For those complaining about the lack of radiant heat and smoke (for bugs) just pop the top ring off. It’ll throw pretty wide instead of directing an intense draft up. We’ve sat around this thing countless winter nights, temps down to single digits and most of the time people are stripping off layers. Just wear warm boots. Great review by the way!!
I've had the same stove for over 3 years and I agree with you on a few things. Certainly there's less radiant heat off the sides there's no doubt about that. May be remedied by throwing some Stones around it. Ones that are large enough that they don't impede the air holes. I would have to disagree though about weather it burns wood faster. In my experience my fires last much longer with this stove or fire pit. The secondary burn of the smoke really goes a long way in extending the range of the fire. I have how to fire going of modest size and to my surprise came out 3 hours later and it was still going. Where most fires smolder this one continues to feed it oxygen which requires very little stirring or mid fire maintenance. With regards to cooling the stove off simply emptying out the coals well lead to a rather fast cooling of the stove because it is such a thin Steel. This is done safely by simply taking a couple sticks putting them in the holes and flipping it over. Obviously this will leave a bit of a Trace but in my opinion there's nothing wrong with a few ashes on the ground. Having left my stove outside in rain or shine for 3 years I can say that it's held up well with some minor surface rust but still performs like it did on the first date. The design is perfect, the only thing it needs is some accessories so that you can use it as a grill
I have a giant iron grate and put this on sidewalk pavers on my wood deck, next to the house. Waited for it to snow. I was worried about damage to my deck, but the iron grate I stood it on never even got hot. I concur that it burns everything down to ash, and doesn't smoke. It doesn't even put out many sparks, although I put a giant clamshell screen (fits the grate) over it, just in case. I don't think that piling rocks around it would do all that much. I could see hanging some TEGs off it to generate some electricity, though. High temperature differential between the body and the ambient air, but not hot enough to melt anything.
I just ordered my first camping stove 🔥🏹🏕🏹🔥. I’m beyond excited, especially after reading 📖your comment and seeing his video📹about this stove🔥⛺️🔥. I can’t wait to bring my son out and try this out!
@@BobPapadopoulos It means that what would normally smolder and create smoke is actually burned instead of wasted. If a fire is smoking thats wasted energy
Good overall review! My wife and I were at our friend's house last night who have the larger Yukon model. It generated plenty of radiant heat. I had to move my chair back from it. We were impressed with the Solo Stove!
A couple of years ago I took advantage of a 2 for 1 sale by Solo Stove and purchased two of their Solo Stove Titan stoves. I've stashed one in my truck for emergencies and used the other one occasionally on camping trips. I have to say that the Titan makes very efficient use of wood, and I've been able to boil two quarts and more on just a few handfuls of small wood pieces. But I can see that the Bonfire model would have its negatives as you pointed out. The Titan model is designed to cook on, while the Bonfire model seems to be marketed as a "campfire replacement" which exposes the problems you mentioned. Great review! One positive about Solo Stoves that I can confirm: they are very, very well made and very durable products.
If you get a good base of hot coals and a good balance of wood, the flames will be rolling out of the holes and it does radiate heat. Don't get your wood above the holes though. We love ours. You still have the rolling flames, but no smoke.
I own the Bonfire (as well as the Lite and the Campfire). Every time I use it, I have zero regrets about buying it. It is a fantastic accessory to the home or RV campsite. As far as heat from the sides, get the heat deflector. It is well worth the cost and distributes the heat out instead of up. I don't use the deflector with the legs, instead I place it on the grill and griddle stand. That provides a much more stable surface and allows room to insert more wood underneath it. One thing I learned about the griddle though, you gotta wait until the fire burns down because that sucker gets HOT. (I've never seen bacon char so fast in my life! 😳) All in all, my Solos have been wonderful investments.
For radiant heat from this set up I would place a disc of metal about 2 to 4 feet above the top. As the heat rises into the disc it will deflect outwards.
I've had one for a while and used it many times in temps below 40 and even below 30 a few times. It generates plenty of heat for me and the people with me. The upside is you don't spend all night avoiding smoke. I also don't see that it eats wood much more quickly than a "regular" fire. Now if you keep packing it full, it'll roar, get really hot and eat wood like mad, but you can feed it like a normal fire and it works well.
I purchased a stainless front loading washer tub for $15 for a local appliance repair guy. It works great, keeps the campsite clean, has smoke (which I like) and puts off radiant heat. Best thing is that it keeps the sparks contained which is always a plus with kiddos, pets and flammable brush. I also use it for ice fishing and spring 3D archery events to keep my group warm.
I have owned and used the bonfire for about 2 years now and love it. Best piece of kit I have bought. It puts out plenty of heat for a winter camp and has almost no smoke. The flames look like they are dancing on the top from the secondary burn. Coals glow red hot after a couple of hrs. There is almost no ash left in the morning as the heat burns the logs completely. The stainless steel does discolour a bit leaving a nice patina on the metal which adds to the character. I highly recommend it. It is good for about 4-5 people to sit around. If you have more then you probably need to go for the bigger Yukon model.
I have the same stove, and I have the same complaint. It is not very good for keeping warm. It does make a nice looking fire. Is also good for cooking over when camping.
I found if I dig mine down about 4" or so the radiant heat is fine. To test this just try standing on a couple bricks. Or if you are a sitter place your chair on a few and see if your legs stay warm. It fixed the issue for me.
This. Think Solo missed on marketing. What this is great for is cooking over with a grate that you can adjust height of. Smokeless is huge plus if your standing over the fire for lots of BBQ tending.
I've been using one of these for a couple of years. I feel that it actually does radiate a good amount of heat when it's cold. I sit by it down to the upper 30's anyway.
Thank you for the honest review. The ad showed up in my Instagram feed and I really wanted to buy one. I’m glad I watched this and will now think about whether to buy it or not weighing in on the pros and cons. Thanks again. 🔥🤙🏽
Bought this for the back deck, and we've been happy with the heat output for sitting out and having a drink with friends, socially distanced. I hope it will get us thru the winter of our Covid discontent
Thanks for your review Jason. I own the backpack version and have had my eye on this firepit version since you first showed it. Been waiting for this follow up review :-)
Great review! Okay, so it puts out less heat laterally where you can feel it, uses more wood and is close to smokeless. It is the perfect suburban toy!
