The Solo Stove Fire Pit: A Review of the Best Fire Pit on the Market

The Solo Stove Fire Pit is something the world has never seen. It’s entirely its own device and is designed as a unique fire pit, but what makes it so special? There are so many incredible features that make this product highly desirable.

However, this is a particularly large investment that may have people questioning if it’s worth the money. That’s possibly why you’re reading this article. Well, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know about the Solo Stove Fire Pit to help you make the right decision.

Does the Solo Stove Fire Pit Really Have Smokeless Features?

One of the Solo Stove Fire Pit’s most well-known features is the unique design equipped to maximize airflow. This enhanced airflow maximizes the burning process to produce a more complete burn while generating little to no smoke.

However, there are a few mechanical processes that you need to do to help promote this smokeless feature. The key to promoting this feature is to keep the stack of logs under the secondary air vents. The fact is that the Solo Stove Fire Pit is truly smokeless (or close to) as long as you refrain from overfilling the Solo Stove Fire Pit.

What Are the Features That the Design of the Solo Stove Fire Pit’s Burning Structure Provides?

The design of the Solo Stove Fire Pit has provided many incredible benefits. However, there are certain elements that you should be made aware of. These elements involve the burning structure of the Solo Stove Fire Pit.

Wood Type:

Many don’t consider the type of wood they use to create a fire. However, this is an incredibly important feature that needs to be considered when you think about starting a fire with the Solo Stove Fire Pit. The reason for this is because the design of the Solo Stove Fire Pit is equipped to become extremely hot. This is a byproduct of the Solo Stove Fire Pit’s feature of being smokeless.

The maximized airflow provides more air (oxygen) to the fire, which works as a fuel. This increased airflow comes from the Solo Stove’s key-like circle that’s equipped with round holes across the bottom of the outer structure and the top of the inside structure.

In addition to this, the structure is also designed with an elevated section to place in the wood in. All of these features allow for excellent airflow. All of these features work together to provide the pit with the ability to suck air through the wood for the entirety that the fire is lit.

However, the same feature that promotes maximized airflow and helps make the device generate limited smoke also burns the wood hotter and faster when compared to many other fire pit devices. This ability burns through soft fir logs in record time. For this reason, you’re going to need to use harder woods if you want to refrain from having to constantly replenish the fire and add more wooden logs into the pit.

Lighting Capabilities:

The Solo Stove Fire Pit, as previously mentioned, is designed with an effective burning structure. This structure makes it incredibly easy to light. There is no lighter fluid or kindling needed to light the fire. You can simply light the fire by tearing up a paper bag and setting it alight beneath the logs. That’s how effective the burning structure of the Solo Stove Fire Pit is!

The maximized airflow immediately pushes the flame towards the wood above it, which works as a passive fan for the fire. Gathering the (harder) wooden logs, setting up the shape of your choosing, and lighting the fire takes about five minutes.

The stainless steel lip fits around the pit’s top to create a type of smoke deflector. The lip provides this smoke deflector feature by working in conjunction with the high heat below to push the smoke straight up rather than pushing it towards the individuals sitting around the fire. This is a great feature that no home-brewed fire pits hold the capability to perform effectively.

When the fire pit gets hot and high enough, you’re likely to notice that the small holes on the upper inside rim begin to emit flames. This is generally going to occur when the colder air outside exits from below. When this effect is happening, the Solo Stove is almost smokeless, but that doesn’t mean the structure isn’t hot. In fact, the fire pit is actually extremely hot during this process.

How Does This New Yukon Solo Stove Fire Pit Compare to the Original?

The main difference between this Solo Stove fire pit and the original model is the size. The older product was designed with a diameter that’s three-inches wider. The primary reason for this change in size could be from the previous model’s ability to create bonfire-level fires that can be too big and hot for most people. That’s why the newer Solo Stove is designed to be three inches smaller in diameter.

