Last year about this time I did a review about Solo Stoves smallest stove the Solo Stove Lite. You can see the review HERE. I later took it out and made cowboy coffee and enjoyed again how much this little stove works so well. View post HERE.
The Solo Stove Lite and Solo Stove Pot 900 are perfect for emergencies like when the power goes out, etc. It also works well to cook your Emergency Food Supply if you have one.
Solo Stove builds several stove related items and one of the most popular is their take on the fire pit.
The Solo Stove Bonfire is a portable fire pit that you can easily take on camping trips or use in your own back yard.
It is nearly smokeless once you get the fire going and has minimal ash once the fire has burned itself out.
The Bonfire is fueled from logs, large sticks or woody debris. Intake holes in the design bring air in through the bottom and push warm air out near the top causing a second burn that helps keep the fire nearly smokeless.
The Bonfire is built of 304 Stainless Steel and weighs around 20 pounds. I added the additional Bonfire stand which keeps the bottom cool and allows you to put it on your deck, etc. and not work about the heat burning the ground or deck.
Check out my short video of the Bonfire in action below.
I first tested it in the high desert of Central Oregon and then brought it home to my tiny deck in my back yard where I have a couple of nearby trees. Although very little debris comes out of it I would like to add some kind of spark cover just to feel completely Safe.
It is easy to start a fire in the Solo Stove Bonfire. With its deep sides, it protects it from any wind. Start with some type of twigs or dry pine needles or newspaper. Place small sticks or spit kindling on top and light. Add your larger pieces once the fire gets going. It helps to have some type of poker or something to move the wood around once the fire is going.
The second burn takes a while to start. Try to keep the wood below the top to make this happen. Initially, the sidewalls are cool. Once the fire really takes off they get very hot.
I tested the Bonfire out on the high desert first as I have a pine tree in my back yard and I wanted to see how many sparks and debris would blow upward. I was happy to see very little did, though this may vary depending on the type of wood you use. I was initially using Eucalyptus, which I had gotten from my dad’s property. It is hardwood so burns long and hot. I added some dry pine to speed up the burning process and to get some good blazes. I was very impressed with the heat produced and the fact that there was almost no smoke once the fire got going.
I felt safe trying it at home though I think I would still like to make a spark arrester to put on top if it should start to shoot out sparks in the future.
One thing to note about the Solo Stove Bonfire. Unlike a normal campfire, you are unable to pour water or dirt in it to extinguish it. You need to let it burn completely down and cool before moving it. So plan your evening or morning accordingly if you are out camping.
At home, this was not a problem as I could go check it every now and then to make sure it was doing fine.
My son Ted, sat out in the evening enjoying the Bonfire and mentioned how nice it was to not be dodging smoke. We are looking forward to cool fall evenings to spend out on the porch enjoying our fir pit.
Although fairly expensive compared to some fire pits, I personally think it is well worth the money. It is portable and will last a lifetime. Light so you can move it and use it anywhere. The Solo Stove fire pits come in three different sizes so you can choose the best one for you.
To purchase your own and/or get more information go to the Solo Stove Website: HERE
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