Solo Stove’s Bonfire Helped Me Rediscover the Magic of My Backyard — Plus, It’s on Major Sale Right Now

I love entertaining — cookouts, dinner parties, fondue soirées, you name it. And when it comes to gatherings, there’s nothing I adore more than cozying up around a fire pit. So, when my husband, two kids, and I found ourselves sheltering in place in spring 2020, I knew we needed a new fire pit to improve the mood during all those nights spent hanging out in our backyard.

My husband was influenced by two extremely persuasive sources — myself and ads on the Tony Kornheiser show — and that May, he bought aSolo Stove Bonfire, a 20”-wide wood-burning fire pit that fit perfectly on our little brick patio. We fired it up, grabbed some marshmallows, and madea fresh batch of s’mores. It was fire-pit perfection!

We have the original Bonfire, which the brand callsthe Fire Pit 1.0. In the three years since buying ours, the brand has upgraded tothe newer Bonfire 2.0, which is essentially the same thing, but includes one helpful difference — a removable ash pan that makes cleaning the fire pit even easier. All you need to do is wait for the pit to cool down, and then remove the tray and dispose of the ashes.

But mostly, I really appreciatehow easy the fire pit is to use. My husband, a former Boy Scout, can start a fire with nothing more than a ball of lint and a little elbow grease, but I’m a city kid, so the fact that I can easily light up the Solo Stove Bonfire is a blessing — just toss in a few pieces of wood and start it up.

Beyond its sleek stainless steel look, portability, and ease of use, theBonfire is also entirely smokeless, which other fire pits can’t quite tout. The Solo Stove burns off the smoke before it gets a chance to waft up from the fire, so it doesn’t bother sensitive eyes and prevents your hair and clothes from reeking of campfire (a delightful smell, according to my husband — but not me!). It also creates a better experience for friends because no one ends up in a “bad spot” around the campfire, with the smoke blowing in their face.

ForDeputy Editor, Kelly Dawson, whohas the newer Bonfire 2.0, it brings all the cozy vibes. “There’s something so calming and heartwarming about spending time outside with my loved ones by a fire — and not to mention, it’s also an easy way to bring the party outside!,” she says. “The Solo Stove is easy to set up and makes a strong design impression, and I’m looking forward to another summer of using it.”

Since we bought ourSolo Stove Bonfirein 2020, my family and I have rediscovered the magic of our backyard. We use it all the time for homemade pizzas and s’mores, and have loved having friends over in a safe way.

Solo Stove is currently running amassive 4th of July salefrom now through July 9, where shoppers can enjoy up to 50 percent off all fire pits and fire pit bundles, including grill accessory bundles.(TheBonfire 2.0 is currently on sale for $229.99!) Solo Stove also offers fire pits in a large range of sizes, from the27-inch Yukon 2.0all the way down to the5.1-inch tabletop Mesa, whichShopping Director, Jada Wong, used all winter long. The main differences are in sizing. All of the Solo Stove fire pits have the same basic features otherwise, so choose the one that’s right for your space.

• Start your Bonfire with three to four hardwood logs (Solo Stove recommends kiln-dried oak or maple), and place them close to the inner walls of the fire pit for the most efficient burn.
• Upgrade your fire pit with cooking tools. When I see fire, my first instinct is to cook on it. Fortunately, Solo Stove makes cast iron griddles and woks as well aspizza oven attachmentsto help me achieve that goal.
• Get the size that suits you. Solo Stove offers fire pits in a range of sizes, from the27” Yukon 2.0to the5.1” tabletop Mesa.
  
  Buy:Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0, $259.99 (originally $399.99)
  
  This post originally appeared on Kitchn. See it here:Solo Stove’s Bonfire Helped Me Rediscover the Magic of My Backyard — Plus, It’s on Major Sale Right Now