Fire pits make building a campfire much easier and safer. When the fire is lifted up off the ground, it can get more oxygen and presents less of a wildfire hazard.
Plus, campers using fire pits impact the campsite less, so if you’re trying to Leave No Trace then this is a must-have piece of camping gear. Most propane campfire pits share many of the same features but some manufacturers have gone the extra mile.
The finer details aren’t always discernible to people who aren’t familiar with these kinds of products already, so we’ve put together this helpful introduction and buying guide for portable propane fire pits.
Read on to find out which models of portable propane fire pits are the best of 2021 and learn how to properly use and take care of these propane fire pits when you have one!
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Here are the top 5 picks.
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Built out of a steel and iron alloy, this is a strong product that can withstand all the bumps and scratches of a typical camping trip. It’s rustproof and heat resistant so that accidental wetness and the fire itself won’t wear down this fire pit over time.
But what really makes this item stand out is its size. It’s just small enough to be portable but large enough for multiple campers to stand around with roasting sticks with marshmallows for s’mores. The 10-foot hose allows you to keep this outdoor fire pit a fair distance away from the tank for additional safety.
Its stainless steel burner is easy to clean after the camping trip so you can keep things looking nice. Lava rocks are included so you can add some dimension to the look inside this portable gas fire pit. The natural lava rock also gives the fire a flickering effect for added ambiance.
The three foldable legs are for extra stability and you can set up the whole thing without any additional tools. Since it’s a smokeless fire pit, you can enjoy the warmth and light of a fire without getting the smoky smell all over your clothes and hair.
If you want a no-mess campfire without all the hassle of finding firewood and putting it out with water, this is the portable propane fire pit for you.
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Outland Living makes this spark-free portable fire pit for ease of use and a hassle-free campfire experience. It beats the fire bans in most places because it’s spark-free and small enough not to present any concern when used properly, although of course, you should check regulations in the area where you’re camping before you get a fire going.
The CSA has approved this product, which means most places in North America will recognize it as a safe and high-quality fire pit. It burns propane gas at 58,000 BTUs per hour, more than enough to stay warm. You can also change how hot the flames are with the silver regulator on the front of this fire pit.
Natural lava rocks and a stainless steel burner combine to give this fire pit a pretty slick look, but the black finish keeps it from looking too modern for a backcountry campsite. Outland Living does make a carry case for this product but it’s sold separately.
There’s no auto-ignition feature on this model, but it’s easy enough to light manually. It also includes a 10-foot hose to keep the propane tank out of sight and away from the flames. This fire pit is meant for use in all kinds of weather so it’s suitable for a camping trip whenever you and your fellow campers feel like going.
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Here’s an all-in-one carry kit for any situation where you need a small fire nearby. Tailgating, camping, or just hanging out in the backyard are all made better with this Bond Manufacturing portable propane fire kit, which can include accessories such as a hose support, fire pit table, and water filter.
You can also choose to buy only the firebowl if you don’t need the accessories. It’s one of the best ways to get a portable campfire where you need it, but it also makes for a fantastic little tabletop patio heater for the winter months. It’s also safe for wood decks if you don’t want to set it up on a table.
Lava stones improve the look and the light quality of the fire. The round base of the firebowl makes it super sturdy on level ground but doesn’t allow for adjustment on uneven surfaces. Still, you can use it almost anywhere as long as the incline isn’t too severe.
An auto-ignition dial makes getting your fire started easier than ever before and putting it out is as simple as turning the dial the other way. That means you don’t have to waste time getting a fire started half an hour or more before you want to sit around it or get cooking.
This model features full portability even when it’s completely assembled so there’s hardly any setup required once the propane tank and hose are connected.
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We’ll include one wood-burning model for the greatest variety. If you’re serious about cooking at your campsite, this is the model for you. It’s also far and away the best option for solo campers and hikers who like to strike out on their own.
This outdoor gas fire pit is smokeless, so you don’t have to worry about ash and debris like you would if you were cooking over a wood-burning fire pit. But it still puts out a comparable amount of heat despite its small size. A large group of campers might prefer a larger model, but this one is perfect for one, two, or three campers.
The ash pan for this steel propane gas fire pit not only catches the debris from the fire but also facilitates airflow up into the fire without allowing it to transfer into the ground below it, further reducing the risk of inadvertent fire spread.
Another clever safety feature on this model is the bonfire stand, which is basically just a second section that attaches easily but still keeps the fire pit stable on any flat surface. Since it doesn’t transfer heat as easily, you can burn a fire on more heat-sensitive surfaces as well.
This isn’t an ideal fire pit if you’re going a long way on foot to reach your campsite, but it is small enough for one person to carry a fairly short distance. Solo campers who stay in their cars or not far from them will love this product.
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Backpack carry straps make this model one of the most easily portable fire pits and a solid option for people who like to take a bit of a hike to reach more remote campsites.
It has everything you need in a portable fire pit: smokeless burn, stainless steel all-weather construction, lava rocks, CSA-approved spark-free design, an adjustable dial for the flame intensity, and a 10-foot hose to keep the propane at a safe distance from the fire itself.
