The best fire pits of 2023

You don't necessarily have to defer to a Solo Stove. (But they're nice, for what it's worth.)
By Haley Henschel  on 
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Overview

Best smokeless fire pit

Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

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Best high-tech fire pit

BioLite FirePit+

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Best tabletop fire pit

Solo Stove Mesa

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Best fire pit for cooking

Breeo X19 Smokeless Fire Pit

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Realistically, you can easily make your own fire pit just by placing a ring of rocks or bricks around a scooped-out hole of dirt. (Be sure to take proper safety precautions and double-check local regulations first.) But if you want a dedicated, elevated fire pit that's specially made for cooking, camping, or cozying up on a cool summer night, you've got options.

We have five fire pits to recommend after meticulous research and hands-on testing — including two models from Solo Stove, the buzzed-about direct-to-consumer brand that took "smokeless" pits mainstream a few years ago. Read on for a breakdown of each pick before you run out for some s'mores fixings.

Our Pick

If there was ever an "it" girl of wood-burning fire pits, it would be the Solo Stove, a Kickstarter hit that became a household name in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic forced entertaining outdoors. (The 2.0 version released in the fall of 2022 added a removable base plate and ash pan for hassle-free cleanup; I tested the mid-sized Bonfire model for groups of three to six people.) It isn't the first or only fire pit to promise smokeless burns — more on that momentarily — but its modern, lightweight design and ample selection of accessories make it stand out from the competition.

The Solo Stove looks like a sleek, if slightly plain stainless steel drum at face value. Its secret lies in its double-walled construction lined with vent holes, which promotes extra airflow and produces secondary combustion that pumps out scorching oxygen. The resulting fires are so hot, their smoke burns almost completely away.

I was never able to achieve 100 percent smokelessness with my Solo Stove, to be transparent, but I got this close with practice and when I opted for bone-dry hardwoods over damp or softer woods. It's noticeably less smoky than a traditional campfire, at any rate, and flames look beautiful flickering inside of its reflective interior. It does go through quite a bit of fuel, since it burns so efficiently, so make sure you have plenty of wood or pellets on hand. The latter require a separate $50 adapter.

On the subject of accessories, you can choose from over a dozen different add-ons and tools to go with your Solo Stove. The cost can add up fast, but fortunately sales aren't hard to find. My Bonfire 2.0 review unit came with its $70 stand, which made me less worried about leaving a mark on the surface it sat on. I would also look into the $100 lid, which will keep the elements out when it's not being used, and the $225 heat deflector for more ambient warmth. (Most of the Solo Stove's heat shoots directly upward as-is.)

Read Mashable's full review of the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0.

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Details

All of the full-sized fire pits on this list are technically "portable," or at least somewhat easy for one adult person to move around. But the Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit is best suited for on-the-go use on trips and hikes, with a lightweight and low-tech design that sets up in a minute and packs up into a zippered, weather-resistant case the size of a camping chair.

"Function over form" is the primary name of the game, here. This fire pit is effectively a set of crossed, collapsible aluminum legs that prop up a flexible sheet of "Fire Mesh" made from a woven stainless steel alloy, which goes in the middle of its attachable side guards and cradles your fuel. (It's compatible with charcoal, wood, and wax logs, with a total weight capacity of 125 pounds and a low center of gravity to stay sturdy.) That mesh is designed to contain ash while promoting airflow to eliminate the majority of its fire's smoke. It'll burn hot and fast, but supposedly cools down just 90 seconds after your fire's been extinguished; customers on the REI website say it checks out, though I haven't verified it with testing just yet.

If you plan on using the Pop-Up Fire Pit on any sort of surface other than stone or pavement, I'd recommend upgrading to a bundle with a heat shield for $30 more. That's pretty much the extent of its available accessories beyond its case and an included stainless steel grate for cooking.

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The BioLite FirePit+ is another smokeless model, though it has almost nothing in common with Solo Stoves from a design standpoint: This black-and-yellow, manger-shaped device made with high-temperature enamel has a distinctly futuristic look and the technology to match. I'm the type of person who thinks it would seem a little out of place in nature, but if you're the type of person who loves a great outdoors with creature comforts, you won't be disappointed.

Powered by a rechargeable 12,800mAh battery and over 50 built-in airjets that keep it fed with oxygen, the FirePit+ can maintain its burn for up to 30 hours on low, 14 hours on medium, and 7 hours on max. (Just don't let it run unattended.) Its fuel chamber, which works with firewood or charcoal, is surrounded by "X-Ray Mesh" that gives you a full view of the fire while letting plenty of warmth radiate in the vicinity. You can control it manually using the buttons on the side of its powerpack or with your phone; it's got Bluetooth support and a free companion app for iOS and Android. Once its fire is out, you can dump out any remaining ashes and coals through its bottom trap door and fold up its legs for portability.

BioLite makes six different accessories for the FirePit+, which range in price from $24.95 (for a poker) to $79.95 (for a grill lid). It ships with a grill grate, a fuel rack, and a USB-A to Micro-USB cord.

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Details

Measuring seven inches tall, five inches in diameter, and weighing in at less than two pounds, the pint-sized Solo Stove Mesa is the brand's teensiest smokeless fire pit. (It's functionally the same as the regular-sized versions, just a lot smaller.) You won't get a whole lot of heat out of it — which is probably for the best, since it's meant to go on a table — but it's perfect for roasting a couple marshmallows. Its stainless steel finish comes in several different colors to match just about any patio set.

