No More Wood Campfires! It's Time to Switch to Propane Firepits 

Thanks for all the great comments! One correction to this video 9:12 The Ignik Firecan puts out 38,000 BTU's.

My experience owning a little red . . . 1. Ceramic logs are fragile, and they will gather “character” over time. 2. You WILL get to meet any Karens or Chads in the area, like moths to a flame. Try to be nice when you’re explaining the safety/compliance of your fire. It can get dicey, and I owe some apologies to a guy that walked into my camp demanding I put it out. 3. Propane fires are just not as hot as a traditional fire, making a down wind seating position preferable (as compared to a traditional fire). This makes them great for summer ambience, but not that great when you’re actually trying to stay warm. One cheat I’ve found for the heat issue is to set it up in a screened in room with a dirt floor. I’ve been running propane pits for ten years now because of the burn bans, and the over used meme of the week during a fall “camping” trip (drought meant burn bans into October) is that “It’s better than nothing!”

Nothing can compare to a traditional fire camp , the sparks, the pops, the smell of the smoke 😍

Thank you for going out of your way to also place them inside the car to get an idea of how much space they use

I’ve had the little red for over 15 yrs and it’s still going strong. When out with others who had different styles of propane pits, the little red was always the smallest with the most heat output.

A propane firepit is definitely the way to go. I resisted for years, but this year on a 5 week RV trip, not a single place we stayed had a firepit and all had a restriction on open fires with ash. The Outland was awesome and kept us comfortable in the evening when the temps dropped.

1:45 Missed opportunity Brad, should have said show the pros and PAINS of each of these! Always love to see your videos in the sub box! Keep it up!

Such a great video. I love my little red campfire and bought just because of this video. I’ve used it on so many trips and absolutely love it. We even set it up at home on the front porch to use whenever we want. Thanks for so the great info and wisdom AND entertainment!

I’ve had the Outland for a couple of years myself and I love it because in Arizona we have a lot of no burn days with how dry it is. Plus I love having a fire and making sure that my forests I love so much don’t get burned down. Like you said though space is always a challenge.

Good video! Just want to mention, the firebowl can convert to a cooking grill with a few L breckets and wing nut bolts on the bowl rim. you can get a grill that fits perfectly under the cover for transporting as normal. we have used it for a few years now for campfire/cooking..yes you need to upgrade to a more dense lava rock for MUCH Less dust and it holds more heat for better warmth! Most drippings from cooking turns to ash. We do clean it out about every month when on the road. Oh and , being a ''cooking appliance'' in some states/parks, you can get away with useing it when a portable campfire is a no no, Just have a marshmello on a stick handy if a Ranger comes by!

I purchased the Outland fire pit about a year ago and it’s worked out great. Mine did come with a four way strap/carry handle to keep the lid on and make it easier to transport. Definitely agree the carry bag to contain the mess is a necessity.

My wife and kids got me the Outland Firebowl for my birthday and we love it! Granted, we pull a travel trailer with our Gladiator so space isn't a problem but I love the bigger size and we haven't had the opportunity to take it camping yet but we've used it on our patio next to the hot tub and the contribution it makes to the atmosphere plus the heat it provides when you get out of the tub and are drying off are awesome. Another great and informative video though.

I am a off-roading convert, but have backpacked the sierras over the past four or five years. And the number of times I have been allowed to light a wood fire is in the single digits. Now that I have the luxury of a vehicle to carry my gear, it’s time to get a propane fire pit. Thanks for sharing this info - looks like it’ll be great for my area.

I just picked up the Firecan and gave it a test for the last 3 nights at home. It will run on that Ignik 5lb for a long time! I am going out for a trip for a week and it will be put to the test. I think around the group of 5 it won't work out, but at least we have something and most importantly, it will fit in my Jeep and I can use the tank for the stove. We also have the largest Outland for the patio hooked up to Natural Gas. They are great and put out a ton of heat. But, too large for a Jeep out for a week with the family.

I got the outland at Costco maybe a year ago. I love it. I don't transport it though it stays on my deck! Has held up great, good buy for the price especially at Costco

I love having a wood campfire. However in recent years it has become much dryer here in Colorado with many burn bands and has necessitated the need for a propane fire pit. I have a Outland and Little Red and both have worked very well. I find the Little Red the warmer of the two. There are however places they are nor allowed, every Forrest and State have different rules. Thanks for the good review Brad.