I have had one for years and use it often. I even load it up for camping. I'll always have one, just might by the largest one also. My backyard fire pit has not been used in years. Im removing it and setting it up for my bonfire this year. Make a nice raised brick pad over in old pit.
I don't comment a lot but I got mine and it's AWESOME. Fire burned a good long time before I had to add wood and the radiant heat was perfect for my linking. Cleaning was super easy. I got the kit which had the spark arrestor and lid on top which was great. I found starting the wood you could see a little smoke but after initial start it was barely detectable. Love the portability and being able to have a great fire in my backyard which has limited space.
I’m not gonna read all the comments being this is three years ago, but doing a review check of the solo stove the new heat deflection cover works fabulous!
I got a smaller ranger size. I am doing backyard early evening burns. It is easy to start. It has good air flow, minimal smoke once started. There is a soft flame that will burn anything you put into it. Beautiful coals that burn down to almost nothing. I dump it out in the morning and store in a dry place. Not cheap but worth the money IMO.
They need a domed top piece for it to disperse heat. I can also see this thing come in sections. Fire pit, griddle/grill, smoker and with the wide domed top to catch an disperse heat.
great review thank you. I love the fact of smokeless (to a point) for out in the garden & not smoking out us or the neighbours! But the fact it doesnt radiate heat on the sides, it feels like it doesnt give me what I need & youve saved me an expensive purchase that would have disappointed.
This is truly a product that has performed beyond my expectations. It puts out a lot of heat and the smoke is almost completely eliminated and I'm not careful about what I burn in it either. Junk wood. Wood that's too wet. Old wood. New wood. This thing is a beast. I liked it so well that I tore the guts out of my gas fire pit and stuck the middle sized solo stove in there. It puts out far more heat than the gas fire pit.
I own one of these, my experience is exactly the same as yours. Biggest downside is the design that gives you that controlled, smokeless burn also concentrates the heat straight up. You end up sitting a lot closer to it than you would a regular fire pit on a crisp fall night. It does throw out heat laterally, just less than you'd expect for a fire that size. But I love how you never have to move because the wind shifts and the fire starts blowing the smoke right at you. I also love how attractive the fire looks when it is running - it just routinely produces a very pretty fire once it gets going. The flame jets once the secondary burn starts are just really cool looking. This thing kind of runs more like a wood stove than a fire pit, which is basically what it is. It is big, heavy, bulky, and expensive. But for car camping or backyard fires at home, particularly if it isn't freezing cold out, yeah it has its place. I also think that it is a good way to reduce the risk of forest fires - it isn't something you can use in a no burn area, but the fire is extremely well contained and controlled if you keep the wood below the rim.
Maybe the thing needs buried about in your yard with enough area around it to suck air in that would give you more radiant heat like make a brick Circle in the ground 8 in deep 6 inch larger on each side with brick to give you more radiant heat .
@@beverlylawrence1157 Yes. Turn it over and shake it, you get most of the ashes out that way and it doesn't have to be perfect. Dump the ashes in your garden or lawn but spread them around, because they are kind of like fertilizer as they decompose and too much in one spot can be bad. But it is good for your plants in low doses.
@@trustbuster23this appears to be true for earlier Solo Stoves made around the early 2020s where the grating doesn't seem to be removable to clean out the ash below. The Yukon is heavy and takes effort to move around. I have to roll it around and then I use a blower to get it as clean as possible. Its a mess, but I dont know of another way, unless I cut out and create a hinged dump hatch in bottom bit id rather lift off the entire grating.
An excellent review! Especially appreciated your comments about rate of burn, ambient heat and time to shut down. Sounds like it’s good for ambiance and “leave no trace” but not much more.
Thank you for your review. When I saw you kneeling beside it without moving back, I thought,”It doesn’t give off much heat.” Can you cook over it? Steaks, on a grill you might have on hand? What does it weigh? Does it have any kind of handle? What are the dimensions? Does it come with a lid to keep rain out? Thank you 😊.
I use the lid from my Weber kettle to cover mine with to prevent it from getting water damage, I also leave the vent open and allow it to completely burn, you can snuff it out if you close the damper on the lid of the Weber kettle top
Saw several reviews and this is one of the most accurate ones- really helpful! I am opting not to get one as much as I wanted to want it.. the reason is bc this review was very accurate with both the pros as well as the cons
Great review. I was concerned about how much radiant heat this thing gave off. It looks like it's not much and because of that I think I'll have to pass.
Thanks I have considered fire pits but so far have not been able to pull the trigger. I admire your environmental point of view. We are of one mind. Keep up the good work. Regards =Cosmo
Great video as always. I think you just verified my original thoughts i had about this with it being designed to be more of a big stove like its smaller counterparts than something to use as an actual side radiating source of heat.
I have the Ranger version of this one. I do have to chop the wood down to fit entirely into the pit. I think it puts out plenty of heat once you get a good base of coals going, and i love watching the little jets of flame that shoot out from the ring of holes on the inside, completely mesmerizing :)
There aren’t legs on it for a reason. Set it on the ground. The size of holes restrict burn speed and allow a slower airflow once the stove is hot. Hence: longer burn time, slower draft, more heat staying inside the unit = even less smoke.
Yeah, double wall = no radiant heat = deal breaker for me. I think segmented double wall or vertical air tubes with exposed inner wall between could possibly give the best of both worlds, but that would make the cost significantly higher.
Yes, they make a heat deflector to channel the heat outward. We have the Yukon model and it puts out plenty of heat to keep us warm on cool nights, and we don’t have a heat deflector.
I have a super expensive stove that burns wood super quickly, takes days to cool down, you can't see the flame unless you standing above it and has little to no radiant heat! I'm sold!
