All Reviews

Every guide we've published, newest first.

Backyard Fire Pit Setup: Smokeless, Propane, and What Goes Underneath

2026-10-26

A backyard fire pit setup comes down to three questions: wood or propane, how thick the steel is, and what protects the surface underneath. Here is how these four pieces fit together.

How to Set Up a Fire Pit So the Smoke Stops Following You

2026-10-25

Smokeless fire pit setup is mostly airflow, fuel, and placement. Here is the process I run before the first log goes in, plus the two pits I use when I want the smoke solved instead of managed.

Wood, Propane, or Smokeless: 4 Backyard Fire Pits Compared

2026-10-24

A backyard fire pit comparison across four builds: two wood burning steel bowls, a portable propane unit, and a corten steel smokeless pit, judged on steel, smoke, and spark screens.

Best Backyard Fire Pit: Smokeless, Gas, and Portable Picks

2026-10-23

Best backyard fire pit picks, from a corten steel smokeless build to a propane can and a budget grill pit. No fluff, just what each one is actually for.

Best Fire Pits for Real Backyard Nights: Smokeless, Wood, and Propane

2026-10-22

Smoke management, steel, and fuel type decide which fire pit earns its spot on your patio. Here is how six current models compare on the things that still matter after the first season, including a stainless steel smokeless fire pit with a removable ash pan.

Fire Pit Types Explained: Smokeless, Wood, Propane, and Grill Models

2026-10-21

Fire pit types explained without the marketing: how a smokeless wood design, a classic wood bowl, a portable propane unit, and a grill combo differ, and which one belongs in your yard.

How to Set Up a Fire Pit Night That Doesn't Smoke You Out

2026-10-20

How to Set Up a Fire Pit Night That Doesn't Smoke You Out. A smokeless fire pit is maybe 20 percent engineering and 80 percent where you put it, what you feed it, and how hot you let it run.

Wood, Propane, or Smokeless: Four Fire Pits Compared for Real Backyards

2026-10-19

A backyard fire pit comparison from someone who has installed dozens of them: two smokeless wood burners, a portable propane unit, and a wide grill-ready pit, judged on steel gauge, smoke behavior, and whether they survive a season of weather.

Wood or Propane? 4 Outdoor Fire Pits Worth Your Backyard

2026-10-18

A practical guide to outdoor fire pits, sorted by the job they do best: classic wood, smokeless, smart propane, and portable. Plus the steel gauge and spark screen checks that matter more than the marketing.

Best Fire Pits for Backyard Nights and Camp Trips: 6 Picks

2026-10-17

A practical comparison of the best fire pits for backyard nights and camp trips, covering smokeless wood pits, propane portables, and budget wood burners.

Smokeless, Gas, or Grill Combo: Picking the Right Fire Pit for Your Yard

2026-10-16

A practical comparison of a smokeless fire pit, a portable propane unit, and a wide grill-topped pit, plus the steel, airflow, and fuel questions that decide which one belongs in your yard.

How to Set Up a Propane Fire Pit Without Wasting a Tank

2026-10-15

A propane fire pit setup is three decisions and one leak test. Get the surface, the connection, and the airflow right and a gas pit throws heat all night with no smoke in your hair.

Gas, Wood, or Smokeless? 4 Fire Pits for Outside Compared

2026-10-14

Four fire pits for outside, compared by a landscape designer who has burned through a season of real backyard nights: steel, smoke, size, and what actually earns its spot.

Fire Pit Buying Guide: Wood, Smokeless, or Propane?

2026-10-13

A backyard fire pit buying guide from a landscape designer: wood, smokeless, and propane picks, plus the steel gauge test that decides how long yours lasts.

6 Backyard Fire Pits Worth Buying for Real Fire Nights

2026-10-12

A practical look at six backyard fire pits, from a portable propane unit to a corten steel smokeless design, and the fuel, size, and accessory details worth checking before you buy.

