As an RVer, a fire pit is an essential centerpiece to any campsite or RV park. However, when you are moving from one campground, park, or festival to another, it is difficult to bring around a heavy metal fire pit. Whether you need it to cook your food or you just want heat while stargazing, a portable fire pit is the best thing to have.
The best portable fire pit that you can purchase on the market are BioLite Firepit, Bond Manufacturing Portable Fire Pit, Camp Chef Redwood, UCO Flatpack, Solo Stove Bonefire Fire Pit, Radiate Portable Fire Pit, and Fireside Outdoor Pop-up.
BioLite Firepit: Best Portable Fire Pit
When you are having trouble finding a more feature-rich portable fire pit, make sure that you consider BioLite Firepit. It has a battery pack that you can see on the side, which powers a four-speed fan. It can pump air through 51 jets, which helps quicken the burn and cut down on smoke it releases.
It also doesn’t pop easily off the fire pit’s body, so you don’t need to worry about lugging the entire firepit into your rig and plop it down near an outlet when it needs a boost. Another feature that is helpful with the BioLite Firepit is the USB output, where you can charge your devices. It can provide a full dose of juice to your dying phone in a little over an hour.
When it comes to the fan, you need to be a bit careful. When you add a medium-sized log to the fire, it is best to leave the fan on the lower setting since the blasting air would whip the flame around, making it more difficult to add a new log. This fire pit also is not susceptible to blowing out in windy conditions, even if it’s a blustery day.
The BioLite Firepit also has a removable grill grate which makes the cleaning process easy. With this fire pit, you can easily spark a fire in less than 30 seconds, so you can get your cooking done quickly. You either burn charcoal or wood while using this firepit.
As I’ve mentioned above, the BioLite Firepit comes with a USB output where you can charge your devices. The rechargeable battery comes with a 10,400 mAh. With this battery capacity, you don’t have to worry about running out of battery on your devices.
You can also enjoy the feeling of a 360-degree floating fire with the X-ray mesh, and the fire can burn up to 24 hours. The BioLite Firepit can be utilized as a smokeless grill, an outdoor firepit, or cooking your BBQ needs, making it the best firepit for you to bring along in your RV during your on-the-road adventures.
Another great feature of this firepit is you can connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth so that you can control the fan intensity. All you need to do is install the BioLite Energy App for free, and it is available on both Android and iOS devices.
The only downside to the BioLite Firepit is it tends to have a constant high whine when the fan is placed in the highest setting, which can get annoying over time.
The BioLite Firepit is available on Amazon for $265.92.
Bond Manufacturing Portable Fire Pit: Best Gas Option
Bond Manufacturing Portable Fire Pit is the best way to go when searching for a gas-powered portable fire pit. It has nearly 1,300 five-star ratings from Amazon shoppers who have purchased and loved the fire pit. It’s not only functional but also provides a stylish look.
This fire pit has a steel frame that weighs less than 20 pounds, and it comes with a lid, fire stones, a tank holder, a gas hose, and a regulator. It provides a powerful 54,000 BTU heat output for your functional outdoor heating needs. Enjoy beautiful dancing flames with glowing pumice stones with the Bond Manufacturing Portable Fire Pit.
With the Bond Manufacturing Portable Fire Pit, there’s no need to assemble it, and it is also fully portable. You can easily bring this fire pit along with you in your rig. It comes with an easy-to-carry lock handle and auto-ignition function that is great for instant use, anytime, anywhere.
Now, unlike the BioLite Firepit, the Bond Manufacturing Portable Fire Pit only function as a fire pit, and you are not able to cook on it. It also doesn’t come with the propane tank, so you would have to buy this separately. The propane tank that it’s compatible with is a 20-pound tank.
The Bond Manufacturing Portable Fire Pit is available on Amazon
in both steel and bronze style. The price of this fire pit is $171.01.