Wow . Thanks for the review . I've been on the fence about getting this fire pit even though it's on sale because I have to convert CDN to USD which makes it kind of pricey . That would be great on a deck just being able to have a fire , Now that you mentioned that you don't get much heat from the sides . Not gonna stand up to get some warmth . You saved me a bundle of money . Thanks but I will pass .
FYI I was camping in the Great Smoky Mountains and a fellow camper had a solo stove. He was not permitted to use it in the park. Fires were only allowed in the fire pits.
Thanks a lot for this fair review. I was very curious about the radiation heat because I would use it mostly for warmth. And was thinking about the speed of burning which was likely faster. Thanks to your video I have the answer's to my questions. For now I'll still choose for the standard campfire and cleaning the place up afterwards to leave no trace. Greetings!
@@ivinskiwi384 buy heavy mesh metal screening at lowes and a metal drain pan of the same diameter. Bend the screening to the same diameter of the solo stove so that it sits on top of the stove. Use metal ties to keep the screening together then place the drain pan on top of the screening. You now have a heater that allows the heat to move outward instead of upward
For the size of that you could save money by using an old washing machine drum. Lots of people use them at the campground we go to. Some have them on legs, some on legs with wheels, and even mounted on old lawnmower decks.
Save money upfront maybe. These are made out of stainless steel. the thin wall steel washing machine tubs break down quickly in the heat. I do a lot of burning and they just don't last.
Great review, very perceptive. We just bought a Solo Stove Yukon (their biggest one) for back yard use and find it great for that purpose, though it is perhaps rather too large. The main thing for me in that application is to have very little smoke so we can sit around the fire without having to move around to get out of the smoke. I think the smaller units like the Bonfire reviewed here may be more effective at secondary combustion. It also looks very nice in the yard -- the stainless steel acquires a sort of bronze sheen on the first use, which looks even better. Combustion is excellent, and I'm honestly not sure it uses any more wood than an open fire of the same size. The convex dome shape of the inner grating takes some getting used to -- wood will tend to roll off to the edges when you want it in the center. But with a little care this can be managed.
Thanks, great review! I just ordered a Bonfire from three friend recommendations. Looking forward to "smokeless" fires with the family. Hey, I like your jacket in the video!
Thanks Jason been waiting for this review. You covered everything I was wondering about. Yes no trace is good in our woods wish everyone would try there best it would make the woods cleaner. I like having a fire every morning just to get the bones moving and the ambiance while fixing breakfast and packing up.
I don't have a problem with having the moring fire the day of. Especially for just the packing and breakfast fires, the sidewall does not get that hot. You can even touch them near the bottom. You can see from his in the coloration caused by heat. That being said I just dig small hole dump the remaining coals and douse them with water. The bonfire pit is ready to pack in 30mins. Of course, I put it in the back of the truck and not the caring bag they come with.
We have been investigating the possibility of the Solo Stove. Aside from other "features",.... no handles .Thanks for your review, we have made a decision. PS. We are in So Oregon.
Unfortunately, I've seen two Solo firepits that were rusting. The first owner admitted he sometimes poured water on the fire to put it our. The second said he never did. Both Solo's were over a year old and had many uses. The killer for us was it took up too much space when stored for travel, burned wood too quickly for just the two of us, and you can't easily pick the Solo up to move to a better place. We purchased the BioLite Firepit two years ago and have easily had 250 fires, and it's traveled 23,000 miles down the road without making a mess or falling apart.
As an old Alaskan living in the desert I can tell you that the Solo Stove fits a niche in your outdoor activity. The best function of the Solo is to get people (especially families) out of the house and into the back yard and away from the TV. Okay, so it isn't a big heater, but it does put out some radiant heat. It does bring forth cheer and conversation. It is not smokeless; it is semi-smokeless. Common sense dictates utilizing smaller pieces of dry firewood that will burn hot and not smolder. The Solo is a good firepit for basic operations as long as you realize no wood burning appliance is perfect.
When I first heard about these a couple of years ago I thought they were way too expensive for me. Don't get me wrong, they look fantastic. But me being the cheapy that I am, I thought I could make something a lot cheaper. I got an old drier drum and placed 4 concrete blocks underneath it and lit a fire in it. I will admit, it is a bit flimsy and probably won't last as long as this stove, but it belts heat out from all around and cost me absolutely nothing. Once the embers are built up, the flame swooshes around in a firey vortex and then exits the top. Most of the smoke is burned away by the vortex. I built it 2 years ago and have used it about a dozen times. It has been outside exposed to the elements for all that time since. As a result it is quite rusty. But for zero Pounds/Dollars, it's a really massive plus. I can just go down the scrap yard and get another one for pennies. Great product though Solo Stove......
If it works as nice as the cook stove it’s well worth it. Whether I’m car camping or backpacking my solo cook stove goes with me. Efficient burning leaves no coal only a powdery ash.
I was very curious about that sized solo. Thank you for the review, it was very helpful, I am getting an itch to get one for our patio in the late spring through early fall. Party on Wayne.
I had thought about the tiny version of this type of burn barrel, but the loss of radiant heat wasn't to my liking and as you so rightly expressed, the air holes accelerate the wood burn. Nice to see an objective, reasoned review which addresses issues that potential buyers may not have been aware of. That is the mark of a genuine review!
Thanks for the great review and pointing out a few things that I hadn’t realized. I was actually thinking about getting one after a friend used one at an American Adventurists outing. I’ll stick with my BioLite fire pit when I need a fire like that!
Hey, Jason. Great review, thank you! I've been on the fence for months about buying the Solo Stove Bonfire. Your review has convinced me to buy it. Cheers, and stay safe.
Comment: Props, for the best review that I've seen on how it works in a camping environment. Question: How does it work for storage, space, weight, packing to and packing up from camps? Would you like something that collapses more?
