Solo Stove vs. Breeo Smokeless Fire Pits: One Is More Portable, but the Other Has Some Big Advantages

4 min readIf you’ve typed in a search or even chatted with friends about smokeless fire pits, Solo Stove has probably popped up in your feed. Its name has almost become synonymous with smokeless fire pits. One might think it started the craze. But it didn’t. Breeo was actually the first to market with a smokeless fire pit in 2014. Solo Stove was not far behind, though, launching a Kickstarter campaign for its first smokeless fire pit that same year.Both brands have the longest tenure in the industry with smokeless fire pits—and both are more or less equally matched in terms of their smokeless performance. Yet the two are significantly different. Frankly, after testing so many smokeless fire pits, I prefer Breeo for its durability and thoughtful extras. But if you want something that’s more affordable and portable, go with Solo Stove.Our Favorite Solo Stove Models Our Favorite Breeo ModelsConstruction and DesignBoth companies are U.S.-based with all engineering and design happening here. Solo Stove fire pits are manufactured in China and have been since their first camp stove in 2011. Breeo’s fire pits are manufactured in the U.S.—Ohio, originally, moving to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2017.Trevor RaabBreeo’s X 24 comes in a stainless steel or Corten steel finish. The Corten pictured here oxidizes over time and forms a protective layer that prevents further deterioration.Breeo’s smokeless fire pits are made from heavy (approximately 16- to 18-gauge) stainless and Corten steel. While stainless steel is resistant to rust, Corten is a structural steel alloy that intentionally oxidizes, which creates a protective layer that prevents further deterioration. Corten is used in the construction of bridges and high-voltage transmission poles. Many Breeo smokeless fire pits are available in either steel finish.trevor raabSolo Stove’s Summit comes in a stainless steel finish with an integrated stand.Solo Stove’s smokeless fire pits are all made from lighter weight (20- to 22-gauge) stainless steel. Because of this, they may weigh less than half a similar-sized Breeo, which makes them easier to pick up and move. But it also makes them more susceptible to getting dented if dropped or banged into.SmokelessnessThe smoke you see from fires is due to incomplete combustion—those gases are essentially unburned fuel due to poor oxygen supply. Both Breeo and Solo Stove eliminate smoke using a similar combustion process. Air feeds the fire from the bottom, and the draft created by the rising heat draws more air in at the top, creating a secondary burn, igniting those unburned exhaust gases.trevor raabThe heat rising from the fire draws in in through those holes around the inside lip,Solo Stove’s fire pits seem to pull in the air for that secondary combustion at a higher volume, creating a more vigorous fire. This is evident by the tightly spaced holes around the inside rim. In testing, we’ve noticed that we burn through wood a bit faster in their fire pits.Breeo’s fire pits, on the other hand, have fewer holes around the top inside edge, which draws air in for the secondary combustion at what appears to be a lower volume. They still create a secondary burn and eliminate smoke, but the firewood lasts a little longer.Versatility: CookingIf you’re interested in cooking over your fire pit, this is one area of significant difference between Breeo and Solo Stove. All of Breeo’s fire pits are designed for cooking, and the breadth of cooking accessories they offer are largely interchangeable between models.Each of Breeo’s fire pits has a socket in the top rim to accept their Outpost Grill. The Outpost is essentially a support for their grill, a Rotisserie, and a Kettle Hook & Cast Iron Kettle. The Outpost offers about 20 inches of vertical adjustment, so you can get whatever you’re cooking in the right heat zone. They also offer a Flat Top Griddle and Pizza Oven (also available in stainless steel) that both sit right on the fire pit rim. With these accessories, you can cook a wide variety of foods over the same fire.trevor raabBreeo’s Outpost fits into most of their fire pits to support accessories like this rotisserie.Solo Stove also offers cooking accessories. Their system utilizes a Cooking Hub, which is specific to the size of the fire pit being used. The Cooking Hub is basically a stand for the fire pit, on which you can place a Cast Iron Grill Top or Griddle. The Cooking Hub has a fixed height, so you need to manage the fire to manage heat, which can be trickier than just being able to raise or lower the cooking surface. Solo Stove also offers a pizza oven that fits over three of their fire pits.PortabilitySolo Stove has a clear edge when it comes to portability. Their smokeless fire pits are generally half (or less) the weight of Breeo’s when comparing similar sizes—so they are easier to carry. The exception to that is Breeo’s Y-Series Portable Smokeless Fire Pit, which is only about 25 to 30 percent heavier, but comes with a built-in handle to make it easier to carry. Note that, as mentioned earlier, Solo Stove’s light weight comes from thinner steel, so be careful packing them tightly with other rigid objects packed around—it is possible to dent them.trevor raabBreeo’s Y Series fire pit has a folding handle to facilitate carrying it.CostBased solely on cost, Solo Stove has the edge here too. This is largely due to using less material in their construction and their manufacturing. If your budget is dictating product choice, Solo Stove is where you’ll end up. However, the durability of Breeo’s smokeless fire pits, and their versatile secondary use for food preparation, makes a case for considering them as a longer-term investment.The VerdictWe’ve tested smokeless fire pits from both companies, and each brand makes models that work well. If your smokeless fire pit shopping is governed by budget considerations, Solo Stove is a clear choice. Similarly, if you’ll need to move or transport your fire pit often, lighter Solo Stove models will be easier to handle. However, if you’re looking for a durable smokeless fire pit that stands up to years of use and weather, then Breeo has better options for you. Likewise, if cooking over live fire is going to be a significant part of your fire pit experience, then Breeo has more versatile options.Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.