Best Portable Propane Fire Pit for Camping
Best Portable Propane Fire Pit [email protected]
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BEST QUALITY Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
BEST BUDGET Camp Chef Compact Fire Ring Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
BEST FOR BIGGER GROUPS Outland Firebowl 883 Mega Outdoor Propane Gas Fire Pit
BEST OVERALL Bond Manufacturing 67836
Want to camp out, but the fire ban is ruining the experience for you? Fret not. What you need is a portable propane fire pit that will make you want to include this item in your must-have camping inventory list.
If you are a beginner camper, you may like something affordable and yet be able to fulfill the basic need of a portable propane fire pit. You may not need a bunch of nice-to-have features in a portable gas fire pit. You will find Camp Chef Fire Pit is one of the best propane fire pits in the beginners category. This camping fire pit provides the basic needs of warmth and is very portable.
If you are looking for the absolute best high quality fire pit and budget is not an issue, then you cannot go wrong with Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit. This small propane fire pit is constructed with high quality steel and is found to be a very reliable fire pit among the camping community.
If you are looking to prepare a propane campfire that can cater to larger camping groups, then Outland Firebowl 883 Mega Outdoor Propane Gas Fire Pit may be right fit for you and your fellow campers. It is 24″ wide, 5″ wider than the average 19″ bowl.
If you are looking for a fire bowl propane pit with great portability, lightweight and have the conveniences of the auto ignition function, Bond Manufacturing 67836 might strike the right balance for you. It is one of the more popular camping fire pits among the camping community. The setup is straightforward, allowing you more time for other camping activities.
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Why Trust Us
We are Jules and Ken. We are outdoor lovers, travellers and writers all rolled into one. You have seen our posts here reviewing lots of different types of outdoor gear, camping equipment, kayaking to cycling. Our reviews are guided by our years of experience being outdoors. We are happy to share our knowledge with you so that you can make a better choice for the best portable propane fire pit for camping.
We can confidently say that you are definitely at the right place. We have reviewed a long list of options, and you can save the trouble of reviewing it yourself. In this guide, we have listed down 5 picks for Best Portable Propane Fire Pit.
Best 5 Portable Propane Fire Pit
- Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
- Outland Firebowl 883 Mega Outdoor Propane Gas Fire Pit
- Camp Chef Compact Fire Ring Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
- Heininger 5995 58,000 BTU Portable Propane Outdoor Fire Pit
- Bond Manufacturing 67836
With the fire ban, you will be the only one with the portable fire pit in the entire campsite. This pot is CSA approved, meaning it can be used in campgrounds with fire restrictions. This pit is well built in construction using high quality steel with protective enamel finish for dependable longevity.
Once set up, this propane camping fire pit looks like a real campfire, just that it is in a 19 inch pot. It is pretty mobile as it comes with a lid and strap. This makes it easy to transport it around. However, there is no carrying bag, you will need to purchase it separately.
You will absolutely love this fire pit as the convenience alone is amazing. It is so easy to set up. It feels really nice to have a fire up on a cold morning. Just turn up the matchless auto ignition feature. At the end of the day, just turn it off and go to bed.
It provides a total output of 58,000 BTU per hour. You will be surprised by the amount of heat provided by this small pit. You can control it to have different heights for the flame using the valve knob. It feels pleasant to sit around the fire. It gives out great heat output and there is no longer a need to deal with smokey clothes.
For safety reasons, there is a pre-attached 10 foot hose with a regulator so that you can keep it out of sight. You can use this burner with a standard 20 lbs gallon propane tank. It comes with 4.4 lbs of natural lava rocks. The rocks help disperse the propane flame and enhance the flickering effect. Just place the lava rocks in the base and ignite it.
If you are looking for a long lasting portable propane fire pit, this is the one for you.
Pros
- Compact
- High quality steel bowl
- Comes with 10 foot propane hose
- Cover and carry kit included
- Auto ignition
Cons
- Carrying bag needs to be separately purchased
PROS
CONS
- Compact
- High quality steel bowl
- Comes with 10 foot propane hose
- Cover and carry kit included
- Auto ignition
- Carrying bag needs to be separately purchased
Outland Firebowl 883 Mega Outdoor Propane Gas Fire Pit
Outland Firebowl 883 is the bigger version of Outland Firebowl 870, measuring 24″ wide versus 19″ wide on the 870. It provides the same amount of 58,000 BTU/ hour as Firebowl 870. This is best used when you have a larger camping group of 6 adults. Especially now when you are trying to keep a distance from each other, a bigger sized bowl would be perfect.