I read almost every post.. and man has it devolved over the year....Thanks bruh... I always find your videos straight to the point..in gorgeous locales .......in reading the comments and after watching your very useful review.. I went with the ss grill. It is heavier but probably puts out as much if not more radiant heat compared to this fireplace and is a superior cooking tool.. I will let you guys know how it turns out. Btw.. if your thing is to be a chemical-free forest ninja.. I can value that... there are worse aspirations. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. Excellent Review. By the way...I'm using this on a "small" outdoor slab with seating for 4 and a grill off my lanai in FL. Mostly for ambience, light and marshmallows :-). So the fact that it does not radiate heat to keep surrounds warm is actually an advantage for us and a reason to have this stove vs. others. Keeping warm is not an issue here vs. keeping "cool".
I remember leaving a comment in one of your videos couple years back when I got mine. I agree with your pros and cons for sure. I love mine and have tried it in winter and your right, you have to be very close to it to get any kind of significant heat. Great review
I don’t own Bonfire but use 3 of the smaller solo’s for camping and back packing. Their perfect. However, for heat inside tent and outside I like My G-Stove when truck camping.
Hey Jason, an interesting review for sure. My wife and I purchased the smaller Solostove, The Ranger and we couldn't be more happy with it. True, it doesn't radiate heat from the outer metal like a burn barrel does. This is because of the design of the stove and how it's double wall draws air up through it to facilitate a proper secondary burn at the top. but touch it and it will burn you promptly. Having said that, because of it's design and how it burns it does produce a very heavy radiant heat signature from the top of the fire pit and it has kept us and our camp guests toasty warm throughout the nights activities with temps of around 57 degrees. Also, due to it's design and how it burns it produces almost no smoke and has, even in heavier winds a well protected fire allowing you to sit as close as you can stand. And when this stove is being fed good, dry wood, preferably a harder wood the burn reminds me of an afterburner on a strike fighter, quite impressive. Overall we are very pleased with this stove, it leaves a no trace camp but still allows a good campfire, gives us the heat and ambience of a campfire with no smoke.
I purchased the Ranger and the Yukon after sitting with a Bonfire at my last camping trip. I'm very impressed with the design and tbh I was skeptical about the marketing ever since I heard about it at least a year ago. I'm an eagle scout, I love the out doors. What I dont enjoy about bonfires is the smoke in the eyes, and smelling like smoke when it's time to turn in. Solostove is the best firepit IMO. They just came out with a screen, and I literally just purchased it for the Ranger because I live in a heavily wooded area. I dont want to be that guy that burned down the neighborhood. lol.
@@tyson9419 It’s called a contraction. It’s the result of combining two words into a single word, like [it and is] and [it and has] (it’s) or should and have (should’ve) or can and not (can’t). The word its, with no apostrophe, should be used at times when saying “it is” or “it has” wouldn’t (would not) be appropriate. Example: It’s raining outside. (It is) It’s been raining outside. (It has) The cat lost its toy. (its = ownership)
I know I’m getting old when my knees start hurting because of your kneeling position.
..hehe..me too...
😂
What about when that ship sailed 20 years ago..
Honesty, good and bad of product, “Priceless” in today’s world! Appreciated much!
You are not alone
For those complaining about the lack of radiant heat and smoke (for bugs) just pop the top ring off. It’ll throw pretty wide instead of directing an intense draft up. We’ve sat around this thing countless winter nights, temps down to single digits and most of the time people are stripping off layers. Just wear warm boots. Great review by the way!!
Your winter comment...is that with the top ring on or off? Thanks...
Just use an old washing machine drum that has holes in the sides lol😂👍🏾
@@hepzlawrence7710 I want a fire. I don't want to wash my clothes when I'm camping.
Could probably block the holes around the bottom too or instead
@@steveking8548 can do both if you want, wash your underwear then dry it over the fire in the same washing drum😄👍🏾😂
I've had the same stove for over 3 years and I agree with you on a few things. Certainly there's less radiant heat off the sides there's no doubt about that. May be remedied by throwing some Stones around it. Ones that are large enough that they don't impede the air holes. I would have to disagree though about weather it burns wood faster. In my experience my fires last much longer with this stove or fire pit. The secondary burn of the smoke really goes a long way in extending the range of the fire. I have how to fire going of modest size and to my surprise came out 3 hours later and it was still going. Where most fires smolder this one continues to feed it oxygen which requires very little stirring or mid fire maintenance. With regards to cooling the stove off simply emptying out the coals well lead to a rather fast cooling of the stove because it is such a thin Steel. This is done safely by simply taking a couple sticks putting them in the holes and flipping it over. Obviously this will leave a bit of a Trace but in my opinion there's nothing wrong with a few ashes on the ground. Having left my stove outside in rain or shine for 3 years I can say that it's held up well with some minor surface rust but still performs like it did on the first date. The design is perfect, the only thing it needs is some accessories so that you can use it as a grill
I have a giant iron grate and put this on sidewalk pavers on my wood deck, next to the house. Waited for it to snow. I was worried about damage to my deck, but the iron grate I stood it on never even got hot. I concur that it burns everything down to ash, and doesn't smoke. It doesn't even put out many sparks, although I put a giant clamshell screen (fits the grate) over it, just in case.
I don't think that piling rocks around it would do all that much. I could see hanging some TEGs off it to generate some electricity, though. High temperature differential between the body and the ambient air, but not hot enough to melt anything.
Harry Mills can u post a list of products of TEG’s or how to. Sounds like a good option for electricity for camping. thxs.
I just ordered my first camping stove 🔥🏹🏕🏹🔥. I’m beyond excited, especially after reading 📖your comment and seeing his video📹about this stove🔥⛺️🔥. I can’t wait to bring my son out and try this out!
If it has a "secondary burn" of the smoke, would that not mean it's burning faster? A more efficient fire is a faster burning fire.
@@BobPapadopoulos It means that what would normally smolder and create smoke is actually burned instead of wasted. If a fire is smoking thats wasted energy
Its nice to hear that someone cares after camping. Thank you Sir.
Good overall review! My wife and I were at our friend's house last night who have the larger Yukon model. It generated plenty of radiant heat. I had to move my chair back from it. We were impressed with the Solo Stove!
Thank you on doing such a wonderful, genuine review of this product. I feel much better informed than before.
