Thanks for the content. I just ordered the Mesa XL and I had watched the Solo livestream on the XL comparing pellets to wood on replay and they did about a quarter cup of pellets to the wood burning one and I liked the effect! I'm sure I'll have playing around with mine when it arrives. Like others have mentioned below our local box store sells wood chunks and hardwood pellets at a good price so I'll be going for the low effort option except for maybe some sticks that fall in the yard!
I own the Solo and use both pellets and wood but I buy wood meant for smokers. It's already cut to a perfect size, it's harder and burns longer and can be bought at Walmart for next to nothing. Try it out.
I was wondering why he was using a $15 20 pound bag of cooking pellets instead of a $5 40 pound bag of heating pellets. Might as well have put his wallet in the fire instead.
If you like playing with your fire then wood chunks are the way to go. A lot more fun. You don’t have to be really careful with your wood chunk sizes either. It’s definitely my preferred way to burn. Pellets work well if you keep them dry.
I think it comes down to energy density to be completely honest- look at the physical density of the two sides- pellets burn more evenly with less explosive heat, but that wood burn releases more heat and heats a larger area- but for shorter.
The one thing you didn't seem to cover was the amount of ash generated by pellets vs wood, which I would be really interested to hear about. We have a Solo Stove Ranger and a Mesa XL and use a combination of fuels including kindling and woolly firelighters to start, kiln dried wood, coffee logs and compressed smokeless logs and find this works great. It might be cool to add some pellets into the mix too - particularly for the Mesa XL which is too small for the coffee logs and smokeless logs. The other thing you need to take into consideration with the fire pits you have bought is their longevity. I am in the UK and first saw a Solo Stove on a caravan park we stay at. The Solo Stoves have been outside, uncovered for three years and are still absolutely fine. Would the other two fire pits stand up to that? Is the grade of steel as good as that used on the Solo Stove. They may well be, I don't have them to compare. Interesting point though that might dictate the price point of each item.
I will say that the pellets do create more ash but not a lot more. As far as longevity we will just have to see, but I’m not too worried about the East Oak. It is made out of the same 304 stainless steel as the solo stove and very solid build. as far as the cheap one as you can expect, it’s very light compared to the other two not sure what it’s made out of but the walls seem to be thin, but again it was only 20 bucks.
Yeah, it looks like live in the forest, but it’s a neighborhood that’s not my land behind me but yeah, that lint trick works really well. I do have a pile of wood I need to chop up though. Let’s just say I’m a little lazy.
Yeah, I have one for the solo that I haven’t opened up yet. I have another one that I think will fit the East oak but also haven’t opened it yet. I’m gonna do a video on it.👍
I agree. I’m using this size and type of stove for a bit of heat and fun flames. My cheap Tomshoo does well with a ash plate upside down over the top. Just make sure you have something underneath so you don’t burn your table.
Pellets burn more efficient and cleaner, but don’t offer any character with the crackle and what not. I use pellet as to not smoke out the neighborhood.
I think so but I also feel it maximizes the heat in that spot for a hotter burn 🔥 and better chance of starting the fire. I even fill paper towel tubes for very wet conditions
It’s the secondary burn! For example, if you have a candle that has been burning for awhile, blow it out, and then hold a lighter a few inches up in the smoke: it will re-light the candle. Smoke is stuff that just didn’t burn yet.