It uses a 20 lbs propane tank cylinder, which you must purchase separately. It comes with 6.6 lbs more lava rocks. It comes with a UV and weather resistant lid, which allows this pit to withstand punishing weather. It also has a long 10 foot hose for your propane tank.
This portable camping propane fire pit sits lower to the ground, providing better stability. This also means that it can better radiate heat providing warmth to those sitting closer to the pit. Because the lower ring does not get hot, it can be placed on a mat, grass or deck without any damage to the surfaces. You even set up a grill top to roast marshmallows or hotdogs.
If you are looking for a fire pit for a bigger crowd of campers, this will fit your needs perfectly.
Pros
- Larger unit than the Outland Firebowl 870
- CSA approved
- For bigger camp groups
- 24″ wide
- Lower in height, better heat radiation
Cons
- Carrying bag need to be separately purchased
- Manual ignition
- Soft top cover
PROS
CONS
- Larger unit than the Outland Firebowl 870
- CSA approved
- For bigger camp groups
- 24″ wide
- Lower in height, better heat radiation
- Carrying bag need to be separately purchased
- Manual ignition
- Soft top cover
You will instantly fall in love with this unit. This is the smallest propane fire pit among the 5 pits we have reviewed at 15” in diameter and 7 in tall with its legs deployed.
This pit has the charm and warmth of the wood fire. It comes with 12 lbs of natural lava rock set that helps enhance the flickering effect. The fire is adjustable by controlling the heat control valve. It is easy to set up without much hassle.
Camp Chef Compact Fire Ring provides a total output of 55,000 BTU/hour. You need a 5 gallon propane tank to accompany it. It will last approximately 3 days for weekend campout. There is a pre-attached 5 foot hose. It comes with 2 extendable roasting sticks, so that you can even roast marshmallows or hotdogs.
Especially, if you have kids, having a portable propane fire pit is a safer option. You will no longer need to deal with sparks flying out. Definitely cost saving than buying camp wood.
It cools down fast after turning off, so you do not need to tend to the fire when going to bed. There is a carry bag included, so you can easily tuck it in when you pack up. The folding legs allow the pit to be compact, making it easier to store in your truck.
If you are looking for a no frills fire pit, this is the one for you.
Pros
- Smaller in size and compact
- Affordable
- Carry bag included
- Hose and regulator attached
- Foldable legs
- 2 extendable roasting sticks
Cons
- Manual ignition
- Shorter hose
PROS
CONS
- Smaller in size and compact
- Affordable
- Carry bag included
- Hose and regulator attached
- Foldable legs
- 2 extendable roasting sticks
- Manual ignition
- Shorter hose
You do not need to worry about the weather if there is rain or wind as you can turn it on anytime you want it. Usually, where fire bans are in place, solid fuels are not allowed, but liquid fuels are. This is because the fire is easily put out by just cutting off the gas. It is CSA approved, so you should have no problems in campsites with fire ban.
It provides 58,000 BTU/per hour, and is able to provide warmth to up to 4 persons. It weighs 22 lbs on its own, which is light for portability. It is considered a midsized pot with a width of 19.25 inches.
It is an excellent quality made item. It has a sturdy base with permanent legs which is designed six inches off the ground. This will keep the lower bottom cool so you will need to worry about setting the ground alight. Safety is taken into account as it comes with a 10 foot hose to keep your fire away from the tank.
You can control how high and low the flame you want it to be. The lava rocks come in 3 sizes. Place the smaller rocks at the bottom, larger rocks at the top. If you want to radiate more heat, just add more rocks in it. The only setback is you need to bring your own lighter as there is no built in igniter.
Pros
- 10 foot hose
- lightweight
- CSA approved
- Permanent legs
Cons
- Manual ignition
- No lid
PROS
CONS
- 10 foot hose
- lightweight
- CSA approved
- Permanent legs
- Manual ignition
- No lid
This fire pit is made with high quality steel frame, with a rubbed bronze finish. It comes in 2 colors, bronze or black. There are air holes available around the pit to allow oxygen for the campfire. It is considered a midsize pit at 18.5″ wide and 14.7″ high.