The main downside I see to the Mesa is that it's so small, you might have trouble finding hardwood chunks that fit well inside it. Several customers on Amazon and Reddit have flagged this as an issue. On the bright side, it includes an adapter that allows it to burn pellets; there's no need to buy a separate accessory. You'll also get a folding stand and a carrying bag for it.

For a little extra warmth, a slightly longer burn time, and room for at least two more marshmallows, you can upgrade to the $150 Mesa XL. It comes with its own stand and carrying bag, too, but swaps the removable pellet adapter for a built-in duel fuel grate.

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Solo Stove tends to hog the spotlight when it comes to smokeless fire pits, but Breeo claims to have beat it to the market with its first prototype back in 2011. Its models are even more expensive and quite a bit heavier than Solo Stove's one-for-one counterparts, and they lack removable ash trays or pans for quick cleanup. But they're also incredibly durable and compatible with a better variety of professional-quality cooking tools and accessories, making them an easy recommendation for seasoned outdoor cooks and grill masters who love the flavor of an open flame.

Breeo's X Series fire pits are the most popular models in its current lineup, and the 19-inch X19 model is ideal for small backyards. It achieves its near-smokelessness the same way as the same-sized Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 and looks quite similar aside from its corten steel finish, which develops a rustic reddish patina over time. (If you aren't a fan, you can upgrade to stainless steel for $100 more.) It also has a stainless steel rim and wrap-around legs, which prop it up a few inches off the ground like a built-in stand.

You can turn the X19 into a full-fledged outdoor kitchen with some extra cooking attachments, and there are plenty to choose from. (It doesn't ship with any, so you'll have to buy them all separately.) Take your pick from a Skillet Rest ($60), a Sear Disc ($60), a grilling system ($150), a SearPlate Griddle ($180), and a cast iron kettle ($100) with a kettle hook ($90). You can also opt for two different cooking-oriented bundles.

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Topics Outdoors

How we tested

I'm a lifelong camper and outdoorswoman who's built, sat around, and made s'mores over countless fire pits. I personally hands-on tested the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 on six separate occasions for one to three hours at a time on different yards and stone patios. The other fire pits on this list were chosen based on hours of research in which I compared spec sheets, dug into customer reviews across multiple retailers, and considered brand reputation.

Ultimately, my picks were based on the following criteria:

  • Fuel type: Some models take pellets and/or charcoal in addition to plain wood, and that flexibility can be nice. Fire pits that run on propane do exist — none appear on the current version of this guide, but I'm looking into them for a future update.

  • Burn time and temperature: A fire pit's size, shape, and airflow/ventilation will greatly determine how hot and long it burns, and there's usually a trade-off involved. I'll use the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 as an example: It burns extra hot because its reflective cylindrical design concentrates a fire's heat while feeding it plenty of oxygen, but it gobbles up wood fast. The type of fuel you use is another key factor here, down to the specific species and moisture content of your wood. (For hours-long blazes, pick hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory over softwoods like cedar and pine.)

  • Ease of lighting: Not counting your choice of fire starter materials, a pit's shape and ventilation are the biggest determiners in whether it's easy to light. Higher sides equal more protection from random gusts of wind that could extinguish flickering flames, but you still need some controlled airflow to keep them going.

  • Ease of cleaning: Ashes begin to accumulate in a fire pit after a few burns, so removable ash trays, pans, or trap doors are a plus. The alternatives are brushing the ashes out, sucking them out with a shop vac, or (if you love mess) tipping the entire pit upside down and dumping them out.

  • Weight: This one mostly depends on specific use cases. A fire pit's heft matters if you're going to bring it along on a camping trip or frequently move it to a garage for storage, but not so much if it's just getting parked in one spot.

  • Durability: Fire pits are designed for use outside, so they should be built to withstand the elements or come with an appropriate cover/case. Note that a fire pit may develop a patina (i.e., change colors) as it's exposed to high temperatures over time, but this doesn't necessarily indicate rust.

  • Add-ons available: Most of the pits in this guide come with at least one useful accessory. All of them have some available for separate purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions


A fire pit should never be used in enclosed spaces without proper ventilation, as you run the risk of hotboxing yourself with dangerous fumes like carbon monoxide. In other words, covered patios are a definitive no-go. (We wouldn't stick a fire pit under a gazebo, pergola, or umbrella, either, because you risk singeing whatever's above it.)

Some brands say their fire pits are safe for use on decks or green grass if you put them on some sort of stand, base, or heat shield, which is typically sold separately from the unit itself, including Solo Stove, Fireside Outdoor, and Breeo.

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Haley Henschel
Senior Shopping Reporter

Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.

Haley received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and honed her sifting and winnowing skills at The Daily Cardinal. She previously covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, investigated exotic pet ownership for Wisconsin Watch, and blogged for some of your favorite reality stars.

In her free time, Haley enjoys playing video games, drawing, taking walks on Lake Michigan, and spending time with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). She really, really wants to get back into horseback riding. You can follow her on X at @haleyhenschel or reach her via email at [email protected].


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