Solo Stove Smokeless Fire Pit Review (2023 Update)

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Hundreds of thousands of weekend warriors escape to the great outdoors for some much-needed peace and relaxation every year. Now you can bring that same rustic joy and open-air experience to your own backyard with the quality Solo Stove smokeless fire pit.

We sent our Solo Stove Review team home with these bonfire fire pits to determine if they meet all the recent hype online.

The goal is of our Solo Stove Review is simple, does this compact smokeless fire pit offer the same experience as making a fire around your campsite in the wild? Can you build a small Bonfire and stoke the flames inside the Solo Stove while still getting the heat and atmosphere of the wild?

Just this year Solo Stoves have undergone a quick update to include more features and benefits for at-home and on-the-go users. Our review team always does its best to keep you in the know of the latest product details, so we’ve added some interesting features we think you need to know about Solo Stoves version 2.0.

Keep reading for our Solo Stove Review of this interesting portable fire pit!

 

Solo Stove Review

The portable Solo Stove is a smokeless or “low-smoke” fire pit and camping stove. The Solo Stove brand is well known online from media outlets like Wired, Mashable, Gear Junkie, and social media.

 

What is the Solo Stove?

The Solo Stove fire pits are a metal cylinder container that is easy to carry around your backyard or on camping trips. Each smokeless Solo Stove is built with a creative airflow system that moves through the holes on the bottom and sides of the fire pit.

This airflow system of the Solo Stove also creates a smokeless effect, so you aren’t sitting in the line of black smoke common from other fire pits. This also ensures a hot flame that is excellent for staying warm on cool nights and roasting marshmallows with the family.

Our Solo Stove Review covers three different product variations, the Solo Stove Yukon, Solo Stove Ranger, and Solo Stove Bonfire. Each one offers various benefits, and features of the Solo Stove smokeless models can work in your specific situation.

 

Version 2.0 vs. Version 1.0

The big three Solo Stove versions have all been updated with a new removable ash ban and base plate that makes life so much easier. Clean-up is always a pain with any outdoor fire, and this enhancement cuts way down on ash on your gear or backyard table. Instead of dipping into the stove (especially the Yukon), you can clean from the bottom. 

The only dimension difference is for the Ranger 2.0 Solo Stove. This gained a pound in weight that reinforces the wall of the outdoor stove for better protection. That means all the accessories designed for Solo Stoves 1.0 will fit and work with version 2.0. 

A couple of things to keep in mind is that version 1.0 is no longer sold by the official Solo Stove store. You can still find a few online, but they are from third-party buyers. The other note is that there is no way to retrofit version 1.0 stoves with the removable ash tray. You’ll have to upgrade to version 2.0 if you want that feature. 

Below is a great video explaining how Solo Stove works:

 

What Makes the Solo Stove Special?

Smokeless Fire

Probably the Solo Stove Review feature that everyone will like the most is the smokeless atmosphere. The Solo Stove fire pit removes the constant smoke that leaves your clothing and hair smelling bad.

The Solo Stove’s patented air-intake system feeds hotter air into the fire for a “secondary combustion” that results in temperatures that have less smoke.

There is still a little smoke as you start the fire pit up from the kindling, but once the Solo Stove gets going, you’ll barely notice any smoke and still get the campfire atmosphere.

 

Lifetime Warranty

Solo Stove offers a lifetime guarantee on its branded products. We didn’t have to use that feature in our Solo Stove Review, but it is still pretty attractive. In addition, they are so confident the 304 stainless steel construction is so durable that few people will need their smokeless Solo Stoves replaced.

That means you can invest in an excellent outdoor accessory for your kids to enjoy long after you have hung up your camping gear. As long as you take care of the smokeless Solo Stove, you’ll have a great product.

 

High Portability

Our Solo Stove Review used models in different variations. Whether you have the Yukon, Ranger, or Bonfire Solo Stove model, you still have a significantly more manageable carry-around fire pit compared to DIY or homemade smokeless alternatives.

The metal construction lets you easily take your smokeless Solo Stove to evening games for tailgating or out the lake for a relaxing day of fishing and hanging out with friends.

 

Who is the Solo Stove good for?

The smokeless Solo Stove is the perfect campfire alternative for anyone who enjoys the look, warmth, and rustic vibes of an outdoor experience. We found a wide array of uses for our Solo Stove Review.

