Are fire pits worth it?

[Sunshine1235]

After seeing lots of my friends using fire pits on the 5th I’ve now got this romantic idea of having a fire pit and us all snuggled round it through the rest of autumn. Is this realistic or have a missed the fire pit boat and it would be better to wait until spring. I’m desperate to find ways to use my garden more and keep the children outside more so we don’t go crazy this lockdown.

Any recommendations for a type if they are worth it?

I think a chiminea is a better option, that is what we went with anyway . You may struggle to get a good one or one you specifically want as many places had sold out of chimineas and fire pits or had limited stock. People obviously want to use their outside space more. We have built a large patio at the end of the garden and bought an outside L shaped sofa. I will be making a canopy but it has a temporary tarpaulin over it currently. It’s been a bit too grim lately but we have used that area a lot and the chiminea does warm the end up nicely.

Watching carefully because I’m also having the same dilemma.

I’m wary of a Chiminea they seem fiddly?

I’ve got a chiminea and a big firepit and a smaller foldable pit (the legs tuck in) - they’re all good for cooking on too but the fire pits are best for a larger group to sit around and get even amounts of heat, facing the side or the back of a chiminea isn’t quite the same!

I've got a kadai that I use all year round. Cook on it quite often too. Much better than a chiminea

Fire pits are a nightmare if it is windy as you can end up in a Smokey fug. A chiminea is the best way forward.

They are not really that warm for all year round use. Whilst they look good, it’s also dependant upon the weather. If you get cold you’d do better with a plug adapter and a heated over blanket for warmth.

Stoves or samovas are loads better. I have both inside a big canvas tent outside with a chimney and its bloody lovely.

This is what I use, really kicks out the heat and it has a hob on the top of it

belltentboutique.co.uk/products/outbacker-portable-log-burning-stove?variant=17895111495&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAiAqJn9BRB0EiwAJ1SztYix_lDuSB8D82_YTVnYoWeByFbszm-c65W8y3labGmqcfFxNxUBjRoC6vcQAvD_BwE

I have a cheap fire pit. Ok once it gets going.

Be prepared to move around if the wind changed direction

Creating more air pollution at any time isn’t great, but during a pandemic caused by a respiratory virus which seems to be worsened by regular exposure to poor quality air doesn’t seem a very good idea.

www.newscientist.com/article/2258774-air-pollution-linked-to-greater-risk-of-dying-from-covid-19-in-the-us/

Sorry OP. I guess it’s ok now and again, but I’d say regular use isn’t a great idea.

Unless you’re likely to be outside on more than the 5th using it, it’s not worth it. I’ve had both. I never actually used the fire pit because we sit on the patio, close to the house. After buying, DH said to me - are you sure you want that heat, smoke and ask so close to the house (our newly installed bifolds in particular) Never got used

Haven’t used the combines in over 10 years. It’s now just a garden ornament (rusty)

I have a kadai and it's tremendous fun. We cook curries over it using the tripod, it absolutely saved my sanity this summer!

www.kadai.co.uk/

There's a pizza oven thing you can get for it, which I really want to try next year.

Someone in my village set fire to their whole field with a fire pit in the summer. Fire service had to come and put it out.

I love fire pits and cooking outdoors so I have a huge range of barbecues smokers for pits and pizza ovens.
I have a small folding fire pit perfect for beginners, it was similar to the picture I’m attaching but cheaper when I bought it 5 years ago.

Friend bought an open bowl style one. Smoke dodging the whole time (in her very sheltered garden). I didn't see the appeal.

Patio heaters are normal where I grew up so Chimnea makes sense to me.

This is the type of patio heater I'm used to & would consider for bat or star watching. Bats are still flying where I live in Uk! Butane canisters.

We've got one like the picture above. We'll be lighting it tonight to toast marshmallows, other than that it's probably only been lit 2 or 3 times this year.
We generally light it when entertaining (which we haven't really done this year) as when it's just me and DH, we don't bother sitting outside.

Tonight I will be firing up a pit and listening to an anniversary performance of les miserables while drinking spiced rum. Really looking forward to it but need to make sure I drink slowly or the neighbours might get my own personal and awful rendition.

I have a fire pit and a sort of outside wood burner stove, I used to have a Chiminea

As you can tell by looking at it, you can’t all sit round a chiminea. Well you can but it’s pointless. They also give out minimal heat compared to the other options.

A fire pit is the best option in my experience, get a big bowled one, with a grate lid. You can all sit round it and they give out a huge amount of heat. We have sat putside till the early hours many times and are so toasty warm, when you move away to go to the loo or something it’s surprising how cold it is.

However they are messy and if you’re going to use it often, then you need to have enough wood and someplace to store it. We use about a wheel barrow of logs in one evening for context.

@LeaveMyDamnJam

Fire pits are a nightmare if it is windy as you can end up in a Smokey fug. A chiminea is the best way forward.

That’s not correct, not if you used properly seasoned wood, once it’s burning hot there is very little smoke.

I have friends who have fire pits and they love them but every single time I’ve ever been round the smoke has been unbearable and the smell on clothes and hair afterwards is something else.