There is no better way to enjoy the weekend than camping and grilling altogether, so if you do know your way around weekends, in the following guide I will show you some of my favorite fire pit grills that are easy to store in your vehicle and drive around, and that is durable enough to last for years. And yes, they require little maintenance, unlike wood fire pits.
Fireside Pop-Up Portable Camp Fire Pit Review
| Specification | Feature |
|---|---|
| Fully Assembled Dimensions | 24” x 24” x 15” / 61cm x 61cm x 38.1cm |
| Weight | 7.8lbs / 3.5kgs |
| Weight Capacity | 125lbs / 56.7kgs |
| Cooking Area | Up to 500 sq inches* |
| Ideal For | Camping, backyards, RV’ing, tailgating, survival, hiking, and more! |
*That’s well over enough space to fit a dozen burger patties!
Lightweight and Fully Collapsible
This fire pit is meant to be totally portable without sacrificing any of the traditional fire pit comforts. When fully collapsed in its carry bag, it weighs just under 8 lbs and is easily carried from location to location, thanks to the lightweight aluminum frame.
Because it’s made from aluminum, the frame cools quickly after the fire is put out. No need to wait around for the metal to reach a manageable temperature. Fireside Outdoor states it only takes 90 seconds for the fire pit to cool down. A carrying case with a strap is included.
The Pop-Up Pit sets-up in just under 60 seconds without the use of any tools. Enjoy brighter, hotter fires with almost no smoke. The Fire Mesh holds up to 125lbs of weight and doesn't allow ash to fall through.
Tool-less Assembly
This fire pit doesn’t take any tools to assemble. As a part of the stackable design, the 4 aluminum sides sit on top of one another and the weight of the wood helps to secure the mesh screen on top of the frame.
Only a few minutes of your time is needed, not a whole toolbox.
360-Degree Air Flow
One feature that is easily overlooked is the height of your fire relative to the ground. Most campfires are placed on the ground with the fire sitting on dirt and surrounded by rocks. This limits airflow to the fire and may result in more smoke and less burn.
As seen in our smokeless fire pit reviews, air flow underneath the fire is key to an efficient burn, given you’re using the correct firewood. The steel mesh allows air to flow freely under the fire embers, providing more oxygen, and a better all-around burn with less smoke.
The steel mesh is durable, yet allows air to flow underneath the fire, but prevents any embers from falling through.
Heat Shield Included
If you are concerned about charring the ground underneath, the fire pit also comes with an aluminum fiberglass heat shield. This heat shield is similar to the ones recommended for other fire pits. It works by dissipating the heat away from the ground and back up or out towards the fire, protecting the ground underneath.
Optional Grill Attachment
While the grill attachment is not included in the standard package, it is just as easy to set up and adds minimal weight to the overall fire pit. You can choose between the quad-fold and tri-fold grate depending on your preference.
The grill attachment is essentially an additional rail system that sits directly on top of the four corners and provides a lip for the grate to sit on. The grate seems to hold weight just fine as we cooked a full cast iron dutch oven full of chicken tortilla soup on it without any problem.
The tri-fold grill grate is shown here (upside down), as it sits inside the aluminum channels.
Grill Grate Adjustability
You can see from the images the grill grate does not fully cover the entire 24” by 24” frame, which is great. A smaller grate gives you flexibility in adding more wood to the other side of the fire pit, without needing to disturb the food. If you plan on cooking for more than a few hours, you can let this wood burn, pull the grate over slightly to the new embers, then place additional wood on the other side.
DON’T FORGET
Don’t forget to budget for accessories! Some extra cooking accessories like high-heat gloves, silicone tongs, and more will make your experience much more comfortable. Read our 38+ Campfire Accessories List.
Drawbacks of Fireside Outdoor’s Pop up Fire Pit
Setup Requires Some Patience
Putting the frame on top of the fire pit’s legs is easy, however, installing the steel mesh frame requires a bit of patience on the first use. All four corners need to sit almost perfectly level for the rings to go over the corner posts. Over time this will likely loosen up as the mesh is stretched and gets some use.
It’s VERY Light
While its weight is great for transportation, be aware that adding some weight to the feet is not a bad idea. The fire pit has a low center of gravity, so on a normal day, it’s very unlikely to tip over. However, on a particularly windy day, it would not be out of the question for the wind to blow this fire pit if there is only a small fire.
CAUTION
Always have something nearby to extinguish your fire and keep any flammable material 10 feet away. A bucket of water will work, but a fire extinguisher is preferred. Even a slight breeze can blow an ember into dry material and cause a fire.
Cannot Cook Over a Large Fire
Many of the tips recommended for the larger, heavy-duty fire pit grill – the Breeo X Series, apply to this portable fire pit grill too. For starters, you want to get the fire going early so there’s an even base of coals to cook over.