Campers, hikers, hunters, and fishermen will all appreciate the smaller models of the Solo Stove to cook their meals and keep warm during cooler nights. In addition, the smokeless Solo Stove portability offers a lot safer placing of a campfire instead of digging a hole and finding enough rocks to prevent fires.

Tailgaters and party-goers will love the easy-to-move-around form factor of the Solo Stove. So open your truck bed and pull out the hotdogs to quickly grill over the Solo Stove top while cheering on your home team.

Backyard enthusiasts will find the smokeless Solo Stove an excellent accessory for hosting get-togethers with friends and family. This Solo Stove fire pit sets the mood for classic outdoor living, all in the easy-to-clean convenience of a metal container.

The Solo Stove smokeless feature is what makes all of this more appealing. Anyone who wants a portable fire pit without dealing with stinky smoke-filled clothes will want to pick up a Solo Stove.

 

Solo Stove Unboxing

Our review team loves the unboxing videos we see online, so we thought we would include a bit more detail about what you receive and how hard it is to get started with the Solo Stove Bonfire version 2.0.

Everything you need arrives in a single box unless you order a lot of accessories. Sometimes Solo Stove will ship those separately. In our case, we only had one package to deal with. Once you unbox the Solo Stove, you get instructions and everything needed to light a fire and start enjoying the warmth. There is no assembly required with the Solo Stove other than organizing accessories and features like the ashtray.

In our case, the box included the Solo Stove Bonfire, instructions, and a basic nylon carrying case for storage. We also tested out the all-weather cover that we highly recommend if you are going to keep your Solo Stove outdoors.

 

The Bonfire only weighs in at 20 pounds, so even the smaller members of our review team were able to pull it out of the box without help. Once we placed a couple of smaller logs inside the Bonfire, it was easy to light up with a fire starter and get a decent flame with little to no smoke from the top.

We suggest you try lighting and controlling the flame height first before attempting to cook. That way, you can get used to the 360 degrees airflow construction that puts out a surprisingly high amount of heat. 

Also, you’ll want to plan on the cooldown period. If you are taking your Solo Stove to the beach or camping, you may forget it needs 30 minutes or so to cool before it can be cleaned out, covered, and moved again. Otherwise, this unboxing process was incredibly easy for everyone on our review team!

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Solo Stove Assembly

Assembling the Solo Stove took only a few minutes with a few easy steps:

Step 1: Remove all contents from the box and remove the plastic

Step 2. : Install the the ashtray in the Solo Stove

 

Step 3: Install the cover 

 

Step 4. Install the Stand

 

Step 5: Install the Fire Pit Flame Ring

Solo Stove Product Lineup

Solo Stove Ranger

The smokeless Solo Stove Review of the Ranger offers an excellent, efficient fire pit for car camping, beach grilling or even a backyard bonfire. You get all the benefits of the smokeless atmosphere Solo Stove is known for, with a big enough form to put logs inside.

The Ranger uses dual air circulation for a scorching fire that is incredibly easy to get started. In addition, the Solo Stove Ranger is easy to move around at only 16 pounds (version 1.0 was 15 pounds) and 15 x 12.5 inches.

Solo Stove added an easy-to-clean ash pan and base plate for leftover embers in the Ranger. They also added a removable fire ring that sits on top of the Ranger to center the smokeless flames for even heat.

The Ranger isn’t necessarily designed to cook on top with pots and pans, but you can throw a grill cover over it for hotdogs, BBQ, and hamburgers. The Ranger is definitely mighty enough for marshmallows to create delicious smores.

Overall, the price tag for the smokeless Solo Stove Ranger is well worth the investment. Our Solo Stove Review found the Ranger to be made from durable 304 stainless steel that you’ll have years of relaxing and cozy fire pit nights ahead.

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Solo Stove Bonfire

The smokeless Solo Stove Review of the Bonfire found it to be the best in-between fit for your family and outdoor living experience. The Solo Stove Bonfire is still small enough at 20 pounds and 14 x 19.5 inches, but not too small to accommodate a bigger group.

Where the Ranger would adequately work for a family of 4, the Bonfire is meant more for groups of 5-12 people. The Bonfire is a smokeless fire pit you want to bring camping trips or use for the tailgating entertainment.

