Solo Stove BONFIRE vs. Traditional Firepit - Ease of Starting, Heat Radiation, Efficiency, and Smoke

In this video, I use my best (quasi) science to see if the Solo Stove Bonfire is worth the hefty price tag. I answer the questions you probably have and maybe more. At the end of the day, the question is - Is this firepit worth $300? Let's sift through the fancy Instagram videos and hype and see what this thing actually does.
Link to Buy: amzn.to/39NSPWC
Instagram: Downstater_ADV
#SOLOSTOVE #Firepit #Review
Thanks for watching. Don't forget to share the video if you enjoyed it.

[@downstateradv]

Link to buy: amzn.to/39NSPWC

[@davidchandler7863]

Hands down best solostove review yet. Well edited and hit all the important points 👍. Loved the comparison with a regular fire pit too.

[@GimpyCamper]

I've had two bonfires for a while now. Obviously, I like it because I bought a second one. I had a 2 year review that's been picking up traction that I made last spring, so I was just looking to see what else is out there. A lot of people complain that it doesn't radiate heat, but I don't get it. I mean I use it in the 40's fine, and even down into the 30s mostly comfortable. Good idea with the comparison video.

[@downstateradv]

Thanks gimpy. Appreciate it.

[@zx10rpower17]

I’m from Illinois and just got this solo stove. The first night using it, it was around 65°. As soon as the stove got going, we all had to back off. It put out so much heat that it felt like my face was melting lol. All 6 of us back away immediately. I don’t know if being from cold Chicago winters makes me sensitive to heat, but I can’t see how someone would complain about no heat radiating from this thing. I was impressed with this $300 “fire pit” tbh. I’m no hipster and really really enjoy big bonfires. If it weren’t for my wife, I would have never bought this “fancy” fire pit lol.

[@aceofhz8807]

This was a great comparison. Always wondered how these worked out and I definitely dig the benefits. I wouldn't have even thought about less smoke smell but as you said, that's very valuable. Keep it up!

[@daviddecleene9021]

Always appreciate the effort gone into making a video, but surely this must be a paid review. The 2 hands down benefits of the traditional fire pit over the Solo Stove are totally ignored here. First, the heat radiation goes straight up and not out with the sola stove. So the traditional fire pit is actually the winner of the heat radiation test. You can feel cold when sitting right next to the sola stove unless you stand right over it. That's why it's so intense standing over it because that's the single direction of all the heat. Also, you can't see the main show with the sola stove, being the burning wood like you can with the traditional fire pit. It's a toss up over what is more important: no smoke and the show being purely the flame versus heat to warm your entire body and seeing both the burning wood and the flame but being hit by the smoke. I've found that when burning the right firewood you can get a pretty smokeless traditional fire pit.

[@downstateradv]

Not paid at all actually. I'm an engineer by trade. I appreciate good design and try it before ya knock it is my advice. Tons of heat radiated.

[@theiphonejunkie]

Thank you for making this video - I really wondered how the Solo Stove compared in the real world to a ‘traditional’ fire pit.

[@NoNonsenseKnowHow]

Awesome and very thorough comparison video! Definitely seems to have many advantages over a standard fire pit, however I think I would probably try and build my own before spending $300. Even though it wouldn't be as good I'm sure. When I originally saw these things I saw a bunch of people complaining that they don't put off that much radiant heat. But from what you showed it seems to be the opposite.

[@downstateradv]

That's a fair point although I'd also probably argue that the materials alone plus your time would probably get you over that price point anyway. But as an avid DIY guy I'm with you on that. It is really nicely executed though and all CNCed and perfectly welded. It's just a nice product at the end of the day and does its job beautifully. That said, there's no doubt you could do your own.

[@NoNonsenseKnowHow]

@@downstateradv Don't get me wrong I'm sure mine would end up costing twice as much and look like hammered butt. But being able to say I made it myself would be priceless right? Lol

[@BS.-.-]

Those solo fire pits look nearly identical to a front load washer drum. There even stainless.

[@downstateradv]

Yeah the big difference though is the fact that there's a double wall which creates a convection chamber and allows for the reburning of the gases. It's very similar to how a modern wood stove works. That's really what you're paying for. It's why it makes almost no smoke.

[@NutmegThumper]

Right off the bat - wind major factor here. I like the camera POV you used because I like to see the wood and flames as opposed to watching a pot boil. Definitely more ambiance with a traditional pan.

[@downstateradv]

Thanks. Agreed on pan ambiance. Solo Still a winner though for many reasons.

[@mattvanlandingham8034]

A new $300 item vs a trash item is hardly a fair comparison of concept. Smokeless Fire Pits are designed to blast the heat straight up. If you're sitting, you will not get much heat and your feet will get none. Put your thermometer where your chest would be in a chair and where your feet would be.

[@ejmart01]

This is the main problem I see with these barrel pits. You wanna to be able to gather around a fire and feel the warmth and see the fire from the side.

[@teardropjourneys1485]

Thank you. Great video and very good comparison. Helped us a lot to make the right decision.

[@downstateradv]

Good to hear. Enjoy it.

[@raymondcasey9395]

Mine was just delivered but I haven’t set it up and used it yet. Your informative video has me very excited for my first fire!

[@downstateradv]

Glad it helped. Enjoy!

[@gregneff208]

Sitting around a $350 fire pit and you can't even see the beautiful logs burning 😔

[@PMart317]

So looking at the Solo too but if we have people over in the winter nights, isn't the traditional better because it radiants heat more out. Feel like you have to huddle around the Solo unfortunately...

