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Solo Summit 24: First Impressions
The Solo Summit 24 is so visually beautiful to look at, I almost felt hesitant about lighting it up, fearing the gorgeous shine might disappear. No fear, it didn't. It came beautifully packaged and with a manual the size of Vogue September issue. The instructions are so clear and concise it made it ridiculously easy to put together; basically, three drums all fit together as one.
To light the fire, you just pour a sachet of fire starter gel into the base of the drum. You are supplied with six sachets, and then you can order more online at Solo Stove. My husband then loaded kiln-dried logs so they burnt nicely, lit a match, and within seconds the crackling noise of burning wood could be heard. The fire was almost instantaneous. In the past, I have seen friends really struggle with their fire pits, but this one is a complete game changer. So easy, even I could do it!
I can see straight away that this is going to give us another room in the house. Our back garden is north-facing, so as soon as the sun disappears off the patio, it becomes quite chilly. Not now and never again.
Performance and Usability
We were outside all afternoon gardening, then we cooked our dinner on our new Ninja FlexFlame BBQ, which is also a revelation. As we relaxed to enjoy the peace and quiet of the garden, we lit the Solo Stove Summit 24, and it kept us warm well into the evening. Normally we would be inside watching television, but this is so much better as you have proper time to chat about the week. I just feel so comfortable in the garden. Cosied up on our fabulous garden furniture, my husband and I had no wish to go in. I'd actually say we were just as warm as we would have been sitting in our living room.
At one point, my husband moved over to the table with the smaller tabletop Solo Stove Mesa XL, and this too only required a few pieces of kindling in the barrel to give enough heat to also feel really comfortable.
Solo Stove Fire Pits: At a Glance
Solo Stove Mesa XL - £99.99 from Lakeland, £89.99 from Solo Stove, £99.99 from Amazon. Material: Stainless steel. Size: Diameter 17.8 cm, Height 21.8 cm, Weight 1 kg. Fuel type: Smokeless, wood burning.
Solo Stove Summit 24 Smokeless Stainless Steel Firepit & Stand - £549.99 from John Lewis, £499.99 from Solo Stove. Material: Stainless steel. Size: Height 39.1 cm, Diameter 62.5 cm, Weight 15.92 kg. Fuel type: Smokeless, wood burning.
First Impressions of Solo Stove Summit 24
It looked too nice to use. I was just staring at this beautiful design wondering if I really had to light it, but my husband insisted. After the ease of lighting it, the worry about ruining it fades away with the glorious warmth that comes from it. We bought logs from the petrol station, as they were dry kilned and created little smoke, but will probably get them delivered in future to make it more cost effective. We don't have a fire in this current house, and I've missed having a real wood fire. Thankfully, that has all changed now. We placed about four logs over the starter gel, and it lit immediately. The convection system within the stove makes lighting a fire a breeze, as it draws very well.
Performance
Both the Solo Stove Summit 24 and the Solo Stove Mesa created instant warmth on the patio and on a breezy night made us feel very cosy. I would worry about the open flame more with small children, but as ours are all grown up, we are fine. There are also lots of safety gadgets by Solo Stove, which is great for stopping parents with young children worrying at all. Just adding a log every hour kept the fire going all night. We were out there until about 10pm at night, just watching it flickering away with so much ease.
Design
I was looking on the box to see where it was designed as it has an Italian minimalist feel to it, but surprisingly it was made in Texas, USA. In the words of my husband, 'a simple but effective beautiful design.' The design definitely adds to the garden, almost like a beautiful sculpture, and gives that luxury feel to the patio. It's expensive, but when you think that instead of just being out on the patio in the summer you will use it all year round, then it feels worth the money. We got ours from John Lewis, and it cost £549.99, and the table one, which is just so perfect for a patio table, was an extra £99.99.
It creates a real outdoorsy feel, as there are so many things you are able to do aside from enjoy the fire. This includes toasting marshmallows with the fire pit accessories and the fire pit plus surround bundle, so you can place mugs of hot chocolates on it. You can create a campsite feeling, which brings the garden into use all year round. I know when the kids are at home they will dive straight out there, while possibly fighting over who sits where. Either way, it means we will all be outside as a family, chatting round the fire, and that will be a good thing.
Verdict: Solo Stove Summit 24 & Solo Stove Mesa XL
I was actually in two minds to message a few girlfriends before I sent my review in, as I think they are just going to all sell out and be so hard to get hold of. They are a must have for every garden, big or small, and come in all different sizes. We are never happier than when we are outside relaxing and reading, and this is giving us a whole new type of weekend. I watched my husband standing over it for almost an hour just enjoying the warmth and the smell of the burning logs.
The Solo Stove Summit 24 is not cheap but is perfect for a large patio with as many chairs as you can physically fit round it. With all the gadgets that you can buy to go with, it could actually turn an evening into a fun camping session whilst you roast your smores over the fire and drink cups of hot chocolate.
How Does It Compare to Similar Products?
I am not sure anything comes close performance-wise. We have experienced a few fire pit nights where the gas wouldn't work or it took so long to light. This is just so easy and clean that I haven't experienced anything like this before. Pretty sure it's up there on its own.
There is a cheaper alternative smokeless fire pit that has generally good reviews called the HerQs Smokeless Cozy Firepit - though lots of users do note the design doesn't feel so safe. It is assembled by stacking three components. On a slope or uneven surface, there's a risk of it falling over. If you'd rather a more traditional fire with smoke, then the VonHaus brand are known to be good. They even have one that doubles up as a BBQ. There are also plenty of affordable firepits that might be less of a strain on your bank account if you do end up not using it as much as you thought, like Dunelm's £80 stretch fire pit and Argos' £50 foldable firepit.
The gadgets that come with it are addictive too. We have already ordered the covers from John Lewis, and I can see my husband scanning the bundles on their website over my shoulder. I do feel if they stock a product, it has to be top quality, and this fire pit delivers in spades. My biggest worry is that they will all sell out before anyone gets a chance to buy one.
How We Test Fire Pits and Why Trust Us
Testing fire pits is quite the task (unless you have the easy to use Solo Stove, of course). They require a lot of attention, and a few health and safety checks first. Reading the manual is mandatory, and we make sure to thoroughly assess our surrounding areas before testing. First, it's about logistics: how easy is it to transport? Does it require a courier to deliver the fire pit to its desired location? Is it portable? This helps us decide what household we think they'd be most suited for. Then, we light them up with the designated fuel and sit for a good few hours. We look out for heat level, how many times we have to add to the fire to keep it going, and how easy it is to put out. Price and style come into consideration - is it worth the spend? Does it stand out in my blooming garden, and does it destroy my lawn? Of course, as it goes with all outdoor buys, the product has to work for you - and your garden. When testing, we keep in mind all needs, from budgets to family size and multi-functions.
