Smokeless? Mostly. Worth It? Definitely.

Nine years in one glance:

2017 Ranger. 2018 20" Bonfire. 2022 27" Yukon. 2023 Heat Deflector, added to both. Since then, the Yukon Surround.

I grew up camping as a kid and have always loved sitting by an outdoor fire with friends and family. I purchased my first Solo Stove (the Ranger) in 2017 and was blown away by the build quality, the portability, and the "smokeless" design. I updated to the 20" Bonfire model in 2018 and then the 27" Yukon model in 2022. I added the Solo Stove Heat Deflector to both my Bonfire and Yukon models in 2023. Needless to say, I am a big fan and am itching to move up to the recently released 30" Canyon model in the future.

I've had great success with all of my Solo Stove products and could not recommend them enough. Even Mrs. Questionable is a big believer, as these fire pits put off a ton of heat and truly burn near-smokeless once you have a good base of hot coals going. The added heat deflector is also strongly recommended for winter use, as it really pushes heat around the stove rather than letting it escape up. If you're in the market for an outdoor fire pit, there are certainly cheaper options (and more expensive), but you can be certain one you buy from Solo Stove will work and look great. They do occasionally run holiday and other sales, so sign up for their alerts — typically $50 savings is the most I've seen.

Nine years of Solo Stove tricks.

1. Keep it covered when not in use. You need to keep them generally dry — that means not letting rain fall directly into the stove. I buy round shatter-proof glass table tops off Amazon that fit perfectly over the Solo Stove, protecting it while doubling as an outdoor coffee table.
2. Buy the heat deflector, it's truly worth it. You can buy an aftermarket always-cool to touch handle on Amazon that fits the Solo Stove heat deflector for under $20.
3. The outside gets really hot. Keep shoes, tiny people, and clueless dogs away from touching it when hot. It’s also what makes the Surround worth the investment.
4. Wait for a major shopping holiday to buy. You can typically save $50 on the more expensive items.

The Yukon Surround.

Like Kevin Costner in Draft Day, if it's in regard to my outdoor fire pit setup, Solo Stove is my Vontae Mack. So when we expanded a flower bed off the side of the house to create a front patio space for the Yukon, the Solo Stove Surround was no longer a choice — it was an inevitability. Easy to assemble and looks great. It serves the dual purpose of adding a barrier to the hot metal outer walls of the stove (great for protecting Questionable wives, kids, pets, and neighbors), and it's also a great place for resting cups and small plates when enjoying the fire pit. Plus, the surround elevates the Solo Stove a couple inches off the ground, maximizing airflow. Not much more I can add — it's well-constructed, has weathered more than a few seasons outdoors, and still looks new.

The Mrs. Questionable Test.

A big believer. She'll tell you herself that these fire pits put off real heat and burn near-smokeless once the coals are hot.