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To most of us, fires are so alluring that we’ll start them in our backyards and homes just to stare at them. There’s nothing quite like relaxing around a roaring fire. Whether I’m backpacking or car camping, the first thing I pack is a reliable fire-making kit: Matches, lighters, kindling, and some way to contain the flames just in case there isn’t a fire ring where I’m headed.

I’ve tested most brand-name fire pits and fire rings designed for camping. But, I was stoked to check out BioLite’s FirePit+ with its built-in, battery-powered fan and numerous cooking accessories. It promised to make fire-starting dead simple and to burn cleaner than anything I’d tested before. So, I tossed the review unit in my 4Runner and headed into the Oklahoma wilderness for a week to test it out. Here’s what I found.

The BioLite FirePit+ is the latest version of its original FirePit, a portable fire pit designed for any outdoor space where traditional campfires might be inconvenient or even dangerous. It’s a deceptively simple gadget — essentially a compact, black steel mesh cage with collapsible legs and a handle on each end. At roughly two feet long, it’s small enough to stow in a closet when you’re not using it and to toss in the trunk of even the smallest compact car for your next camping adventure.

What separates it from other portable fire rings and fire canisters, however, is the battery-powered fan that attaches to one end. With four adjustable speeds, it delivers forced air through metal tubing integrated into the fire chamber to help feed the flames. Plus, BioLite offers a handful of accessories, including a griddle top, a grill lid, and a prep & grill toolkit, that elevate the FirePit+ beyond “ordinary” fire pit status to become a legit fire-powered camp kitchen tool.

Like other portable fire pits designed for camping, the BioLite FirePit+ relies on charcoal or split firewood (or any clean-burning biomass, really, including loose sticks, twigs, pinecones, brush, etc.). For my first test run, I picked up a bag of well-seasoned, quartered piñon wood cut into small pieces. Inside the FirePit+’s removable grate, I built a loose fire-starting pile with cardboard paper towel tubes, a few twigs, and small bits of burnable cardboard trash, then topped it with chunks of the piñon wood. I intentionally made the pile haphazard and inefficient to see how much heavy lifting the electric fan could perform.

Using a grill lighter, I started with a golf ball-sized flame inside the FirePit+. Then, I turned the fan on low, heard a quiet gust of air humming through the metal tubing, and the fire immediately started growing. I bumped the fan up to three (its second-highest setting), and the flames sprang to life with zero effort on my part. On its highest setting, the flames shook and danced almost violently, as though a 30 mile-per-hour wind gust had just blown through. I had a solid fire engulfing most of the chamber in less than a minute. Impressive.

Although it seems like “just” a steel cage with an attached fan, BioLite’s second-generation FirePit+ packs more features than any portable fire pit I’ve ever tested. Most notably:

After a week-long test while camping in rural Oklahoma, I found a lot to like about the BioLite FirePit+:

The latest BioLite FirePit+ is a pretty basic camp gadget, but there are a few questions that routinely come up from owners and curious buyers.

BioLite discontinued its original FirePit, so it’s no longer available. It’s been replaced by the BioLite FirePit+ (note the “+”).

BioLite states that owners can find the serial number for their FirePit+ on the original retail packaging or the battery pack (fan) unit.

Any metal exposed to both extreme heat and moisture (often the case if leaving the FirePit+ outside overnight) can develop rust over time. That’s why it’s essential to clean the FirePit+ after every use. BioLite also recommends cleaning the FirePit+ with a soft brush and gentle water and vinegar solution. Repeat as necessary.

Absolutely not. On the official website, BioLite explicitly says “no.” It’s intended for outdoor use only.

There are plenty of fire pits for campers on the market. At nearly $300 (plus the cost of any accessories), I would consider BioLite’s FirePit+ to be a premium option. But, the addition of an electric fan that makes fire-starting infinitely easier, as well as several great camp cooking accessories, make it well worth the price, in my opinion. It’s my favorite new go-to fire pit for any front-country camping, and I highly recommend it.

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