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Surestove Smokeless Review

A great value choice for those who want to try out a smokeless fire pit without emptying the wallet
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Surestove Smokeless Review
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Price:  $160 List
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Manufacturer:   Surestove
By Kenji Mowrey ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Aug 21, 2024
74
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 13
  • Heat Output - 35% 7.0
  • Smoke Management - 30% 7.0
  • Portability - 20% 9.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 10% 6.0
  • Ease of Assembly - 5% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Surestove Smokeless may not possess a household name, but don't be fooled; this pit offers great value and comparable performance that those with a tighter budget will love. Highly portable, plenty of heat dispersion, and an included stand helps the Surestove stand out. While it may not hold up to the elements and long-term use that other pits will, the Surestove offers a great entry into trying a smokeless fire pit without spending an arm and a leg. Our full review of the top-rated fire pits shows how the Surestove stacks up to competing products.
REASONS TO BUY
Portable
Inexpensive
Included stand and fire ring
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very durable
Subpar ash pan

Compare to Similar Products

 
surestove smokeless
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Budget Smokeless Fire Pit
Top Pick Award
Best Portable Propane Fire Pit
Top Pick Award
Best Tabletop Fire Pit
  
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Bottom Line While not the most durable, the Surestove budget smokeless fire pit burns hot and offers great portabilityA hassle-free propane fire pit that offers convenience and the ability to bypass fire restrictionsInexpensive, fun tabletop pit that leaves no mess and is very easy to useA great way to roast marshmallows at the table or for styling a backyard event, but not the best for warmth and comfortA good value basic fire pit that gets the job done if you are not worried about reducing smoke
Rating Categories Surestove Smokeless Outland Living Mega Roundfire Concrete... Solo Stove Mesa Tab... Amazon Basics Steel...
Heat Output (35%)
7.0
7.0
3.0
4.0
7.0
Smoke Management (30%)
7.0
10.0
10.0
8.0
4.0
Portability (20%)
9.0
6.0
10.0
10.0
7.0
Ease of Cleaning (10%)
6.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Ease of Assembly (5%)
9.0
9.0
10.0
10.0
6.0
Specs Surestove Smokeless Outland Living Mega Roundfire Concrete... Solo Stove Mesa Tab... Amazon Basics Steel...
Measured Weight 18 lbs 25 lbs 3.5 lbs 1.4 lbs 16.6 lbs
Fuel Type Wood Propane Bioethanol Wood, Pellet Wood
Measured Burn Time 45 minutes 400 minutes 60 minutes 10 minutes 30 minutes
Measured Assembly Time 3 minutes 3 minutes 0.5 minutes 0.5 minutes 5 minutes
Max Recommended Log Length 16" N/A N/A 3" 23"
Measured Inner Diameter 18" 19" 3" 5.1" 23.5"
Measured Dimensions 19"L x 19"W x 14"H 24"L x 24"W x 13"H 5"L x 5"W x 6"H 5.1"L x 5.1"W x 6.8"H 27.8"L x 27.8"W x 35"H
Material Stainless Steel Steel with powder coating Concrete Stainless Steel/ceramic Steel with powder coating
Ignition Type Lighter required Lighter required Lighter required Lighter required Lighter required

Our Analysis and Test Results

Despite its smaller size and lower price point, the Surestove offers plenty of heat and provides great portability, making it an enticing option for traveling and camping while still enjoying the benefit of a smoke-free fire.

Performance Comparison


surestove smokeless - the surestove provides ample heat in a portable package.
The Surestove provides ample heat in a portable package.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey


Heat Output


The Surestove Smokeless definitely packs a punch and puts out more heat than our testers expected. It ignites quickly and maintains a consistently hot burn for up to 45 minutes.


During our heat output tests, we let the Surestove heat up and measured it with our infrared thermometer with temperature readings upwards of 900℉, which is an impressive heat output relative to its size. The smaller diameter of the Surestove involved having to feed more wood to keep the pit running hot, but that's somewhat expected with any smokeless design.

surestove smokeless - our infrared readings helped validate the impressive heat we were...
Our infrared readings helped validate the impressive heat we were feeling from the SureStove.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

We had no issues getting the Surestove Smokeless ignited and quickly up to the ideal burning temperature. The burn time could be longer, but burning out at 45 minutes on three logs still holds its own. Overall, our testers were pleasantly surprised at the effectiveness of the Surestove's heat output.

surestove smokeless - a diameter of 19 inches is perfect for medium-sized logs. this helps...
A diameter of 19 inches is perfect for medium-sized logs. This helps keep a hot burn going without having to constantly replenish wood.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

Smoke Management


Admittedly, smokeless fire pits are not completely smokeless, but some fire pits do a much better job of controlling smoke levels across the various stages of burning. While the Surestove does a decent job at removing smoke, it could be better.


