Solo Stove Bonfire Review & Test

The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is a game-changer for anyone who loves spending time outdoors around a cozy fire. Where it really shines is in the backyard or in the driveway. Nothing beats hanging around a campfire in the evenings, especially with good friends. There are two specific features that make the Solo Stove Bonfire stand out: the patented design and portability. The patented design helps make for a smokeless experience. As for portability, this product is made for easy transport. You can move it from the backyard, your vehicle, or storage and toss it in the driveway at a moment’s notice! With a good fire starter you can have a fire going before you can break out the s’mores and cocktails.

Do you need this expensive fire pit? You might not need it, but once you have one, you will appreciate it. The Bonfire 2.0 is roughly 20″ in diameter and 15″ tall and can hide in the corner of your garage pretty easily. Factor in the size and the good looks, and at the end of the evening, you won’t smell 100% like a campfire; it seems like a pretty good deal. Heck, it is even small enough to toss in the trunk and take to a friend’s house.

Where can I buy the Solo Stove? Solo Stoves can be purchased from various places, including the Solo Stove website, Amazon, and other local retailers. The Bonfire 2.0 starts at $249.00, depending on the accessories you want.

Smokeless Fire Pits

Solo claims that their fire pits are smokeless, and this is true once the fire gets going. The holes in the fire pit are designed specifically to utilize the airflow. Additional information on this feature is explained below. But that is not the only factor here. You need GOOD WOOD! Bark and wet wood is not going to cut it. In our opinion, the types of wood best suited for any fire and this stove are: untreated scrap lumber, dead wood that has lost its bark, or logs that have been split and the bark removed. Below is how the Solo Stove technology works.

1. Double-walled Design. Air is pulled in through holes around the base of the stove and pushed back out through holes around the inner rim.
2. Secondary Burn. As air is pulled in, it’s heated up by the flames and the stove’s walls. The superheated air then moves up and out of the upper vent holes, creating a secondary burn that burns off smoke.

Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Accessories

Enhance your fire pit experience with the ever-growing selection of premium Solo Stove fire pit accessories. From fire pit covers to table extensions, cookware, and cooktops, they have just about everything. You can check out their full selection of accessories, but here are four of our favorites. Shop all Solo Stove accessories.

Solo Stove Stand

The bonfire stand gives you the power to use your fire pit on most heat-sensitive surfaces. Use the stand to enjoy your fire pit on your deck, grass, and other turf. We have not tried this on a deck, but any questions should be directed to Solo Stove.

Fire Pit Surround

Protect wandering hands and wagging tails with Surround, a 360° protective barrier that provides peace of mind so you can focus on having a good time. When cool (not in use), Surround also works as a great table.

Solo Stove Lid

The Bonfires lid provides all-purpose utility to your fire pit. Contain leftover ash and embers as an overnight safeguard or convert your fire pit to a modern tabletop. Best paired with the Surround.

Solo Stove Cover

The essential accessory designed to protect not only the fire pit but anything around it. The Shelter isn’t just for looks – it’s weather resilient, keeping elements where they belong: outside your fire pit.

The Solo Stove Bonfire is portable if you have room

Looking at the stove’s portability is a big deal, since that’s one of its big claims to fame. The stove weighs 20 pounds and comes with a carrying bag that slips over it, which works quite well but it still can take up a lot of room. Overall it is pretty portable and the bag made it easier to handle without getting dirty. That said, it is bulky (the stove measures 20 x 20 x 16 inches), and I wouldn’t want to walk very far to a camp site with it, but it’s portable enough to bring to a campsite or a friend’s backyard (or to just haul out of the garage when the weather is nice).

When we talk about using the Solo Stove at a campsite, the real issue is not getting it to the site, most of the time that distance is shorter than taking it from the garage to the backyard. The reall issue is getting it in you car with tents, sleeping bags, stoves, portable power, and coolers. Oh, and don’t forget the kids and the dog. At this point, you are going to need to be hauling a trailer.

Cooking on the Solo Stove

Sure, it can be really fun cooking over the Solo Stove Bonfire and maybe even a way to impress your friends, but if I am at home, I use a charcoal grill or a smoker, something where I can control the temperatures. I also don’t want to be bent over cooking. And if I am at a campground or out in the woods, chances are I will not be traveling with a fire ring. I just don’t have the space in the back of my Jeep. Sure, on their website, it looks great in the photos, seeing the Solo Stove with the mountains in the background, but how much gear can you actually put in an SUV or truck?

What the Solo Stove is really good for is cooking hotdogs and s’mores. Let’s face it: 90% or more of the people buying a solo stove product are using it in their backyard, making s’mores and sipping on their favorite bourbon or beer.

Cleaning the Solo Stove

When finished using the stove, let the fire pit cool down overnight (Solo recommends waiting between two to four hours to disassemble). You will need to dispose of the ashes (MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT HOT) in either the yard or a trash can. Once the ashes are dumped, you can hit it with a leaf blower to get out some of the stubborn ones or even rinse it out. Just make sure to wipe it down or dry it.

Can a Solo Stove be used on a deck?

You can safely use the Solo Stove on a deck if you use it with the stand, which elevates it from the deck’s surface. We also used the Solo Stove Bonfire (plus stand) on a stone patio with success.

Solo Stove Bonfire Tips

• Wait until it’s completely cool before cleaning it; this can take two to four hours. If you have a late-night fire, it’s also okay to let it cool overnight.
• Solo recommends using sand to snuff out a fire; they don’t suggest water, as it can deform the metal and cause it to rust.
• Solo Stoves come with a carrying/storing bag. We recommend storing it somewhere where it won’t be exposed to water for a prolonged period, though if some rain gets on it, it will be fine.
• Hardwood and kiln-dried firewood are totally fine to burn in the Solo Stove. Just don’t over-fill it or it’ll get really hot and you’ll have more of a mess to clean at the end. The brand does not recommend using charcoal briquettes.