6 Smokeless Fire Pit Reviews to Help You Choose the Best One

Everybody loves the feel of being around a campfire on a weekend evening — but if you’re tired of washing the smell of smoke out of your clothes and hair, you should look into a smokeless fire pit. A relatively recent invention, the smokeless fire pit is a compact and convenient alternative to building a full fire, and a great way to get your time around a fire without any of the downsides.

In today’s article, we’ll be exploring the two major brands of smokeless fire pits available today — diving deep into the similarities and differences in their designs, as well as giving you a few considerations to make before choosing the best smokeless fire pit for you. Finally, we’ll close out by directing you to the best places to buy each smokeless fire pit at a bargain, so let’s get right into it.

Both of the major players in the smokeless fire pit game — Breeo and Solo Stove — have been around for less than a decade, and sport quite similar designs. Even though they focus on many of the same design principles, though, each brand emphasizes different features to set their products apart. Let’s take a closer look at both brands before moving onto their more recent competitors.

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1. Best Overall: Breeo

Founded in 2011, Breeo holds claim to making the very first smokeless fire pit. Based out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, they produce all of their firepits right from their workshop.

Breeo produces two model lines of their smokeless fire pit: The flagship X series, and the upgraded Luxeve. Weighing in at over 60 pounds each and made of 304 grade stainless steel, they’re incredibly sturdy and durable — and can even be matched with accessories for open flame grilling. As if that wasn’t enough, every Breeo stove is covered by a lifetime warranty and shipped for free from their Lancaster workshop.

2. Best Value: Solo Stove

Founded shortly after Breeo, Solo Stove seeks to utilize Breeo’s pioneering smokeless fire pit design to create smaller and more portable fire pit systems as well as a direct competitor to Breeo’s X series. Based out of Southlake, Texas, Solo Stove is able to offer its product at substantially reduced prices thanks to contracting much of its construction out through Chinese manufacturers.

Their smokeless fire pits come in three models. From smallest to largest, these are the Ranger, Bonfire, and Yukon — with even the sizeable Yukon costing nearly $100 less than Breeo’s X series. They’re efficient and quick to heat, with a lighter grade of stainless steel that makes them much easier to position and more portable at the cost of reducing their durability.

3. Best for Grilling: Cast Master

Built with the outdoor chef in mind, Cast Master’s Bon 2000 is a fairly affordable combination of a smokeless fire pit and grill. Its lightweight and durable stainless steel shell makes it easy to take with you to your campsite or set up with minimal effort in your backyard. We like that you can power it with hardwood, charcoal, briquettes, or softwood and achieve great grilling results.

4. Lightweight and Portable: Hi Flame Bonfire

Weighing in at just 42 pounds, the Hi Flame Bonfire fire pit is an excellent option for camping trips. It’s made of durable 304-grade stainless steel and builds on the same design of the Breeo fire pit, but with more air intake holes. This means the Hi Flame can burn exceptionally hot, making it ideal for whipping up a round of s’mores! And if you’re in a dry climate and worried about embers hopping out of your fire, the 2mm thick top cover that comes with the Hi Flame is an excellent addition.

5. Most Affordable: Esright Bonfire Fire Pit

The petite and streamlined Esright Bonfire smokeless fire pit seems tailor-made for anyone who values function over form. It’s durable, easy to assemble, and loaded with vent holes to re-burn even the slightest whiff of smoke. And at under $200, it’s easily the most affordable smokeless fire pit of this size. The only downside? It’s not much to look at, and there aren’t any accessories to go along with it. Even so, I would recommend it to anyone looking to try a smokeless fire pit for the first time.

6. A Special Case: FLIKR’s Indoor Fireplace

I’d like to share something especially neat with you, even though it’s not what most people think of when they imagine a smokeless fire pit.

No, your eyes do not deceive you: That’s a personal, indoor fireplace! And by that token, it’s also the smallest smokeless fire pit available on the market today. And I know what you’re thinking: There’s no way that can be safe. But it is! Because you don’t build a fire with wood — you use common rubbing alcohol. The specially formulated concrete won’t shrink or expand, and the heavy base makes sure that there’s no chance of tipping it over while in use.

How Do Smokeless Fire Pits Work?

https://player.vimeo.com/video/355409758

A smokeless fire pit is a specialized type of fireplace that combines the functionality and ambiance of a standard fireplace with efficiency and cleanliness that is second to none. Unlike traditional fireplaces, there’s no need for you to set up extra ventilation – it will do the job automatically – and spills, ash, and fine particles stay where they belong: in the pot.

Just how does a smokeless fire pit work? Take it from the designers at Breeo, the pioneers in smokeless fire pit technology:

The Breeo Smokeless Fire Pits work through a double-wall, secondary combustion design… Hot air rises through the gap between the two walls, then exits the wall cavity through the line of holes around the rim. This pressurized, heated oxygen mixes with the smoke and causes it to reburn — [making] your fire smokeless.”

The same principles that make commercial smokeless fire pits work can be adapted for at-home DIY, too! Check out this video from How to Home for full build instructions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DToPhKv2vYM

Before You Buy: Considerations for Choosing A Smokeless Fire Pit

With those two brands in mind, you may not be clear on which one is best for your backyard. Here’s what we would take into account before choosing one for our own home:

Size

How much space do you have for your smokeless fire pit? If ground cover is at a premium, Solo Stove’s smaller Ranger and Bonfire models may let you make the best use of it. If you have plenty of space in your yard, though, Breeo’s tough and durable construction makes it a longer-lasting choice. Other brands tend to shoot for something in the middle — neither too big nor too small.

