Breeo vs Solo stove | Outdoor living

Smokeless fire pits are one of the best backyard accessories, and two of the biggest names to choose from are Breeo and Solo Stove. I own both and use them regularly in the backyard, camping and at the beach. They are very close in price and features, so choosing between these two leading brands requires careful consideration. I’ve put the key features of the Solo Stove and Breeo side by side to help you make a decision.

Breeo vs. Solo Stove: Are They Smokeless?

When wood does not burn efficiently, it smokes. Breeo And Solo stove both create a smokeless fire by burning wood efficiently. The ‘less’ in it smokeless is essential because both fire pits are not smoke-free. Even under ideal conditions they will produce some smoke, it is still a real fire after all. If you want a completely smoke-free experience, YouTube has a great solution virtual fireplace.

Both the Breeo and Solo Stove will smoke while the fire is going. But if you use well-seasoned firewood, the rest of your time will be smokeless. I have used wet wood in both and smoke still comes out, same goes for leaves. In my experience with both fire pits, you will experience significantly less coughing, watery eyes, and moving your chair around the fire than with a traditional fire pit. That feature alone makes these sinks worth buying.

Read Next: Solo Stove review

Fire experience

Both fire pits are designed to draw oxygen into the fire, allowing them to burn efficiently and burn through the wood quickly. With a fire starter such as fatwood, the design also makes it easy to get a fire going quickly. The metal exterior of both also gets very hot, too hot to touch.

Where the two fire pits are separated is that the Breeo can use wood, charcoal or wood pellets. The Solo Stove simply burns wood. This flexibility is most beneficial when cooking, but hardwood charcoal lumps provide a longer lasting and less smoky fire than wood.

Both fire rings can be used on a deck, but the Breeo comes with legs and the Solo Stove stand is sold separately. So if you’re going to use your fire pit on a wooden deck, the Breeo may be the better option.

When you burn wood with a lot of sap, you get the resulting sparks and pops. Breeo and Solo Stove have spark shields to keep them under control. In terms of heat, Solo Stove gets the nod because they provide a heat conductor that directs heat outside and around the fire.

To cook

Although Solo Stove has a stove in its name, it is not the best way to cook. In this category, the Breeo is the clear winner. Breeo has great cooking accessories and purposeful designs.

Cooking on wood fire is not easy, but it is a lot of fun and delivers unbeatable taste. I often grill with my Breeo and the flexibility to use pellets, charcoal or wood is a great advantage. The well designed grilling (sold separately) can be moved up and down to regulate the heat. The Y series has a specific leg position for cooking, so make sure you make that adjustment before lighting the fire.

Solo Stove sells a pizza oven and grill, great options for outdoor cooking. But as for fire pits, they are not my preference for cooking, even though you can buy grill plates for them. The main reason for this is that you can’t adjust the grills up and down to adjust the heat, or easily slide them out of the way to add wood.

Cleaning

Both the Breeo and the Solo Stove are neck and neck when it comes to maintenance. The efficient combustion leaves nothing but white ash, which drains easily. Solo Stove now offers a removable ash pan, making cleaning even easier.

Breo vs. Solo Stove: Our Picks

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The Solo Stove is a great smokeless fire pit, and I recommend it if you want a fire pit for socializing and roasting marshmallows. The largest Solo Stove, Yukon, is significantly cheaper than the largest Breeo, X Series 30, and is lighter, so you can easily move it around the garden. Solo Stove has great accessories like their heat deflector and spark shield. I’ve had my Yukon for a year and a half now and it still looks great and I don’t regret buying it for a moment.

Read next: Solo Stove Review: Yes, it is actually smokeless

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If you want a permanent fire pit, the X Series is my choice. They are heavier and sturdier than the Solo Stove, and Breeo sells an accessory that allows the X Series to be seamlessly integrated into a stone fire ring. Thanks to the built-in stand, it is also compatible with wooden terraces.

Best for cooking and best portable: Breeo Y series

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If you want a fire ring that you can do serious wood-fire cooking on, I would recommend the Breeo. My pick in the lineup is the Y series for its portability and because you can burn three types of fuel. The Breeo outpost grill slides into a slot milled into Breeo fire pits for seamless integration and solid mounting. The thoughtfully designed Outpost Grill can also be used for a traditional campfire if you don’t have a Breeo.

The Y series also has a built-in carrying handle that is positioned so that you can carry the fire pit ergonomically. It weighs 31 pounds, so it’s not too heavy for car camping or a weekend cabin trip. Thanks to its built-in and adjustable legs, it is also adaptable to a wide range of surfaces.

Breeo vs. Solo Stove: the bottom line

Here’s the final word on Breeo vs Solo Stove. They are both great fire pits, but they have their strengths and weaknesses. Here are my suggestions for the best smokeless fire pits based on common usage scenarios.