[@TimpBizkit]

I think the solo stove would be nice embedded into a raised (non wooden) deck, with airflow below. Have a bit of the steel poking up through a circle cut in patio stones. That way you're above the fire and getting more heat.

[@Thecarlosperla]

The Cheap SOB comment got me!

[@TheHillrat4wd]

Yeah but people forget you don't get to see the burning embers or the base of the flame near as well with these modern fire pits plus most of your heat goes straight up you get more radiant heat with a traditional fire pit

[@daphoneguy934]

the solo extends our outdoor fire season into the summer as most of the heat goes directly up not to the side and zero towards your feet. its useless in the cold weather we just use a pit for the heat

[@JathanLane]

I hear it's a VERY different experience with heat deflector.

[@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

"A cheap you-know-what" lmao 😂 😂

[@jime6353]

Thanks for being so complete in your experiment. I’m sold! I’m gonna get one,

[@robertberres7939]

What a great video man! Can you feel the heat when you sit next to it? Some others videos said you dont really…

[@downstateradv]

Thanks Robert. Yes absolutely. There is definitely increased convective flow upwards which is probably why people say they don't feel as much heat but that just means you can stand a bit closer and not have smoke killing you like a normal firepit.

[@shannongregory2]

I love my solo stove. The accessories are expensive.

[@dietpepsi73]

The difference in smoke was considerable. I didn't see any off the Solo.

[@pioneer7777777]

This made me feel a lot better about my impulse buy last night :) Also got the heat deflector right off that bat as well - hopefully that proves it's worth as well! Have you had a chance to try out the heat deflector?

[@downstateradv]

Haha. You'll be happy. I have not. It's great as is. Very happy with the unit.

[@ZuitSuit]

Amazing review 😁 Great job!

[@jobart4274]

Great video. Very informative!

[@downstateradv]

Thanks jo!

[@LukeSimpson]

Have you had any issues with sparks flying out of the solo stove?

[@downstateradv]

No more than any standard fire pit

[@TimpBizkit]

Does the solo stove accumulate charcoal and end up suffocating the secondary burn with carbon dioxide? I have found that in many stoves without that much primary air - the small ones in particular, the charcoal builds up and then further sticks just smolder on the top. It then periodically needs blasting air underneath to burn up the charcoal and start afresh.

[@downstateradv]

No it burns very hot thanks to the air injection. Almost no ash afterwards. Whatever is in there is easily knocked out by flipping it upside down. Great piece.

[@dspille]

Great comparison!

[@downstateradv]

Thanks Dennis 👍

[@NicholasCordero]

Great vid thanks

[@jamielahugh8316]

Which one would have kept you warmer? Considering all the heat goes straight up on the solo. No radiant heat

[@downstateradv]

I mean you saw the radiance test, neither are amazing at radiating heat but if you keep the solo going strong, it radiates plenty.

[@jamielahugh8316]

@@downstateradv can you sit around it and have your legs and feet stay warm? Many other reviews say they are very cold in that area. Perhaps why they released a heat deflector for another $225. Seems steep to me!?!?

[@downstateradv]

No that's one area that would not be warmed by it. It's double wall down there. That's how the smokeless part works. A plus and a negative I suppose.

[@sally2395]

Dope vid

[@downstateradv]

Thanks!

[@wthomp148]

Can you place it directly on a wood deck?

[@downstateradv]

I'm not sure to be quite honest but I would be very careful doing that. I know they make a support for underneath that allows more air flow. Maybe check the manual on the website

[@Blix79]

You need the stand for the solo stove and can be used on a wood deck.

[@tiffanyhill4197]

Dont do it. I did it, no fire…but lots of tiny burns on deck

[@downstateradv]

Damn. Sounds about like I imagined. Definitely not something ide recommend

[@sergiomata6793]

Wth, one person says the solo stove uses too much wood, it doesn’t radiates heat to the sides, hard to start if it is all the way to the bottom, & you must have completely dried wood. You never mentioned anything like that, and it seems to me that you’re not impartial.

[@downstateradv]

I'm only partial to the device that simply works better. I have received zero dollars from solo and even If I did I would never sacrifice my dignity/integrity for a companies benefit. It's a good product. I think my video easily proves that.

[@kerplunk38880]

It is an absolute fact that the solo stove does not radiate heat below neck level when you are sitting near the fire pit. These are for ambiance and nothing else. I want a refund for mine.

[@jmass89ify]

​@bradtopp I hear ya. Because I want heat not just smokeless fire without heat

[@michaelmachos8969]

Does it keep you warm, sitting around it?

[@downstateradv]

Absolutely.

[@kerplunk38880]

@@downstateradv No, it does not. You will feel warmth on your face if you sit close enough. The rest of you will be cold. These are for ambiance and not heat.

[@jmass89ify]

​@@kerplunk38880this is what I'm concerned about....

[@snakeclaw]

This is like comparing a pickup truck vs a sedan. You didn't use the open firepit as intended. Your test was biased to benefit the solo stove. The open firepit accels at burning one big pile of wood at one time and not the a la carte one log at a time like the solo does. Poor test. I've sat around both. You say your cheap so I guess all your wood is free. You will consume 3 to 4x wood in the solo stove. No they do not keep you more warm which is why they made a heat deflector (which works). A traditional cowboy pit radiates more heat, burns longer, makes more smoke.