Cowboy 8.8LB Hardwood Lump Charcoal

This is the only charcoal I use. It never gives me headaches like the processed briquets by other manufactures. It lights easily with a chimney, so no lighter fluid is needed.

Here's the thing; Cowboy is by far the BEST charcoal I've ever used!!! The charcoal lights quickly and easily, the heat is easily modulated and predictable, and the coals last a long time. I've never ran out of heat before the food was done - and I've cooked for a 150 person wedding one one batch of coals. I have nothing but rave reviews for using the charcoal. But...and I'ts a BIG BUT...Sometimes the pieces are so broken up in the bag that I only get 60% of usable charcoal. It's kind of like when all the cereal is broken up into tiny little pieces in the box of rice chex. It's gotten progressively worse over the last 4 years and it's super frustrating. Having said that I now look at it like I'm paying 20-40% more for what I get. I've even resorted to squeezing the bags to see how much of the bag contains usable charcoal versus useless dust.