You’re staring at your backyard. You want a fire. But you don't want to smell like a campfire for three days straight, and you definitely don't want to spend an hour scrubbing soot off your patio stones. This is usually where people start looking at the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0. It’s the one everyone talks about. Most people call it the solo stove 22 inch because of its outer diameter, though technically, the burning chamber is a bit tighter than that. It’s the middle child of the lineup. Not too small, like the Ranger, which feels a bit like a desktop toy if you have more than two people over. Not too massive, like the Yukon, which consumes logs faster than a sawmill.
The 22-inch footprint is basically the industry standard now. It’s big enough to fit standard 16-inch cordwood—the stuff you buy in bundles at the grocery store—without having to get out a chainsaw. That matters. If you buy a fire pit that requires custom-cut wood, you’re going to use it exactly twice before it becomes a very expensive planter.
The Airflow Science That Actually Works
Smoke is just unburned fuel. That’s the "expert" way to say it. When you see thick, white smoke billowing into your neighbor's yard, it’s because the fire isn't hot enough to burn the tiny particles of wood. Solo Stove fixed this with a double-wall design.
Air is pulled in through the bottom vents. Some of it feeds the fire directly at the base. The rest travels up the hollow space between the metal walls, getting incredibly hot. When that superheated air exits the holes at the top, it ignites the smoke. This is called secondary combustion. It looks like little jets of flame shooting out of the rim. It's mesmerizing. Honestly, it's kinda like watching a gas stove, but with real wood.
The result? You don't have to do the "smoke dance." You know the one. The wind shifts, you move your chair. The wind shifts again, you move back. With a solo stove 22 inch model, that dance is mostly over. Is it 100% smokeless? No. Nothing is. If your wood is wet or green, it’s going to smoke. If you stack the wood above the top holes, it’s going to smoke. But if you play by the rules, it’s about 90% cleaner than a rust bucket from a big-box store.
Living With the 22-Inch Bonfire
Size matters for portability. The Bonfire 2.0 weighs about 23 pounds. You can lift it. You can toss it in the trunk of a hatchback. If you went with the 27-inch Yukon, you’d need a dedicated spot in the yard and maybe a friend to help you move it. The 22-inch version hits that "just right" mark for a family of four or five.
One thing people get wrong is the heat radiation. Because of that double-wall design, the heat goes up, not out. If it's a 40-degree night, your face will be toasted, but your shins might be chilly. Solo Stove knows this. They sell a "Heat Deflector"—a metal hat that sits on top to push the warmth sideways. It works, but it’s another thing to store.
Let's talk about the ash pan. The original Bonfire was a nightmare to clean. You had to pick up the whole unit, flip it over, and shake it like a giant salt shaker. The 2.0 version has a removable base and ash pan. You just lift the grate, pull the pan out, and dump it. It takes thirty seconds. This single change made the older models obsolete overnight.
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Why Stainless Steel Isn't Invincible
It’s 304 stainless steel. That's high-quality stuff. But heat does things to metal. After your first fire, that shiny silver finish is gone. It turns a blue-gold-bronze color. Some people call it a "patina." Others think it looks "burnt." Regardless, it’s permanent.
Also, if you leave it out in the rain, it won't rust through in a week, but it will get "tea staining"—little brown spots. Buy the cover. Or "the shelter," as they call it. It’s basically a heavy-duty tarp. Use it. It keeps the ash from turning into a gray sludge that’s impossible to clean out.
Is the 22 Inch Too Big for a Small Deck?
Maybe. You need clearance. Even though the bottom doesn't get as hot as the fire inside, it still gets hot enough to ruin a Trex deck or grass. You need the "Stand." It’s a metal ring that lifts the stove off the ground. With the stand, you can safely use the solo stove 22 inch on a wooden deck. Without it? You're asking for a visit from the fire department.
Space-wise, you want at least six feet of clearance from any siding or overhanging trees. The flames can lick pretty high, especially if you get a good secondary burn going.
The Real Cost of Ownership
The stove itself is usually around $250 to $300, depending on the sale. But that's never the final price.
- The Stand: $50
- The Shelter (Cover): $50
- The Shield (Spark Screen): $150
- The Tools (Roasting sticks, poker): $60
Suddenly, your $250 fire pit is a $500 investment. Is it worth it? If you use it every weekend, yes. If it sits in the garage? Probably not. You have to decide if the "smokeless" feature is worth the premium.
Comparing the Competition
Solo Stove isn't the only player anymore. Breeo is the big rival. Breeo is made in the USA and uses thicker, heavier steel. It’s beefy. You could probably hit a Breeo with a truck and the truck would lose. Solo Stove is lighter and more "polished" looking.
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Breeo also has a better sear plate for cooking steaks. Solo Stove has added a "Cast Iron Grill" accessory, but it feels like an add-on. Breeo was built for cooking from the ground up. If you just want to hang out and look at the fire, Solo Stove is the win because it’s easier to move around. If you want to be a backyard chef, look at the Breeo X Series 24.
Misconceptions and Troubleshooting
I hear this a lot: "My Solo Stove is smoking like crazy!"
Ninety percent of the time, the wood is the culprit. You cannot burn pressure-treated 2x4s from your home renovation. You cannot burn damp leaves. You need kiln-dried hardwood. Oak, maple, or birch. If the moisture content is over 20%, you’re going to have a bad time. Get a cheap moisture meter if you’re serious about it.
The other mistake is "overstuffing." If you pile wood above the top air holes, you cut off the oxygen for the secondary burn. Keep the wood line an inch below those holes.
Another weird thing? People forget to empty the ash. If the bottom vents are blocked by three inches of old ash, the stove can't breathe. No oxygen means no heat, which means—you guessed it—smoke.
Getting the Most Out of Your Burn
Start with the "top-down" method. Put your big logs on the bottom, then smaller sticks, then your fire starter on top. It sounds counterintuitive. But it heats up the top of the stove faster, which kicks in that smokeless effect sooner.
When you're done, don't throw a bucket of water on it. You'll warp the steel. Just let it burn out. The stainless steel is thin enough that it cools down relatively quickly once the embers are dead.
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What You Actually Need to Buy First
Don't buy the "Ultimate Bundle" right away. It's too much stuff.
- Get the stove.
- Get the stand (essential for decks/grass).
- Get the cover.
Everything else—the pellet adapter, the wok station, the pizza oven attachment—can wait. See if you actually like the experience first. Most people find that the basic setup is all they ever really use.
The solo stove 22 inch is the most popular size for a reason. It fits the life of a suburban homeowner. It fits the wood you buy at the store. It fits the space on a standard patio. It’s not perfect—it’s expensive and the heat distribution is mostly vertical—but in terms of ease of use, it’s hard to beat.
Actionable Steps for New Owners
If you’ve just unboxed your 22-inch stove, start by finding a level spot. If you're on a combustible surface, get that stand underneath it immediately.
Before your first "real" fire, do a small test burn. Use some dry kindling and maybe one log. This lets you see how the airflow works without committing to a four-hour fire.
Once you're ready for a full night, grab a bag of kiln-dried wood. Avoid the "mystery wood" sold at gas stations if possible, as it’s often too wet. Load the pit about halfway, light it from the top, and wait about 15 minutes. Once you see the "flame jets" coming out of the top holes, you’ve hit the sweet spot. Toss on another log, sit back, and enjoy the fact that your hair won't smell like a forest fire in the morning.
Keep a dedicated metal bucket nearby for ashes. Never dump them in a plastic bin or near dry brush, even if they look "cold." Those embers can stay hot for 24 hours inside that insulated drum. Stay safe, keep the airflow clear, and your stove will likely last a decade.