Weight

Will you be installing this smokeless fire pit on your own, or will you have help? Will you be keeping it in one place, or do you plan on moving it around fairly regularly? If you plan on setting up your smokeless fire pit one time and leaving it, Breeo’s heavier construction is a better choice; otherwise, Solo Stove’s lighter weight makes it easier to move around as you please. Generally, the less expensive a smokeless fire pit is, the thinner and lighter its steel will be.

Price

How big is your fire pit budget? If you’re short on cash, Solo Stove is the more frugal option — but if you’re willing to invest more for greater durability and longevity, Breeo is the clear winner. And if you’re looking for a luxury smokeless fire pit that will be the jewel of your backyard setup, Breeo’s Luxeve series is the only way to go. When you’re budget’s tight, going for a brand outside of the big names can save you a lot of money, as long as you’re willing to take an hour or so putting them together.

Accessories

Are you planning on using your fire pit to grill? If so, only Breeo offers accessory packages to convert your smokeless fire pit into a smokeless grill. Solo Stove offers stands, shelters, and roasting sticks in one affordable package for anyone looking to make s’mores on a summer night. Other brands tend to go light on accessories, and focus on the main package instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you cover your fire pit?

The answer to this question will be determined based on the style and design of your fire pit. For example, a glass-enclosed fire pit would not benefit from being covered because it would just trap in the heat. A freestanding chiminea might work better with a cover, though. The main issue with trying to seal in heat is that letting out too much could cause carbon monoxide to enter the space when you are ventilating or if there is any way for oxygen–or any other combustible material–to get in there.

What is the best wood to burn in a smokeless fire pit?

There are a lot of factors that come into play when determining the best wood to burn in a fire pit. You’ll need to determine whether you want heat-producing or heat-conserving flames, whether you want it for cooking, and what type of fuel is allowed in your location. The most popular types of wood used for fires are sugar maple, yellow birch, white ash, and red oak–choose whichever has the most availability in your area. With a smokeless fire pit there really isn’t any wrong answer!

Can you put a portable fire pit on a wood deck or grass?

Yes, most portable fire pits are designed with a small stand or table for you to set them on. Wood decks are ideal for this, but it will damage the deck over time.

How do you clean the ashes out of a smokeless fire pit?

This is done with a shovel, rags, and careful lifting. The ash will weigh a lot less than the actual wood, so it should come out pretty easily. Now, since the fire pit is doing complete combustion, there should be very little ash & debris in the fire pit.

How much does it cost to replace the lava rocks in a smokeless fire pit?

The replacement costs of these materials is negligible, except maybe for high-end steel models. The majority of people don’t even bother replacing them–they just keep adding new lava rock if needed.

Can you use wood pellets in any fire pit?

Wood pellets are a type of fuel that is actually a compressed form of sawdust, bark shavings, and fine wood particles. It looks like small pieces of birdseed or rabbit food. You can use it as an alternative to firewood without the mess, heavy lifting, or foul odor. In fact, many people prefer this as compared to using logs as it burns longer and cleaner with less ash residue.

The one downside is that you will likely need a stove or fireplace insert because specialized fireplace grates normally aren’t able to contain the smaller size pieces of wood pellets–too much could fall through into the coals below. And if your goal was to cook something smoky on a spit, you should probably stick with real logs instead–as tasty as they may be.

What is the difference between partial and complete combustion?

Complete combustion is when all of the fuel has been converted into heat and light. Partial combustion happens when semi-burned or unburned fuel stays in the ashes–like a dirty fire that won’t burn completely through a log. It is also known as smoldering, smoking or the incomplete combustion of fuels. Smokeless fire pits are designed to produce clean flames with low emissions.

Do smokeless fire pits give off heat?

Yes. A smokeless fire pit gives off heat in two ways–directly by burning the fuel, and also by absorbing the heat from other objects in whatever space it occupies. For this reason, it’s important to make sure you have proper ventilation around your smokeless fire pit at all times.

You may need a stove or fireplace insert because specialized fireplace grates will not be able to contain the smaller size pieces of wood pellets–too much could fall through into the coals below! And if your goal was to cook something smoky on a spit, you should probably stick with real logs instead–as tasty as they may be.

Can you cook on a smokeless fire pit?

Yes. A smokeless fire pit gives off heat in two ways–directly by burning the fuel, and also by absorbing the heat from other objects in whatever space it occupies. For this reason, it’s important to make sure you have proper ventilation around your smokeless fire pit at all times.

Placing food directly on top of the lava rocks produces more smoke since they will burn away, but cooking over wood or lump charcoal is an acceptable practice for some recipes that do not require high levels of smoky flavor (such as grilled cheese sandwiches). Be careful when cooking with high-level flavors because too much liquid may escape through the gaps between stones after prolonged use.

Do smokeless fire pits keep mosquitoes away?

No. Mosquitoes are usually deterred by the smoke from a typical fire pit. Mosquitoes are encouraged by the humidity and temperature that smokeless fire pits produce. If you’re looking for a way to keep mosquitoes away, try citronella candles or bug repellant with DEET or an all-natural option–just be sure to avoid using anything scented that might mix with the scent of your meat!