Solo Stove Campfire Review
This summer we’ve been regularly using the Solo Stove Campfire for camping, beach trips and in the garden for extra coziness. The American company Solo Stove has become popular for their smokeless and portable fire pits of all sizes. Today they also produce other products such as pizza ovens, patio heaters and TerraFlame table bowls. What their products have in common is fire, either for cooking or cozy atmosphere.
The Solo Stove campfire which we tested belongs to the Solo Stove camp line. Being suitable for cooking for 4 or more people, it’s the biggest product of the line. The Lite and the Titan stoves are the smaller products. The Lite stove is suitable for 1-2 people and the Titan works best for 2-4 people. Here I’ll explain how the Solo Stove Campfire works and what I learned about it in the past couple of months.
Table of Contents:
- The Concept and Smokeless Design
- Weight and Portability
- Ease of Use
- Cooking
- Durability, Cleaning and Maintenance
- Photos
- Unboxing Video
- Verdict
The Concept and Smokeless Design
The Solo Stove Campfire produces very little smoke
The Solo Stove has become famous for making smokeless fire pits and thus I was really curious how much smoke the Campfire stove produces. When I used it for the first time, I quickly figured out that the stove produces very little smoke. Now, this of course also depends on the wood. If you put moist or wet wood (branches, twigs etc.) in, you can expect more smoke than if you use dry wood. Nevertheless, I was really satisfied with the result. So, I became curious why there is so little smoke and as I figured out it’s all about the design of the product.
The stove has a double-wall construction with air vents at the bottom (on the outside) and at the top (on the inside). The air enters through the bottom vents and flows into the space between the inner and outer walls. This preheated air then rises through the stove’s inner wall and is released through the top vents. The efficient flow of preheated air facilitates the complete combustion of the wood, leading to reduced smoke generation and increased burning efficiency.
Weight and Portability
The Campfire is the biggest stove of the line, but not too big for carrying around
The Solo Stove Campfire weighs 2.2 lbs. (1 kg) and has a diameter of 7 in. (18 cm). In height it measures 0.25 in. (23.5 cm). Although the product takes up quite some space, it’ not that bad because it’s hollow and thus you can stack various items into it. I didn’t find the product too big or bulky for camping. I think the product can even be used for backpacking. Nevertheless, I personally prefer gas stoves for backpacking not only because they are smaller and lighter but also because they are easier to operate in terms of adjusting the heat level and cleaning. Furthermore, in some areas open fires might be forbidden due to the potential danger they pose.
However, if you do really want to use Solo Stove for backpacking it might be a good idea to go for the Titan or the Lite model. These two models are smaller than the Campfire and will thus be easier to carry and pack in the backpack.
Ease of Use
Starting the fire is easy due to stove’s efficiency
The Campfire stove has a very efficient burn and thus enables you to easily start the fire. If you have relatively dry wood the fire will start very fast and there is almost no paper required to start it. I was really surprised how fast the fire starts in the Campfire stove. However, since the stove is quite small and the burn is very efficient, you must add new branches and twigs in the stove very frequently. The frequency of course also depends on the type of wood. For example, hard wood will burn longer. Nevertheless, I did find it a bit annoying how often I had to add new wood to keep the fire going. On the positive side, you don’t have to wait very long for the fire to stop. Which means that you can relatively quickly pack the stove and continue your journey.
Cooking
You add wood through the small hole in cooking ring when you have a pan on it
The Solo Stove Campfire comes with a cooking ring which enables you to use it with a pan or a pot. The stove with cooking ring in my experience accommodates pans and pots with the diameter of 7 in. (18 cm) or more at the bottom. Smaller pots will be falling of the stove. The cooking ring also works as a windscreen. When you don’t need the cooking ring, you can put it inside the stove. For example, when you’re transporting the stove. The edges where the cooking ring comes on the stove are quite sharp and thus some caution is required.
