I Tested Solo Stove’s Bonfire 2.0 Fire Pit—Here’s Why It’s a Backyard Entertaining Staple

An outdoor fire makes a statement, whether for warmth, cooking, or just setting a vibe. But unless you’re in a rural area or have very relaxed fire codes, open fires can be problematic — which is why we love a quality fire pit. One of the leading brands, Solo Stove, sent me their latest model to test and review. While there’s plenty to note about the product, suffice to say that the limited-time sale price is worth it.

The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is currently only $250 (originally $400) until tomorrow night9/30. I found that it gets to its ideal warmth and smokeless state in about 15 minutes and cools down quickly, so you’re not waiting all night to cover it or stow it away. It’s the mid-range size in Solo Stove’s fire pit category, so it's more maneuverable than the large Yukon but better for groups than the smaller Ranger. As colder weather approaches, these fire tools will only rise in demand, so this sale arrives right on time.

The Bonfire 2.0 is reasonably portable when packed up (if a little ungainly, you wouldn’t carry it long distances). The best benefit is the flexibility with locations: use it on grass, wood decks, patios, or sand with no concerns for the surface below. Read on for more about the first use of this smokeless fire pit.

The Setup 

While they run the gamut of designs from purely functional to more elaborate steel or iron pieces, most share two common shortcomings: sparks and smoke. Sparks present obvious safety risks, and smoke can irritate your eyes and lungs at its worst or just permeate your clothes at best. The new generation of fire pits, collectively called “smokeless,” seeks to minimize those two issues by burning cleaner and hotter. While no fire pit is truly smokeless, the new designs frequently employ a second burn on the smoke, igniting the unburnt particles that make it black and cloying, releasing cleaner, white smoke as a byproduct instead. 

We’ll dispense with the tedious details straight away; setup is a non-issue. It took me longer to extract the Bonfire 2.0 from its extremely form-fitting packaging than to get it ready to burn. Place the ash pan in the bottom of the Bonfire, place the base plate on top of that, then set the whole thing on the stand in a safe area. 

Igniting the Solo Stove

Burning is much more interesting, isn’t it? I started a small fire with some downed wood I found and a fire starter block. Since the wood was wet from recent rains, the smoke it produced was thick, black, and noxious. After establishing a bed of coals, I added some dry, cured wood, placed the flame ring on top of the Solo Stove, and sat back to watch it work. 

As the flames grew higher, I saw the secondary burn process start, drawing air from below that superheats as it traveled up the pit's walls, igniting the smoke as it left the top. A dancing ring of flame came out of the vent holes that evidenced the second burn, and the smoke (yes, there was smoke) that rose from the top was white and clean. We went from my neighbors coughing at my fire-starting efforts to clean smoke in about 15 minutes. The Bonfire 2.0 burns quickly, so keep a decent amount of fuel on hand - either cured wood or wood pellets (the pellet adapter is available for purchase separately). 

The Cleanup

After letting the fire burn out, I checked the exterior temperature after 30 minutes, and it was cool enough to the touch that I could pick it up and move it. On that note, the Solo Stove touts the Bonfire as portable. It is, but it’s somewhat awkward to carry in its natural state. It only weighs 23 pounds, but the circumference makes it unwieldy to carry for any distance. Some handles would improve that experience, but it does come with a cover/carrying bag that makes walking with it a more pleasant task. 

At the end of the fire experience, the wood burned almost entirely; only a few small, charred pieces remained in a clean, white ash pile. The ash pan made cleanup easy, just lift it out and empty it somewhere safe. In the interest of no lingering smells, I took a garden hose to the pit and components to rinse any remnants.

The Verdict

The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is a worthy addition to your backyard. I like the clean, stainless steel design and construction and how easy it is to assemble and get burning. The ease of cleanup is a pleasant extra, and at its on-sale price of just $250, I’d recommend it to anyone building an outdoor space or wanting a firepit to bring camping, picnicking, or hanging out at the beach or woods, provided they have enough trunk space.