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Whether it’s for ambiance, warmth, cooking, or some other reason you want to light a fire, there’s something about those dancing flames that makes a nice controlled fire appealing. One of the big drawbacks of having a fire at home is the smoke. So the best solution to this problem is to have a smokeless fire pit.
When Solo Stove was the brand that really made these products popular, and when the hype around smokeless fire pits started to grow, I, like many others, wasn’t sure if they were worth it. I’ve had a few different styles of fire pits for my home, but I had never seen one of the smokeless varieties until a few years ago. That’s when it finally dawned on me how amazing the technology (or lack thereof) is that has made using these fire pits the preferred way to start a fire, not only for me but for many others as well.
There’s more to these fire pits than just the lack of smoke, and they come in more sizes and styles than you might think. So, you can have that crackling, smoke-free fire with less hassle and in more places than before.
Enjoy the warmth without the smoke
Smokeless fire pits are ideal for creating the perfect glow in the evening, but also prevent your clothing from becoming saturated with campfire smoke.
although Solo stove may be the most recognized brand for smokeless fire pits, but it is not the only brand on the market. When you look out over the landscape of smokeless fire pits, you will see many choices. Breo is another highly regarded brand in the space, but you can also find fire pits from recognizable yet unexpected brands like Kitchen art And East Oak.
Of all the different options available for a smokeless fire pit, they all claim the same thing: fire without smoke. These fire pits work by having a double wall with holes in the inner wall, which draws clean air in through the bottom of the fire pits. Then, using the heat generated by the fire, that air is superheated and as it rises in the space between the two walls, it escapes through the holes in the top of the fire pit, igniting the small particles in the smoke.
Superheated air escapes through holes in the inner wall of a smokeless fire pit to burn off the particles that cause smoke.
This creates a nice fire effect from the holes and ends the smoke before it can get in your face. When burning wood there are always small bits that don’t burn and are the main culprits in creating smoke. So by using the science of convection these smokeless fire pits create a secondary burn to eliminate most if not all of the smoke.
Be aware that there will be smoke when you first light the fire. Until the fire really gets going and the fire pit is heated, there is not enough heat generated by the fire to create the secondary combustion. Once everything is really burning, the smoke will disappear.
What You Need to Know About Smokeless Fire Pits Before You Buy Them
With so many brands selling smokeless fire pits, in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and even shapes, there can be some confusion about which one to buy. Aside from checking out our list of best fire pitsThere are other factors to consider when purchasing a fire pit.
Are cheap smokeless fire pits any good?
East Oak makes an affordable smokeless fire pit that adds flair to cylindrical fire pits by making them look more like a circle.
As with most things you buy, sometimes you get what you pay for, and sometimes you’re surprised. A cheap or inexpensive smokeless fire pit can work just as well as a more expensive option, as long as the construction is correct. By that I mean that both walls of the fire pit should be welded and positioned properly, and the holes that allow air to flow in and out should be large enough. As long as these things are done correctly, the fire pit should do a fine job of removing smoke.
What may be lacking in a cheap fire pit that you find in a more expensive option is the materials used. In order to make the product cheaper, some corners have to be cut. Generally, this is due to the quality of the build and the materials. Thicker metal and/or lower quality steel can not only melt when the fire is hot enough, but can also rust and break faster than a more expensive option.
Are smokeless fire pits only suitable for making fire?
Accessories like the Breeo Live-fire Pizza Oven are great for making fire pits even more functional.
Definitely not. In this category we find more distinction between brands and prices of fire pits. Cheap fire pits generally only offer one function: heat. And even then there are more ways to use a fire pit. The bigger brands have started making accessories to further exploit smokeless fire pits.
For example, Breeo offers some great accessories for outdoor cooking, such as the Outpost Grill be first X-Line of smokeless fire pits and the Pizza oven with open fire which I like to use on my Breeo Luxeve Fire Pit. Solo Stove also offers cooking accessories and a Pizza oven for its smokeless fire pits and even a popcorn machineAll these accessories ensure that you get more out of your fire pit than just for the atmosphere and warmth.
Do smokeless fire pits give off a lot of heat?
Smokeless fire pits naturally push the heat vertically, but there is still plenty of heat. If you need more, some deflectors push the heat horizontally.
Yes, these fire pits do produce a lot of heat. This is due to the double combustion that takes place to burn the smoke particles. A possible disadvantage of these fire pits is that the design is generally higher and causes the heat to be emitted vertically. This can cause some people around the fire to miss the heat, especially those who are seated.
Now I’m not saying all is lost. There is still a fair amount of heat that is felt from the fire pit. There are ways to push that heat out more horizontally than vertically. Solo stove And Breo Both have a heat conductor that, as the heat from the fire rises, encounters a metal plate that pushes the heat outward instead of upward.
What if you don’t have much space?
The TerraFlame table fire basket is ideal for creating atmosphere wherever you want or for roasting marshmallows.
Whether your space is limited by your home or purely by where you want to use the fire pit, there are options from very large to very small to suit all needs. A great choice for those who want a wood fire but are limited on space is the Solo stove Mesa. This 5.1″ tabletop fire pit has all the same features that make the larger fire pits work, but on a smaller scale. This is great for those times when you want a real wood fire, but don’t have to light the big fire pit.
If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t even light a small fire like the Mesa, then maybe TerraFlame by Solo Stove is a better option. It uses clean-burning, safe indoor gel fuel, so you can enjoy a fire anywhere. It’s also perfect for S’mores.
Remember, no matter which type of smokeless fire pit you choose, you will need to keep it clean. This will not only extend its lifespan, but also help it perform at its best.
