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If you love a campfire but hate coughing on smoke every time the wind shifts, a smokeless fire pit like the Solo Stove is a great option. I bought one for that very reason, and after two years of use, I was able find plenty of pros (and a few cons) with the Yukon model that I tested. Here’s my Solo Stove review after two years of continuous use and outdoor storage.
Solo Stove Yukon Specs and Features
- Dimensions: 27 inches wide x 17 inches tall
- Weight: 38 pounds
- Material: 304 stainless steel
- Fits logs up to 22 inches
Smokeless
The Solo Stove Yukon is designed to promote airflow, which creates a more efficient burn and less smoke. The lack of oxygen and the rising hot air created by the fire pulls air through the bottom vents, bringing more oxygen into the fire pit. The air comes up through holes in the base of the pit, as well as through holes at the top.
Models
There are three Solo Stove sizes. The Yukon is the largest, and it’s the one I’d recommend if you want a permanent fire pit. The medium size, called the Bonfire, only fits logs up to 16-inches long. The Ranger is the smallest size and is a good option if you need a portable fire pit. It’s just 15 pounds, 12.5 inches tall, and 15 inches wide.
Accessories
There are two key Solo Stove accessories you should consider. The first is a rain cover, which they call Shelters. The second accessory is the Solo Stove Stand, which elevates the fire pit so you can use it on heat-sensitive surfaces like a deck.
Read Next: Breeo vs Solo Stove: Who Makes the Best Smokeless Fire Pit?
Testing the Solo Stove
I didn’t get a Solo Stove to do a review. I bought it as a birthday gift for my wife. But, we enjoyed it so much this summer that I decided to review the Yukon. I use seasoned hardwood logs and the occasional Duraflame when I’m out of firewood. Under those conditions, it performed as advertised. There was minimal smoke, and because it burns so efficiently, there’s very little ash or debris to clean out.
I decided conduct a series of tests for my Solo Stove review to answer some of the common questions and concerns people have about these fire pits. The first was to test the smokeless claims. If you’re using seasoned firewood, you’ll get smoke when you start your fire, but you’ll have a smoke-free fire once it gets going. Then, as the fire burns down, you’ll have a little smoke.
The Solo Stove delivers on its promise. If they didn’t I wouldn’t have chosen the Yukon as the best smokeless fire pit. It provides a smoke-free fire experience. But, I wanted to push the envelope and kick up some smoke using green wood and leaves. With that combo, I created a smokey fire, but it didn’t last long. The key to the Solo Stove’s smokeless quality is that it burns very efficiently, so it quickly turned the leaves to ash and burned the green wood.
Another question I wanted to answer was: Does the outside of the Solo Stove get hot? I got a fire going and let it burn for 30 minutes. I then used a laser thermometer to measure the Solo Stove’s exterior temperature. The bottom remained cool around 70 degrees, and the temperature in the middle of the stove was about 120 degrees. The temp jumped to 230 degrees at the top of the stove. So, it’s best not to touch the upper half of the stove when you have a fire going.
The next test was to see how easy it is to cook over the Solo Stove. I initially used the grate off my charcoal grill, which happened to fit the Solo Stove perfectly. Then, I boiled water and toasted bread to test both ends of the fire cooking spectrum—heat and finesse. I found cooking over the solo stove a lot like cooking over any wood-burning fire pit. It takes skill, but it’s very doable. Especially if instead of cooking over flames, you burn down logs to coals and then begin the cooking process.
I’ve since used Solo Stove’s cooking accessories. In particular their grill and pizza oven. Both have been fun accessories to use during gatherings and the only con of getting them is the storage space they take up when not in use.
How did the Solo Stove hold up after two years outside? Pretty darn well. I’ve stored my Solo Stove outside using the rain cover. The stove still looks new, but the rain cover doesn’t look great. There are no tears in the rain cover—it’s just dirty.
What It Does Best
After years of use and testing for my Solo Stove review, I can safely say the Solo Stove fire pit doesn’t produce much smoke. You’ll enjoy a campfire without the associated coughing and eye-watering that comes with smokey fires. It’s also effortless to clean up after enjoying a fire because you’re only left with a bit of white ash at the bottom.
Where It Can Improve
The price is the main downside of the Solo Stove. At around $500, it’s not cheap. You can build a fire ring for a lot less, but the price of the Solo Stove is comparable to competitive smokeless offerings like Breeo.
The Solo Stove works so well because it burns wood efficiently, but that also means you’ll go through more wood. Another negative is that you can’t fit large pieces of wood in the Solo Stove. It’s restricted to logs 22-inches long or shorter. So, when you’re processing firewood, make sure you cut it short enough to fit inside the stove.
FAQs
The Solo Stove Bonfire is a fire pit first, but you can use it for cooking. Solo Stove also sells a dedicated grilling set.
Yes, you can put a Solo Stove on a patio or deck if you use the fire pit stand, which is an additional accessory.
You’ll have some smoke as you start your fire, but once it gets going, there will be very little smoke.
Final Thoughts on the Solo Stove
In the world of outdoor wood-burning fire pits, the Solo Stove is at the top of the heap. You’ll pay for the quality, but if the features it offers are important to you, it’s worth the price. I’ve had mine for two years and it continues to be the center of hangouts, great conversation, and a healthy amount of toasted marshmallows.