Wood, Propane, or Smokeless: Choosing an Outdoor Fire Pit

2026-10-11

A practical guide to outdoor fire pits, comparing a 22 inch wood burner with a spark screen, a 43 inch pit with adjustable grills, a portable propane can, and a corten steel smokeless design.

How to Plan a Backyard Fire Pit Setup That Works All Season

2026-10-10

A backyard fire pit setup lives or dies on three things: steel thickness, airflow, and where you put it. Here is how to choose between wood and propane, prep the ground, and run a fire that does not smoke you out of your own yard.

Wood, Gas, or Grill: 4 Outdoor Fire Pits Compared for 2026

2026-10-09

A landscape designer compares four outdoor fire pits, two 2-in-1 wood burners, a 20 inch smokeless model, and a propane table, so you can match the pit to your yard.

Wood or Propane? How to Pick an Outdoor Fire Pit With a Grill

2026-10-08

An outdoor fire pit with grill, sorted by a landscape designer who has built them for 15 years. Two wood burners, a portable propane pit, and a square charcoal table, plus what to check before you buy.

6 Fire Pits Compared: Smokeless, Wood, and Gas Picks for Real Backyards

2026-10-07

A practical comparison of six fire pits, from a 22 inch stainless steel smokeless fire pit with a cover to a 42 inch wood burner, sorted by fuel, footprint, and smoke.

Wood and Gas Fire Pits: How to Choose One That Fits Your Yard

2026-10-06

A practical explainer on wood and gas fire pits, from smokeless steel designs to portable propane models, and how to match one to your space, your fuel, and your tolerance for smoke.

Wood Burning Fire Pit Setup: Ground, Airflow, and Safety Gear

2026-10-05

A wood burning fire pit only works when the ground, the airflow, and the safety gear are right. This is the setup order I use on client yards, start to first burn.

Best Wood and Gas Fire Pits for Backyard Nights: 4 Picks Compared

2026-10-04

A landscape designer compares four wood and gas fire pits, from a 39-inch grill-grate wood burner to a 50,000 BTU propane table, and explains which one fits which yard.

Wood, Gas, or Grill: How to Pick a Fire Pit That Survives Winter

2026-10-03

A 3-in-1 fire pit buyer's guide from a landscape designer who has watched too many thin-steel pits rust through in one season. Steel gauge, smoke, spark screens, and the cover nobody budgets for.

Best Wood Burning Fire Pits and Fire Night Gear for 2026

2026-10-02

A practical comparison of wood burning fire pit options for backyard evenings, from a portable 20 inch 2-in-1 to a 37 inch marble tile set, plus the mat and ground gear that keep a fire night simple.

Propane vs Wood Fire Pits: How to Pick the Right One for Your Backyard

2026-10-01

A practical look at propane vs wood fire pits, comparing four real options and explaining how fuel, BTU rating, steel, footprint, and safety features decide which pit belongs in your yard.

How to Set Up a Wood Burning Fire Pit in Your Backyard

2026-09-30

A wood burning fire pit is only as good as its setup. Here is how I site, level, assemble, and break in a backyard pit so it draws clean, throws heat, and survives the weather.

Wood Burning Fire Pits Explained: What Actually Matters Before You Buy

2026-09-29

A plain explanation of wood burning fire pit design, from steel thickness and airflow to spark screens and grill grates, plus four options matched to how you actually use your yard.

Wood-Burning Fire Pits and the Gear That Makes Fire Night Work

2026-09-29

A wood-burning fire pit setup is more than the bowl. Here is how steel gauge, a real spark screen, a stable path, and a storage plan decide whether fire night works.

Wood Burning Fire Pit Setup: What to Get Before the First Burn

2026-09-29

A wood burning fire pit is the centerpiece, but the setup around it decides whether you actually use the thing. Here is how to think through fuel type, placement, and the small extras that make fire nights easier.

Propane vs Wood Fire Pit: What Actually Belongs in Your Backyard

2026-09-29

Choosing between a propane vs wood fire pit is really a question about how you want to spend your evenings. Here is how fuel, steel, placement, and the ground under your feet decide which setup earns a permanent spot.