Camp Chef Redwood: The Simple Fire Pit You Need
Camp Chef Redwood is another fire pit that uses gas, which is great not only to keep you warm on your campsite but also great for cooking your meals. With this fire pit, it can provide an output of 55,000 BTU easily, and it also provides an easy setup process.
Now, instead of getting a fire started and tending to it, with the Camp Chef Redwood, all you have to do is hook up the propane tank, open the valve, and turn the dial. It lacks that experiential fun of lighting your own fire, but sometimes you just need to have a direct heat going, especially during the cold days.
The number one thing that you have to pay attention to with this type of fire pit is the location of your propane tank. You don’t want it too close to the flame, but you need to have a hose that is long enough for the peace of mind distance between the two.
Camp Chef Redwood comes with a steel support ring in which to nest the tank where it held the propane upright on the slightly slanting pavement. Lugging around a tank may limit this fire pit’s portability, but it does make it better for camping and bringing it along in your RV.
Let’s be real; when it comes to dry wood, it’s not always available wherever you are setting up. So, having a fire pit that relies on gas is the best way to go so that you don’t have to worry about the hassle of bringing along dry wood or charcoal.
The Camp Chef Redwood can stay lit in the lowest setting even though there are light gusts of wind. However, if it’s too windy, it might not stay lit because it has a low rim, and there isn’t much guarding the flame. Also, the fire pit may not emit smoke, but it does bring out a faint odor of propane whenever there’s a downwind.
When purchasing this fire pit, it comes with a complete kit such as a carry bag, pre-attached five feet hose, fully adjustable heat-control knob, four extendable roasting sticks, and natural lava rock set designed to enhance the flickering effect. With Camp Chef Redwood, you can overcome campfire bans since this fire pit will be allowed in campsites or parks where there are fire ban restrictions.
Camp Chef Redwood is made with durable materials such as heavy-gauge steel construction and nickel-coated steel safety rings. It has a fully adjustable flame-control dial which helps keep the flame the right size whenever you want to roast marshmallows or when cooking hotdogs.
The Camp Chef Redwood is available on Amazon for $175.00.
UCO Flatpack: Easiest to Use
The UCO Flatpack is one of the easiest portable fire pits to use in the market. It has a beautiful canvas carrying case that could pass for a laptop. When it is packed down, it’s slim and can be easy to store. Now, this fire pit can be small, but it is sturdy, thanks to the legs it has.
You also need to keep in mind that since the stainless steel body is thin, it can only support about ten pounds of wood or charcoal. It also means that the fire demands more attention when you light it with small wood because you can’t heap large logs onto the fire pit.
With the UCO Flatpack, the load sits fairly off the ground for the pit’s size. This means that you need to keep the fire pit flat on even surfaces. The fire pit includes a grill gate which makes a great platform whenever you want to cook food such as hot dogs or burgers on your campsite.
This fire pit is easy to set up, and when it is time to clean, it is dishwasher-safe. If you don’t have a dishwasher in your rig, handwashing it is still an easy process.
The UCO Flatpack is available in two sizes: a mini (9 x 6.75 inches) and a regular (13 x 10 inches). When the fire pit is folded, it is only 1.5 inches thick and can easily fit into a backpack. The regular size fire has a grilling area that is great for up to six servings, while the mini-sized one can serve up to three servings.
You can safely contain the fire and will keep the fire off the ground when using this fire pit. The UCO Flatpack is made from durable stainless steel so that it is rust and corrosion-resistant. The setup is pretty simple, and it is a quick 30-second setup, then you are ready to go.
The sides of the grill serve as a wind-break so that the fire would keep on going even on windy days. The best thing about this fire pit is it is one of the best sellers ranks on Amazon and landed on top 42.
Aside from big logs not fitting into the fire pit, another downside is that they can produce a surprising amount of smoke, which can be annoying when you want to relax or while you are cooking.
You can get the UCO Flatpack Portable Stainless Steel Grill and Fire Pit on Amazon for $39.99.
