It feels like we’ve spoken to this point ad nauseam by now. “I’ll take woodburning campfires versus portable propane fire pits for $500, Alex!”
Which is better, which is safer, which is more sustainable? Are propane fire pits ever really better than wood-burning campfires, or are they just better than nothing when fire bans omit the option to burn wood?
Some of those answers are subjective, and for some, nothing will ever compare to the “real deal” — building a traditional campfire. The unfortunate reality is that year after year, the United States continues to experience hot, dry summers, destructive wildfire seasons, and more fire bans.
The conversation, and our mission to eliminate human-caused wildfires, is more pertinent than ever.
Propane Fire Pits Are Safe and Sustainable During Fire Bans
Whether you’re camping in a dry, fire-prone area or you just want to down a few too many whiskeys and not worry about where the embers from your campfire fly, propane fire pits are the safer option.
Traditional campfires provide a feeling of nostalgia that can’t be matched. There’s no argument there. The ambience. The heat from the hot coals that singes the hair off your shins… The smoke.
There are some things about a wood-burning fire that can’t be matched. They’re burnt into our psyche through eons of human evolution. But just as we humans have evolved, so have our campfires.
There’s a time and a place to build a traditional campfire and savor the fruits of your hard work as they melt to ash, but if fire safety is a concern, propane fire pits can’t be beat. Portable propane campfires, like LavaBoxes, placed within an established fire ring or that are self-contained and raised off the ground, are generally safe for use during Stage 1 and Stage 2 Fire Bans.
(Learn more about fire bans and how they affect your ability to have a campfire.)
Of course, always check with your current local county regulations. Fire restrictions are subject to vary, but in most cases, you’ll be safe and compliant to burn a propane campfire under these conditions.
Propane fire pits don’t produce smoke or embers, and the flame disappears as soon as the propane burns off — typically within less than two feet of the unit it was produced from.
When you turn off the propane, the fire is 100% extinguished. There’s no opportunity for lingering embers to reignite once you’ve left the site. Incidents of improperly extinguished campfires have led to more wildfires than we even want to acknowledge.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, “Campfires and outdoor recreation are the second largest cause of wildfires in the southwest.”
That’s a statistic we hate! As nature lovers and avid outdoorspeople, we aim to do better.
We know that camping isn’t camping without a campfire. Nothing puts a damper on an eagerly anticipated camping trip like cold, dark evenings around the battery-powered lantern that end early due to fire restrictions.
We love propane fire pits. Not because they replace traditional campfires, but because if you have one, you never have to go camping without a campfire.
Propane Fire Pits Are More Sustainable
Aside from the obvious point that propane fire pits are safer to burn than wood during times of high fire danger, did you know that propane is more sustainable to burn than wood?
We dive deeper into the science behind this in a previous post you can read here.
To briefly recap: Next to natural gas, propane is one of the cleanest-burning fuels there is.
When dry wood burns, it releases all the carbon built up inside of it. Through the natural process of decomposition, that carbon would have been slowly released (into the atmosphere, but also back into the soil) over an extended period. However, when the wood is burned, all that carbon is released into the atmosphere at once.
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Burning dry wood emits about 213 pounds of carbon dioxide per million BTU
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Burning propane emits about 135 pounds of carbon dioxide per million BTU
Can Propane Fire Pits Compare When It Comes to Comfort?
At this point, you might be thinking, “That’s all good and well, propane might be safer and burn a little cleaner, but it’s… just not the same.”
That’s true! Propane fire pits aren’t the same. We wouldn’t even say they’re better than traditional campfires. They’re different. There are times and places where they’re more ideal — like during a burn ban — but that’s not the only time.
We love portable fire pits for camping, overlanding, backyard BBQs, and tailgating at sporting events, ski slopes, and concerts.
One thing that makes a great propane fire pit for these purposes is ease of transport. That’s why we made LavaBox Portable Campfires compact and in a non-cumbersome shape that’s easy to pack and stow.
Propane fire pits are also the ideal alternative to burning wood when you’re tight on time, tired, or simply don’t want to build a campfire and wait for it to warm up. There’s no collecting kindling, no fumbling with damp wood that won’t light, and no freezing your butt off while you wait for the fire to get going during shoulder season or winter camping.
There’s nothing comfortable about your numb hands while trying to get a fire going the day after it rained.
Propane fire pits light up in an instant.
With each LavaBox model, you receive an adjustable regulator hose to crank up or simmer down the flame depending on how much heat (or dramatic effect) you want. This is the kind of convenience that makes camping more comfortable and backyard bashes more enjoyable when you want to hang out with your friends without fussing with the fire pit.
What About Warmth?
You got us there. We didn’t think about that one 🤔. Just kidding.
We can’t speak for all propane fire pits. We’ve certainly had the experience of sitting around portable propane fire pits at camp, or big fire pit fixtures on a bar patio, that don’t live up to the experience of sitting fireside. The heat is underwhelming, and the flames are… blue? That’s weird.
Fire pits like that give propane fire pits a bad name. LavaBox would never!
Some may try to claim that BTUs don’t matter. However, that’s just scientifically inaccurate. In fact, nothing matters more when quantifying the output of an appliance or heat source. Length is measured in feet and inches. Weight is quantified in pounds or kilograms. BTUs (British Thermal Units) measure heat or energy produced.
The BTU capability of a propane fire pit directly affects the heat output and the size of the flame. Different fuels possess different BTU capacities, and propane has the advantage of possessing one of the highest.
That said, as mentioned above, not all propane fire pits are created equally. We built LavaBox Portable Campfire to burn as similarly to a traditional wood-burning campfire as possible.
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Most LavaBox Portable Campfire models can burn at up to 280,000 BTUs. Although at the point where you max that out, you’re really just showing off.
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The flame can reach up to two feet tall, but most prefer to burn it at about one foot high. At this height, you can expect to average two hours of burn time per pound of propane.
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It might not leave you with shiny shins like a traditional campfire can if you get too close, but the ceramic Hades Stones included with each LavaBox store and emit heat. Unlike some propane fire pits, where the heat escapes upwards, this imitates the hot-embers feel of a wood-burning campfire that radiates outward and upwards, keeping you warm and cozy.
Last but not least, when it comes to comfort and warmth, we’d be remiss not to mention that propane fire pits don’t produce smoke.
Sometimes it’s fun to come home from a camping trip smelling like you went camping. Other times, it’s nice not to have to get up and move every 10 minutes when smoke blasts you in the face.
Moral Of The Story: A Portable Propane Fire Pit Is Worth Having
Whether you’ll only use it when fire bans demand, or the convenience of a smoke-free instant campfire makes it your new go-to, if you’re someone who camps, overlands, or enjoys partying around a fire with friends, it’s worth it to have a good, reliable portable propane fire pit in your gear collection.
And if this hot topic has you fired up, sound off in the comments.
What are your thoughts? Are BTUs a conspiracy? Can propane fire pits stand up to wood campfires in your opinion? Is LavaBox the best portable propane fire pit out there? (We know the answer is yes…)