With this fire pit, you cannot cook over a larger fire and you’re somewhat limited to putting large logs on it AND cooking over them. Instead, you’ll need to plan ahead and have some smaller logs nearby if you plan on cooking for longer than a couple of hours.
With larger pieces of wood, there is not space for the grill grate to sit.
Alternatives to Consider
Solo Stove Bonfire
If the space is available, Solo Stove’s bonfire can be portable. The Solo Stove is better suited for carrying from the shed to the backyard or from the RV to the campsite. It isn’t something you can pack up and take hiking. While it can be carried long distances, the Solo Stove is better suited for short-term gatherings in regards to setup.
With the Pop-up Fire Pit, you do not need to worry about the ground underneath it. The fire is elevated well above the grass, so there’s no need to worry about burning the ground underneath.
The Solo Stove does not come with elevated standard and instead you will need to purchase the ring stand.
| Technical Detail | Fireside Outdoor Pop-up Fire Pit | Solo Stove Bonfire |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.8lbs / 3.5kgs | 20 lbs / 9.1kgs |
| Material | Aluminum | 304 Stainless Steel |
| Total Height | 15″ / 38.1cm | 14″ / 35.6cm |
| Price |
Fire pit built for the backyard and beyond. Easily light up smokeless fires anywhere life takes you.
Breeo Double Flame
Similar to the Solo Stove, the Breeo Double Flame falls in the same ‘portability’ category. The Double Flame is better suited for trips where the majority of the travel is done in a vehicle and you’re only carrying it short distances. At around 50 lbs, it isn’t something you want to be carrying for longer distances.
In regards to cooking, the Breeo is the most comparable to the Pop-up Portable Fire Pit. Like the Pop-Up, Breeo’s cooking accessory is sold separately, but integrates very well with the design. The OutPost system provides a grilling area directly above the fire and is comparable in ease of setup.
| Technical Detail | Fireside Outdoor Pop-up Fire Pit | Breeo Double Flame 19″ |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.8lbs / 3.5kgs | 48 lbs / 21.8kg |
| Material | Aluminum | 304 Stainless Steel |
| Total Height w/ Feet | 15″ / 38.1cm | 16″ / 40.6cm |
| Price |
Breeo X-Series Smokeless Fire Pit
There are two very different fire pits. For all practical purposes, the Breeo X-Series is not a portable fire pit. The weights, prices, and features differ greatly. If you were considering the Pop-up Fire Pit for only backyard use, consider the Breeo X-Series instead. It’s a more permanent option that offers better features.
| Technical Detail | Fireside Outdoor Pop-up Fire Pit | Breeo X-Series 19″ |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.8lbs / 3.5kgs | 56lbs / 25.4kg |
| Material | Aluminum | 304 Stainless/COR-TEN Steel |
| Total Height w/ Feet | 15″ / 38.1cm | 15″ / 38.1cm |
| Price |
Available in Stainless Steel or Corten, both are corrosion resistant and give you the option to choose a look that matches your lifestyle.
FAQs
Question: What to put under a portable fire pit?
Answer: For this Portable Pop-Up Fire Pit, you do not need to place anything underneath it. If you are concerned about the heat, a heat shield is included in the pack. Otherwise, you can purchase a larger heat shield that is great to place on a deck or on treated concrete.
Question: Can you put a portable fire pit on a deck?
Answer: Yes you can. You need to make sure the fire pit is at least 10’ away from any combustible structure. It’s recommended to have a fire extinguisher nearby, and use a heat shield or ember mat to further protect your wood or composite deck.
Question: Why Does Aluminum Cool So Quickly?
Answer: No need to break out your physics notes from high school. The short answer is there’s less mass in aluminum to absorb heat. Compare a piece of aluminum to a piece of steel that occupies the same volume and you know that the aluminum weighs significantly less.
The aluminum will heat up much faster, but also cool much faster. On the other hand, the steel heats up much slower but also takes longer to cool down. The technical term is ‘thermal conductivity’, meaning aluminum transfer heat much better than steel, relative to its weight.
Fireside Pop-Up Portable Camp Fire Pit Review: Bottom Line
Ideally, this fire pit is best suited for those that are traveling with limited space or on a budget. Of all fire pits with the option to grill, this is by far the most cost-effective option that doesn’t sacrifice quality. The design is fantastic and easy for anyone to put together.
If you are traveling by RV or have a larger tailgating group, a Breeo is likely the better option if you have a little more money to spend. You can get a warmer and larger fire, with better cooking options. You may sacrifice the ease of portability, but that won’t matter if you have the space of a RV or truck. The Breeo Double Flame and Solo Stove Bonfire are both transportable.
The Pop-Up Pit sets-up in just under 60 seconds without the use of any tools. Enjoy brighter, hotter fires with almost no smoke. The Fire Mesh holds up to 125lbs of weight and doesn't allow ash to fall through.
