Flame Genie vs. Solo Stove: Which Smokeless Fire Pit Should You Get?

A smokeless fire pit provides a warm, relaxing way to enjoy a cold fall or winter evening. These cleverly designed products allow you to sit comfortably around a fire without having to deal with troublesome, irritating clouds of smoke blowing in every direction.

If you’re considering getting a smokeless fire pit, the question naturally follows: which one should I buy?

With so many makes and models on the market today, it can be tough to narrow down your choices. But in this guide, we’re going to help you do just that.

We’ll compare two smokeless fire pit manufacturers: Solo Stove and Flame Genie. We’ll go through the models each manufacturer offers, how those models are designed, the fuel each model utilizes, and how much each model costs.

Before we get going, a quick disclaimer: at HY-C, we manufacture Flame Genie smokeless fire pits. Despite that, we’re going to keep this comparison as objective as possible, pointing out only the tangible specifications of each smokeless fire pit model.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have an in-depth understanding of each smokeless fire pit manufacturer. Armed with that information, you’ll be able to make the best buying decision for you.

Flame Genie vs. Solo Stove: Models

Flame Genie’s family of models is pretty straightforward: there’s the Flame Genie (with a 13.5” diameter), and the Flame Genie Inferno (with a 19” diameter). Both models are available in either stainless steel or a cost-effective galvanized steel with a black powder coating.

Here’s a look at the specifications of both Flame Genie models in both finish options:

Solo Stove, on the other hand, offers four models: the Mesa, the Ranger 2.0, the Bonfire 2.0, and the Yukon 2.0. Like Flame Genie, each model functions similarly and looks identical; just think of them as small, medium, large, and extra-large.

Here’s a look at the specifications of each of the four Solo Stove models:

Flame Genie vs. Solo Stove: Design

Older Solo Stoves were designed as one solid piece with a perforated, non-removable ash pan in the bottom. After the fire died and the fire pit cooled, you’d simply turn your Solo Stove over and dump out all the ashes to clean it.

Newer models like the Ranger 2.0, Bonfire 2.0, and Yukon 2.0, on the other hand, are made with a removable ash pan. Instead of having to turn the entire fire pit over to clean it, all you have to do is lift out the ash pan, carry it away, and dump it out. These new and improved models offer a much easier cleaning experience.

By contrast, Flame Genies come in two distinct pieces: the base (pictured left) and the combustion chamber (pictured right). As the fire burns in the combustion chamber, ash and embers fall through small holes in the bottom and filter down into the base.

After the fire is out and the fire pit cools, you can take the combustion chamber off and carry away just the base to dispose of the ashes.

The two components are designed to fit into each other when the fire pit is not in use, too. The base is sized to fit into the combustion chamber, helping to cut down on storage space and assisting with portability.

Flame Genie vs. Solo Stove: Fuel

Solo Stoves are designed to accommodate standard firewood. The design of the airflow system on a Solo Stove preheats outside air that filters into the fire pit, helping to mitigate or even eliminate smoke. The drier and more seasoned the firewood, the better the burn in the fire pit.

Flame Genies, on the other hand, are made to burn wood pellet fuel. Wood pellets are made from compressed sawdust and, as a result, they have very little moisture content. This fuel, combined with the intentionally placed airflow holes on the fire pit, allow for a smokeless burn.

While Solo Stove suggests standard firewood and Flame Genies are made with pellets in mind, note that you can burn either fuel in either fire pit. Flame Genie works well with regular firewood (though pellets offer the best chance at a smoke-free experience), and Solo Stove manufactures and sells a pellet adapter for their fire pits.

Flame Genie vs. Solo Stove: Price

Solo Stove’s pricing model is very straightforward: if you buy a bigger model, you’ll pay more for it. Each model is made of the same stainless steel material, so prices increase consistently with size. Here’s a look at the price of each Solo Stove model (keep in mind that these are subject to change over time):

• Solo Stove Mesa: $79.99
• Solo Stove Ranger 2.0: $199.99
• Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0: $224.99
• Solo Stove Yukon 2.0: $399.99

Our Flame Genies, on the other hand, have a less consistent price model. That’s because we don’t enforce a minimum advertised price (MAP), allowing retailers to charge what they think is the best price for their customers. As a result, you’ll see Flame Genies priced differently from retailer to retailer.

With that in mind, though, here’s what you can excerpt to pay on average for each Flame Genie model (though you may see prices much higher or much lower than these):

• Flame Genie (black): $135
• Flame Genie (stainless): $210
• Flame Genie Inferno (black): $199
• Flame Genie Inferno (stainless): $380

Another factor that may affect price is the manufacturing location of each fire pit. Solo Stoves are made in China, meaning their prices may be affected by tariffs, freight fees, and other international pricing logistics.

Flame Genies are made in the USA and, as a result, aren’t subject to these international price variables.

Flame Genie vs. Solo Stove: Which One Should You Get?

We know the smokeless fire pit market is filled with all kinds of options and, as a result, it can be confusing to figure out which one to buy. This guide only covered two manufacturers, too; there are dozens more smokeless fire pit makes and models out there to choose from.

By now, though, you should have a solid understanding of the bells and whistles of Solo Stove and Flame Genie smokeless fire pits. You know about how they’re designed, what kind of fuel they burn, and how much they cost.

The question remains, though: which model should I buy?

That entirely depends on which features you’re looking for. Solo Stoves are good for firewood while Flame Genies are made for pellet fuel. Flame Genie’s two-piece design allows for good portability, but that also means that one part can’t work without the other. Solo Stove’s fixed prices are easy to digest, while Flame Genie prices may differ from retailer to retailer (either in your favor or not!).

In the end, try to imagine how you’re going to use your smokeless fire pit and buy the option with the features best-suited to that experience. You’ll wind up with a great heating device that’s warm, enjoyable, and — maybe most importantly — smoke-free.