Propane Fire Pits vs Wood: Which One Belongs in Your Backyard?

2026-09-29

A practical comparison of propane fire pits and wood-burning alternatives, from a portable gas firebowl to a Corten steel smokeless pit, and how to match the fuel to the way you actually use your yard.

How to Choose a Wood Burning Fire Pit: Steel, Smoke, and Setup

2026-09-29

A practical guide to buying a wood burning fire pit and setting up the space around it, from steel thickness and spark screens to the path and cabinet that make the whole corner work.

Gas, Wood, or Smokeless: How to Choose a Fire Pit for Your Yard

2026-09-29

This fire pit buying guide compares four wood burning, propane, and smokeless options by fuel type, size, and how you actually plan to use the thing.

Fire Pit Table Comparison: Gas vs Wood Pits for Real Backyards

2026-09-29

An outdoor fire pit table comparison from a landscape designer who has installed more pits than he can count. Four real options, and what each one asks of you.

Fire Pit Setup: What You Actually Need Before the First Burn

2026-09-29

A fire pit setup is more than the pit itself. Here is how a round bowl pit, a propane table, a surface mat, and yard protection fit together before your first burn.

Building a Backyard Fire Pit Zone: Wood, Gas, and the Gear Around It

2026-09-29

A backyard fire pit setup comes down to three decisions: what you burn, what the pit sits on, and how people get to it safely. Here is how the pieces fit together.

A Smokeless Fire Pit Setup That Survives a Real Backyard Season

2026-09-28

A smokeless fire pit setup, explained by someone who has built them for fifteen years. The pit, the cover, the cook surface, and the ground you walk across to reach it.

The Best Wood Burning Fire Pits for Smoke-Free Backyard Nights

2026-09-27

A practical comparison of smokeless wood burning fire pits, from budget steel bowls to premium stainless designs, sorted by size, smoke control, and the features that actually matter.

Wood Fire Pit Buying Guide: Two Budget Picks Worth a Season

2026-09-19

A budget wood fire pit buying guide from a backyard builder: two wood burning pits worth the money, plus the storage gear that keeps the setup dry and ready to light.

Wood Burning Fire Pit Guide: Steel, Smoke, and What Lasts

2026-09-19

A wood burning fire pit guide from a landscape designer who has spent fifteen years building backyard fires. Steel gauge, smoke, spark screens, and the pits worth the space.

Smokeless, Propane, or Wood: Choosing a Fire Pit That Lasts

2026-09-19

A landscape designer's honest take on the outdoor fire pit table, with four picks covering smokeless, propane, and wood fires.

Smokeless Fire Pits Compared: Breeo, Solo Stove, TIKI, and OutVue

2026-09-19

A backyard guide to the best smokeless fire pits, comparing the Breeo X Series 24, the Solo Stove Bonfire, the TIKI Patio, and the OutVue 42 inch grill pit.

Smokeless Fire Pit vs. Wood Pit: What Actually Lasts

2026-09-19

A smokeless fire pit, a budget steel bowl, and the two pieces of gear nobody mentions, explained by an outdoor guide who has built more pits than he can count. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How to Choose a Wood Burning Fire Pit That Lasts More Than a Season

2026-09-19

A wood burning fire pit guide from a landscape designer who has installed dozens: steel gauge, smoke behavior, spark screens, and the setup around the pit.

Fire Pit Buying Guide: What Actually Survives a Season

2026-09-19

A wood burning fire pit buying guide from a landscape designer who has installed them for 15 years: what the steel gauge, the spark screen, and the smoke tell you before you spend.

Choosing a Wood Burning Fire Pit: Steel, Smoke, and Setup

2026-09-19

A wood burning fire pit buying guide from a landscape designer who has watched cheap steel rust through in one season. Steel gauge, smoke behavior, spark screens, and the setup pieces nobody mentions.

Best Outdoor Fire Pits for Real Backyard Nights: Wood or Gas

2026-09-19

A landscape designer's guide to the best outdoor fire pits, covering two wood burners and two propane tables, and how to pick the one that fits your yard.

