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⭐ Our Top Pick
🏆 Best Overall: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 — the roomiest, hotest, and most impressive fire pit Solo Stove makes, worth every penny for regular backyard use.
>💰 Best Value: Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 — all the same near-smokeless magic in a portable, budget-friendlier package perfect for smaller spaces and camping.
Introduction
Few things beat gathering around a crackling fire on a cool evening — but nobody wants to spend that time wiping smoke out of their eyes or hauling ash out of a rusted fire ring. That's the promise Solo Stove built its reputation on, and the2.0 generation of both the Bonfire and Ranger doubles down on it with a key upgrade: a removable ash pan that makes cleanup almost embarrassingly simple.
We've spent multiple seasons with both fire pits — burning everything from kiln-dried hardwood to random backyard scraps — to give you a honest, side-by-side picture of how they actually perform. The short answer is that both are excellent. The longer answer depends entirely on how many people you're trying to keep warm, how much space you're working with, and whether portability matters to you.
In this guide we'll walk through build quality, heat output, smoke performance, ease of use, and long-term value so you can make a confident call. Let's get into it.
What to Look For in a Smokeless Fire Pit
- Size and capacity — Fire pit diameter determines how much wood you can load and how many people can gather comfortably. The Bonfire 2.0 measures 19.5 inches across; the Ranger 2.0 is 15 inches. That four-inch difference matters more than it sounds.
- Airflow system — Solo Stove's signature double-wall design draws air in from the bottom and releases it through top vents, creating a secondary combustion that burns off smoke particles. Look for how consistently this kicks in and how quickly the pit reaches that clean-burn stage.
- Weight and portability — If you want to bring your fire pit camping, to a beach, or to a tailgate, weight is a real factor. The Bonfire 2.0 weighs 19.8 lbs; the Ranger 2.0 comes in at 15 lbs.
- Cleanup design — The 2.0 upgrade's standout feature is the removable ash pan. Don't underestimate how much this improves the ownership experience versus dumping ash from the original models.
- Material and durability — Both use 304 stainless steel, which handles heat and weather well. Check for weld quality and whether the finish holds up to sustained high-heat burns.
- Value vs. use frequency — A $350 fire pit makes sense if you're burning wood three nights a week all autumn. If it's a once-a-month thing, the Ranger's lower price point is the smarter math.
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 vs Ranger 2.0: In-Depth Reviews
Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Heat Output | 9/10 |
| Smoke Reduction | 9/10 |
| Build Quality | 10/10 |
| Ease of Cleanup | 9/10 |
| Portability | 6/10 |
| Value for Money | 8/10 |
The Bonfire 2.0 is Solo Stove's flagship for a reason. At 19.5 inches in diameter and standing 14 inches tall, it generates a fire that honestly commands a backyard. In our testing, once the secondary burn kicked in — usually within 10–15 minutes of lighting — the smoke output dropped to near zero. Guests who'd never seen a Solo Stove before genuinely thought something was wrong because they couldn't smell smoke on their clothes afterward.
The 2.0 upgrade centers on the removable ash pan, and it's a bigger deal than it sounds. Previous owners of the original Bonfire will tell you that dumping cold ash was a mesy, awkward chore. Now you just lift out the pan, dump it in a bag, and wipe it down. Cleanup after a three-hour burn went from 20 minutes of frustration to about 4 minutes of actual work.
Heat output is impressive across a wide perimeter. We comfortably kept a circle of eight people warm on a 40°F evening without anyone feeling like they needed to crowd in. Log consumption is higher than the Ranger simply because the combustion chamber is larger, so budget for a good cord of wood if you're burning frequently through fall and winter.
The 19.8 lb weight means this isn't something you casually toss in a truck for a camping trip — it lives on your patio. Solo Stove sells a carry case separately, which helps, but this is fundamentally a backyard fire pit rather than a portable one. That's fine if that's exactly what you need.
💡 Pro Tip: Season your Bonfire 2.0 with two or three hot burns using dry hardwood before you expect peak smokeless performance. The steel needs to fully cure and any manufacturing residue needs to burn off first.
✅ Pros:
- Enormous heat radius — genuinely warms a large group without everyone crowding in
- Best-in-class smokeless performance once the secondary burn is established
- Removable ash pan is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade over the original
- 304 stainless steel construction feels like it'll outlast the decade
❌ Cons:
- At nearly20 lbs, portability is limited — this is a patio fixture, not a camp stove
- The price premium over the Ranger is significant and only justified by frequent, large-group use
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Solo Stove Ranger 2.0
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Heat Output | 7/10 |
| Smoke Reduction | 9/10 |
| Build Quality | 10/10 |
| Ease of Cleanup | 9/10 |
| Portability | 9/10 |
| Value for Money | 9/10 |
The Ranger 2.0 is where a lot of shopers should land, and the market agrees — it's consistently Solo Stove's most-reviewed model. At 15 inches across and 12.5 inches tall, it's noticeably more compact than the Bonfire, but the smokeless technology is identical. The double-wall airflow system performs just as cleanly; you're not getting a watered-down version of the experience.
Where you feel the size difference is heat radius and group capacity. For two to four people around a small patio table or at a campsite, the Ranger is perfect. For a dinner party of eight on a wide-open backyard patio, it starts to feel undersized — people on the edges of the circle won't get much warmth. Keep that mental image in mind when you're deciding.
