.  The result would be a portable stove/oven used for camping that provides easier clean-up and reduces safety concerns of butane bottle use.

Upon initial analysis, the question was to evaluate the need for an item of this manner, since there are currently items on the market that have stood the test of time.  The Coleman camping stove that uses butane canisters is a standard for the recreational and serious hikers and campers.  The question of redesigning this product to make it better or more efficient and it actually being wanted and well-received by the general public was essential to answer first.  Evaluating this provided the proper target market that could be focused on for this product.

Target market:  Larger families that look to camp (4+), RV/”Fifth-wheel” users, Groups that use the public venue to “rough” it, Bulk cooking in the outdoors

This product would not be beneficial to the single hiker, or “mountain man” type, that wants portability above all else.

Benefits to this item being on the market:

• Safety factor – no use of butane canisters, no open flame
• Cleanliness of food – housing around food protects the cooked items from inclement weather
• Ease of clean-up – no burners on the bottom of the stove/oven, instead easy to remove drip tray
• Faster cooking – convectional air-stream cooks food faster
• Healthier cooking – convectional air-stream cooking allows the extra fat to drip off the food and not sit in a pool of grease
•  Ease of recipes – not affected by changes in altitude as much
•  Storage space – not required to keep extra butane canisters that degrade over time

Possible concerns for item:

•  Price – Proprietary battery packs, large oven to mass produce… cost can be a problem
• Durability and Longevity – Rechargeable batteries degrade over time
•  Space and weight – Would probably need its own carrying case, not for the single camper
•  Public education – Some interviewees still did not know about convection air-stream cooking
• Proprietary battery – Stuck out in the woods and your battery fails, now you have no way to cook besides fire

Bottom line:  Of the 20 interviewees questioned about this product, 18 considered the product to be useful and would plan on purchasing one if prices were comparing to other camping stoves.