Are you looking for a portable fire pit to create the most crackling flames at your campsite? Well, the performance of a fire pit depends on many other factors apart from its capability of creating the most amazing fire. The pit should be durable, easy-to-carry, fuel-efficient, immune to possible fire hazards, and smoke-free. To keep so many criteria in mind while making a selection may seem a difficult proposition.
Here, we cut the clutter and provide you with the best portable fire pits:
- BioLite FirePit: Overall Best Portable Fire Pit
- Solo Stove Ranger: Best for No Smoke
- Camp Chef Redwood: Best for a Propane Fire Pit
- Solo Stove Bonfire: Best for Something a Little Larger
- Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up: Best for a Pop-up Fire Pit
- UCO Flatpack: Best for a Foldable Design
BioLite FirePit: Overall Best Portable Fire Pit
- Holds up to 75 lbs
- Comes in a pack of 3
- Stackable
- Won’t fit in a grocery cart
- Made from plastic
19.8 lbs
27″ x 13″ x 15.8″
When it comes to portability, the multi-utility Biolite FirePit must feature on top of the charts. Weighing around 19.8 pounds, the fire pit can transform itself into a portable hibachi-style grill with a grill-gate. The product works on firewood or charcoal as fuel, and its high-temperature enamel coating offers high durability and easy-cleaning facilities.
The patented airflow technology of the pit helps create hyper-efficient flames that you can control manually or remotely with a free Bluetooth application that comes with the setup. To make the fire enjoyable without causing any harm to the equipment or giving rise to the chances of sparks flying around, the product comes with an X-ray mesh body and heat radiating body design.
Solo Stove Ranger: Best for No Smoke
- Portable, durable, and produces hardly any smoke
- Does not require any additional accessories to run the pit
- Cleaning is as easy as turning it upside down
- Existing fire-pits need additional clearance for ventilation
- Parental supervision mandatory when used near children
15 lbs
13” x 12.5” x 15”
The Solo Stove Ranger, weighing 15 pounds, is easily one of the best portable fire pits available in the market. But, more than portability, Solo Stove Ranger’s no-smoke feature is what drives it to the top in the world of fire pits and portable campfire resources.
Made of 304-grade stainless steel, the Ranger has Solo Stove’s trademarked 360-degrees Airflow design prompting a super-efficient secondary burn. Vent holes near the top of the burn chamber allow the preheated oxygen to fuel the flame. Efficient circulation makes the combustion complete. A complete combustion results in a hotter fire with much less smoke or no smoke at all. The precision base plate, ash pan, and fire ring that comes with Ranger help it achieve a stable frame and make it easier to clean and maintain.
It’s the perfect choice for any campsite or backyard. Just add fuel logs to it and light up. Nothing else to worry about!The
Outland Firebowl: Best for a Propane Fire Pit
- Fully adjustable flame control dial
- Matchless ignition properties
- Safety shutoff valve and nickel-coated steel safety ring included
- May require permission for use outdoors from the local ranger station authorities
22 lbs
L 19” x W 19” x H 11”
Perfect for smokeless, propane-fueled flames, the Outland Firebowl offers matchless ignition and a fully adjustable flame-controller. Built with heavy gauge steel, and consisting of nickel-coated steel safety rings, the pit offers output up to the range of 58,000 BTU per hour.
Whether you want to use it at a campsite or a party in your backyard, the Outland Firebowl propane fire pit is the perfect medium for keeping the place hot and occasionally roasting marshmallows or cooking hotdogs. If you want to add to it, you can buy a carrying kit, bag, and cover separately.
Solo Stove Bonfire: Best for Something a Little Larger
- Great combination of high durability, increased volume, and portability
- A double-wall structure prompts an efficient secondary burn
- Log friendly and produces low smoke
- An all-weather cover is not included in the price and has to be separately purchased
- Parental guidance might be necessary when used near children.
20 lbs
17.5” x 14” x 19.5”
If you are looking for a fire pit that will be highly portable yet a little larger than the usual, suitable for your group outing needs, the Solo Stove Bonfire is the option for you. Its 360-degree airflow design has provisions for strategically placed holes in its double-walled structure that draw in air from the bottom and feed the preheated oxygen to the top prompting a perfect secondary burn. A secondary burn always results in minimal ash and hardly any smoke.
Like other Solo Stove varieties, the Bonfire also comes with a fire ring, precision base plate, and ash pan that results in a steady high flame and keeps the pit easy to clean. Although it is made of 304-grade stainless steel and has superb durability, it only weighs 20 pounds. A size larger than the usual varieties does not make Bonfire difficult to carry.
Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up: Best for a Pop-up Fire Pit
- Protected from rust
- Includes heat-shield to resist trace fires
- Lightweight and easy to set up
- Larger than usual burn areas may require prior permission from the authorities if used outdoors
7.2 lbs
24” x 24” x 15”
Fireside Outdoor Pop-up fire pit is the best option available for an above-ground fire pit. You can set up the 24-inches long lightweight product well under 60 minutes. The burning happens on a fire-rated stainless-steel mesh, which allows the perfect airflow for brighter and hotter flames without any smoke. Although the item of the product is only 7.2 pounds, it can hold up to 125 pounds of weight without letting the ash fall through.
The set up has a total of 576 square inches of burn area with an elevated base and 3.5 inches long safeguards on the side.
UCO Flatpack: Best for a Foldable Design
- Folds to a minimum thickness of 1.1 inch
- Being an above-ground fire pit, it keeps fire off the ground
- High corrosion resistance
- Reports of not having enough air vents to sustain a decent flame
- The lack of decent straps on the carry bag makes portability difficult
3.3 lbs
13″ x 10″, and it folds down to a thickness of 1.1″
If you are looking for a multi-purpose fire pit that you can comfortably use as a grill, the UCO Flatpack is the product for you. The foldable design makes it super-convenient for transportation to the beach or any other campsite.
Made of stainless steel the product ranks high on durability and is easy to maintain. Setting up requires as little as 30 seconds. Being foldable the product offers a considerably well-spread grilling area of 13” x 10” dimensions. However, compared to its size, the product is significantly lightweight. It weighs 3.3 pounds only.
Types of Portable Fire Pits
Portability in fire pits has become a must-have factor. Unless a pit is adequately portable, it does not make any sense for people who want to use it for outdoor campings. Depending on the fuel you are willing to use, there are two broad types of portable fire pits available in the market:
- Wood-burning: A wood-burning pit is more affordable and much easier to install. The aesthetics of a wood-burning pit is far more exciting as a decorative item.
- Propane: Propane-fire pits, on the other hand, offer much cleaner burning. It is quick to light up, and the scope of a fire mishap is much less with this pit-category. Propane-fueled pits do not require continuous additions of fuel. It runs continuously in a more environment-friendly way.
How I Evaluated the Best Portable Fire Pits
I considered dozens of portable fire pits on the market. While reviewing each fire pit in detail, I took into account its dimensions, weight, durability, multi-functionality capabilities, and how easy it is to use. Although there are a range of portable fire pits on this list, the best one for you typically depends on if you want a wood- or propane-burning fire pit. Be sure to consider the factors outlined above when comparing which fire pit you should buy.
Bottom Line
While choosing among these pits, keep your priorities ready. Some pits also work as grills. So, if a barbecue is on your mind go for them. Some pits are known for their efficient burning designs. So, if you are looking for an environment-friendly pit, choose them. These pits are practically smoke-free. Some options cater to durability, portability, and are easy-to-clean. Make your choice according to the aspects you value the most.
