OT Solo Stove fire pit

Lit

Anyone here have one? Been looking at them since last fall but haven’t pulled the trigger since I already have a Weber fire pit. The idea of an almost smokeless fire pit is really nice. I’ve been eyeing the bonfire model and by eyeing i mean it’s in my cart. 

bubbajack

I have been thinking about buying one myself.....

kl8ton

Not sure what the return policy is but I see they are on Amazon Prime. 

You can use it for a few nights and if you don't like.... they will take it back.  Zero risk.  

Lit

kl8ton said:

Not sure what the return policy is but I see they are on Amazon Prime. 

You can use it for a few nights and if you don't like.... they will take it back.  Zero risk.  

It’s like $50 cheaper on their site and they sent me a $10 code also so it’s like $244. I think I’m gonna get it but then I have to get the stand and an ash screen so it’s gonna be like $400 range. Their website says free returns for 30 days. I showed wifey and she said if it shows up it shows up so that’s covered.

kl8ton

I really like the idea of being able to have guests sit around the firepit... all 360 degrees of it without worrying of smoke.  Even if you have a great clean burning fire with seasoned hardwood... you still get smoke when adding more fuel. 

onpoint456

I just bought one, it arrived last week. Had our first burn in it this past weekend. I was quite impressed with the amount of heat it put out and lack of smoke.

The Mrs. was skeptical of the price but after using it she is a believer.

Lit

onpoint456 said:

I just bought one, it arrived last week. Had our first burn in it this past weekend. I was quite impressed with the amount of heat it put out and lack of smoke.

The Mrs. was skeptical of the price but after using it she is a believer.

That’s the bonfire?

caliking

I’ve been thinking about getting one as well. REI sells them, and the price dips a bit every now and then. May be a good buy when REI has their big annual sale in May or some time in the spring. 

Lit

caliking said:

I’ve been thinking about getting one as well. REI sells them, and the price dips a bit every now and then. May be a good buy when REI has their big annual sale in May or some time in the spring. 

Thanks for the heads up. Gonna swing by and check it out. Worried the bonfire at 20” diameter isn’t big enough for full splits. 

HeavyG

Interesting review of one. He has a different opinion regarding the radiant heat issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b5RpEQj1x8

Phatchris

I have a solostove and while it works as advertised, I feel like you have to be very close to the pit for any radiant heat. Also I should’ve opted for the bigger Yukon as the with the Bonfire regular size splits of wood are a tight squeeze... There is also another fire pit that has sear plates that looks cool called Breeo.

JethroBodeen

Whoo weee! For that price I'm using my wash machine drum until I cant find one that's not plastic. I'll deal with the smoke...

hoosier_egger

I've been eyeballing them too. I've been seeing ads on social media where they appear to be blowing them out

alaskanassasin

Watching a fire is half the fun

dgordon2nc

I have one and absolutely love it! I feel like it throws plenty of heat. Sometimes almost too much. I love how I don’t smell like smoke after. The portability is also nice when you need it. 

lkapigian

I like my $78.00 pit

JohnInCarolina

What is it about the design that limits the smoke?

JohnInCarolina

HeavyG said:

Interesting review of one. He has a different opinion regarding the radiant heat issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b5RpEQj1x8

Just watched this - very helpful!

WeberWho

$400 seems expensive for a firepit but I'd own that before spending $400 on a BGE chiminea. 

milesvdustin

I have an 85 dollar chiminea I can spray paint it green 

FlyOverCountry

milesvdustin said:

I have an 85 dollar chiminea I can spray paint it green 

Don paint if it’s blue!  I been lookin for one.

kjs

I've been watching the "what are you buying now" thread. So it seems like there are plenty people here with a lot of disposable income. I need one of those people with money to spend, to pony up for this, and give me a review.

https://thechimneybox.com/collections/frontpage/products/chimney-box

HeavyG

JohnInCarolina said:

HeavyG said:

Interesting review of one. He has a different opinion regarding the radiant heat issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b5RpEQj1x8

Just watched this - very helpful!

It operates on the same principle as the Karubecue - letting any smoke travel thru fire to finish burning up the nasties.

dgordon2nc

I don’t have the science background to adequately explain why no smoke. In my uneducated brain I would like to think that it burns so hot and efficient that there isn’t any smoke once it gets rolling.  There’s probably some physics involved such as double walled insulation and the holes in the top and bottom and now it exchanges heat but then it starts to sound like I’m taking out my @ss. 

all I know is that there really isn’t a lot of smoke 

fishlessman

my fire pit is 6x8 feet made of simple cinder blocks, its probably 30 years or older.  what is this little toy im sorry, that is not a bonfire, its a big candle

TEXASBGE2018

So it’s a $400 metal can where the only real benefit is no smoke?

caliking

TEXASBGE2018 said:

So it’s a $400 metal can where the only real benefit is no smoke?

 The same can be said of some gassers

lkapigian

Legume

Did the price drop overnight on your pit @lkapigian?

lkapigian

Legume said:

Did the price drop overnight on your pit @lkapigian?

ha ha fat fingers

caliking

It's not like we have the weather for sitting around a fire pit much here in Houston, but we do enjoy sitting around a fire some nights.

 Bought a chiminea (not BGE)some  years ago and didn't use it much. The fire is somewhat enclosed, so not much fun to watch, and it didn't seem to give off much heat either. Bought another open fire pit, and although it was more satisfying in terms watching the fire,  it didn't seem to give off much heat either, unless you say close to it. Maybe we needed bigger fires?

So there seem to be 2 reasons to buy a fire pit - the visual/entertainment aspect of it, and a somewhat functional heat providing aspect. The Solo satisfies the first - it looks cool! May not be much of an issue if it doesn't provide much heat, as that is secondary, for us at least.

I did consider buying a broken washing machine on Craigslist, and tearing out the SS tub for a fire pit. Probably less than $50 with beers and labor extra. Figured it wasn't worth the effort and figuring out how to dispose of the wrecked washer after I was done. 

One thing that has kept me from buying the Solo fire pit is that it sits on the ground, and I'm not sure what that would do to the pool deck or patio stone.