How to Set Up a Wood or Propane Fire Pit Without the Smoke

2026-09-09

Setting up wood and propane fire pits comes down to three things: where you put it, what you burn, and which way the smoke wants to go. Get those right and you get a fire night instead of a smoke night.

How to Set Up a Wood-Burning Fire Pit Without Smoking Out Your Yard

2026-09-09

Wood burning fire pit setup comes down to two things: what is under the bowl, and where the smoke goes. Get those right and you will sit outside until the logs are ash.

How to Set Up a Wood Burning Fire Pit Without Smoking Out Your Yard

2026-09-09

A wood burning fire pit lives or dies on airflow. Here is the spot selection, the layering, and the shutdown routine that keeps smoke off your chairs.

How to Set Up a Wood-Burning Fire Pit Without Smoking Out the Yard

2026-09-09

A wood burning fire pit setup lives or dies on placement, airflow, and steel. Here is the order I do it in, plus the two pits I would hand most people first.

How to Set Up a Wood Burning Fire Pit That Doesn't Smoke You Out

2026-09-09

A wood burning fire pit setup is mostly dirt, drainage, and airflow. Here is the order of operations before the first log ever gets lit.

How to Set Up a Wood-Burning Fire Pit for Real Backyard Nights

2026-09-09

Setting up a backyard wood burning fire pit is mostly site prep, base, and airflow. Here is the order I run, the first-burn cure, and the two pits worth putting on the pad.

How to Set Up a Wood Burning Fire Pit for Real Backyard Nights

2026-09-09

A wood burning fire pit is a bowl, a grate, and a decision about airflow. Here is the setup order I use on client builds, the first burn routine, and the two pits I would hand a first-timer.

How to Set Up a Fire Pit and Keep It Covered All Season

2026-09-09

Fire pit setup and care starts before the first match: level ground, a real spark screen, and a cover that goes on every cool morning. Here is the order that works.

How to Set Up a Backyard Fire Pit That Doesn't Smoke You Out

2026-09-09

Backyard fire pit setup is mostly airflow, steel gauge, and where you put the thing. Here is the order of operations, from ground prep to the first burn and the last ash.

How to Set Up a 2-in-1 Fire Pit and Grill in a Small Backyard

2026-09-09

How to set up a 2-in-1 fire pit and grill in a small backyard, from site prep and airflow to ash cleanup and the mat that keeps grease off the patio.

How To Build A Diy Fire Pit

2026-09-04

How to build a diy fire pit, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Fire Pit Gas Vs Wood Cost

2026-09-01

Fire pit gas vs wood cost, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

The 7 Best Fire Pits of 2026, Burned a Season With

2026-08-29

What is the breeo x series 24 best for Let me start with the problem: this thing weighs 68 pounds. My lower back still remembers the day I carried it from the truck to the patio, and I'm not a small guy.

Best Fire Pit Covers: The Rain Reality

2026-08-28

The rain came down sideways last Tuesday, the kind of storm that makes you check the gutters and curse the forecast.

Best Fire Pits for Camping: Packable and Legal

2026-08-27

What is the biolite firepit+ best for The BioLite FirePit+ is the one I almost didn't buy. The fan seemed like a gimmick. A battery-powered fire pit? Come on. What is the uco flatpack best for The UCO Flatpack is the one I bring when I'm hiking in.

Best Fire Pits for Decks: The Heat Shield Question

2026-08-26

What is the best fire pits for decks: the heat shield question best for **The Solo Stove Yukon is advertised as the ultimate deck-friendly smokeless pit, but is it really?

Best Fire Pits for Patios: The Space Reality

2026-08-25

What is the best fire pits for patios: the space reality best for **Best Fire Pit for Patio**, that's what everyone types into Google, but here's the thing nobody tells you: your patio has a size. Your patio has a material.

Best Fire Pits for Small Yards: The 5-Foot Rule

2026-08-24

What is the solo stove yukon best for The version I own is the Yukon, and I’ve had it for two winters. The biggest issue is the stand. It’s sold separately, which is criminal for a ~$380 pit.

