Solo Stove Bonfire Pit Intro
Whether camping or hanging out in the backyard, nothing helps create an upbeat atmosphere better than warm, bright fire. But of course, we always want to make sure our fires are contained and safe. And that’s one reason why Solo Stove fire pits have become so popular over the last few years.
Solo Stove makes high quality fire pits, camp stoves, and grills. We recently had a chance to review the Bonfire fire pit from Solo Stove. Here’s our review and thoughts after testing out the Solo Stove Bonfire fire pit.
Bonfire Fire Pit Overview
The Solo Stove fire pits come in three sizes: The Ranger (small), the Bonfire (medium), and the Yukon (large). For our review, we tested the Bonfire, which is the most popular size.The Bonfire measures in at 14 inches tall and 19.5 inches across. The Bonfire fits 16” logs.
Speaking of its size, we found the Bonfire to produce a large enough flame to keep everyone around warm and comfortable, and compares roughly in size to the fire pits at B.C. Parks campsites.
Weighing in at 20 lbs, it’s a little heavy to carry a long distance. But it was still light enough that we found it lived up to Solo Stove’s promise of being portable and versatile. We tested the Bonfire in Tofino and had to carry the pit down to the beach. The Bonfire comes in a protective carrying case that made it hassle-free for 1 adult to carry.
Upon unpacking the Bonfire, the build quality is immediately apparent. It has an attractive design. In its unused state, the steel shines brightly. The Solo Stove is built with 304 Stainless Steel and it just looks cool.
But what about what matters most, the flame?
We found that the Solo Stove quickly produces a nice, strong flame. We found the smoke was minimal (though not entirely ‘smokeless’ as advertised, at least while the fire was coming to temperature).
Solo Stove boasts that its “signature 360° Airflow Design™ creates a super efficient burn that’s not only mesmerizing to watch but a joy to sit around and make memories.” On this point, we have to agree. The flame was captivating, and the flame produced by any propane fire pit simply doesn’t compare.
As we were on sand at the beach, we didn’t need to use the supplied base stand. However, another attractive feature of the Solo Stove fire pits is that they can be used on your deck or patio by raising the pit off the ground with a base stand.
As it was our first time using the Bonfire, we didn’t appropriately plan for the cool down period. As we began to want to pack up and head in, we had to let the fire die out. You cannot simply douse it in water, as this drastic change in temperature could damage the steel. After the flame died out, we then had to wait additional time for the steel to cool down sufficiently to carry it back to the car. Depending on the size of your fire and how long it was burning, this whole process can take an hour or longer. This cool down period somewhat limits the portability aspect of these fire pits if you’re in a situation like ours, where we had to leave with the fire pit. For backyard use or camping, you’ll likely have less of an issue with this. And in the future we could better plan accordingly.
Bonfire Video Overview
Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit – Pros
- Efficient burn, with an excellent flame.
- Minimal smoke, reducing that ‘campfire smoke’ smell in your clothes. We also found this helped the musical chairs act of dodging smoke that often takes place with other fires.
- You just need wood and don’t need to carry an additional propane tank or fuel source.
- It is portable and can easily be stored when not being used.
- It can be used on decks and patios.
- Beautiful design.
Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit – Cons
- Takes a long time to cool down. If you’re planning to take your pit with you immediately after using it, you’ll need to plan accordingly.
- The fire pit, along with many of the optional accessories not discussed here, can get expensive.
- Additional cover will need to be purchased if you plan to leave your fire pit outside to protect it from rain and moisture.
Conclusion
Overall, for a backyard, RV, or camping fire pit, we think it would be hard to find a better pit than the Solo Stove. The quality is top of the line, and the flame produced burns clean, efficiently, and is mesmerizing to watch.
The only reason you may want to consider another fire pit is if you wanted to go the propane/ gas route, as those pits can be legally used during a summertime fire ban when camping. Though there’s some clear trade offs with the quality of flame when going that route.
Otherwise, we love everything the Solo Stove Bonfire has to offer and look forward to years of enjoyment from it.
Learn more about the Solo Stove fire pits here.