Since the Solo Stove Campfire is relatively small, you also need to be careful when you put a pan or pot on because it can relatively easily turn around. You should be especially careful if you have kids running around. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that you should be careful with kids and open fire.
So, how is it to cook on the Campfire stove? Well, this really depends on what you’re cooking. Boiling water on it is pretty simple and also fast because the stove has a very efficient burn. However, cooking more complicated food such as meat is a bit more complicated. The thing is that it’s very hard to control the intensity of the fire and thus you can quickly burn your meal. The stove also requires that you regularly add new wood which makes it quite hard in terms of maintaining a steady fire. It becomes easier with a bit of practice but be prepared to sometimes remove the pan because the fire will be too intense.
We cooked sausages, cheese and pancakes on the Solo Stove Campfire stove. It went smoothly, especially after we got some practice. Note that the Solo Stove also sells tripod for the Campfire stove. The tripod enables you to easily adjust heat levels and thus cook more precisely.
Durability, Cleaning and Maintenance
The ashes gather at the bottom. You simply shake them out before you pack the stove.
The stove is made of stainless steel. When I unpacked it, I immediately noticed that it’s very sturdy and made with high precision. I haven’t encountered any problems in terms of quality so far. Cleaning the stove is also relatively simple. You just shake the ashes out and that’s it. Some small ashes will of course stay at the bottom of the stove (behind the net) but that’s not that big a problem because the stove comes with a carrying case.
Cleaning the pots and pans after using them on Solo Stove is a bit more annoying since the residue will glue to them. Nevertheless, that’s just how it is when you’re using cooking utensils on open fire. The stove also doesn’t require any special maintenance and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Photos
What's in the package?
Pancakes can be easily cooked on Solo Stove Campfire
Prepare to have dirty hands after packing the stove
The included bag comes in handy for transporting the Campfire stove
We used the Solo Stove Campfire a lot on the beach
Starting the fire in windy weather
Unboxing Video
Verdict
So, is the Solo Stove Campfire something you should buy? Well, I’m very happy with it and I think it’s perfect for camping, beach trips and evening socializing in the garden. I think it can even be used for backpacking but for that I would rather go with the smaller Titan or Lite model. The things that bothered me about it are the sharp edges around the cooking ring and that’s hard to adjust the heat levels when cooking. Solo Stove Campfire otherwise performs well for cooking, but its primary strength is in my opinion in creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The stove is also relatively light, portable and very easy to use. I was also impressed with the durability and how easy it is to clean it. If you’re looking for a smokeless portable fire pit on which you can also cook meals for 4 people, I do highly recommend the Solo Stove Campfire.
If you have any questions about the Solo Stove Campfire, drop me a line in the comments below.
Rating
| Design |  |
| Quality | |
| Functionality |  |
We field tested this product. The rating shows its overall performance.About Rating
Pros:
- High-quality
- Sturdy and durable
- Burn efficiency
- Easy to start the fire
- Smokeless design
Cons:
- Sharp edges around the cooking ring
- Hard to adjust the heat levels when cooking
Hard to adjust heat when cooking? Fuel it less frequently. Works with the Solo Stove Lite. Brilliant stove the Lite with the 900ml pot & Lid.
Hi Magoo,
Yeah, but you also have to be careful that the fire doesn’t go out. I found it a bit hard to hit the sweet spot with the heat.
Best regards,
Blaz
Your Solo Stove Campfire review was a great read! It helped me understand what I can anticipate when using it. I appreciate your focus on the minimal smoke it produces. It’s reassuring to know it lives up to the smokeless claim, even with different types of wood.
I’m curious, though, have you ever used it on a windy day? I’m wondering if wind might affect its smokeless performance.
Cheers,
Femi.
Hi Femi,
I tested the product in mildly windy conditions but I haven’t had a chance to test in strong winds yet. In mildly windy conditions the smoke wasn’t a problem. I also think that smoke won’t be the main problem in very windy conditions. It’s more that the wind might extinguish the fire.
Best regards,
Blaz