I bought one for Ian!
A couple of years ago I took advantage of a 2 for 1 sale by Solo Stove and purchased two of their Solo Stove Titan stoves. I've stashed one in my truck for emergencies and used the other one occasionally on camping trips. I have to say that the Titan makes very efficient use of wood, and I've been able to boil two quarts and more on just a few handfuls of small wood pieces. But I can see that the Bonfire model would have its negatives as you pointed out. The Titan model is designed to cook on, while the Bonfire model seems to be marketed as a "campfire replacement" which exposes the problems you mentioned. Great review! One positive about Solo Stoves that I can confirm: they are very, very well made and very durable products.
Just what I was looking for, no radiant heat was a big concern of mine.
If you get a good base of hot coals and a good balance of wood, the flames will be rolling out of the holes and it does radiate heat. Don't get your wood above the holes though. We love ours. You still have the rolling flames, but no smoke.
I own the Bonfire (as well as the Lite and the Campfire). Every time I use it, I have zero regrets about buying it. It is a fantastic accessory to the home or RV campsite.
As far as heat from the sides, get the heat deflector. It is well worth the cost and distributes the heat out instead of up. I don't use the deflector with the legs, instead I place it on the grill and griddle stand. That provides a much more stable surface and allows room to insert more wood underneath it.
One thing I learned about the griddle though, you gotta wait until the fire burns down because that sucker gets HOT. (I've never seen bacon char so fast in my life! 😳)
All in all, my Solos have been wonderful investments.
I love the heat! I have a grate that is on a post that I can raise and lower or even swing out of the way!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful!
You covered every point I was concerned about. Thank You
Nothing beats a plain ol washtub from your old washing machine. I’ve had mine for 20 years and it’s still going strong. Radiates heat incredibly
Ole ways are best.
I have a stove oven that's scrap, and planning to take off what need be, and try that!
Totally different concept here.
@@jimsjacob totally concur! That stove we’re looking at is ridiculously overpriced…
No radiant heat = no deal. Thanks for the info & review!
For radiant heat from this set up I would place a disc of metal about 2 to 4 feet above the top. As the heat rises into the disc it will deflect outwards.
John Nash - what exactly is a “disk of metal”?
@@jammin6816 a garbage can lid or satellite dish
I've had one for a while and used it many times in temps below 40 and even below 30 a few times. It generates plenty of heat for me and the people with me. The upside is you don't spend all night avoiding smoke. I also don't see that it eats wood much more quickly than a "regular" fire. Now if you keep packing it full, it'll roar, get really hot and eat wood like mad, but you can feed it like a normal fire and it works well.
@@echo6echo419 thanks for the info
I purchased a stainless front loading washer tub for $15 for a local appliance repair guy. It works great, keeps the campsite clean, has smoke (which I like) and puts off radiant heat. Best thing is that it keeps the sparks contained which is always a plus with kiddos, pets and flammable brush. I also use it for ice fishing and spring 3D archery events to keep my group warm.
Excellent and thorough review. Thank you!
I have owned and used the bonfire for about 2 years now and love it. Best piece of kit I have bought. It puts out plenty of heat for a winter camp and has almost no smoke. The flames look like they are dancing on the top from the secondary burn. Coals glow red hot after a couple of hrs. There is almost no ash left in the morning as the heat burns the logs completely. The stainless steel does discolour a bit leaving a nice patina on the metal which adds to the character. I highly recommend it. It is good for about 4-5 people to sit around. If you have more then you probably need to go for the bigger Yukon model.
This comment makes me feel better about my purchase of the "Bonfire". I'm eagerly awaiting it's arrival!
We have the Yukon and love it!
I have the Bonfire model, and love it also.
@@MyClutteredGaragehow did you find it?
@@canada5691does it give out plenty of heat?
You can have something on top to reflect the heat your way.
I have the same stove, and I have the same complaint. It is not very good for keeping warm. It does make a nice looking fire. Is also good for cooking over when camping.
I found if I dig mine down about 4" or so the radiant heat is fine. To test this just try standing on a couple bricks. Or if you are a sitter place your chair on a few and see if your legs stay warm. It fixed the issue for me.
This. Think Solo missed on marketing. What this is great for is cooking over with a grate that you can adjust height of. Smokeless is huge plus if your standing over the fire for lots of BBQ tending.
Its a wood gasifier. Also, sometimes you want some smoke to help keep the bugs away.
I've been using one of these for a couple of years. I feel that it actually does radiate a good amount of heat when it's cold. I sit by it down to the upper 30's anyway.
I bought a Flame Genie for 1/2 the price. We use it on the patio and it works good.I burn pellets.
Thank you for the honest review. The ad showed up in my Instagram feed and I really wanted to buy one. I’m glad I watched this and will now think about whether to buy it or not weighing in on the pros and cons. Thanks again. 🔥🤙🏽
Bought this for the back deck, and we've been happy with the heat output for sitting out and having a drink with friends, socially distanced. I hope it will get us thru the winter of our Covid discontent
Please talk about your thoughts after the winter use
I have been eyeing one of these for the last two months. Very timely and excellent review Sir!
Thanks for your review Jason. I own the backpack version and have had my eye on this firepit version since you first showed it. Been waiting for this follow up review :-)
Seems like the high walls would take away some of the enjoyment sitting around the fire
Thanks for the review finally someone who answered all the concerns i had
Thanks for the review. I like that you gave the pros and cons. Great job and thank you for sharing.
Great review! Okay, so it puts out less heat laterally where you can feel it, uses more wood and is close to smokeless. It is the perfect suburban toy!
Great info. I can see how that would benefit me when out camping plus concentrating your flame to boil for a shower.
I have had one for years and use it often. I even load it up for camping. I'll always have one, just might by the largest one also. My backyard fire pit has not been used in years. Im removing it and setting it up for my bonfire this year. Make a nice raised brick pad over in old pit.
You’re knocking these reviews out of the park, thank you for the info and the awesome videos!
