A fire pit is an excellent piece of equipment which is used to light up fires and create warmth and atmosphere in your garden, backyard, home or bug out setup. You can also carry your fire pit with you on a trip. Yes, you read that right! You can take your fire pit on a camping trip or picnic if it’s portable. You are also spoilt for choice, you can either go down the portable propane fire pit path or choose a fire put that runs on wood as fuel.
A portable fire pit also has the ability to add festivity and life to any outdoor event. You can of course obtain warmth, grill marshmallows, or just light it up for aesthetic purposes. They’re also a great method of grilling food or barbecuing. After all, fire is fire, and it will cook food whether in a barbecue grill or fire pit.
The real question is that if you invest in a portable fire pit, which one should you buy? You could invest in:
1. A portable wood fire pit
2. A portable propane fire pit
You will need to weigh and compare all features to decide which one will work best for you to pick one out. Let us get straight to it!
Fuel
Propane fire pits are fuelled by a tank packed with propane gas. This tank can be conveniently carried along to your occasion and is portable just like the fire pit. In contrast, portable wood fire pits need dry wood to be able to light it up. Dry wood logs are larger, so a wooden fire pit often has more space to fit them as opposed to the propane variant that doesn’t require so much space in it’s bowl.
A portable propane pit is considered better than a hard fixed gas fire pit as you will have to keep your pit near gas piping to use it the latter. Moreover, a propane supplier increases the portability of propane fire pits given that propane is widely available in most cases.
Fuel storage can be a cause of concern whilst planning on storing either wood or gas cylinders. It is recommended that you make sure that you always place your wooden logs in a clean and dry place away from termites and other parasites. Gas cylinders should be stored in a cool, shaded area and periodically as well as thoroughly checked for leaks. Keeping cylinders away from any heat source will prevent explosions or injury.
Building Fire
Portable wood fire pits are not as easy to light up compared to portable propane fire pits. You will generally need to put in a little extra effort to light a wood fire as they generally wont catch fire immediately. However, propane fire pits can be lit up instantly by simply pushing the gas button igniter and using some spark in the form of a matchstick or lighter.
If you have a good gas flow, your fire pit should light up within a few seconds. Furthermore, you can easily control flames by using the gas regulation knob. On the other hand, the wood quantity needs to be adjusted for portable wood fire pits if you wish to alter the size of your flames. This flame is often less consistent as wood burns out and automatically causes the fire to decrease in size. You will need to add logs sporadically to keep the fire going to your desired size.
Eco-friendly Nature
Nowadays, it is important to consider energy efficiency and eco-friendly quality when investing in a gadget or appliance. Propane fire pits produce fewer waste gases and burn more cleanly. They are 99 percent cleaner compared to wood. Adding to that, wood burning can contain lots of harmful toxic fumes. Each time you use a portable wood fire pit, about 28 pounds of waste gas will enter the atmosphere.
Wood fires are pretty harmful to the environment as well as people with breathing issues like asthma.
Installation
Since we are talking about portable fire pits, we do not need to worry about too much installation. Both portable propane pits and portable wood fire pits do not need to be fixed into place. These pits are mobile and can be generally carried to any location, whether it is your house, picnic spot or even your bug out location.
It is recommended that you consult your instruction manual to connect your propane fire pit to a cylinder accurately. Some people choose to create wood fire pits themselves. However, this is not recommended as it can increase the risk of accidents. Make sure you purchase one already available on the market or get an expert to create one for you instead.
Gas cylinders can be bought or refilled, while the wood for portable wood fire pits needs to be collected and ordered during the correct season. It also needs to be carried with care if you plan to go on vacation or a picnic. You will need to have a decent sized vehicle or mode of travel storage if you plan on using a lot of wood.
Costing
Propane and wood fire pits’ prices vary based on the model and its features. A portable wood fire pit produces a more vast fire than propane pits that produce more heat in each go. However, propane costs nearly 60 percent less per hour than wood, so portable propane fire pits are much cheaper to operate.
Maintenance
Maintenance is another crucial factor you need to consider before you go ahead and pick a suitable portable fire pit for yourself. Portable wood fire pits are a little more difficult to maintain. The soot, ash, and burnt logs left behind after putting out a fire are quite a nuisance to clean. You could get your clothes and hands dirty.
Also, if you do not remove these occasionally, they will only become harder to clean. Strong winds will cause the ash to blow in the faces of people sitting around the wood fire pit. Creosote, or the tar-like substance left behind after wood is burnt down, is pretty bad for the environment. Embers also need to be put down entirely to prevent the risk of forest fires and other hazards.
When it comes to a propane fire pit, not much maintenance is needed. The fire that burns is clean, and it can be put out immediately by simply pressing a single button. Furthermore, you can keep your pit spotless by dusting down the insides when required. Most models can be easily covered to protect the pit from rain, snow, and sunlight. Actually, quite a few of the models come with their own protective cover so make sure you check the accessories of your purchased items out to make sure it includes a cover if you require it.
User Experience
Most people will find that a portable propane fire pit is more user-friendly. A portable wood fire pit, on the other hand, will leave you smelling like burnt barbecue. Furthermore, toxic odours can irritate your breathing passage, and there’s the off chance that embers can land near you. This might freak you out, as they can cause a few burns here and there.
However, a portable wood fire pit does have that aesthetic look and feel. The crackling sounds and natural flames give off much less of an artificial vibe than propane flames.
Safety
Equipment safety should always be the top priority. It is advised that you only invest in equipment that you are sure you can maintain and which is safe to use. The gas cylinders used to power flames in a portable propane fire pit should be checked for leaks. It should also never be kept near open flames or other hazardous substances that lead to fires or explosions. Make sure to check the gas tubing before use to rule out sky leaks or punctures.
Portable wood fire pits can also threaten safety if you do not put out the fire entirely after use. This can lead to forest fires or just burnt out camps. Always light up wood away from any structures that may catch fire and cause a safety hazard. You should also be sure to light away from combustibles and dry leaves, trees and or grass.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Let us now take a look at a list of the pros and cons that come with each type of portable fire pit:
Portable propane fire pit
Pros
- Eco-friendly burning.
- Easy to light fires.
- Flames can be controlled easily.
- Smooth and continuous running.
- Fewer threats to safety.
- Cheaper to operate compared to wood.
Cons
- Gas leaks can be dangerous.
- Cylinders may be challenging to carry and store.
Portable wood fire pit
Pros
- Natural flames and crackling sounds.
- The aesthetic feel is excellent.
- Wood fuel abundant if planning to use in the wilderness
Cons
- Tedious to light up.
- Logs need to be added occasionally and moved about to maintain flame size.
- Embers may burn clothing and body parts.
- Greater risk of fire hazards.
- Not eco-friendly.
- It needs to be cleaned up regularly.
- Not suitable for people with breathing problems.
- Logs need to be collected, stored, ordered, and maintained.
Conclusion
In this article, we tried our best to label the differences and similarities between fire pits. The comparison will help you pick out a type that is best suited to your needs.
Portable fire pits are a must for those that regularly host outdoor events or love to go camping. These are perfect for bonfires and can help give an aesthetic feel to your plain, boring backyard. You can soak up the warmth or go ahead and grill some food or marshmallows; it is totally up to you.
Ensure your portable pit is stored in a safe, clean, and dry location shielded from weather hazards to ensure longevity. Go ahead and get one for yourself today. We promise you will love it! Good luck!
