Mary Henn/Taste Recipes
Sleek and portable, the East Oak Smokeless Fire Pit is easy to move around a patio or backyard. “I have the medium-sized, 21-inch fire pit, and it’s perfect for a gathering of about five to eight people,” says Shopping Editor, Mary Henn. “There’s basically no assembly required with the East Oak Fire Pit, either. Simply unbox the pit, pop in the removable ashtray and insert the lip at the top of the pit. You’ll want to make sure the metal lip is flipped upward, as this helps funnel smoke and fumes upward instead of outward, keeping the fire pit smokeless.”
The real kicker? “I love that the East Oak fire pit comes with a long poker that makes it a breeze to handle the fire and remove the ashtray for cleaning,” adds Mary. “The poker hooks onto the top loop of the ashtray to lift it out of the fire pit hands-free! There’s no need to reach into the fire pit or worry about knocking it over to remove ash and debris.”
While you can cook over the East Oak fire pit as you would any other campfire, Mary explains East Oak does not have all the fire pit cooking accessories that some other leading fire pit brands have. Overall, if you’re looking for a sleek, easy-to-use and easy-to-maintain fire pit for your backyard, this is it.
Fuel source: Wood | Weight: 19.4 pounds | Dimensions: 21.26 x 21.26 x 14.95 inches
Pros
- Unique, visually interesting design
- Smokeless and portable
- Ashtray is easy to remove and clean
- Decent heat output
- Built-in stand
- 100% 304 stainless steel
- Comes with long fire poker
- Multiple color and size options
Cons
- On the pricey side
- East Oak doesn’t make as many fire pit accessories as other leading fire pit brands
Nancy Snyder/Taste Recipes
A smokeless fire pit is smart. But a smart smokeless fire pit is pure genius. BioLite’s Bluetooth-enabled FirePit+ is just that and more—and it doubles as a grill. It’s extremely lightweight, and thanks to its carrying handles and collapsible legs, it’s also easy to transport.
“Set up was incredibly easy and I appreciate that the re-chargeable battery comes partially charged for immediate use,” says Senior Shopping Editor, Nancy Snyder. “All I had to do was install the handles, download the app and pair my phone to the fire pit. (Connecting to Bluetooth is completely optional, and you can still operate the fire pit without it).”
The FirePit+ includes a fuel rack for wood or charcoal and a grill grate for hibachi-style cooking. “To test mine, I set it up in the backyard and utilized leftover firewood, some sticks and twigs I gathered from the yard and a multi-purpose lighter,” adds Nancy. “From there, I set the fan to low and watched the fire pit’s internal air jets and clean combustion technology take over to provide a fuel-efficient burning fire without the smoke.”
Nancy explains that while a few embers sparked upon initial fueling, she was impressed to find that the fire was truly smokeless. Even more impressive? Adjusting the size of the flames by changing the fan speed from her phone.
“At one point I noticed the fire dwindling, and at the touch of a button, I was instantly able to bring the fire back to life,” says Nancy. “When it was time to put the fire out, I turned the fan off and waited as the last of the embers burnt off. This was the only time that I witnessed any smoke, and I’d say that’s a fair trade-off for the hours of smokeless enjoyment that it did provide.”
Fuel source: Firewood or charcoal | Weight: 19.8 pounds | Dimensions: 27 x 13 x 15.8 inches
Pros
- Bluetooth capability allows for adjustable fan speed and flame size (and monitoring battery life)
- Smoke-eating combustion technology makes for a truly smokeless experience
- 51 internal air jets help fuel fire so it burns stronger and more efficiently
- Doubles as a grill
- Lightweight fire pit with handles and collapsible legs makes it easy to transport
- Rechargeable battery
- X-ray mesh siding allows warmth to radiate out while providing beautiful views of glowing fire and embers
- Versatile enjoyment for camping, tailgating or backyard entertaining
Cons
- Carrying case and other accessories are sold separately
- Clean-up can be messy, and I found the bottom trap door to be rather flimsy
- To put out the fire, you must wait for embers to burn out completely (no water!), and then the fire pit must be stored in a cool, dry place after it has cooled down
Katie Bandurski/Taste Recipes
Want a backyard showstopper? Say hello to the Tiki fire pit. We’re smitten with its sleek look—offering a chic, black exterior and slim hairpin legs that outshine traditional stainless steel smokeless fire pits. Plus, it’s not just pretty. This fire pit is practical too.
“This fire pit feels high quality,” says Senior Shopping Editor, Katie Bandurski. “It’s nicely packaged and includes the fire pit, wood pack, cover and instructions, which made for super convenient assembly. Speaking of, assembly took less than five minutes—all you have to do is attach the stand to the body of the fire pit and secure it with the three screws. My fire pit came with a wood pack, so all you have to do is light the corners to fire it up.”
In Katie’s testing, she found the Tiki fire pit took mere seconds to light and produced a robust flame. (As with all fire pits, make sure you are several feet away from any flammable structures or surfaces). “The flame is truly smokeless—to an extent,” explains Katie. “Windy conditions can cause smoke, as can the fire when you’re first getting started. I’ve also tested the Solo Stove Bonfire and they’re about the same in terms of lack of smoke. The medium size of the Tiki fire pit is a wonderful option for smaller backyards. I would not want this too close to my house—it’s better with plenty of clear space around it,” says Katie.
While there is no designated grate, the fire is hot enough to cook over (hello, s’mores!) and emits heat from several feet away. You can also upgrade your pit with Tiki’s griddle accessory bundle. Cleanup is simple. No need to dig down into the grates and scoop up all that dust—just pull out the included ash pan and dump.
Fuel source: Wood | Weight: 43 pounds | Dimensions: 24.75 x 24.75 x 18.75 inches
Pros
- Medium size is ideal for small backyards
- Stylish look elevates your backyard aesthetic
- Easy to light and clean
- Several people can fit around the rim
- Truly smokeless; no bonfire scent
- Gives off a fair amount of heat
Cons
- Wood packs are pricey
- Flames are high and a bit difficult to control when produced with the wood pack
- Fire pit should not be used under a patio roof, low hanging branches or near combustible surfaces like dry grass