With this propane-powered fire pit you can enjoy all the warmth of a campfire without the wood. This forest-friendly alternative is great for no-trace camping. The portable pit incorporates a 60,000 BTU high-pressure burner, hose and regulator to produce plenty of heat. Comes with 12 lbs. of lava rocks to complete the look. Includes a carry bag for easy portability and storage. Propane cylinder not included.
Gives off a good flame and heat once the rocks heat up good! Get done with it....just turn it off! Much easier than starting then putting out a fire, dealing with debris, etc...
I researched several propane fire ring/pit options before settling on the Camp Chef fire ring.
Pros: *Portable (handy case) *Easy Assembly (attach propane, arrange lava rocks/logs, and light!) *Great Heat (used in 40-60+ degree weather, clear or cloudy) *Awesome Atmosphere (our model features the ceramic logs as well as the lava rock, a definite plus)
Cons: *Low To The Ground (better for safety but not for "atmosphere"/viewing of the actual "fire") *Folding/Not Locking Legs (great for portability but not so much for stability/safety)
We've had our fire ring for about a year (it's used 1x a week-nightly on our deck during spring-fall) and it's still running great.
It's picked up a little rust (we live in Western WA and had left it outside - with a cover over it - during the months we used it/had some rain) but it's quite minimal/would be easy to address.
On the height issue, we found a heavy-gauge metal 3-legged plant stand to place it on/feed the folding legs through, which provided a nice cozy fire that we can enjoy visually as well as physically (heat).
Regarding the heat output...I would not consider it a functional primary heat source, but for our purposes (more atmosphere than heat but the heat's a bonus when it gets chilly!) it fits the bill just fine. The bottom line: the more heat/longer you have it on, the more LP you'll burn through.
Overall, a definite plus for use in areas where a traditional fire bowl/pit would not be safe/wise to use (i.e. deck).
You would be hard-pressed to find something akin to this product at this price with these features/flexibility.
I bought this late in the season last year and only started to use it this season. First off, I love a wood fire. However due to dangerous pests that travel in wood, it is illegal to transport firewood out of an area. At a campground finding deadfall is hit or miss. Wet or scarce. Buying firewood is expensive and can be non-seasoned. Then there is the fact that I will not leave hot embers when I retire and that either means waiting it out or using a lot of water. No thanks. I have used this item twice so far and love it. Take the burner out and set it where you want, assemble the logs and lava stone (use latex gloves) connect the tank and light it. A great campfire with no smoke blowing in faces, no sparks to start a forest fire and looks great with great heat. Just turn it off when you are done. Like a few people, I want a longer hose to come with it. It is only 4' and should be at least 8 or 12'. The legs are a pain in that they do not stay open when you move it. They should have a simple clip to hold them in place. Mine came with two full bags of lava rocks which do not show in the pic and they add greatly to the performance. All in all, this is a great item to have and easy to use. Goodbye burning wood.