One of the highlights is the smart locking metal lid, with a handle that locks into the fire pit. You do not need any extra straps, just lock and carry away. So no worries about rocks spilling all over when moving around. We also like the fact that it is one of the lightest pits among the propane fire pits we have reviewed, at only 18 lbs.
Another feature worth noting is it comes with an auto ignition function, so you will not need to worry about forgetting to bring a lighter. It comes with a 10 foot gas hose which is sufficient to keep your tank away from the pit. A tank stand is also provided to prevent the tank from tipping over.
This pit produces 50,000 BTU output /hour which is sufficient for a small family. Getting a 20 lbs propane tank to go along with it will complete the entire set up. You will appreciate the permanent legs that come with the pit. It helps to prevent the bottom from getting hot.
You will be one happy camper with this all in one fire pit.
Pros
- Smart locking metal lid
- Super light
- Auto ignition function
- 10 foot gas hose
- Tank stand
Cons
- No carry bag
PROS
CONS
- Smart locking metal lid
- Super light
- Auto ignition function
- 10 foot gas hose
- Tank stand
- No carry bag
View More Camping Tips
Benefits Of Getting a Portable Propane Fire Pit
Wood fire ban
With raging forest fires and for safety reasons no wood fires allowed in many campsites. Furthermore, certain sites do not allow you to transport firewood due to bug concerns. However, many will be surprised to find that most campgrounds allow the usage of propane fire pits. The reason is because it does not spark and it lacks ash.
Lighter
It weighs less and takes up less place compared to firewood.
Less commitment
If you are used to camping, you will know that making a wood fire takes time and commitment. And you need to deal with the clean up exercise afterwards.
Clean and smoke free
With firewood camping, at the end of the day, it is common that you end up with smoky clothes. Now with a propane fire pit, you do not need to keep moving your sitting position when the wind changes. And the best part, it is cost saving. There is no need to purchase expensive firewood.
Safety
Propane fire pit has great safety features, as there are no sparks or smoke getting into your eyes. You can turn it off or on straight away especially if you have young kids in the way.
Buying Guide
Heat Output
BTUs (British Thermal Unit) controls how much heat the unit gives out. The higher the BTU, the better it generates warmth. Go for a higher BTU if you are camping in larger groups as you have to sit further away from the fire.
Do know that a propane fire pit will release less heat than wood fire, but it is sufficient enough to keep you warm.
Material
Materials made of steel can last longer as it is rust free. Another material often used is copper. Powder coated metals are more durable than painted finishes.
Size
A bigger fire pit can cater to more people, but it does not necessarily generate more heat. Find a pit that accommodates the people you are camping with. The average mid size pit measures about 19 inches, while a big fire pit would measure somewhere around 24 inches or larger.
A mid size pit would fit a family of 4 comfortably, while a large pit would fit a group of 6 adults comfortably.
Portability
Some portable fire pits are designed to allow you to easily carry it with handles or straps. There are smart features such as the smart locking lid, which works by just twisting the lid and the unit auto locks the fire pit in place. Some units come with a carry bag so that you can just sling it up and carry it to your campsite. There are also designs with foldable legs, to allow it to be packed up into a compact size.
Size of Hose Length
The average length of the gas hose is 5 feet long. But having a longer gas hose e.g. 10 feet long will help keep the tank away from the fire. Also, with a longer gas hose, it will not take a spot around the fire pit.
Built-In Lighter
Some fire pits come with the conveniences of a built-in lighter so that you will not need to deal with lighting matches or using a lighter stick.
Summary
If you still cannot decide and need a final recommendation for the best portable propane fire pits, then we would recommend Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit.
It generally has all the features you need for a dependable fire pit. It is reliably durable due to the use of high quality steel bowl. The setup is straightforward, allowing you more time for other camping activities. You will love the auto ignite features making it easy to start up a fire. The firepit is super portable thanks to its cover and carry kit features. You will definitely want this fire pit as part of your camping inventory.
What's Next
If you are looking for a tent heater instead of a propane fire pit, check out our reviews for the Best Tent Heater. Or if you are looking for a portable camping chair to sit next to your fire, check out our recommended Best Heavy Duty Camping Chairs.
I hope you enjoyed this review and if you have questions about any of the Best Portable Propane Fire Pit, or want to leave your own personal review, feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