In addition to this, the smaller size also makes the fire pit more durable than the older model. Even with the decrease in the size of the Solo Stove model, you can still feel the heat from the fire across several feet. In addition, it’s also self-contained enough to provide you with peace of mind when letting the final coals burn overnight. This is a feature that isn’t offered by using a sunken or plate-style fire pit.

What Are the Benefits of the Solo Stove Fire Pit?

There are a variety of features included in the design of the Solo Stove Fire Pit that makes this device incredibly beneficial. Here are some of the best features of the device:

It’s Smokeless

As previously mentioned, the Solo Stove Fire Pit produces no to very little smoke while being lit. This is one of the most incredible features within this device as most of the fire pit devices on the market don’t offer this feature. You may experience a little smoke when first lighting the fire, but that’s about it, granted you don’t overfill the structure as we have advised above. This is because overfilling the fire pit can cause you to generate smoke.

It’s Portable

The Solo Stove Fire Pit is built to be incredibly convenient to move around. The portability offered on this device is excellent due to it being 19.5 inches wide and 20 pounds. In addition to this, it also comes with a carrying case. Thus, you can take it along with you on your camping trips or bonfire get-togethers.

You don’t need to worry about the Solo Stove fire pit causing damage to the grass or other materials that it’s placed under when lighting a fire. All you need to do is clean out the ashes, and you’re ready to take it along to where ever you may be needing to start a fire.

It’s Log-Friendly

Buying a fire pit that can hold the capability to burn logs is a brilliant feature. There’s no doubt that sitting around a log fire creates a particular ambiance, and you can offer this ambiance with the Solo Stove Fire Pit, as it’s equipped to burn wooden logs.

It’s Durable

The unique design of this Solo Stove fire pit is built with stainless steel. Incorporating this stainless steel material into the design helps make the structure more durable, as stainless steel is known to be one of the most durable materials.

However, you’re likely to notice that after your first fire with the Solo Stove, the fire pit’s structure is no longer going to look brand new. This change in appearance is to be expected when you’re burning wood at incredibly high temperatures. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t worry as this changed appearance doesn’t affect the quality of the fire pit.

It’s Equipped with A Lifetime Guarantee

The inclusion of stainless steel isn’t the only element that should provide you with peace of mind about your fire pits durability. When purchasing the Solo Stove fire pit, you’re also given a lifetime guarantee.

This ensures that if anything happens to your fire pit that’s the result of manufacturing defects, it is going to be replaced for free. In addition to this, you are going to receive repair suggestions or gain a one-time replacement for 50 percent off if you experience any damage caused by normal wear and tear or misuse.

What We Didn’t Like About the Solo Stove Fire Pit:

Nothing can ever be without flaws. This is no different for the Solo Stove. However, these cons are only relevant to some people, as many individuals may find these cons don’t apply to how they wish to use the Solo Stove.

For this reason, you should consider these cons with the purposes you want to use the fire pit for and see if it’s a worthwhile purchase. Here are some cons that you should consider before purchasing the Solo Stove fire pit:

You Can’t Cook Over the Fire Pit

You aren’t able to cook over the fire pit. This may be a problem for those who would like to boil some potatoes or a pot of beans over the fire pit. However, you can roost over the structure. Nonetheless, Solo Stove does produce products that hold the capability of being cooked over.

Discoloration May Appear

As previously mentioned, the Solo Stove isn’t going to look the same way as it did when it was brand new after the first burn. This may be a problem that wants to keep its nice and shiny appearance. However, this isn’t very realistic as this discoloration occurs from use, and it doesn’t affect the quality of the structure.

It Can’t Be Left Outside Without Being Covered

The Solo Stove can’t be left outside without an appropriate covering. The fire pit is susceptible to rust and discoloration of it’s left exposed to the elements for too long. However, you can stove this fire pit outside if you cover the device with an appropriate weather cover.