Solo Stove Bonfire Pit with Stand: Best Splurge
If you have the money to splurge, the Solo Stove Bonfire Pit is the best way to go. It may not be cheap, but it has a unique design that delivers an incredibly hot flame. However, it does minimize the smoke, which makes the experience more enjoyable.
The unique thing about this fire pit is it pushes the limits of the combustion airflow efficiency, and the minimalist outdoor design is made with stainless steel. Even though you are on the road, you can have the backyard experience that you have always wanted with this fire pit.
There are holes on the fire pit that are strategically placed at the double-wall structure so that it can draw in air from the bottom and feed the heated oxygen on the top. With this feature, it can result in a secondary burn. You can also expect efficient burns with the Solo Stove Bonfire Pit.
With this fire pit, it burns with almost no smoke, so you will spend less time dodging the smoke, which will allow you more time to enjoy the fire and spend quality time with your loved ones. It also means that you don’t have to deal with more half-burnt logs.
The Solo Stove Bonfire Pit also comes with an ash pan which catches all loose ash and prevents the fire pit from clogging the vital airflow that it needs. The pan also reacts as a heat shield and reduces the heat transfer from the fire pit to the ground underneath it.
Aside from the pan, it also has a stand so that you can get the most from your Solo Stove Bonfire Pit. The stand helps provide ample airflow, which will allow you to place the fire pit on more heat-sensitive surfaces. Any type of firewood would burn, but for the best efficiency, it is best to use dry hardwoods.
The best hardwoods to use are birch, maple, hickory, and oak since they will burn longer than softwoods. There is also no setup required when it comes to this fire pit because all you need to do is flip the ring, and you are ready to enjoy the fire with your friends and family.
The Solo Stove Bonfire Pit also comes with a free carry case so that you can store it properly in your rig. Unlike the fire pits that are mentioned above, you don’t need gas or propane to get this running. Aside from that, this fire pit is easy to clean, so you don’t have to worry about using it every day.
The only downside to this pit is that it comes with a hefty price, so it may not be the best option if you don’t have money to spare. Also, as mentioned above, when using softwood can burn through the wood faster than other fire pits that are listed in this article.
You can find the Solo Stove Bonfire Pit on Amazon for $349.
Radiate Portable Fire Pit: Best Disposable
If you are looking for a fire pit that’s disposable, the Radiate Portable Fire Pit is the best way to go. You can compare this to a big, fat-scented candle, which smells great. Since it is placed on a tin, it doesn’t extend above the wax, and it doesn’t provide any wind protection. In this case, you may have a hard time starting the fire in a steady breeze.
However, once you have burned some of the wax down, it will be a bit easier to light up the fire pit and with slightly more of a barrier against blowing out when it’s windy. To save you the trouble, you can also use one of the paper briquettes to catch fire; the rest of them can catch quickly, which will result in a nice steady flame.
Unlike the fire pits that are listed here, the field of heat is pretty small with the Radiate Portable Fire Pit due to its size. It also has a lack of wind protections which is more susceptible to shifting from one direction to another. Since it is a disposable fire pit, it can come in handy and can be used a couple of times.
The Radiate Portable Fire Pit is great for those RVers that don’t want to commit to owning a permanent fire pit model or have limited storage in their RV or van. Also, tamping fire out is easy; all you need to do is throw on the lid on top and step on it until the flame dies down.
It can provide heat for three hours or more. With the Radiate Portable Fire Pit, you don’t need to wait around for the coals to burn down for safe storage. You also don’t need to worry about washing your fire pit since cleaning this is pretty simple.
You can find the Radiate Portable Fire Pit on Amazon for $104.12 for four packs, $47.09 for two packs, and $35.75 for one pack.
Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up: Best for Big Fires
If you want a fire pit that will provide big fires, the Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up is the best option for you. When it is packed down, it can be folded in a size of a camp chair. However, when you bust it, it can provide you with a nice big blaze on the four-square-foot platform.