The open mouth of the Solo Stove Bonfire is large enough to support cooking quite a bit on the grill. You can also start to use pans with the Bonfire for veggies, soups, or kettles for coffee and tea.

The size of the smokeless Bonfire supports bigger logs that you can purchase from grocery stores or chop down from your property. Our Solo Stove Review found that using damp wood works in all their models.

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Solo Stove Yukon

With the smokeless Solo Stove Review of the Yukon, you get all the benefits of the Bonfire and Ranger, but in a much more significant form factor. The Yukon is a 38 pounds beast at 16 x 27 inches in size.

The Solo Stove Yukon model is the kind of smokeless fire pit you’re going to want to set up and leave in place for a while. Most of our Solo Stove Review team agreed the Yukon is what they would use to permanently set up a fire pit in their backyard.

The Yukon is more than big enough for cooking, and you have plenty of space to use specialized wood chips and smoking features inside the barrel.

With the size of the Solo Stove Yukon, you’re able to serve a much large group. The smokeless Yukon would work well at restaurants, outdoor seating, beach club events, or for large parties in your backyard. We used the Yukon in our backyards for this Solo Stove Review.

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Solo Stove Mesa Tabletop Fire

As part of the upgrade to version 2.0, Solo Stove has come out with a tabletop edition of their impressive line of portable firepits. First off, this is an adorable Solo Stove that our review team loves. It works with wood pellets and lets you enjoy a more personalized fire to stay warm, especially in intimate settings where only 1-4 people are hanging out together. 

This is small enough to fit on pretty much any table, side space, or other outdoor areas at only 6.8 inches by 5.1 inches and a diameter of 5.1 inches. Like the other Solo Stoves on our list, the Mesa uses stainless steel materials reinforced with ceramic, so you get a safe and robust heat radiation that puts out enough warmth. That also includes the airflow design we have all come to love with Solo Stoves for that signature secondary burn that lowers the amount of smoke coming from the top. 

All the accessories that come with the Mesa fit inside whenever you are not using the mini firepit. Making clean-up and portability a breeze. There is also an included pellet adapter, so you know how much to use before starting up the fire. 

       

Best of all, you get some fantastic color choices of deep olive, mulberry, bone, ash, and water, all created from a high-temperature ceramic coating that lasts after each use. 

The only thing we wanted to note was the Mesa can be hot to the touch during use, so be sure to give it a good 30 minutes of cool down after you’re done enjoying the added heat before packing it away. This is a must-have for campers as well, making it much easier to manage those rainy or colder outdoor nights. 

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Solo Stove Review Pros and Cons

While there are some differences in the Yukon, Bonfire, Ranger and Mesa smokeless Solo Stoves, for the most part, they all share the same major pros and cons.

 

Pros of the Solo Stove Review

• High portability allows you to make a smokeless fire pit anywhere you go with no damage to the ground underneath.
• Each model of the Solo Stove fire burns incredibly hot, producing minimal ash and smoke.
• Pretty easy to move around unless you’re using the Solo Stove Yukon. The smaller Ranger and Bonfire models include carrying cases for ease of packing up.
• Durable design from 304 stainless steel ensures a well-made smokeless product for years of enjoyment.
• Both the Bonfire and Yukon are full-size log friendly, while the Ranger is meant more for chips, pellets, and smaller branches.
• Solo Stove offers a lifetime guarantee ensuring you’ll be able to replace your smokeless Solo Stove in case anything happens.
• Great customer Service. Solo Stove is quick to respond to any issue.

 

Cons of the Solo Stove Review

• It can be a little challenging to learn how to clean. You have to wait until the entire smokeless Solo Stove is cool before removing the ashtray.
• It takes a while to burn out if you’re already done with your Solo Stove fire pit experience and don’t want to wait to go inside.
• You need the cover for year-round use. This is especially true for the Yukon. You don’t want snow and rain to sit inside your smokeless Solo Stove, or else you could get some rust or discoloration.

 

Is the Solo Stove Worth it?

The price tag on the smokeless Solo Stove is pretty high. You can expect to pay as low as $200 for the Ranger and upwards of $450 for the Yukon, with the Bonfire being in-between.