Conclusion

The Solo Stove offers the user very unique capabilities that you’re likely not going to find in other fire pit designs. One of these features is the exceptional ability to create no to very little smoke while burning wood. This is very convenient as you don’t need to worry about smoke blowing in the faces of those who are sitting around the fire. However, this feature can only be provided if you don’t overfill the structure. This is important to keep in mind if you wish to gain all the smoke deflection capabilities that the fire pit has to offer.

It’s clear that the number of benefits you gain from using the fire pit outweighs any of the cons. As long as you’re not planning to cook over the fire pit or leave it outside without the appropriate coverage, you’re guaranteed to love the Solo Stove fire pit.

The Solo Stove fire pit isn’t a device that’s for everyone. Not everyone desires to make a fire in a fire pit. However, this device is incredibly suitable for those who enjoy spending time outdoors and making fires to enhance the overall experience of being outdoors.

The design of the Solo Stove takes all of the flaws or unpleasant features that are commonly experienced from creating fires and eliminates these. An example would be having smoke blow everywhere and making those close to the fire struggle to see or breathe. The ability to produce no smoke makes this device very handy. In addition to this, you also can carry the fire pit around so you can make constant fires wherever you go.

Overall, like most things, you need to consider what you wish to receive from your fire pit and what you’re willing to go without in order to make the right purchase. However, the Solo Stove has been designed to accommodate a variety of different needs. This makes it a suitable option for most individuals. As a result of this, purchasing this Solo Stove fire pit is going to be a worthwhile investment for most.

Other Solo Stove Reviews:

Solo Stove Yukon

Solo Stove Lite Review

Visitor Questions:

• Can I put my Solo Stove on composite deck? Well…, yes and no. We for sure wouldn’t recommend it without using the stand, and would also recommend getting something non flammable to sit under that. Best advice, try to keep it off a composite deck that might warp or even melt.
• My Solo Stove got rained on, now what? 1. Take a breath, it happens. 2. Be sure to get it in the dry, clean it out and dry it off. Unfortunately the makeup of the stove’s lend themselves to surface rust when they get wet or are stored where there’s moisture. However, it won’t effect the functionality and will come off with some rust cleaner.
• Solo Stove how it works? Weird question, but the answer is their proprietary air flow system built into the stove that allows a significant amount of oxygen to be evenly drawn into the stove and burns the wood hotter, meaning much less smoke than most normal fires.
• DIY Solo Stove fire pit, is it possible? Maybe. You’d have to find something that you could mimic the same layout, ventilation, etc. of the units. Maybe a metal barrel, keg, or something like that might be able to work.
• Solo stove in garage? Not sure which way they were going with this question so we’ll answer both ways. 1. Yes, you can and should store it in a garage or shed when not in use to help keep it from weather. 2. NO, you should never use it in a garage. You’re asking for trouble.

Q: What makes the Solo Stove Fire Pit different from other outdoor fire pits?
 
A: The Solo Stove Fire Pit is unique because it uses a patented design to maximize airflow and efficiency, resulting in a hotter and more efficient wood fire. This allows you to enjoy your time outdoors with friends and family without worrying about smoke or wasted fuel. 

Q: How long will a wood fire last in the Solo Stove Fire Pit? 

A: Depending on the size of your wood pieces, a single load of wood can burn for up to 4 hours in the Solo Stove Fire Pit. Plus, its double wall construction helps retain heat for an even longer burn time. 

Q: Are there any safety features included with the Solo Stove Fire Pit? 

A: Yes! The Solo Stove Fire Pit comes with a spark arrestor screen that securely fits around the top of the stove to contain sparks and embers while still allowing adequate airflow. It also has non-slip rubber feet that keep it firmly in place, so you don't have to worry about it being tipped over by strong winds or curious children. 

Q: Is there any maintenance required for my Solo Stove Fire Pit? 

A: The only regular maintenance required is wiping down the exterior after each use. This ensures that your fire pit looks nice and lasts as long as possible. Additionally, if you notice any rusting on the stove's legs or lid, be sure to sand them down and apply some oil to prevent further corrosion damage.