5 Best Portable Firepits (original) (raw)
The Very Best Portable Firepits
One of the best parts of spending time outdoors is ending the day by relaxing around a campfire. If you’re allowed to safely start a fire, using a portable firepit is both a fun and efficient way to enjoy a fire in nature. (Make sure to check for burn bans in your area by visiting your local park’s or state’s website — these rules will most likely be posted at camp if you’re at a campsite.)In addition to heat and ambiance, it provides entertainment and a way to cook.
Firepit technology has become more advanced in the past decade. Now you can find pits that are smokeless, meaning that they have airflow features that keep the fire burning cleanly, while others are also Bluetooth-enabled and come with grill tops. All of the firepits we’ve included in this article are portable, which means that the fire — and everything you burn — is contained within the structure, and you can pick up and carry the firepit once you’re finished. To find the best portable firepits, we spoke to outdoor-gear experts and writers to get their picks for the models they take camping and use at home. Plus, we’ve tested almost all of these models ourselves. Whether you’re looking for a simple backyard firepit to roast marshmallows or one to take on your annual camping trip, there’s a pit for you.
Updated on July 10, 2025:
Added new testing information about the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 and a new premium pick that’s also great for cooking. Checked prices and stock for all other picks.
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Most portable firepits are wood-burning, and building a fire in them is similar to how you’d build one in a fire ring at a campsite: You use tinder, kindling, and fuel, such as larger logs (some wood-burning models can also be fueled with wood pellets). Other models use gas, which usually requires a hookup to a propane tank or other gas source. The benefit of gas-powered firepits is that they’re extremely easy to start — you just turn it on like you would a gas-powered grill. Tiny, tabletop-size firepits will use isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, which you can pick up at the drug store, to create a small flame.
All of these firepits are designed to be used in a variety of outdoor scenarios, from the patio to a picnic. I’ve noted their weights and specific features that make them easier to carry and move around, like grab handles, foldable legs, and carrying cases.
Smoke is caused when particles of the fuel source, such as bits of wood, don’t burn all the way and are carried into the air by the flame. A “smokeless” firepit sounds like an oxymoron, but some wood-burning models are designed to provide air to the base of the flame, which makes it burn efficiently and cleanly, resulting in fewer particles being carried by the flame, and therefore less smoke. I’ve noted each wood-burning model’s ability to provide airflow below: low (little or no airflow features); medium (some airflow features); and high (efficient airflow features). Gas-powered or isopropyl-alcohol fueled models will have a “high” smoke control rating since they naturally won’t create smoke.
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Fuel source: Wood or pellets | Portability: 23.3 lbs; optional cover, optional handle | Smoke control: High
The stainless-steel Bonfire 2.0 with the bundled standis the firepit that we’d recommend to most people. It burns efficiently, is easy to use, and looks just as good as a backyard centerpiece as it does at camp. It looks like a simple steel can —which it is — but it’s built with a series of holes that provide airflow to the bottom of the flame. The result is an efficient fire with minimal smoke. Adding the stand not only improves air flow but also keeps the bottom out of the dirt and puts the fire at a nicer height.Outdoor-gear writer Jakob Schiller likes his Bonfire 2.0 because it gives him peace of mind when building fires in nature. “It contains the fire, so you’re not as worried about the fire spreading to the ground, and helps it breathe,” he says.
I’ve had one in my backyard for three summers, and it’s developed an attractive patina. I love how easy it is to light: Just a bit of newspaper and cardboard is enough to get logs burning without much kindling. While I like how much less smoke it produces than a typical firepit, the logs do burn quicker than you’d expect. (This isn’t a problem for me in Vermont, but might be disappointing in areas where firewood is more expensive.) After three years of use, the Bonfire 2.0 still feels sturdy and the exterior is unscathed but for a few small dents accumulated from moving or cleaning it. However, the bottom is starting to show signs of corrosion, despite my efforts to cover it when not in use. (I suspect this may be due to the fact that I didn’t buy the stand with my original purchase.) You can buy additional accessories from Solo Stove, like a pellet adapter, or heat deflector, among others.—Michael Zhao
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Fuel source: Wood or pellets | Portability: 31 lbs; grab handle; optional carrying case | Smoke control: High
The Breeo Y-Series is a worthy upgrade for people who mostly plan to use their firepits at home or while tailgating. At 31 pounds, it’s nearly 50 percent heavier than the Solo Stove Bonfire, but the Y-Series is much nicer to use once the fire is lit. It’s a smokeless firepit but has fewer holes than the Bonfire, which means logs last a bit longer before dissolving into ash. I also appreciate its built-in legs, thicker steel construction, and superior heat distribution (no heat deflector required). It also happens to be made in the USA.