Best Fire Pit Under $200: What the Budget Buys

2026-08-23

What is the our pick: tiki fire pit best for ~$179. That's the price of one good dinner out, and this pit will outlive the restaurant. The Tiki is a 28-inch fire bowl made from heavy-gauge steel that feels like it was welded by someone who cared.

Best Portable Fire Pits: Camping and Tailgating

2026-08-22

What is the our pick: solo stove ranger best for The Portable Fire Pit is the one I grab when I'm heading to a tailgate or a campsite and I don't want to spend the next morning with smoky eyes and a jacket that smells like a bonfire.

Best Propane Fire Pits: Ambiance Without the Smoke

2026-08-21

Should you buy the Outland Living Firebowl (Model Varies) Yes, and it's not close. At ~$279, it's the best propane fire pit I've tested, and the cost-per-day math works out to about ~$0.19 a day over a four-year lifespan.

Best Smokeless Fire Pits: The Double-Wall Truth

2026-08-20

I’ve spent more nights staring into fire bowls than I have watching TV, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that “smokeless” is the most abused.

Fire Pit Buying Mistakes

2026-08-19

Fire pit buying mistakes, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Fire Pit Placement Rules

2026-08-18

Fire pit placement rules, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Fire Pit Safety: The Spark Screen Isn't Optional

2026-08-17

The first thing people ask me isn't about BTUs or steel gauge. It’s about the spark screen.

Smokeless vs Traditional Fire Pits: The Smoke Test

2026-08-16

What is the smokeless vs traditional fire pits: the smoke test best for I've spent fifteen years installing fire pits in client backyards, and in that time I've watched the smokeless category go from a gimmick to something that genuinely works.

Fire Pit Steel Gauge Explained: The Decade Test

2026-08-15

The this fire pit is the best fire pit steel gauge value I've tested, because it pairs 304 stainless steel with a design that actually survives the.

Fire Pit vs Chiminea: The Backyard Comparison

2026-08-14

Is the chiminea actually the better choice for a small patio, or is it just a prettier way to smoke out your neighbors? I've owned both for years now, and.

Fire Pit Vs Fire Table

2026-08-13

Fire pit vs fire table, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How to Build a Fire Pit: The DIY Reality Check

2026-08-12

I've built fire pits from scratch. Block, gravel, steel, the whole deal. I've also bought the ~$50 chiminea that cracked before the first season was over.

How to Choose a Fire Pit: 5 Questions From a Guide

2026-08-11

I've dragged a rusted-out ~$395 bowl to the curb in September, and I've watched a ~$400 Breeo shrug off a full Michigan winter like it was nothing.

How to Clean a Fire Pit: Ash, Rust, and the Season-End Routine

2026-08-10

I’ve pulled rusted fire bowls out of the snow in April, scraped ash out of pits that sat wet for three months, and watched a ~$25 cover trap moisture and.

How To Cook Over A Fire Pit

2026-08-09

How to cook over a fire pit, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How To Protect Deck Under Fire Pit

2026-08-08

How to protect deck under fire pit, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How To Put Out A Fire Pit Safely

2026-08-07

How To Put Out A Fire Pit Safely And after fifteen years of running outdoor fires, I'll tell you this: the difference between a safe shutdown and a.

How to Start a Fire in a Fire Pit: The Pyramid Method

2026-08-06

The Best Way to Start a Fire in a Fire Pit Is the Pyramid Method, and It Works on Every Pit I Own

How To Start A Fire Pit

2026-08-05

How to start a fire pit, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How To Store A Fire Pit

2026-08-04

How to store a fire pit, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Propane Vs Wood Fire Pit

2026-08-03

Propane vs wood fire pit, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Smokeless Fire Pit How It Works

2026-08-02

Smokeless fire pit how it works, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Wood vs Gas Fire Pits: The Experience vs Convenience Trade

2026-08-01

I’ve burned through a ~$90 stamped-steel bowl that rusted out by September, a mid-tier gas unit whose igniter died after two weeks, and I’m currently.