Fire pits bring an ambiance like no other to backyard living spaces and, yes, campsites. If you’re a hardcore ultralight camper, you might scoff at the idea of bringing a whole fire pit to a campsite. A hand-placed ring of rocks usually suffices, but the Outland Living Fire Bowl is a worthy tag-along for campers who’d prefer not to smell like firewood. It’s also a nice fire pit for people who live in small spaces and want a reasonable fire pit for their patio or balcony.
Ahead, learn what our product testing team thinks of the Outland Living Fire Pit after putting it to the test: specifically, seven tests to find out how it compares to the best propane fire pits for heating performance, ease of use, setup, durability, value and more.
What is the Outland Living Fire Pit?
Outland Living makes an entire line of fire pits, from permanent backyard fixtures to portable camping fire pits. The product reviewed here, the Outland Living Standard Fire Pit (formerly Fire Bowl), is an extension of what originally inspired the company to create portable fire pits. The company was founded by two outdoor enthusiasts in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada; they designed a portable propane fire pit to take camping when outdoor agencies implemented burn bans due to forest fire danger. The first model, called the Ban Buster, evolved into the line of portable fire pits available from the brand today.
TMB STUDIOWe Tried It
Outland Living Standard Fire Pit
Pros:
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Minimal assembly required
- Elevates the camping experience
- Good for small spaces, like balconies
- Excellent wind resistance
Cons:
- Somewhat noisy, even at low settings
- Weather-resistant carrying bag sold separately
- Manual ignition
Outland Living Fire Pit Features
The Outland Living Standard Fire Pit is stacked with ideal features in a propane fire pit.
Portable and Lightweight
The Outland Living Standard Fire Pit measures just 19 inches long by 19 inches wide by 11 inches high. This makes it an excellent portable fire pit and one of the smallest we’ve tested. It weighs 22 pounds, so it should be pretty easy for any one person to move on their own.
Pre-Assembled
This fire pit arrived mostly pre-assembled; all our testers had to do was secure the legs and pour in the lava rocks.
High BTU Output
The Standard Fire Pit has a maximum output of 58,000 BTUs, which, surprisingly, is one of the highest BTU ratings among all of the propane fire pits we’ve tested, despite this one being one of the smallest.
Durable Materials
The body is constructed of powder-coated, enamel-protected steel, while the valve knob is chrome, and the burners and fasteners are stainless steel.
Pre-Attached Hose
It comes with a pre-attached, 10-foot-long propane hose and regulator, plus a propane tank stabilizer ring.
Lava Rocks
The Standard Fire Pit comes with a 4.4-pound bag of lava rocks. Our testers found this to be more than enough, and they had extra left over for supplementing later.
Safety Valve
This fire pit features an excess flow safety valve, which is certainly a nice feature to have to prevent potential fire hazards.
Manual Ignition
Unfortunately, this fire pit does not feature electric ignition, so you’ll need a lighter to get it going. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth knowing, especially if you tend to forget lighters when packing up for camping!
Our Experts Performed 7 Tests
Our product testing team put the Outland Living Standard Fire Pit through several distinct tests to determine its performance. We looked at a few key factors to determine if this fire pit is worth buying: packaging, delivery, and assembly; durability and weather resistance; heating performance; wind resistance; ease of use and lighting process; hose length; flame consistency; and value.
Our testers shouted from the rooftops that setup was “ridiculously easy,” noting that they had to attach the legs and pour in the lava rocks. Then, it was ready to be connected to the external propane tank via the 10-foot hose.
“After it was connected, we tested for leaks by spraying connections with soapy water and watching for bubbles as we turned the valve on,” our testers said, happily reporting that no leakage occurred.
It must be manually operated with a lighter, and then you can slowly adjust the dial. “The propane tank needs to be turned on very slowly; otherwise, it will trip the excess flow safety valve,” our testers said. “We ran into some trouble with this.”
Despite being such a small fire pit, our testers could feel the heat from the flames up to 11 feet away (though they tested this on a relatively warm day, so perhaps take that with a grain of salt.)
“The flames on the highest setting don’t seem super high; the lowest setting produces flames that are about 1/3 of the height and barely protrude over the edge of the bowl,” they noted.
This is actually a good thing for a camping fire pit, especially if you’re using it during a burn ban. It’s ideal to be able to feel the heat from far away without large flames when in the wilderness.
Dozens of Fire Pits Tested
Our product testing team at Family Handyman has collectively tested dozens of fire pits. Two of our staff members tested the Outland Living Fire Bowl: Dylan Fischer, a professional gear reviewer who regularly builds sets for product testing for Family Handyman and Taste of Home, and Annamarie Higley, the testing lead and daily ops manager at our Family Handyman testing lab. They took this fire pit through seven tests to determine how it stacks up against competition for value, delivery, assembly, ease of operation, heating performance, durability, accessories and portability.
FAQ
Is Outland Living a good brand?
Yes! Outland Living is a reputable brand in the outdoor space. It is best known for its line of portable fire pits, but the brand also manufactures a range of outdoor living space fixtures and furniture.
Who owns Outland Living?
FMI Brands, a parent company holding various small outdoor brands, owns Outland Living. The company is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
On Amazon, the Outland Living Fire Bowl has an impressive average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, with nearly 10,000 reviews. Reviewer Alex, who left a 5-star review, said: “I went camping during a burn ban and got this fire pit for the campfire. It worked out great. The flames look very realistic, it’s easy to use, easy to transport, and [it] worked out awesome. It puts out [a] decent amount of heat and you don’t smell like smoke. Loved it, will take [it] with me regularly now.”
Reviewers had very few negatives to point out. One buyer noted that the included cover is not waterproof, and he’s worried about when temperatures start to freeze. An alternative, heftier cover might be a good investment if you live in a wet or cold climate.
Outland Living Fire Pit vs. Tiki Brand Fire Pit
Tiki is a well-known brand for outdoor living fixtures and furniture. Our testers also reviewed the Tiki Brand Customizable Propane Fire Pit. This particular fire pit is large and designed to be more or less a permanent fixture in an outdoor space. It’s heavy and hard to move, so it’s not ideal for campers, like the Outland Living Fire Pit. It costs about double the price, but that’s not unexpected given its size.
Our product testing team found the Tiki fire pit more challenging to assemble than the Outland fire pit. Despite being larger, they could only feel the heat up to 8.5 feet away (as opposed to 11 feet for the Outland Living one).
The Tiki brand fire pit is a better choice for buyers looking for a stylish addition to their backyard space and a centerpiece around which to enjoy company. The Outland Living fire pit is a better choice for anyone needing a portable fire pit for camping or just wanting something small and safe for a small patio or balcony.
Final Verdict
The Outland Living Standard Fire Pit (formerly the Fire Bowl) is an ideal portable propane fire pit for campers. It’s also an excellent choice for anyone who needs an efficient, safe option for a small space, like a balcony. Our testers found it easy to assemble and set up. Plus, it produced a good amount of heat despite its shorter flames.
Where to Buy the Outland Living Fire Pit
TMB STUDIOWe Tried It
Outland Living Standard Fire Pit
The Outland Living Fire Bowl can be found on Amazon, just in time for cozy fall weather.
The post We Tested the Outland Living Fire Pit, and It’s the Camping Luxury of Our Dreams appeared first on Family Handyman.
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