The 15 lb weight is where the Ranger genuinely pulls ahead of the Bonfire for a certain kind of buyer. It fits in the trunk without rearanging your gear, and Solo Stove's carry bag (sold separately or in bundles) makes it a legitimate camping companion. We've taken it car camping several times, and it delivers a campfire experience that traditional ring pits genuinely can't match — especially at sites where smoke drifts into neighboring tents.
The same removable ash pan upgrade from the original Ranger carries over here, and it's just as welcome. Cleanup at a campsite — where you don't have a trash bag nearby — is much easier when the ash stays contained in a pan you can carry to a proper bin.
💡 Pro Tip: The Ranger burns smaller log splits best. Pre-cut your wood to12 inches or shorter before loading — it dramatically improves airflow and gets that secondary combustion running faster.
If you're thinking about campfire cooking alongside your fire pit evenings, pairing your Ranger with a bayite 4-Inch Ferro Rod Fire Starter is a smart move — at 5,500°F it lights tinder reliably even in damp conditions, which means your first spark always catches no matter what the weather's doing.
✅ Pros:
- Same excellent smokeless airflow technology as the pricier Bonfire
- Light and compact enough for car camping, tailgates, and balcony use
- Significantly more affordable — strong value for the Solo Stove build quality
- Removable ash pan makes field cleanup genuinely manageable
❌ Cons:
- Limited heat radius — not the right tool for large backyard gatherings
- Shorter log capacity means more frequent reloading on longer fire nights
Bonfire 2.0 vs Ranger 2.0: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Bonfire 2.0 | Ranger 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 19.5 in | 15 in |
| Height | 14 in | 12.5 in |
| Weight | 19.8 lbs | 15 lbs |
| Ideal Group Size | 6–10 people | 2–4 people |
| Removable Ash Pan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Smokeless Performance | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Portability | Low | Medium-High |
| Price (MSRP) | ~$349.99 | ~$229.99 |
| Best For | Backyard entertaining Camping + small patios |
The specs confirm what the in-person experience makes obvious: both fire pits share the same DNA. The choice comes down to how many people you're serving and whether you need to move the pit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 actually smokeless?
Virtually, yes — with the right wood. The double-wall secondary combustion system burns off most smoke particles once the fire reaches full temperature (usually 10–15 minutes in). Wet or green wood will still produce smoke because the extra moisture overwhelms the system. Kiln-dried hardwood is the key to getting the near-smokeless performance Solo Stove markets.
Can I cook on the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 or Ranger 2.0?
Not directly out of the box. Solo Stove sells a dedicated Cooking System accessory — a grill top that fits over the rim — for both models. Without it, the top rim gets very hot but the geometry makes cooking awkward. The cooking accessory is worth adding if that's a priority for you.
Which Solo Stove is better for camping — the Bonfire or the Ranger?
The Ranger 2.0, without question. At 15 lbs it's manageable in a car camping context and fits in a mid-sized storage bag. The Bonfire at nearly 20 lbs is harder to justify hauling unless you're camping in one spot all weekend and have the truck space. For backpacking, neither is appropriate — you'd want a true trail stove like the MSR PocketRocket 2, which boils a liter of water in 3.5 minutes and weighs just 2.6 oz.
How do I clean the Solo Stove 2.0 models?
Let the fire burn down completely and allow the pit to cool fully — usually overnight. Then lift out the removable ash pan (the standout 2.0 upgrade), dump the ash into a sealed bag, and wipe the pan clean. The interior walls may develop a patina over time, which is normal and doesn't affect performance. A soft brush removes loose debris from the air intake holes.
Does Solo Stove offer a warranty on the Bonfire and Ranger 2.0?
Yes. Solo Stove backs both fire pits with a lifetime warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. It doesn't cover normal cosmetic discoloration from heat, which is expected on stainless steel, but it does cover structural issues. Register your product on their website after purchase to activate the warranty.
Final Thoughts
Both the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 and Ranger 2.0 deliver on the core promise: real wood fires that don't leave you and your guests smelling like a campfire smoke house. The 2.0 generation's removable ash pan is a legitimately meaningful upgrade, and the build quality on both models is genuinely impressive for the price.
If you regularly host groups of six or more and your fire pit lives on a fixed patio spot, the Bonfire 2.0 is worth the premium. If you have a smaller space, smaller budget, or want a fire pit you can actually take camping, the Ranger 2.0 is the smarter, more versatile buy. Either way, you're getting a fire pit that'll be the centerpiece of your outdoor evenings for years to come.
Editor's Choice
bayite 4-Inch Ferro Rod Fire Starter — a must-have companion for lighting your Solo Stove quickly and reliably, especially in damp weather or at campsite where lighters fail.
Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelet 2-Pack — 4-in-1 Survival Kit — if you're taking your Ranger 2.0 camping, this wearable fire-starting backup with built-in ferro rod, compass, and whistle is the kind of gear you'll be glad you had.
MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Backpacking Stove — when the terrain rules out bringing any fire pit, this 2.6 oz backpacking stove boils water in 3.5 minutes and keeps hot meals on the menu no matter how deep into the backcountry you go.
