I Tested Multiple Fire Pits and I Never Thought I’d Be So Surprised [CNET]

I’ve spent decades camping and spending time outside around various types of fire pits. But after testing multiple styles, I’m only using smokeless versions for a few reasons.

Whether it’s for the ambiance, warmth, cooking or any other reason that you might want to spark up a fire, something about those dancing flames makes a nice controlled fire appealing. One of the big drawbacks of a fire at home is the smoke. So, the best solution to solving this issue would be getting a smokeless fire pit.

When Solo Stove was the brand that really popularized these products, and as the hype around smokeless fire pits rose, I, like many others, wasn’t too sure if they were worth it. I’ve had a few different styles of fire pits for my home, but I had never even been around one of the smokeless varieties until a few years ago. That’s when it clicked, and I realized how great the technology (or lack thereof) is that makes using these fire pits the preferred way to build a fire for not just myself but many others.

There is more to these fire pits than just the lack of smoke, and there are more sizes and styles than you would think. So, you can have that crackling, smoke-free fire with less hassle and in more places than before.

Enjoy the heat without the smoke

Although Solo Stove may be the most recognized brand for smokeless fire pits, but it isn’t the only one on the market. Looking out across the landscape of smokeless fire pits, you can see many choices out there. Breeo is another brand that is highly regarded in the space, but you can also find fire pits from recognizable but unexpected brands like Cuisinart and East Oak. 

Among all the different options available for a smokeless fire pit, they all offer the same claim: fire without the smoke. These fire pits work by using a double-wall approach with holes in the inner wall, which draws clean air in through the bottom of the fire pits. Then, using the heat generated by the fire, that air is super-heated, and as it rises in the space between the two walls, it escapes through the holes at the top of the fire pit and ignites the tiny particulates in the smoke. 

This creates a nice fire effect from the holes and ends the smoke before it can get into your face. When burning wood, there are always some tiny bits of stuff that don’t burn off and are the primary culprits in creating smoke. So, by using the science of convection, these smokeless fire pits create a secondary burn to eliminate most, if not all, of the smoke.

Now, do keep in mind that when you first start the fire, there will be smoke. Until the fire really gets going and the fire pit gets heated up, there isn’t enough heat being generated by the fire to create the secondary burn. Once everything is really burning, then the smoke will dissipate.

What to know about smokeless fire pits before you buy

With so many brands selling smokeless fire pits, with a wide range of sizes, styles, and even shapes, there can be some confusion as to which to buy. Aside from checking out our list of best fire pits, other factors should be considered when purchasing a fire pit.

Are cheap smokeless fire pits any good?

Like most things you buy, sometimes you get what you pay for, and sometimes you get surprised. A cheap or low-cost smokeless fire pit can do just as well as a more expensive option as long as the build is correct. By this, I mean that both walls of the fire pit need to be properly welded and positioned, and the holes that allow the airflow in and out need to be adequately sized. So long as these things are done correctly, the fire pit should do a fine job of getting rid of the smoke.

What may be lacking in a cheap fire pit that you’ll find in a more expensive option would be the materials used. To make the product cheaper, some corners have to be cut. Generally, that will come from build quality and materials. Thicker gauge metal and/or a lesser quality of steel can not only melt if the fire is hot enough but may also rust and break down faster than a more expensive option.

Are smokeless fire pits just good for making a fire?

Very much no. In this category, we can find more separation between fire pit brands and prices. Cheap fire pits generally only offer one feature: heat. Even then, you can find more ways to utilize a fire pit. The bigger brands have begun creating accessories to further utilize smokeless fire pits.

For example, Breeo offers some great outdoor cooking accessories like the Outpost Grill for its X-Line of smokeless fire pits and the Live-fire Pizza Oven that I love to use on my Breeo Luxeve Fire Pit. Solo Stove also offers cooking accessories and a pizza oven for its smokeless fire pits, and even a popcorn maker. All of these accessories are ways to get more use from your fire pit other than ambiance and heat.

Do smokeless fire pits put out a lot of heat?

Yes, there is a lot of heat coming out of these fire pits. This is thanks to the dual combustion that occurs to burn off the smoke particulates. A potential drawback to these fire pits is that the design is generally taller and causes the heat to be given off vertically. This can leave some around the fire missing out on the warmth, especially those who are sitting. 

Now, I’m not saying all is lost. There is still a good amount of heat that is felt from the fire pit. There are ways to help push that heat out more horizontally than vertically. Solo Stove and Breeo both offer a heat deflector that, as the heat from the fire rises, encounters a metal plate that forces the heat outward instead of upward. 

What if you don’t have a lot of room?

Whether your space is limited based on your home or purely by where you’d like to use the fire pit, there are options from very big to very small to fit all needs. A great choice for those who want a wood fire but are limited on space is the Solo Stove Mesa. This 5.1-inch tabletop fire pit enjoys all the same features that make the larger fire pits work but on a smaller scale. This is great for times you want a real wood fire but without the need to spark up the big pit. 

Should you be in a situation where you can’t even have a small fire like that of the Mesa, then maybe the TerraFlame by Solo Stove is a better option. This one uses clean-burning, safe-for-indoors gel fuel so you can enjoy a fire anywhere. It’s also perfect for S’mores.

Just remember that regardless of what kind of smokeless fire pit you choose, you should keep it clean so that it not only lasts longer but will perform its best for you.