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You don’t just build fires to stay warm. You build fires because you need something around which to gather while drinking beer and making fun of one another.
And while you may not own a fireplace, there’s an above-ground fire pit that will work with just about anyone’s goals. They can run a bit expensive (think $100-500), so you don’t want to screw your purchase up. That’s where we tag in.
Below, we’ve arranged three of our favorites by type (portable, tower, standard bowl), and even thrown in one jack-of-all-trades bonus pit that reeled in seven figures on Kickstarter when it debuted last year.
PORTABLE
Pop-Up Fire Pit and Heat Shield Combo Kit
This pop-up pit weighs just eight pounds but holds up to 125 pounds of wood. Designed by Fireside Outdoor, the aluminum alloy frame sets up in under 90 seconds. Keep it in the garage if you’d rather not have a permanent fixture on your patio, or bring it on the road for summer adventures.
TOWER
Bad Idea Pyro Tower Steel Pit
This is the ultimate statement fire pit. The Pyro Tower is a tiered, hybrid charcoal grill/wood-fired smoker cut from American steel. Feel free to leave it out in a hail storm for a week straight — it won’t dent.
BOWL
Tidworth Bowl Cast Iron Wood Fire Pit
A more traditional fire pit, and the most affordable on this list. Rendered from pre-aged (oxidized) cast iron for wood burning, and unobtrusive enough that you can easily stow it away when not in use.
BONUS
Solo Stove Bonfire
When this thing was funded on Kickstarter in October 2018 it reeled in over $1.1M. No wonder why — the design is perfect, with double-walled stainless steel that allows it to take in air through both the top and bottom. That makes fire-starting a cinch and means you’ll have less tending to do. Plus, Solo Stove’s currently selling it for $50 off.
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