My main – and completely unscientific – test for the presence of smoke basically came down to whether or not I had to wash my hair before bed! I can’t stand the smell of smoke-filled hair, and on those windier days, I did have to take a shower. The poker conveniently has a hook at one of its ends, which makes removing and adjusting the mesh cover easy when you need to add more wood. The lid itself is light and easy to move, and it feels sturdy. We had no problem lifting the lid when it came time to roast a marshmallow, for instance. Also, throughout the duration of our time using the fire pit, we didn't experience any embers escaping through the screen. If you want a fire pit with a unique shape and modern appearance, we recommend the Novogratz Poolside Collection, Asher 27" Wood Burning Fire Pit. This fire pit has a rounded, bubble-like shape and is available in an array of colors, including red, aqua, green, white, and gray. We also think it's a great value due to its even heating performance and accessories including a grill, grill tool, lid, and spark screen (although we wish it came with a cover). Dimensions of the Ranger are: 38cm in diameter and 32cm high, on the stand it is 35cm high. It only weighs 6.8kg. It’s not recommended to build around a Solo Stove as it can obstruct ventilation and increase the risk of fire.

First for the science bit. Solo Stove’s smokeless situation works via secondary burn, made possible thanks to its double-skin steel construction with vent holes at the top and bottom. Cool air is pulled through the bottom, heats up within the double cavity, and rises to the top, which invokes secondary combustion as the hot air exits the top vents. If you’re looking for the look and feel of a traditional fire pit that you can enjoy on a tabletop, we recommend the Solo Stove Mesa Smokeless model. The unit is compact, measuring 5.1 inches in diameter and 6.8 inches tall, as well as lightweight, weighing only 1.24 pounds. It comes with a stand and a carrying bag, making it easy to tote around and use in different settings. We also appreciate that it includes a pellet adapter, so you can choose between using regular kindling or pellets to start the fire. Although this unit is not noted as being a smokeless fire pit, it produced less smoke than we expected. We also found it easy to clean, as we only needed to lift the unit to expel the ashes from the pit. Note that while this fire pit has a large bowl, we do recommend making sure it's not overloaded with wood, to keep the smoke, embers, and sparks under control. But is the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 really smokeless? This has to be the million-dollar question and the answer, from me, is yes. And no.Lighting the Bonfire 2.0 is the same as lighting a woodburner indoors, or any other fire for that matter. Apart from a decade renting in various cities, I’ve always lived in the country, in homes featuring some form of wood fire. This meant I didn’t need Solo Stove’s fire lighting instructions but they’re fairly standard, and I was glad to read I’ve been doing it right all these years.

Installation is straightforward. Centre your Ranger on top of the stand, and presto, you are ready to go! Place your Solo Stove Ranger Stand inside the Ranger for easy storage and transport. When we tested the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 on a more inclement day – when there were mild Spring-time winds but nothing that would dry your sheets in record time – the firepit was more or less smokeless. But, on the days when we tested it when the wind appeared to be coming from three directions – as it often does here on the edge of Dartmoor – its smokeless powers failed somewhat. Testing this fire pit for four months confirmed that it's a great smokeless option, especially if you like a simple, stainless steel design. After our initial learning curve, we had no problem setting the fire up properly to fully unitize the smokeless feature. We continued to appreciate how the smoke was funneled upwards, so we never smelled like smoke or could feel smoke blowing at us. We also found it very easy to clean out and store and noticed no changes to the appearance over time. Just note that we did find it heavy to move, so make sure you have someone around to help.It’s not recommended to put a Solo Stove in a fire pit as it can obstruct ventilation and increase the risk of fire.