We found this product more than worth the price during our Solo Stove Review. The quality of the material and the ease of use make this an essential backyard fire pit.

The look and design of the smokeless Solo Stove add sophistication and “know-how” to your backyard by demonstrating how much you care about a rustic experience. We have Solo Stove Reviewers that are from rural areas and are outdoor enthusiasts that swear by the durability of this product.

If you are looking for a complete campfire experience without all the hassle and smoke, we definitely suggest picking up the Solo Stove.

 

Solo Stove FAQ

 

Can I use it on my deck?

Yes, you can, but you may want to pick up the Solo Stove stand or a Bonfire mat. There is a constant temperature of 150-200 degrees Fahrenheit emitting from the smokeless Solo Stove. We found it better to have a couple of pavers underneath for some added protection.

 

Can I really cook on the Solo Stove?

This has more to do with the model of Solo Stove you’re getting. The Ranger isn’t really powerful enough for anything more than hot dogs or marshmallow. On the other hand, the Bonfire and Ranger are definitely worth using a grill cover for some great BBQ. We tried a few pans, and most seemed to work pretty well, especially with the Yukon model.

 

Will It Rust?

There is a caveat here: if you leave your smokeless Solo Stove out to the elements, it will probably rust over time. As long as you use a cover for harsh weather, you should be okay. Never dump a bunch of water into the Solo Stove to put out a fire. Just let it burn out on its own.

 

Is It Really Smokeless?

This was the feature we were interested in the most. Yes! It is not 100% smokeless, but we’re talking about a stream of low smoke compared to the torrent you usually experience around a campfire. We could sit around a full-size Yukon model and not get any after smell on our clothes.

 

Can You Use Wood Pellets in the Solo Stove?

Yes, you can. This is especially good for people in urban areas where wood logs aren’t as easy to find. The Ranger, Bonfire, and Yukon all support using wood pellets, but we definitely suggest logs for the Yukon in addition to small pellets.

 

Is the Solo Stove as Hot as a Campfire?

Yes, and we mean really hot! Compared to a regular campfire, we actually had to move back a bit from the incredible heat coming from the Solo Stove. this is due to the efficient burn the Solo Stove provides.

 

Is the Solo Stove Big Enough to Sit Around?

This will depend on your model. The Ranger is a bit small for a large group, but the heat coming from both the Bonfire and Yukon is more than enough to provide space for adequate seating.

 

Does the Solo Stove Take a lot of Wood Because of the Heat?

Not at all. The heat comes from the air intake system creating a secondary combustion. As a result, the fire uses a little less than the same amount of wood you would use in a campfire. The increased heat also allows you to burn slightly wetter wood as well.

 

Wrapping it Up

If you are someone that really enjoys the feel and atmosphere of unique fire pits, then the Solo Stove is an excellent purchase. With all the added heat and smokeless features, our Solo Stove Review found this to be a perfect backyard focal point for your next get-together.

We had a blast testing out the capabilities of the Solo Stove Ranger, Bonfire, and Yukon. The only real difference between the three is the price and sizes. Each model gives you all the durability and airflow design you expect from a quality Solo Stove.

These were incredibly easy to carry around to different events. One of our reviewers is a Dad with kids in high school. He has already made an entire purchase of a Bonfire for tailgating. The amount of hotdogs you can grill on that bad boy is incredible!

Solo Stove is also expanding to newer products and accessories for camping and cooking on their fire pits. Picking up your own Ranger or Bonfire today will get you in while they are developing these valuable accessories.

The smokeless Solo Stove is easy to use. It doesn’t require any setup or assembly, and you can start it quickly with only a little wood.

Overall, we found very little negative reviews from customers. When you do purchase your new product, you’ll have the peace of mind that thousands of other people who purchased these camp stoves loved them. We can say that our customer experience was fantastic!

We strongly recommend this product to anyone wanting the unique feel of a fire pit. For our money, we liked the Bonfire model the best for at home and the Ranger model for camping. We had one team member pick up the Yukon, but they have a huge backyard and regularly host parties. Regardless of which one you go with, it will crate the best fire pits for your needs.

We hope you have enjoyed this Solo Stove Review and found it informative. Be sure to come back often for more quality product reviews from our expert team. If you would like to learn more about the Solo Stove, click on any of our links.

 

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