I just bought the Ignik firecan last week, even better got it the day REI started their 4th July sale, and it was 50% off! My 6yr old daughter and I have been practicing making s’mores on it, and she appreciates the lack of smoke for sure. It’s a perfect size for 3 people

We bought the Outland at Costco on sale on a whim. Took it in our JT with our Opus2, and we are in love. No burn bans in AZ means it's a must. No smoke, but messy. Looking on Amazon at ceramic small "logs" less mess, more realistic looking campfire.

for me there is no real campfire without wood and smoke, and because of environmental considerations (footprint, CO2 balance, etc) I am not a friend of butane... but in recent years I have been forced to use it because of regulations that impede open fires... I know we ARE TALKING HERE ABOUT FIRE-PITS, but anyway, If it would be my choice I would always choose to remain as close to "natural" as possible= the "real thing" = wood (as a good twig-stove like Firebox), following the same line of thought I would also always prefer my old faithful companions: the Trangia spiritus stove, the old Coleman white gas stove, the Svea123, Optimus omnifuel, or even the MSR "Whispy"... so this time I will not consider your analysis, which is by the way very consistent and informative as ever!

Little Red looks like a good all around choice. Relatively compact design, plenty of heat, carry case included.

Great job explaining the wee fire pits. Thanks. Bangkok John.

Great video 💪🏼

I’m waiting for my Lava Box to arrive. Not sure why you don’t get one. Much better flame than any of the 3 shown. Thanks

Glad you are doing this review. Definitely a good watch.

We've had the Little Red Campfire and love it. It came down to size for us. We keep it in our motorhome and I've taken it to Death Valley for our annual trip in the back of my JL. Works great for us and even with a small group of 4 guys.

HUGE bonus for the Camco…you can cook on it! (With the optional stand)

Thanks for the comparison, Brad. I got the Ignik Firecan from REI during the Memorial Day sale. I have not tried it yet but looking forward to using it. I like the compactness of it. Especially space in the Jeep is limited. Should be enough for me and another person.

I have one similar to the Outback. I'm so glad we're on the same page with this. My eyes are freaking sensitive to wood fires smoke and I'm always finding myself moving around the campfire staying away from it. Also, I freaking hate the smoke smell the next morning 🤣🤣

That Was Good Thanks

Your absolutely correct,I'm gonna finish out my wood pile then "little red".perfect!Thanks.

Thank you for making this video. You're right, with fire bans becoming more commonplace, adding this option to your kit is gaining value for us, as we often boondock for several months at a time. Having one of these will provide an option to continue feeling the warmth of a fire, in times of a campfire ban.

Thanks Brad. I have the Outland and keep it in my Adventure Trailer. I use a webbing strap to keep it closed (the struggle is real!) The pit has been going strong since 2017. I like the others you show two. Always great to have a choice!

Bought one about a month ago. No smoke easy on and off . I love it. Got a19” Outland

My wife and I just returned from a short 3 day camping trip. We've been discussing a switch or, at least partial switch, to a propane firepit. In our area of Western North Carolina, fire restrictions are much less common than in the western states given all the rain/moisture we enjoy. However, because of insect infiltration, we are pretty much prohibited from carrying our own firewood even when camping locally. We purchased the Outland 24" pit after viewing this video. It is LARGE and took up quite a bit of room in the back of my Ford F150 short bed pickup. I transported it in the box, which made it even bigger. Our first night, I ran it pretty much full blast and was amazed at how much heat it put out. Foolishly, I moved my chair back from the heat rather than regulating the heat output at the pit itself. The second night I was much more conservative and found that even on low, the pit put out significant heat. We got three full nights of about 2 to 3 hour fires on a 20 lb. propane tank. There was still some propane left for our return trip home but I'll bet another 30 minutes would have exhausted it. Going home, I transported the pit with the nylon cover sans box and it fit nicely under my tool box making significantly more room. The box will now be used for storage between trips only. The campground we were at sold firewood bundles that appeared to consist of 5 to 6 pieces of dried pine at a cost of around $8.00 a bundle. At least that was the cost the last time we purchased wood there. For three nights, we would easily have spent $60.00 on firewood so to do a propane exchange on 20 lb. tank for $23.00 at my local grocery store is a good buy. At that rate, the pit will pay for itself in just a few trips. We very much appreciated not having to move out of the smoke as the wind changed direction and appreciated simply turning it on and off for a fire. We did miss the smell of a campfire and you certainly don't generate embers for cooking in your Dutch oven. Still, the benefits seem to far outweigh the negatives based on our first trip.

Great review, Brad! I’ve had the Camco Big Red and it’s the perfect setup for me. It’s just like the Little Red except easier to get a few more people around, longer 10’ hose, and the handle on the lid folds flat so the lid can be used as a stand to prop the firepit up higher to you if desired. Agree on the latches but everything else is great, and live that I don’t get lava dust everywhere in my car!

