We love a good fire here at Terradrift. Campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire bowls, fireplaces, fires for roasting marshmallows, fires for grilling veggie burgers…I could go on. But not everyone can have a permanent stone fire pit installed in their backyard. Heck, some of us don’t even have a backyard! So over the years, we’ve loved testing, experimenting and learning about all the portable fire pits and flames that keep you toasty, bring the ambiance, and make s’mores making possible no matter where you are. Yup, even if you don’t have a backyard. Bonus: They’re also easy to transport to the campground for an easy, Leave-No-Trace campfire! So here are our 6 favorite portable fire pits for everyone from backyard burners to balcony snugglers.
Colson Fire Pit
Maybe the most simplistic fire pit on this list is the Colson fire pit, which also happens to the most stylish. Made of cast cement, it’s super easy to use and unlike wax-based portable campfires, is also endlessly refillable: just pour in some denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol, light, and away you go! just be extra careful not to knock it over while in use as fire will spread quickly wherever the alcohol spills. It’s best for adults who prefer to sit quietly and enjoy their marshmallows in peace.
Find the Colson Fire Pit here.
Tree Free Fire
It’s a campfire in a can! That you can hold in your hand! And we dig it. Made with 100% food-safe soy wax, it’s not only compact enough to fit in a drawer in your kitchen, but can be easily transferred to the tiny table on your tiny balcony when you want to set the mood or roast some mallows (because who doesn’t love a good roasting sesh in between campouts?). Why not just use a candle? Most candles are scented, which can impart strange and unwelcome flavors to whatever you’re roasting over the flame, plus they often contain ingredients that you wouldn’t want to touch your food. So skip the candle and enjoy a Tree Free Fire instead.
Radiate Portable Campfire
Like Tree Free Fire but on steroids, Radiate is basically an extra large candle in a closable tin. Also made of foodsafe wax, there are more individual points of flame, which make it suitable for a family or friends situation (nobody wants to make s’mores one at a time). It’s made of recycled wax and recycled paper briquettes, and to put it out when you’re done, just toss the lid on top to cut off the fire’s source of oxygen. Too easy.
Find the Radiate Portable Campfire here.
Solo Stove Bonfire
The Solo Stove Bonfire may be the least portable fire pit on this list, but you can still toss it in the back of the car and take it to the campground or to the in-laws’ yard without any trouble. So why is this cylindrical piece of gear any better than any ol’ run-of-the mill fire pit you can order on Amazon? Well, there are lots of reasons, but the main one has to do with the design and construction: because of the multi-walled design and small, strategically placed holes that promote airflow, the Bonfire makes for an almost entirely smokeless fire. So does the brand new compact, tabletop Mesa version! Huzzah! Watch our review of the Solo Stove Bonfire here.
Find the Solo Stove Bonfire here.
Ignik Firecan
Headed to a region that’s currently under a burn ban? No problem. You can still enjoy a fire thanks to the Ignik Firecan. And there’s not even any wood or charcoal required. How can that be? Because this innovative piece of gear is powered by propane. Don’t want to travel with a giant propane tank or those wasteful green bottles? You don’t have to: Ignik also offers a refillable, portable 5lb gas growler. Just hook it up to the Firecan, twist a few knobs, apply a lighter, and voila: Fire! Because it has an on/off switch it’s considered a camp stove and is permitted in fire ban zones. Just make sure not to leave it unattended. Check out our review of the Ignite Firecan here.
BioLite FirePit+
Wanna be the kid with the most high-tech portable fire pit on the block? Sure ya do. Who wouldn’t? Well, the BioLite FitrePit is the way to go. The walls of the FirePit are mesh so you can see and feel the fire from all sides, a rechargeable battery pack pumps air into the fire so A.) no more huffing and puffing to keep it going and B.) it practically eliminates all the smoke you’d get from a normal campfire. Plus, you can control it with an app (in case you’re across the yard when the flames are getting a bit too high. Check out our full review of the BioLite FirePit here.
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So are you ready for a backyard/campground/patio/balcony blaze or what?! Grab your fave, get your roasting sticks ready, and wander on.
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Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com