Portable Fire Pits Make Great Gifts
A fire pit is an essential part of the glamping experience. It’s one of the things which sets it apart from traditional camping as lots of traditional campsites don’t allow fires. Sometimes, they will allow fires that are raised off the ground but you usually have to bring your own or pay extra to rent one from the site – some fire pits can be very heavy and it’s not ideal to be transporting a big, ashy, sooty fire pit home in the car with you as it takes up a lot of room and can make all your luggage dirty.
Happily there are now many lightweight and portable fire pits you can use for camping, for adding an extra fire to your glamping experience, for taking to the beach on a nice evening and for using in your own garden. Although we don’t know for sure if we’ll be locked down again over autumn and winter, outdoor socialising is much safer than being indoors so having a fire provides the essential warmth and ambience you need for a night “out” with friends. A portable, folding fire pit is ideal for use in small back yards and gardens as it can be collapsed and stored out of the way when you’re not using it so it won’t take up any of your usable outside space.
When choosing a portable fire pit consider whether you’re just after heat, light and atmosphere or whether you want to be able to cook over it. Some fire pits come with a grill that you can use to turn the fire pit into a barbecue while others are suitable just for fires. Of course, seasoned campers and hikers may have all the kit needed to cook over an open fire without the need for a separate grill, so in those cases a grill isn’t the most important factor. Portability varies with portable fire pits, with some designed to fit into a rucksack and others more suited to trips with a car.
La Hacienda is a well-known brand which makes outdoor cooking and heating solutions, including chimineas and fire pits. Their camping fire bowl is perfect for families and small groups and includes a grill and barbecue tools so you can cook over it. A mesh lid allows you to get the heat you want without any spitting sparks posing a risk to little ones. Their most popular model has folding legs which support the rigid bowl, so although it’s portable and comes with a carrying bag, it isn’t particularly compact.
The Uttora portable barbecue has a similar concept although it is rectangular rather than round. This is a little smaller, but again, not suited to a long hike. The grill allows for easy cooking and because the distance between the fire and the grill is uniform (unlike bowl shaped options where the temperature will vary at different points on the grill) it will be easy to cook on. If you’re more concerned with cooking and aren’t after something that will house a fire late into the evening, this model is ideal for you.
One of the most compact options is the folding mesh style which is available from several brands. This fire pit is raised a little higher than the others on a folding tetrapod (four legged tripod) frame so it’s ideal for a back garden soiree where people may be standing or sitting on garden furniture rather than the ground. The mesh top holds the fire in safely although you won’t be able to use very big logs with this style. Because the mesh allows air to flow in from underneath it’s a doddle to get this fire pit lit and keep it that way. This is a great option if you want something very compact and lightweight.
For something a little sturdier but still as compact for travel the Lixada camping stove fits the bill. This sits quite close to the ground so it’s ideal for a group with kids – this is really hard to knock over. It is also very enclosed so there’s a lower risk of sparks flying out. The holes in the side walls let the heat and light out and allow you to slide in more wood when needed. It is quite small, and doesn’t have a grill making it better suited to a small garden for socialising rather than a group day out.
Finally, the Fenner Hexagon camping fire pit deserves a mention due to its ingenious folding, clip-together design. This model is also quite small so better suited to garden use rather than a big beach group day out, and it sits directly on the ground – be careful where you set this up as it could damage the grass beneath it. Bricks can be used to provide a base and a bit of extra height. We just love the unique shape and the fact this will fit into a rucksack so it’s perfect for adventurous types who love outdoor living – it would make a great addition to a winter DIY glamping trip and for a back garden drinks event.
If you didn’t see the perfect portable fire pit in this article, don’t despair as there are so many options on the market that the hardest thing is making a final decision!