Really enjoying my Lavabox. Made in the USA by a family manufacturer with a great warranty. If I had more spare time I would have made it myself.

Brad there is a new one to add to the test and I love it. It is exactly like the Outland but smaller. It is the Outland Firecube. It is only 14". And of course it has those rocks which really heat up and put off a ton of heat! Now it isn't as small as the Little Red, but I am guessing that it is better because of those rocks. And maybe it can slot between the two. Love to hear what you think. I keep my 24" on the patio now. Thanks!

I bought the Ignik when it was first announced and available at REI in November of 2021. We have loved it for its size and ease of use. Brad, you are right. It is not the warmest, and if you turn it way up the 5lb bottle will be depleted in a short time. But it is just me and my wife. We huddle close to each other and to it and it is great! I did put ceramic logs in it, but they produce a lot of suet which can lead to black smudges on the Firecan and on you. So I’ll be replacing them with a small layer of lava rock or smooth fire stones very soon.

We have converted to a propane fire pit similar to the first in the video. We got it from Costco for $80. It lives on the front of the tray of our small off roading trailer. I miss the romance of a wood fire; but knowing that it’s a contained fire with less danger of starting a forest fire and can be used where bans are in place is very nice.

One thing I want to comment about for safety is take care to watch where the hose for the propane is run. I have seen a couple reviews - I think it was on Amazon site - someone using the OutLand didn’t bother to move its hose to a safe place. The had left it under the fire pit close to the heat from the flame causing the hose to melt. I can’t imagine anyone doing this “but” having seen the picture I had to believe it. We love our Outland it’s the 18” with the igniter built into the high - low on off knob. Thanks

I’ve had the same little propane set up for many years I picked up at Big 5 since we camp a lot in Idyllwild. Most of the time it’s more efficient than a wood fire especially in snow.

The Firecan is on sale at REI for $100; normally priced at $200. 50% off is not a bad deal IMO. Just purchased one. Excellent comparison video!!!

Thanks, I’m going wood in Alaska, but I sat around the Red one at Overland Expo West with the couple camped next to us. I really liked it. Next Utah trip I’ll have the red can.

Thanks for putting out this video. I always see the stuff that you use and some of it I look it up and I add it to one of my Amazon lists, and I did that with the fire can when I watched your "ASMR" video. Having the in depth review and knowing that the fire can may not be the best one if you have a group of people is really nice. I think I would personally go with the red one for a group of people coz I'm of the "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it mentality" so it being overkill is not a problem for me since there is a knob. I also am not a fan of mess. I think probably I would eventually get both the red and the fire can. And use the appropriate one for what I'm doing.

Definitely like you sharing your thoughts and experience with our great outdoors ! Helps immensely with purchasing decisions. I have been wondering about these little gas burners for a while now, thanks for the insight! One thing, I went to your site and looked but I’m having trouble finding these fire pits. Directions please and thank you!

I just purchased the Ignik mainly because of its compact form factor and that it went on sale at REI for $99. The legs are a huge plus so that you don’t leave behind any trace of scorched ground. Let’s see how it pans out. I liked the little red but the cylindrical design kept hitting my packing OCD

I just purchased the Outland fire pit on Amazon and waiting for delivery ! Can't wait to try it out !

Here in South Carolina, we have a problem with the Asian Longhorn beetle. As such, they don't want you to bring wood from outside the forest you are visiting unless it is certified heat treated wood specifically sold for campfires. Buying wood gets expensive.

Great review of the Outland Living Fireball, Camco Little Red Fire Camp and Ignik Outdoors FireCan propane campfire pits! It was informative, providing a detailed comparison of the features and benefits of each fire pit. I especially appreciated the information on the size and weight of the pits and the pros and cons of using propane versus wood. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with these campfire pits. By the way, this review was featured on the Little Red and Outland Living Firebowl pages on Waivio.

Perfect timing for this video. We have the Outland and love it. We were just thinking about getting the FireCan this week because of space issues. The Outland is great if we take my Land Cruiser, but we do run into space issues if we take my wife’s 4Runner. We definitely have to put more on her roof rack to make things work. Seems like the FireCan would be the ticket. Thanks for the great info!

