This heated oxygen mixes with the smoke and is burned again in a process called secondary combustion. With Member’s Mark Smokeless Wood-Burning Fire Pit you can spend time outdoors without leaving a gathering smelling like a campfire. Our tester loved the Solo Stove Ranger smokeless fire pit for how easy it was to use and clean. The fire pit pulls in oxygen from the bottom vents and generates extra heat over the top of the fire to keep the smoke at bay without using fans. We noted that it didn’t create as much radiant heat as expected, given how hot the surface became. But the design ensured that the fire used all the logs inside.
Corten steel will form a beautiful patina over time and offers a more rustic look than stainless steel. Some fire pits are made with carbon steel and may be painted with high-temperature paint. The paint may need to be touched up after the fire pit is used for a while, so be prepared for a little extra maintenance if you select one of these models.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and rose park coffee table Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks. An optional snuffer lid helps protect the inside of the pit from the elements when not in use. You can also purchase a cover and a grill rack with adjustable height control so you can vary the temperature if you plan to cook on this fire pit frequently.
If one of your goals when shopping for the best smokeless fire pits is to find a model that doubles as a portable grill, you’ll likely want to buy a charcoal fire pit. Sold with a grill grate that sits on top of the fire pit, this unit will add both style and function, whether you want to cook on it or just sit back and enjoy the fire. The fire pit burns wood and charcoal alike; simply place the included charcoal grate in the bottom of the fire pit and burn your favorite type of charcoal instead. At 13 inches in diameter, this fire pit is extremely lightweight and portable, but larger sizes are also available that accommodate standard wood logs and heat a larger area. We also like that the fire pit is compatible with wood pellets and petroleum gas alike, so you can use whichever fuel source you have on hand.
Its 19-inch-diameter grill grate fits right over the top of the fire pit. The grate is designed to work with this structure, unlike some options that have universal rather than custom accessories. The BioLite is also on the smaller side and best for camping rather than as a permanent fire pit at your home.
It dulls to a natural patina after a couple of months which many people prefer over the inky black. While all fire pits generate heat, some tend to create more than others. Ordinary pits, which are also the cheapest, can put out a good amount of heat. Smokeless fire pits do reach higher temperatures since they’re designed to foster a high degree of airflow as they burn.
Once the kindling is lit it then catches the hardwood fuel on fire. Start with the smallest wood first and then move to the larger logs once you have a good fire going. The X Series also has an advanced airflow system designed to facilitate secondary fuel burn, similar to the smokeless fire pits from Solo Stove. It puts out plenty of heat as it burns away at full temperature, but the pit’s secondary burn releases hardly any smoke. The fire pit’s exterior is stainless steel, so it will stand up well against frequent use and exposure to the elements without any extra work on your part. It also comes with a carrying case if you want to take it with you on your travels.
If you need to recharge it, a simple USB connection cord does the trick. Here are the best smokeless fire pits to turn your regular backyard into an outdoor party. It starts fast, with its logs aflame in just 5 minutes, and it burns for hours. The fires we started in the Ranger also burned with incredible ferocity.