During our side-by-side tests, it was evident that the Surestove was emitting more smoke during ignition than its other smokeless counterparts. Once secondary burning was achieved, visual smoke reduced significantly but picked back up once it started to burn out and extinguish. Still, the reduction in smoke compared to a traditional fire pit was tenfold, and it holds significant value in opting for a smokeless pit over a traditional fire pit.

surestove smokeless - the lower air holes on the surestove are located on the stand. we...
The lower air holes on the SureStove are located on the stand. We suspect the lower holes don't pull air as effectively as other designs, resulting in more smoke outside of the peak burn stage.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

Using well-seasoned wood goes a long way in avoiding smoke. In our tests, we used the same seasoned wood for all pits. After these controlled tests, we opted for other wood types and observed a greater smoke output when using unseasoned wood. We also noticed that burning unseasoned wood on the Surestove resulted in more smoke than burning the same unseasoned wood on more expensive smokeless pits. This test was done to compare the effectiveness of the smokeless design and airflow system each pit utilizes when burning less-than-ideal wood.

A close-up view of the SureStove during peak burn. Once secondary burn is achieved, smoke all but disappears.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

Portability


Where the Surestove Smokeless shines is in its portability. At just 18 lbs and 19" x 19" x 14" in diameter with the stand, it's one of the lightest pits we tested. Even with the detachable stand, we had no problem moving the Surestove out of the car, across the backyard, or into storage. We feel confident recommending the Surestove as a great portable option for car camping and boondocking.


The Surestove's simplicity makes it straightforward to set up and only requires putting the pit onto the stand to get going. While there are no handles or transport bag, it's light enough to carry without much fuss. All in all, it's one of the few full-size firepits we could feel comfortable carrying solo.

surestove smokeless - the surestove comfortably fits in the trunk of our car, with plenty...
The SureStove comfortably fits in the trunk of our car, with plenty of room to spare.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

Ease of Cleaning


The Surestove utilizes its stand as a built-in ash pan to dispose of ash. Ash removal simply involves taking the pit out of the stand and unloading the ash from the bottom. This design helps avoid having to lift the entire stove to dispose of ash.


One caveat with the stand acting as the ashpan is the hole in the middle of the stand lets ash build up below the stand and makes disposal of all the ash nearly impossible. While not the biggest concern, not fully being able to clean out your pit before traveling or putting it away for storage can be frustrating. Other options that use a removable ash pan mean cleanup can be achieved easily and more effectively, hence the lower score for the Surestove's ease of cleaning.

surestove smokeless - the inner circle on the ash pan is susceptible to trapping leftover...
The inner circle on the ash pan is susceptible to trapping leftover ash.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

Ease of Assembly


To assess the assembly time of each fire pit, we ran a timer to evaluate which pits went from box to finished product the quickest. The simplicity of the Surestove means practically no assembly. Unpack it from its box and attach the pit to the stand, and you're ready to go.


For folks traveling or away from home for extended periods of time, knowing no tools or any extra assembly prep is needed helps justify purchasing a fire pit that can be used right out of the box.

Attaching the pit to the stand is the only setup required.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

Should You Buy the Surestove Smokeless?


An unknown name and low price point warrant valid skepticism, but our rounds of testing and unbiased results lend the Surestove Smokeless some credibility. As a budget smokeless fire pit option, the SureStove certainly impressed us with its heat output and awesome portability. While this pit doesn't possess many features or hold up to the lengths a more expensive option would, it offers a reliable fire and a hard-to-beat price point that makes trying out a smokeless fire pit a bit easier on the wallet.

surestove smokeless - if you are on the fence about going smokeless, the surestove is a...
If you are on the fence about going smokeless, the SureStove is a great budget option to consider.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey

What Other Fire Pits Should You Consider?


If you live in a fire restriction area during summer, opting for a propane-fed pit like the Outland Living Mega can help bypass restrictions. If you want to host friends and families for larger gatherings, a bigger fire pit worth considering is the Solo Stove Yukon 2.0. And if leaving your fire pit outside is necessary or you just want ultimate durability, the Breeo X Series X24 is hard to beat in that department.

Kenji Mowrey
 

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