I have a fire pit similar to your first one....at 60k btu's, it uses about 2-3lbs of propane per hour....current price of propane is roughly $1/lb and a bundle of lightweight gas station firewood is $7......on high setting, yes the gas station firewood bundles are technically cheaper but not by much....if you use the fire pit on low/medium which is still a lot of fire and heat, it's way cheaper and easier to transport propane for a multi-night camp trip than buying 4-6 bundles of firewood.... instant on/off...don't have to keep the wood dry....usually don't have to worry about burn bans....very little to no smoke....no worry about firewood transportation regulations (especially in california)....it's really a no-brainer to start using the propane pits!!!

Was talking to a coworker about these just today. Definitely looking at the Outland, but leaning towards the fire can for portability/solo camping.

Great review. Of the three pits I like the Camco the best as well. The one thing I wanted to know is the noise level of each of them. Thanks for the review and keep on truckin’.

Awesome clarification! The Outland has improved strap handles and a version that has a lighter! They even have a square version too. I have 4 of these lol. Defin want to try the little red thing!

Nice job on the review, I have had the outland for a couple of years now and have been pleased with it. On a side note, I was north of Lone Pine last week and I saw Marco heading south bound on 395 (can't be too many jeep/trailer combinations like his). Enjoy your videos, keep up the good work.

Thank you for sharing this list, Brad. A couple of the easier trails look like I could traverse them in my two-wheel drive van.

I love my little red campfire and my small tank. I’ve been using for 3 years now. I first purchased a larger one, with a larger tank, but I’m 60 and lighter is better. I also now find that I breath easier and my eyes ares puffy anymore after a night around the fire.

I'm a tinkerer and I'm cheap. So I made my own ammo can firepit for around 45 bucks including the regulator and 6 ft braided steel hose. Like you said.... Great for one or two people. I enjoyed the video!

We've been using propane fire pit for the last couple years. Mostly due to the fire bans, but I gotta say I prefer it now. I don't have to find fire wood, no more smoke, and when I shut the propane off its done and over with I don't have to babysit the fire. We use the lowes brand, it's fairly similar to the first one in this video. But one of the major differences is mine can light itself without the lighter. I wear contacts so smoke really messes with my vision. I really enjoy the propane. It's also cheaper than a bundle of wood.

I like that Lil Red Campfire.

Great Comparison! We've had our Little Red for almost 5 years. We love it. Only downside as you mentioned is the latches. We would pick the propane firepits over wood any day of the week. Best parts for us, is both you and your clothes don't smell like smoke & much safer in preventing fires!

Fire bans are rare for my local areas but as I'm planning a trip out west and it's been on my mind. The real deal is the best but when you want to protect the beautiful areas we explore then I'll take one of these over no camp fire at all.

I used the outland fire bowl for the first 6 months when we bought our Expedition trailer and loved it. But just too bulky. We ended up getting the Tembo tusk firepit and absolutely love it and will not use anything else. The small packability of it is what sold us.

I have the Outland Firebowl, since I had a 5th wheel to store it in, and I love it. Once it gets going and the rocks get hot, it puts off a lot of heat.

I bought one from Walmart that’s exactly like the Overland model and it has been working great for 5 years. The Walmart model came with a strap so you can secure the lid and hoses in. Plus it has a carrying handle on top for ease. I usually just strap it down to the roof rack because the dust from the fire pit does get messy especially on rough back roads.

I just got the ignik and the growler. Haven't got to use it yet but good to see you don't hate it lol.

Oh boy wish you would have included the tembo tusk pit.

Thanks for the review. I too have a couple of these and the Outland is far and away the best. Just not really portable. My wife bought me the Ignik for Father’s Day and I’m looking forward to using it since like you say, it’s compact and in my case fits in the rig for camping.

Very nice. Right now liquid propane is cheaper than firewood and unlike firewood, liquid propane is instant heat. We filled up three 100 pound cylinders, one 40 pound cylinder and two 20 pound cylinders for $246.00 dollars. A pallet of wood pellets is currently $285.00 dollars and an 8 foot bed of stacked firewood is over $300 dollars. Be advised that I live in Virginia and these prices are region specific and will vary based on your location.

Lavabox is a must have!

Perfect timing. I have one in my Amazon cart, now I know which one to buy. Tomorrow Friday 😂

Thanks Brad, great choice.

Love this video, thanks for sharing, love the Cherokee behind you, miss mine so much.

Great Review! I hope you'll show the LavaBox next time too!

We have the Outland took it all the way to Alaska. We place in the bed of the truck. When we have here at home. We use in our fire pit area as we are in a fire ban area.

One issue could be that you can't bring firewood from out side an area because of insects. In the East there are limits on where the wood comes from, so the propane helps.

Trailfiregrill caught my attention after the expo with its multitasking 4-1 abilities.