One of the most honest review's I have seen. I have it and like it, but we are cold sitting around it. Wish I would have known that
Damn, that view is amazing behind you.
Great explanation of the pros and cons of the Solo Stove Bonfire. Thanks!
I just want to know where you are filming this, because it is picture perfect!
My thinking too! The framing is beautiful with the winding River going off into the distance. Well done 👍
Great vid, easy to watch, straight to the point, very informative!
I don't comment a lot but I got mine and it's AWESOME. Fire burned a good long time before I had to add wood and the radiant heat was perfect for my linking. Cleaning was super easy. I got the kit which had the spark arrestor and lid on top which was great. I found starting the wood you could see a little smoke but after initial start it was barely detectable. Love the portability and being able to have a great fire in my backyard which has limited space.
I’m not gonna read all the comments being this is three years ago, but doing a review check of the solo stove the new heat deflection cover works fabulous!
Thanks for the review. It isn’t something I would use, but interesting to learn more about this option.
I got a smaller ranger size. I am doing backyard early evening burns. It is easy to start. It has good air flow, minimal smoke once started. There is a soft flame that will burn anything you put into it. Beautiful coals that burn down to almost nothing. I dump it out in the morning and store in a dry place. Not cheap but worth the money IMO.
They need a domed top piece for it to disperse heat. I can also see this thing come in sections. Fire pit, griddle/grill, smoker and with the wide domed top to catch an disperse heat.
This product could also be used to heat a tent or structure that has a roof vent.
great review thank you. I love the fact of smokeless (to a point) for out in the garden & not smoking out us or the neighbours! But the fact it doesnt radiate heat on the sides, it feels like it doesnt give me what I need & youve saved me an expensive purchase that would have disappointed.
This is truly a product that has performed beyond my expectations. It puts out a lot of heat and the smoke is almost completely eliminated and I'm not careful about what I burn in it either. Junk wood. Wood that's too wet. Old wood. New wood. This thing is a beast. I liked it so well that I tore the guts out of my gas fire pit and stuck the middle sized solo stove in there. It puts out far more heat than the gas fire pit.
He said is doesn’t put out enough heat and it just rises
@@2121Jroc we own the Yukon model and it puts out plenty of heat!
@@cherylhall4605 what about the smell of burning wood?
@@2121Jroche's chatting sh*t
Great review. You answered all my question about it. Greetings from Germany!
How is it working in the colder weather? One of the things I enjoy about a campfire is the heat!
watch the video
Thanks so much for the review. I was looking at this for the whole purpose of providing heat. Knowledge is power
I own one of these, my experience is exactly the same as yours. Biggest downside is the design that gives you that controlled, smokeless burn also concentrates the heat straight up. You end up sitting a lot closer to it than you would a regular fire pit on a crisp fall night. It does throw out heat laterally, just less than you'd expect for a fire that size. But I love how you never have to move because the wind shifts and the fire starts blowing the smoke right at you. I also love how attractive the fire looks when it is running - it just routinely produces a very pretty fire once it gets going. The flame jets once the secondary burn starts are just really cool looking. This thing kind of runs more like a wood stove than a fire pit, which is basically what it is. It is big, heavy, bulky, and expensive. But for car camping or backyard fires at home, particularly if it isn't freezing cold out, yeah it has its place. I also think that it is a good way to reduce the risk of forest fires - it isn't something you can use in a no burn area, but the fire is extremely well contained and controlled if you keep the wood below the rim.
Maybe the thing needs buried about in your yard with enough area around it to suck air in that would give you more radiant heat like make a brick Circle in the ground 8 in deep 6 inch larger on each side with brick to give you more radiant heat .
@@rs2143 You need air going to the bottom of it, too, for it to burn correctly.
how to get rid of the ashes. it doesn’t come apart. do you have to dump it over?
@@beverlylawrence1157 Yes. Turn it over and shake it, you get most of the ashes out that way and it doesn't have to be perfect. Dump the ashes in your garden or lawn but spread them around, because they are kind of like fertilizer as they decompose and too much in one spot can be bad. But it is good for your plants in low doses.
@@trustbuster23this appears to be true for earlier Solo Stoves made around the early 2020s where the grating doesn't seem to be removable to clean out the ash below. The Yukon is heavy and takes effort to move around. I have to roll it around and then I use a blower to get it as clean as possible. Its a mess, but I dont know of another way, unless I cut out and create a hinged dump hatch in bottom bit id rather lift off the entire grating.
An excellent review! Especially appreciated your comments about rate of burn, ambient heat and time to shut down. Sounds like it’s good for ambiance and “leave no trace” but not much more.
Nice backyard! I love that setting! Can’t wait to get my van back in a few days. Itching to get out. Thanks for the great videos
Thank you for your review.
When I saw you kneeling beside it without moving back, I thought,”It doesn’t give off much heat.”
Can you cook over it?
Steaks, on a grill you might have on hand?
What does it weigh?
Does it have any kind of
handle?
What are the dimensions?
Does it come with a lid to keep rain out?
Thank you 😊.
Great review, I love mine! Wouldn't leave home without it.
Good to know
Since we got our Ranger, we bring it everywhere we camp as well as use it at home.
Great review. You answered all of my questions and concerns in your video. Thank you.
Awesome review! I bet some kind of hat / lid / roof thingy that could redirect the heat would also add more radiative heating for humans.
I use the lid from my Weber kettle to cover mine with to prevent it from getting water damage, I also leave the vent open and allow it to completely burn, you can snuff it out if you close the damper on the lid of the Weber kettle top
Saw several reviews and this is one of the most accurate ones- really helpful! I am opting not to get one as much as I wanted to want it.. the reason is bc this review was very accurate with both the pros as well as the cons
And a 22 inch kettle grill cooking grate fits over the top perfectly for grilling.
Great review. I was concerned about how much radiant heat this thing gave off. It looks like it's not much and because of that I think I'll have to pass.
Thanks I have considered fire pits but so far have not been able to pull the trigger. I admire your environmental point of view. We are of one mind. Keep up the good work. Regards =Cosmo
Great video as always. I think you just verified my original thoughts i had about this with it being designed to be more of a big stove like its smaller counterparts than something to use as an actual side radiating source of heat.