I tested the Y-Series in several locations over the span of several weekends earlier in the summer and love how easy it is to use and clean. The built-in handle helps by allowing you to simply tip out the ashes, even if the unit is still slightly warm.The thick stainless-steel sides are exceptionally sturdy-feeling — it’s hard to imagine this ever denting — and also do a better job of retaining and radiating heat than their thinner competitors.
I also appreciate that the extendable legs stow for transportation and can extend to a shorter height for vibes, and a higher one for ergonomic grilling, using the Outpost grill add-on. The add-on is just as sturdy as the Y-Series itself and plugs right into a socket on the side of the pit. From there, it can be raised, lowered, and rotated to adjust temperature — much like the grills you find built into firepits at some campgrounds. Its 19-inch diameter looks small but easily fits six large burger patties with room to spare. I like the novelty of cooking over a wood fire, but if you prefer a more controlled burn, the Y-Series is designed to work with pellets and lump charcoal without requiring an additional adapter plate. —M.Z.
The Breeo Y-Series integrates well with the Outpost Grill add-on, which easily fits six burgers at the same time with room to spare.Photo: Michael Zhao
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Fuel source: Wood or pellets | Portability: 8 lbs; collapsible structure, carrying bag | Smoke control: Medium
If you’re looking for a less bulky firepit, consider this pop-up pit from Fireside Outdoor. It weighs just eight pounds, making it the lightest model on this list (besides the smaller, tabletop-size FLIKR below). I’ve been using the Pop-Up for the past three years and found that its design provides ample airflow to the flame. You rest logs on top of a stainless-steel mesh sheet, which allows air to flow beneath it, up into the base of the fire. Other than the mesh sheet, it doesn’t have any other features that help control smoke; it burns like a normal campfire. I also like how its aluminum walls kept the fire contained — I don’t have to worry about loose ash or bits of charred wood escaping the pit. It collapses into a two-foot-long carrying bag, like a tent. (Because of its slim shape, I keep it stashed in my trunk in case I need to bust it out during a car-camping trip.) —Jeremy Rellosa
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Fuel source: Wood or pellets | Portability: 19.8 lbs; Cover/carrying bag, foldable legs, two carrying handles | Smoke control: High
The BioLite FirePit+ uses the same “smokeless” technology that the Solo Stove does, but takes it up a notch: it has a rechargeable, USB-compatible, battery-powered fan that feeds the flame with air through a network of tubes that surround the burn chamber (like a central air system) to create an ultraclean, smoke-free fire. Strategist contributor James Lynch gave it two thumbs up: “I spent many years as a Boy Scout and a few as a backpacking and canoeing guide, bending over to blow on smoldering twigs, working hard to get the logs to catch, huffing and puffing until I was light-headed. You don’t need to do any of that with the FirePit,” he writes, noting how the fan helps you start — and keep — the fire going. “Other than finding your grandpa or a nearby Eagle Scout, I don’t think I’ve seen anything that makes building and maintaining a fire easier.”
Because of its ease of use (and the help from the fan), it’s the firepit we recommend for camping: It makes starting fires a breeze (which I find especially welcome after a long day of being outside), it comes with a grate to roast or cook food on top of it, like a hibachi grill, and its two large handles make it easy to carry from your car to wherever you’re setting up. Outdoor writer Ebony Roberts says there’s a slight learning curve to mastering the airflow (which you can control with your phone via a Bluetooth connection to the fan), but she likes its overall design. “The mesh paneling on the sides becomes nearly transparent as the fire burns hot, so you get a nice view of the dancing flames,” she says.
One downside of the BioLite is that it’s almost too efficient at burning fuel. After a few months of testing, I found that I was burning through logs fast — even on the fan’s lowest setting. Schiller agrees: “You burn through a lot of wood, but you never really have to worry about not having a solid fire,” he says. And at 10 inches, its burn chamber is shallow, so you mostly have to burn logs horizontally. —J.R.
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Fuel source: Propane | Portability: 11 lbs; cover/carrying bag, foldable legs, carrying handle | Smoke control: High
Outdoor-gear reviewer Graham Averill has tested many different firepits including the Solo Stove and BioLite models, but the Ignik FireCan is his current favorite because of its efficiency. It’s gas-powered, so you only have to hook up a propane tank to get your fire started — no need to find kindling or fuss with fire starters. That also means there will be zero smoke since no wood is being burned. “It’s small, puts out enough heat to keep you warm, and is safe to use even if there’s a fire ban,” Averill says. “I use it for tailgating in the fall and winter, like after a day of skiing. It takes aprés ski up a notch, for sure.” Averill also likes how easy it is to load into the back of his truck. It has the look of a retro steel ammunition can but with grates that allow the flame to poke through. The brand also sells rocks that can be added to the can to create a more natural-looking flame, although the rocks are purely aesthetic. —J.R.
• Graham Averill, outdoor-gear writer
• James Lynch, Strategist contributor
• Ebony Roberts, freelance outdoors writer
• Jakob Schiller, Outside magazine gear columnist
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