"If you’re a bonfire fan living in 2023 it’s likely you’ve heard of the Solo Stove by now. I first became acquainted with the Solo Stove on Halloween 2020 (you know the one!). Since trick-or-treating was canceled where I live in Brooklyn, we headed to my sister’s in the suburbs where the candy (individually packaged of course) was flowing. And every house seemed to have a fire pit on the driveway! “That’s a portable fire pit, everyone has one!” my sister informed me. Fast forward six months and I panic bought a house in the suburbs post-pandemic and started shopping for my very own portable fire pit and all I could hear about was the Solo Stove–the flexibility, the easy clean up, the non-smoky fire! So here, is my honest Solo Stove review.
So why would a family benefit from owning a Solo Stove? Well, in my case, we were so excited to own our own home and start making memories. At the top of the list of memories would be gathering around a fire pit, telling stories, star gazing, and roasting marshmallows. But I also really can’t stand inhaling smoke and the post campfire smell the morning after spending time around the fire. Especially with a young kid in the house (one who is asthmatic to boot!), a built in wood burning fire pit that gives off tons of smoke was not in the cards for us. The Solo Stove was attractive because it offered all of the memory making, without the hassle and smoke stink.
Solo Stove Review
If you’re in the market for a portable fire pit yourself you’ve probably wondered—Is the Solo Stove worth it? How does it work? Is it really as great as everyone says? I took the Solo Stove plunge two years ago and never looked back. But this isn’t about me, it’s about you and your portable fire pit journey. And giving you all the info you need to decide if the Solo Stove is right for you and your family. Here, my honest Solo Stove review.
What Is a Solo Stove?
If you have not experienced a Solo Stove in person, simply put, it’s a portable fire pit made out of heavy-duty stainless steel that brands itself as a “smokeless bonfire.” What does that mean? Quite literally it means you can move it around from place to place, and when it is lit, it burns without giving off smoke. For ease of portability it comes available in five sizes starting with the Mesa tabletop fire pit (which I’m definitely in the market for now) and the Mesa XL, the Ranger 2.0, the Bonfire 2.0, and the extra large Yukon 2.0. It also comes with a really handy carrying case that can help you lug it back and forth. I went for the Ranger as it is the most portable, weighing in at just 23 pounds and 15 inches, and we’re a small family with a small home.
How Does a Solo Stove Work?
Using regular firewood (though Solo Stove recently launched its own fire starters to help kick things off) you can build a bonfire that feels just like gathering around the campfire, but doesn’t leave clothes smelling smokey and can be easily cleaned up. The secret is its patented 360° Airflow Design™ which does some form of magic. It’s all about how air flows through the patented vent holes and into its stainless steel double wall that keeps your bonfire smoke free. So you don’t smell like smoke and you don’t inhale smoke for a very pleasant bonfire experience.
Where Can You Put a Solo Stove?
One of the most common questions people ask about a Solo Stove is if you can use it on a wooden deck? And the short answer is yes. But they recommend being used with attention if its on a wooden surface and definitely needs to be elevated on the stand. And never left unattended. But with the carry case, and weighing in at about 20 pounds, you can take it anywhere!
We use it on our cement deck, but have also used it on grass. Like I said, our friends have even used it out on a driveway. At the beach, out camping—it truly is portable!
How to Use Solo Stove
So how do you use this thing? That for me is the easiest part. I’m a total fire building novice so if I can use it anyone can.
- Move your Solo Stove to your desired location using the carrying case
- Lift it up on the stand
- Use regular fire wood to build a fire (you can also add in fire starters to help speed things up, or even newspaper)
- Enjoy the fire!
How to Clean The Solo Stove
After the fire has burned out and the stove is completely cooled off, simply remove the ash pan under the Solo Stove and discard. It’s that easy. And the stainless steels is built to last, and ours hasn’t rusted in two years.
Best Things to Cook on Solo Stove
So far I have only used our Solo Stove to cook s’mores, but there are numerous accessories that make cooking just about anything you could cook over an open fire. You can even add on a griddle top accessory, cast iron cooktop, or my favorite—the pizza oven. The Pi pizza oven kit is definitely going to be my next purchase!
So how satisfied would I say I’ve been with my two years of Solo Stove? Very! It works for me and my family in our small backyard and we’ve created many memories around a smokeless bonfire. It was one of the first things that made our new house feel like home, spending starry nights outside with our son around a fire, catching fireflies in the summer and roasting marshmallows on a cold wintery night. It’s truly helped facilitate many family memories. Next up for me—the tabletop fire pit, and pizza oven!
Roberta Correia, Editor-in-Chief
Roberta is an editor with 10+ years experience in content strategy and brand building. Before joining The Everymom she was Editorial Director at Brides and previously served as Digital Editor at Women’s Wear Daily. She grew up in Brazil and currently calls Brooklyn home with her son, Lucas.