Breeo vs. Solo Stove: Which Smokeless Fire Pit Is Better?

Assembly

Winner: It's a tie!

We won't spend much time here because neither product requires any assembly. You can take them both out of the box, set them in a fire-safe spot, and light it up. That's one of the significant benefits of both of these fire pits.

Portability

Winner: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

Stainless steel isn't light. And even though these are portable fire pits and lighter than your traditional large iron pits, we wouldn't say either is exceptionally portable. But we'll give the nod to the Bonfire 2.0 for two reasons: It comes with a carrying case and is about 8 pounds lighter than the Y Series while still being about the same size.

"This is actually quite heavier than expected," one tester of the Bonfire 2.0 reported. "While the specs say 20 pounds, it feels like 30 since it's such a large diameter. Even though it comes with a carrying case, as you carry it more than a few steps, it will bang on your legs unless you have the deltoids of Dwayne Johnson. Two people could easily carry it for a short distance, however."

Now, the weight does come with some caveats. We think the added weight for the Y Series likely comes from the extension legs. The Y Series lifts to multiple heights from the ground with the extension legs. To raise the Bonfire 2.0 from the ground, the additional stand is required (sold separately), which would add some weight.

But if transportation and portability is your main deciding factor, go with the Bonfire 2.0.

Heating Performance

Winner: It's a tie!

Seriously, you can't go wrong with either. As someone who has frequently struggled to light a fire in the wilderness (OK, fine, also in fireplaces and campsite fire pits.), I appreciate the innovations made in smokeless fire pits. Starting an efficient fire is where both of these fire pits excel.

Solo Stove does it with its 360-degree Signature Airflow, which sends air through the bottom of the fire pit to ignite the flame. It then "super-heats" the air to burn off smoke before leaving the pit. Double-wall construction also helps create excellent heat retention. Once started, there's little fuel needed to sustain the fire.

"The benefit is clearly once you've got a fire going," a tester reported. "There are no advanced features other than the basic design: air flows in from the bottom of the fire to produce a well-fueled burn, and air recirculates to the top to combust excess smoke. It is a very hot fire that evenly burns the logs, and the combustion is so efficient and thorough, no embers or unburnt logs are remaining."

Using basically the same technology, the Y Series uses what Breeo calls Y Airflow technology (get it?). Air comes in through the bottom while cool air enters the double wall simultaneously. That air gets super-heated (like the Bonfire 2.0) and exits the double walls at the rim of the fire pit. The heated oxygen creates a second burn that reduces the smoke.

Now, there are some limitations to this. Wind can push around the super-heated air as it leaves at the rim, and smoke can escape. So, these fire pits will be smokeless on a perfectly still and calm day or night. But on windier days, you'll have to accept the smoke.

One plus for the Y Series that could push it over the edge for some people is it can burn wood pellets and lump charcoal, while the Bonfire 2.0 will need wood. So if you don't have wood at hand—or don't like burning wood—you might consider the Y Series.

Design

Winner: It's a tie!

You might be getting annoyed with the ties. But there are a lot of similarities and a lot to like about both of these pits. The double-wall circular airflow makes them very similar. And they're both circular stainless steel fire pits.

"The airflow component of the design definitely works," one tester noted of the Bonfire 2.0. "It's a hotter, more thorough fire, and it is a good way to get every ounce of fuel out of your logs."

Both products have one unique feature we particularly like, so you'll have to decide which one matters most. The Y Series has the extending legs that we really loved. I tested it at and around my house in southern California towards the end of the summer and the beginning of fall (read: wildfire season). We live in the classic wildland-urban interface in rugged and dry mountains and hills near the coast between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. I loved being able to lift the pit off the ground (we mainly kept it on the concrete to be safe).

Meanwhile, the Bonfire 2.0 has the new ashtray pan, which really does help clean up. It's a problem lifting or scooping out ash from the Y Series. So if easy clean-up is your jam, the Bonfire 2.0 is probably the better choice. But the Y Series is the better choice if you don't want to buy the stand add-on and still want your fire pit lifted.

Cooking

Winner: Breeo Y Series

Both fire pits come with cooking add-ons. But we liked the options from Breeo a bit more. Breeo offers an Outpost Grill system, Searplate Griddle Stand, Outpost Kettle Cook, and Cast Iron Kettle. We particularly loved cooking on the Outpost Grill System and outside rim of the Y Series. It allows for a lot of cooking surface area, can be raised and lowered depending on how hot your fire is and how quickly or slowly you want to cook, and can swing on and off the fire (excellent for loading wood). There was just so much diversity that we loved and I enjoyed cooking on it more than our typical propane-fueled grill.

We do appreciate that Solo Stove offers cast iron griddles and especially the cast-iron wok. But we found the cooking much more enjoyable and innovative on the Y Series.

Value

Winner: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

Look, there's a lot to love about the Breeo Y Series. I really do love that fire pit a lot. But if you're looking for the best value, we'd have to lean with the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0. (Especially with it being on sale at the time of publication on Solo Stove's site.) Both fire pits have very similar technology and performance. But the Bonfire 2.0 costs less and comes with the carrying case.

Why Trust TripSavvy

Nathan Allen is TripSavvy's Outdoor Gear Editor. He grew up in a home of foresters that heated the house during the winter with a fireplace. He's also been camping his entire life and appreciated gathering around the fire for food and communion at the end of the day.

These fire pits were tested as part of a portable fire pit test that included 26 portable fire pits and months of testing. Fire pits were tested by staff editors in varying conditions and settings around the country.