Sitting in front of a fire pit is a fantastic way to unwind and relax. It is unnecessary to be a hiker or camping lover to enjoy this activity. It’s also unnecessary to construct a permanent fire pit out of heavy materials like stone or brick when some of the greatest models are portable and available for purchase straight from fire pit manufacturers and large shops like Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Amazon.
Are you looking for an outdoor fire pit? We put a bunch of portable pits to the test to see which one is the best.
The price, size, and weight of these portable fireplaces differ significantly. There are models for as little as $60 and as much as $350 for high-performance pits. A fancy propane fire pit can set you back $1,500 or more. Plenty of them also come with extras like a cooking grate, so you can cook your dinner over a backyard fire pit rather than in the kitchen if you’re feeling particularly outdoorsy.
Solo Stove Yukon is quite massive, making them ideal for roasting marshmallows.
Several different outdoor fire pits are available, such as propane fire pits and fire glass models. Still, we’ll focus on genuine wood-burning fire pits in this list. The convenience and versatility of these wood fire pits are appealing. You can use them for both heating and cooking and grilling. Importantly, a wood fire pit offers a great way to roast marshmallows for a delightful taste. The models on this list are either best-sellers, high-ranking contenders, or worthy challengers for the best fire pit from well-known outdoor brands. We put them to the test to see their strengths and weaknesses. You’ve come to the right place if you need assistance selecting a fire feature that fits your needs and outdoor space. I’ll update this list frequently.
Solo Stove fire pits have gained many following in recent years. The Solo Stove Yukon is the biggest and best product of its company. The Solo Stove Yukon is large enough to accept full-size firewood logs, with a top side 27 in across and a mouth 23 in diameter. Due to its huge size, the stainless-steel-steel body gives him a sleek appearance.
The Yukon uses the same advanced airflow system as the rest of the Solo Stove line. As per Solo Stove, These vents help provide a constant oxygen supply to the fire. In our experience, The Yukon performs similarly to its smaller cousin, the Solo Stove Ranger, but on a larger scale.
The Yukon fire started fast. Its logs fully caught fire in just five minutes. Once they caught fire, they burned for hours. This pit was also effective, consistently consuming all of our test firewood logs. It generates significantly less smoke than the other fire pits we’ve tried.
The Yukon can be ordered with a metal stand (70$) and a rain cover (60$) for an extra charge or as part of a package. We don’t recommend moving the pit very often because it weighs 38 pounds. In addition, as with other high-performance fire pits, children (and adults) must be careful when using the Yukon. The Yukon’s steel surface heats up quickly to burning temperatures.
It’s an understatement to say that the Breeo X Series 24 is built to take a beating. The X Series is made of corten (weathering) steel and 304 stainless steel and is manufactured in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As a result, there’s no need for a rain cover or weather shelter with the X Series. A natural patina develops on the outer wall of the fire pit that protects it from rust.
Like Solo Stove’s smokeless fire pits, the X Series has an advanced airflow system to facilitate secondary fuel burn. While not as easy to light as Solo Stove pits, and when done correctly, the process only takes five minutes and requires only smaller logs and kindling at first. It produces a lot of heat as it burns at full power.
The stainless steel sear plate on the X Series is also useful. It has a diameter of 29.5 inches and encircles the fire pit’s outer edge. The plate heats up quickly enough to cook burgers, chicken, savory dishes, pots, pans, and skillets.
You’ll also need to think about a few accessories. The Outpost cooking attachment from Breeo is a $189 accessory that creates a height-adjustable grilling surface. A stainless steel lid for the X Series is also available for $99 from Breeo. It protects the pit from excessive moisture when it is not in use. Last but not least, consider where you’d like to put this pit. The X Series 24 weighs 78 pounds. I recommend having a friend or two to transport.
The BioLite FirePit, made in Brooklyn, weighs under 20 pounds and is portable. It’s relatively long and narrow, measuring 27 by 13 by 15.8 inches. It holds a bit more wood than you might expect, with space for up to four cordwood logs. BioLite FirePit upgraded with a higher-capacity battery for its built-in fan. And enamel coating for easier cleaning.
The fuel rack is lowered to the pit’s bottom in fire pit mode. Raise the rack to its highest position if you want to grill over hot wood coals or charcoal coals. BioLite sells a set that includes a grill grate that sits on top of everything. It took less than five minutes for the grill to light up and fully burn in less than 10.
The FirePit has a few distinguishing features, one of which is patented airflow technology. The air is blown into the firebox by a motorized fan. You can control it with the help of Bluetooth. The FirePit’s mesh body allows you to see flames from any angle.
Battery life has increased by around 20% in the new 2021 version, with up to 30 hours on low mode, 14 hours on medium mode, and seven hours on high mode. Advanced technology also helps create an almost smokeless fire. When you want to take the grill with you, the FirePit’s legs fold up, and the pit also includes a rain cover. Cleaning is easy with a removable ashtray tray. Overall, if you don’t want (or can’t have) a permanent fire pit that takes up space, this fire pit is for you.
This fire pit from Garden Treasures proves that a backyard campfire doesn’t have to be expensive. This wood-burning pit is nice and wide (29.5 inches in diameter)and low in price. However, because it lacks an advanced airflow system, fires in this wood-burning fire pit produce a lot of smoke. And because the pit’s steel frame isn’t stainless, it will rust if left outside. It takes about the same amount of time to light as premium fire pits like Tiki Brand Fire Pit and the Solo Stove Ranger. Those products burn their fuel more efficiently, resulting in less unburned firewood and ash to clean up the next morning. Still, the Garden Treasures wood-burning pit does a good job on a budget.
Tiki, a company that began with the well-known Tiki bamboo torch over 60 years ago, makes our favorite fire pit on this list. Tiki now has a large, sturdy, and attractive fire pit. This pit is nearly $300 more expensive than its budget competitors. Its performance and ease of use make it well worth the money.
The pit, made of steel and stained wood, is more than visually attractive. A clever airflow system on the Tiki Brand Fire Pit recycles hot smoke back into the fire chamber. It was simple to light during our tests, taking about five minutes to get started and 15 minutes to burn completely.
It also produced significantly less smoke than the other fire pits we tested, particularly after the logs had fully burnt, which took place around the 15-minute mark. Only the Solo Stove Ranger produced less smoke when burning wood. The logs in the Tiki Fire Pit burned for hours.
Thanks to its large (16-inch diameter) mouth, it’s easier to share the fire. The Solo Stove Ranger has a smaller metal fire ring with a diameter of 10 inches. However, kids who gather to roast s’mores should be careful: After the fire is lit, all surfaces of the Tiki fire pit, including the metal lip, are scalding hot. After the flames have died down, it takes time to cool down.
The removable ashtray on the Tiki Brand pit is a great feature. It makes cleaning a bit easier. The fire pit generates a lot of heat; while this isn’t ideal for hot summer nights, it’s perfect when the weather cools down in the fall and winter. Finally, this fire pit is weighing in at 45 pounds. Think twice about where you’re going to put it, and ask for help if you need it.
A good fire pit will be entirely burned in five to ten minutes. No matter how well you stack your wood, a pit with poor airflow and design will take much longer or even flame out after 15 minutes. If you are looking for Outdoor Fir Pits then you should also consider copper fire pits. We also took note of how much smoke each pit released. A fire pit should, in theory, produce a lot of flames and little smoke. A good fire pit will burn fuel efficiently, leaving little solid material behind after the fire has died out naturally.