Best video I have seen about the Solo stoves. Thanks.
I have the Ranger version of this one. I do have to chop the wood down to fit entirely into the pit. I think it puts out plenty of heat once you get a good base of coals going, and i love watching the little jets of flame that shoot out from the ring of holes on the inside, completely mesmerizing :)
I agree. The trick is getting a good base of coals and balancing your wood as you load it.
There aren’t legs on it for a reason. Set it on the ground. The size of holes restrict burn speed and allow a slower airflow once the stove is hot. Hence: longer burn time, slower draft, more heat staying inside the unit = even less smoke.
Yeah, double wall = no radiant heat = deal breaker for me. I think segmented double wall or vertical air tubes with exposed inner wall between could possibly give the best of both worlds, but that would make the cost significantly higher.
I believe they do a heat deflector now
Yes, they make a heat deflector to channel the heat outward. We have the Yukon model and it puts out plenty of heat to keep us warm on cool nights, and we don’t have a heat deflector.
I have a super expensive stove that burns wood super quickly, takes days to cool down, you can't see the flame unless you standing above it and has little to no radiant heat! I'm sold!
Wow . Thanks for the review . I've been on the fence about getting this fire pit even though it's on sale because I have to convert CDN to USD which makes it kind of pricey . That would be great on a deck just being able to have a fire , Now that you mentioned that you don't get much heat from the sides . Not gonna stand up to get some warmth . You saved me a bundle of money . Thanks but I will pass .
FYI I was camping in the Great Smoky Mountains and a fellow camper had a solo stove. He was not permitted to use it in the park. Fires were only allowed in the fire pits.
It's crazy...just two years ago I couldn't find a portable fire pit to save my life and now there are all sorts of options.
I’ve thought the same thing!
Thanks a lot for this fair review. I was very curious about the radiation heat because I would use it mostly for warmth. And was thinking about the speed of burning which was likely faster. Thanks to your video I have the answer's to my questions.
For now I'll still choose for the standard campfire and cleaning the place up afterwards to leave no trace. Greetings!
Great review. Thanks for the pros and cons. You hit on everything I was thinking about. I wish it had more radiant heat.
No or little radiant heat is a deal breaker for me.
Buy or make a heat shield so the heat radiates out and not up in the air. It works
@@paslayer how? Not all of have those skills so can you elaborate please?
@@ivinskiwi384 buy heavy mesh metal screening at lowes and a metal drain pan of the same diameter. Bend the screening to the same diameter of the solo stove so that it sits on top of the stove. Use metal ties to keep the screening together then place the drain pan on top of the screening. You now have a heater that allows the heat to move outward instead of upward
@@paslayer thanks so much for your time and great lesson 👍
For the size of that you could save money by using an old washing machine drum. Lots of people use them at the campground we go to. Some have them on legs, some on legs with wheels, and even mounted on old lawnmower decks.
Save money upfront maybe. These are made out of stainless steel. the thin wall steel washing machine tubs break down quickly in the heat. I do a lot of burning and they just don't last.
Great review, very perceptive. We just bought a Solo Stove Yukon (their biggest one) for back yard use and find it great for that purpose, though it is perhaps rather too large. The main thing for me in that application is to have very little smoke so we can sit around the fire without having to move around to get out of the smoke. I think the smaller units like the Bonfire reviewed here may be more effective at secondary combustion. It also looks very nice in the yard -- the stainless steel acquires a sort of bronze sheen on the first use, which looks even better. Combustion is excellent, and I'm honestly not sure it uses any more wood than an open fire of the same size. The convex dome shape of the inner grating takes some getting used to -- wood will tend to roll off to the edges when you want it in the center. But with a little care this can be managed.
How do you remove the ashes under the grating? I dont think my Yukon grating is removable? Bought in 2020...
Thanks, great review! I just ordered a Bonfire from three friend recommendations. Looking forward to "smokeless" fires with the family. Hey, I like your jacket in the video!
Thanks Jason been waiting for this review. You covered everything I was wondering about. Yes no trace is good in our woods wish everyone would try there best it would make the woods cleaner. I like having a fire every morning just to get the bones moving and the ambiance while fixing breakfast and packing up.
I don't have a problem with having the moring fire the day of. Especially for just the packing and breakfast fires, the sidewall does not get that hot. You can even touch them near the bottom. You can see from his in the coloration caused by heat. That being said I just dig small hole dump the remaining coals and douse them with water. The bonfire pit is ready to pack in 30mins. Of course, I put it in the back of the truck and not the caring bag they come with.
Jay Swan
That’s sweet, a bag that cares.
Caring bags are so thoughtful.
I prefer to use my carrying bag, though.
Great review not like the other reviews that I saw. I got all I need to know on this review. Thank you.
We have been investigating the possibility of the Solo Stove. Aside from other "features",.... no handles .Thanks for your review, we have made a decision.
PS. We are in So Oregon.
Good point on not having handles.
Super helpful review. Also brought up points i didn't think of. Appreciate the help
Unfortunately, I've seen two Solo firepits that were rusting. The first owner admitted he sometimes poured water on the fire to put it our. The second said he never did. Both Solo's were over a year old and had many uses.
The killer for us was it took up too much space when stored for travel, burned wood too quickly for just the two of us, and you can't easily pick the Solo up to move to a better place.
We purchased the BioLite Firepit two years ago and have easily had 250 fires, and it's traveled 23,000 miles down the road without making a mess or falling apart.
K k MMI MJ akNL
As an old Alaskan living in the desert I can tell you that the Solo Stove fits a niche in your outdoor activity. The best function of the Solo is to get people (especially families) out of the house and into the back yard and away from the TV. Okay, so it isn't a big heater, but it does put out some radiant heat. It does bring forth cheer and conversation. It is not smokeless; it is semi-smokeless. Common sense dictates utilizing smaller pieces of dry firewood that will burn hot and not smolder. The Solo is a good firepit for basic operations as long as you realize no wood burning appliance is perfect.