Love the Colorado shirt, hope you come back soon! Great video as always, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I have the Outland fire pit. I got the bag and it came with a strap to keep the lid on

Just grabbed an Ignik for half off at REI's current summer sale. Love it so far.

Great comparison, great idea, and actually pretty great products. I also was unconvinced about these but became interested when I couldn't get fire pits at the beach, and with the appropriate burn bans in our drought ridden state. State. I saw the Outland at Costco, and it comes in a kit for a very good deal. That one is too big for my little SUV. I read a review of the Ignik, and picked it up at REI. It is small and that side mount fuel port is something to be careful with when packing. However, I found it packs down nicely and I added the glass fire beads like one might find in a yuppie fire pit because they also glow like cinders when in use. I tend to use it in very small groups and it's fantastic. Although I would point out that if you want to go home at the end of the evening, those rocks are going to hold a lot of heat for a decent amount of time. It is not a shut it down and pack it up thing.

I’m surprised you didn’t review the lava box, about to get mine in soon. Hope I made a good decision

Thanks for putting this out there, I am looking at switching to a propane pit for a number of reasons.

Great video. I have the little red for my RV but now I’m thinking of taking it out camping with me. Actually maybe when I go to Fiesta Island

No one should be putting propane bottles in the landfill! Love that SJ in the background!

We bought a similar one to the largest one you talked about. Picked it up at Lowes in Poway because we were headed to Coyote Flats and they had just instituted their fire ban 3 days before our trip. I was skeptical because I'd never used one before but it worked out great for the reasons you mention. It definitely provided enough heat. I always carry the 20lb propane tank in my Gladiator for cooking, and now for the fire pit!

That's an interesting take on propane fire pits. We've been using the Camco for more than ten years (it used to be called the Campfire in a Can) and recently added a larger diameter model similar to the Outland (from Costco). While the Camco is compact we found it puts out less "felt" heat than the larger pit. It's also a lot noisier on anything but the lowest setting. It just goes to show, different strokes for different folks!

Love my Outland, but liking the little red now lol . Thanks Brad👍🏼

We have the Outland... I added spiral wrap to the bottom base ring...provides mechanical protection to the paint on the base ring.

Your forgot to give props to the Outland Firebowls ability to allow you to kick back with your feet up on the side of it which you can’t do with the others. Also, being in central Oregon, we have slowly replaced the rocks it comes with, with heartier pumice rocks we find at our camp spots. 👍🏻 We also will go through a quarter to half tank of a 5 gallon tank a night with the Firebowl which we find just about perfect for our weekend trips.

Great review! Hmmm, a propane firepit! That's a new idea to me. I love a good campfire, but I don't love smelling like one. Might have to give this a try.

We have something similar to the OUTLAND, it was a saving piece of equipment during our late fall camping trip to the Rocky Mountains when temperatures dipped to below freezing on most nights. Instant heat when you need it. Having said that, there is something about a real campfire that you just can’t beat!!

I love a camp fire and all the dutch oven cooking but being stationed in CA I have grown to enjoy not smelling like a campfire on multi day camp trips, loading enough wood for a weekend is a lot of space and weight, I ve added a cook grate to the little red and it works great, the cost of the propane vs the wood in my area is way cheaper. When I have plenty of wood and a forest that isnt so dry I enjoy the regular fire. SO in my current life the Little Red is awesome and allows me heat and fire in most areas. Ill add that I have a large clam and the little Red works great inside and keeps the chill off.

I have a 4-in-1 version of the Outland. Trail Fire Grill it's called. It is a wok, grill, pizza oven, and traditional firepit. Probably weighs about 25lbs. It's big, don't get me wrong. But because it does multiple thing it's worth it.

I have the Outland firepit and love it, but they recently introduced a square one that fixes the packing and logistics issues you talked about. Now I want to sell my round one and upgrade.

I have had the Outland for a couple of years now because of all the fire bans. It is nice for the ambiance, but don't do much to supply heat. They are also very large to haul around and take up a lot of space in my Cherokee.

I use a stainless steel collapsible fire pit but use wood pellets. The pellets burn so clean that there's no sparks coming out of the fire. The clean up is really easy too. The downside is that it burns very fast.

Had my Lil Red for several years now and love it. Like you my only complaint would be the latches.

I also bought a propane fire pit for the times and locations when wood fires are not allowed. I try to plan in advance and bring only one or the other. I bought my Outland last year and it came with a carry handle that also clamps the lid on to the bowl. However, I quickly realized the mess the rocks make and also bought the carry bag.

Fire ban is in full effect in the southern sierras. So might grab the big Red campfire pit.