A cover protects this fire pit when you don’t need it, even preventing UV rays from hitting the metal body and wearing it away or discoloring it over time. An automatic ignition system means you don’t have to worry about keeping a lighter on hand if you want to use this pit for your campfire.
You can keep some water nearby in case of an accident, but you can put a fire out just as easily as you can start it with the adjustment knob on this model.
The round ring on the base of this fire pit keeps it plenty stable, but it’s less adjustable than some of the models with multiple folding legs, so if you plan on putting this over rocks you might have a hard time getting it perfectly level.
Still, it’s a great fire pit that an adult can carry a pretty fair distance, so if you like to get away from the crowds you can take this fire pit with you to keep your fire area clean and make clean-up a cinch.
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A portable fire pit that runs on propane is a much better option for campers who don’t want to waste time with small chores when they reach their campsite. The OnlyFire Outdoor Propane Fire Pit is the best option by a long shot because you won’t have to gather firewood or face a lot of hassle when it’s time to clean up the campsite.
It’s easy to use and portable enough to get to the campsite. It’s ideal for any season. Plus, it’s big enough for several campers to gather around and cook s’mores or just swap stories. That’s what camping is all about, after all.
Outside of all the benefits all campfires have like acting as a cooking source, heat output, and pleasant ambiance, portable fire pit models have a few additional qualities that make them incredibly useful for campers of all kinds. Here are a few of the best reasons you should invest in a portable propane fire pit in 2021.
Traditional wood fires set up directly on the ground are far more likely to have contact with flammable elements of their surroundings such as sticks and leaves. Even if you are using wood as a fuel source in your portable fire pit, the worst they can do is scorch the side of the pit.
Granted, that’s not enough to keep these fire pits out of the list of banned gear included in campfire bans in places like California. But these portable fire pits are safer in general, which means you can concentrate on spending time with your fellow campers without having to obsess about the fire all the time.
Gathering sticks and kindling is another chore you can cut out of your camping routine if you bring a propane fire pit with you. Alright, so you’ll have to carry the tank. But that’s still much simpler than gathering tons of wood at the beginning and having to run over to the treeline to get more fuel if you run out too soon.
Some campsites don’t even let you gather firewood, so powering your fire with propane can be a huge space saver in the car as well. If you don’t have the advantage of a truck bed, constricting your campfire to a portable pit and a small propane tank is the best option by far.
No more fumbling with matches or risking injury with bottles of grill lighter fluid. When you have a portable propane tank, it’s as easy as introducing fire to the propane feed. It works just like lighting a gas grill or stove does – once the gas is coming, a small flame will set it burning continuously. Speaking of which…
Cooking over a campfire is great because you get that smoky flavor in your food. But you could also be getting lots of ash and a distracted chef may not realize that they’re cooking on a part of the campfire that doesn’t have enough heat to cook through meat.
Propane fires aren’t guaranteed to be hotter than wood campfires, but you can manipulate the flames and keep the flame consistent just like you can with a gas stove, which makes cooking food evenly and making sure it’s cooked through are both much easier.
If you’re only using the fire pit as a heat and light source, having it be consistent is still advantageous. It will radiate the same level of heat and light the whole time you have the propane burning, making it more dependable than a traditional campfire.
Fire restrictions notwithstanding, bringing a portable propane fire pit with you on your camping trip allows you to place your fire where you need to.
Most campsites are built to have flat ground and dedicated spaces for fire rings but if you want to go camping out in the backcountry or in a place that hasn’t been outfitted for campers, a fire pit will allow you to build your campfire on more challenging terrain.
Imagine you go beach camping, for example. The fire pit makes a campfire on the sand easier. In places where you might be on rocks or pavement or have ice and snow on the ground, the fire pit enables you to light a fire where you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about finding firewood in locations where large trees don’t grow.
Although these convenient little fire pits make the campfire a much simpler endeavor, they still create an open flame and have some safety concerns that bear repeating. If you’re using a portable propane fire pit, you have to know your way around a propane tank.
The propane should be scented just so you can smell any leaks, but that doesn’t mean you can be cavalier with fire around it. Keep the tank out of direct sunlight, don’t leave it in the car, and always make sure the valve is tightly closed when it isn’t in use.
No one but a licensed professional should refill the propane in your tank. Besides the tank, you should also take care not to set these fire pits up anywhere they could cause damage. Portability is a big draw for this gear, but that doesn’t mean it can go absolutely anywhere.
Keep the fire a safe distance from your tents and make sure there are no overhanging obstacles like tree branches that could catch on fire from the heat. Keep the fire pit stable at all times – the steel construction of most models gives them enough weight but remember that if you aren’t using wood as a fuel source then the fire pit will be much lighter.
Invest in a portable fire pit with a stabilizer and find something that can weigh down the legs for the safest setup possible. If you’re shopping for a portable propane fire pit in 2021, we recommend you invest your money wisely with one of these models
Bonus Tip: Check out this portable fire tip video for some safety tips!
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