I spent the last three weekends testing eight gas fire pits in my own backyard, dragging them between the patio and the fire pit corner, lighting each one before sunset, and timing how long it took my guests to gather around. After 60+ hours of use across cool autumn evenings, I can tell you exactly […]

After more than a decade of hosting backyard fires, testing gear across two homes and three coastal patios, our team has handled enough sparks to know which fire pit screens actually earn their keep. The best fire pit screens keep embers contained without smothering the flame, survive a few seasons of weather, and make adding […]

When I packed my first portable camping fire pit into the back of my SUV for a weekend in the Sierras, I expected the same smoky, eye-stinging experience I'd grown up with on family trips. Instead, I spent three nights cooking dinner over a contained, nearly smoke-free flame that left the grass beneath it completely […]

I tested eight of the most popular propane fire pits across three weekends of real camping trips, from dry Sierra Nevada sites under active fire restrictions to damp Pacific Northwest evenings. My goal was simple: figure out which models actually deliver the warmth and ambiance they promise, and which ones are better suited for the […]