Jason good product review Thanks for your honesty this is one reason I watch your videos ! Keep them coming Brother !
When I first heard about these a couple of years ago I thought they were way too expensive for me. Don't get me wrong, they look fantastic. But me being the cheapy that I am, I thought I could make something a lot cheaper.
I got an old drier drum and placed 4 concrete blocks underneath it and lit a fire in it. I will admit, it is a bit flimsy and probably won't last as long as this stove, but it belts heat out from all around and cost me absolutely nothing.
Once the embers are built up, the flame swooshes around in a firey vortex and then exits the top. Most of the smoke is burned away by the vortex.
I built it 2 years ago and have used it about a dozen times. It has been outside exposed to the elements for all that time since. As a result it is quite rusty. But for zero Pounds/Dollars, it's a really massive plus. I can just go down the scrap yard and get another one for pennies.
Great product though Solo Stove......
I can see would be good for windy condition, but normally how am I going to stare into the fire and hot coals? I like to see the wood burning.
Seems great for home use, Ill have to pass on using it for camping, since it cant be put dead out with water right away. Thanks for all the info.
Great review from someone not associated with the company.
If it works as nice as the cook stove it’s well worth it. Whether I’m car camping or backpacking my solo cook stove goes with me. Efficient burning leaves no coal only a powdery ash.
I was very curious about that sized solo. Thank you for the review, it was very helpful, I am getting an itch to get one for our patio in the late spring through early fall. Party on Wayne.
An inverted cone reflector should give you the radiated heat you are looking for.
I had thought about the tiny version of this type of burn barrel, but the loss of radiant heat wasn't to my liking and as you so rightly expressed, the air holes accelerate the wood burn.
Nice to see an objective, reasoned review which addresses issues that potential buyers may not have been aware of. That is the mark of a genuine review!
Thanks for the review, I had my concerns as well about the radiant heat. Nice spot!!
Thanks for the great review and pointing out a few things that I hadn’t realized. I was actually thinking about getting one after a friend used one at an American Adventurists outing. I’ll stick with my BioLite fire pit when I need a fire like that!
Hey, Jason. Great review, thank you! I've been on the fence for months about buying the Solo Stove Bonfire. Your review has convinced me to buy it. Cheers, and stay safe.
Comment: Props, for the best review that I've seen on how it works in a camping environment.
Question: How does it work for storage, space, weight, packing to and packing up from camps? Would you like something that collapses more?
I read almost every post.. and man has it devolved over the year....Thanks bruh... I always find your videos straight to the point..in gorgeous locales .......in reading the comments and after watching your very useful review.. I went with the ss grill. It is heavier but probably puts out as much if not more radiant heat compared to this fireplace and is a superior cooking tool..
I will let you guys know how it turns out.
Btw.. if your thing is to be a chemical-free forest ninja.. I can value that... there are worse aspirations.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you. Excellent Review. By the way...I'm using this on a "small" outdoor slab with seating for 4 and a grill off my lanai in FL. Mostly for ambience, light and marshmallows :-). So the fact that it does not radiate heat to keep surrounds warm is actually an advantage for us and a reason to have this stove vs. others. Keeping warm is not an issue here vs. keeping "cool".
Thanks for the objective review, on the fence about getting one…
I remember leaving a comment in one of your videos couple years back when I got mine. I agree with your pros and cons for sure. I love mine and have tried it in winter and your right, you have to be very close to it to get any kind of significant heat. Great review
That Hiking Guy
Your right
Your left
Your middle
Your top
Your bottom
Your dictionary
I don’t own Bonfire but use 3 of the smaller solo’s for camping and back packing. Their perfect. However, for heat inside tent and outside I like My G-Stove when truck camping.
Thanks Jason. It's definatly something to consider. It's like a big rocket stove. A grill on top would be great for Q'ing.
Great review thanks, I was wondering about the heating efficiency and you covered that well
Hey Jason, an interesting review for sure. My wife and I purchased the smaller Solostove, The Ranger and we couldn't be more happy with it. True, it doesn't radiate heat from the outer metal like a burn barrel does. This is because of the design of the stove and how it's double wall draws air up through it to facilitate a proper secondary burn at the top. but touch it and it will burn you promptly. Having said that, because of it's design and how it burns it does produce a very heavy radiant heat signature from the top of the fire pit and it has kept us and our camp guests toasty warm throughout the nights activities with temps of around 57 degrees. Also, due to it's design and how it burns it produces almost no smoke and has, even in heavier winds a well protected fire allowing you to sit as close as you can stand. And when this stove is being fed good, dry wood, preferably a harder wood the burn reminds me of an afterburner on a strike fighter, quite impressive. Overall we are very pleased with this stove, it leaves a no trace camp but still allows a good campfire, gives us the heat and ambience of a campfire with no smoke.
I purchased the Ranger and the Yukon after sitting with a Bonfire at my last camping trip. I'm very impressed with the design and tbh I was skeptical about the marketing ever since I heard about it at least a year ago. I'm an eagle scout, I love the out doors. What I dont enjoy about bonfires is the smoke in the eyes, and smelling like smoke when it's time to turn in. Solostove is the best firepit IMO. They just came out with a screen, and I literally just purchased it for the Ranger because I live in a heavily wooded area. I dont want to be that guy that burned down the neighborhood. lol.
extremeskydiver1
Try using the word “its” with no apostrophe for all those times when you DON’T mean to say “it is” or “it has”.
@@allemander whuh?
@@tyson9419
It’s called a contraction.
It’s the result of combining two words into a single word, like [it and is] and [it and has] (it’s) or should and have (should’ve) or can and not (can’t).
The word its, with no apostrophe, should be used at times when saying “it is” or “it has” wouldn’t (would not) be appropriate.
Example:
It’s raining outside. (It is)
It’s been raining outside. (It has)
The cat lost its toy. (its = ownership)
Excellent review, with a lot of useful information. We just got ours and are anxious to set it up and use it. Thanks.