It has a stainless steel mesh surface that can hold up to 125 pounds of logs, and the 3.5-inch walls struck a nice balance of protecting fire from gusts of winds. Also, the mesh promotes airflow, which can cut down on smoke. Since the top is completely open, tending to the fire and adding more logs can be simple.
What’s not so simple is the setting up part of the fire pit. The legs that are folded are easy enough, but then you would need to rig up a heat shield on the bottom to the Velcro straps. Once that’s done, you would need to drop the four walls individually onto the stanchions and then slide the mesh on.
Now, that’s a lot to keep in mind and keep track of, but the Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up is great when you want to post up by a roaring campfire for a couple of hours. You can even grill up different types of food on the optional tri-fold grate.
The best thing about this fire pit is it offers a simplistic but rugged design. You don’t need to worry about fasteners or bolts to lose as well as tools that you need to use during the setup process. This fire pit provides a clean burn technology that produces captivating flames as well as substantial heat output.
You can enjoy your campfire with less than 80 percent of smoke with the Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up fire pit. You can purchase this fire pit on Amazon for $69.95.
Factors to Look Out for When Purchasing a Fire Pit
Before going out to the market and purchasing a fire pit for your adventure on the road, there are different factors that you need to consider. You need to make sure that your fire pit meets all these factors so that you can enjoy the fire outside your rig during a cold night.
The Size of Your Fire Pit
Different fire pits come in a variety of designs, from tables to traditional circular styles. Whenever you are choosing the design of your fire pit, you need to consider the size of your outdoor space as well as the size of your RV. You need to ensure that you are able to put it away easily.
You also need to consider how you are going to use it, such as cooking or a simple heat on a cold night. When you are looking to use the fire pit to entertain guests, larger styles and tables would be the best way to go. However, for camping trips and smaller spaces, portable fire pit designs that are easy to move and store are the best moves.
The Burn Type of Your Fire Pit
The fire pit’s burn type will be wood-burning or propane, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Wood-burning fire pits, you would need to have a supply of dry wood in handy, and you will need to deal with soot and ash once you’re done using the fire pit.
With wood-burning, they will give you the traditional look and feel of a crackling fire. However, when it comes to safety concerns, wood-burning is better than propane.
On the other hand, with propane, you will need to be mindful of gas lines and fill the propane tank. They also have a cleaner burn and are much easier to clean since they don’t produce as much ash and soot.
Other Features that You Need to Look Out For
Now, additional features come with fire pits, such as additional accessories that can elevate your fire pit experience. Additional features are great to consider since it includes spark screens, fire pokers, and/or grates. However, the majority of the accessories can be bought separately, and having them included with the fire pit is better since you can enjoy your fire pit sooner.
Safety Screen Included With the Fire Pit
The spark screen will prevent any sparks from breaching the fire pit and burning people, pets, or the surrounding area. The sparks can also land on surrounding debris that includes clothing or dry leave, which can lead to igniting a fire. In addition to that, the fire screen can prevent different types of fire hazards and make sure that you have a safe fire environment.
Cooking Accessories
When you love to cook often using your fire pit, you should go for the ones that have cooking tools included, such as cooking grates, poker, roasting sticks, and so much more.
Covers Are Included With the Fire Pit
Now, if you are concerned about the durability of your fire pit, make sure to consider buying ones that come with a storage cover. When you want to have the convenience to transport your fire pit, getting ones that include carrying bags is the best way to go.
You can always buy different types of covers separately, but if you find one that offers quality performance, durability, and affordability, just go for it without bothering about the free covers.
Easy Maintenance Process
When you are not having comfort and convenience while you are using a fire pit, there is a high possibility that you are not able to enjoy the fire ambiance. It is best to consider the options that will offer you both convenience as well as comfort no matter how efficient your fire pit is or how long it is going to last.
Make sure always to check the maintenance instructions and pick the easiest process for you. Flexibility and easy maintenance can help you save a lot of work, time, and mental pressure.
