Solo Stove Yukon review

If you’re looking to create a cosy area of your patio or garden where you can extend your outdoor time, but escape the evening chill, then the Solo Stove Yukon Fire Pit could be the answer. Fire pits are a great way of extending your time outdoors, and this great design will slot in easily to a patio or garden entertainment area. 

The Solo Stove Yukon has earned a reputation not only for its quality of design but also for a focus more on the flames and a resulting low smoke output. Its large capacity drum has also won fans among users. Containing your firewood within a fire pit is a safe way to create a warm and cozy space outdoors, and the brand is so confident in their product, they offer a 30-day return for full refund option, with free returns label if you’re not happy with the performance of your Yukon product.  

Price-wise, the Solo Stove Yukon is at the higher end of Solo Stove’s fire pit collection, but there are other options, particularly if you are looking for a smaller model. If the 27-inch diameter fire pit is too big for your needs, then you could look at the specifications for the 19.5-inch Solo Stove Bonfire or the 15-inch Solo Stove Ranger. For larger spaces that need an extra boost of warmth, we’d suggest looking at our best patio heaters round-up to find one that will spread heat over a wider space. 

Let’s delve into our Solo Stove Yukon review, and find out more about this modern, statement piece.  

Solo Stove Yukon: Design

It's fair to suggest that the design of the Solo Stove Yukon is going to be divisive. For some, this fire pit will be the perfect centerpiece. For others, it may appear as if someone has pulled the drum out of a tumble dryer and set it vertical. You wouldn't be entirely wrong, there, but we know this: being made of stainless steel means the Yukon will stand up to the elements well.

The stainless steel finish will be easy enough to hose down after a good fire. That said, Solo Stove is keen to point out that the unique coloration and patina that comes from repeated heating is one of this pit's charms. The Solo Stove Yukon is also suitable for placement in an in-ground fire pit, providing there's a good four to six inches of clearance around all sides.

The Yukon is designed to facilitate the best possible burning process for your fuel, and is therefore divided into layers. There's a burn chamber at the top, below which sits your fuel on a cleverly perforated base plate. Beneath this is an ash pan, which both shields the ground from heat and helps keep your combustibles and their by-product separate. Solo Stove suggests its airflow design means far more wood is turned to ash than in other types of fire pits, making clean up a lot easier.

The Yukon as sold will certainly get a good fire going, but, unlike the much cheaper Amazon Basics Geometric Fire Pit, it feels a little incomplete. For the full experience, you'll likely want to pick up a few extras: the Yukon Stand ($89.99) further helps minimize heat transfer to the ground, making this viable for use on decking or grass.

Then there's the wire mesh Shield ($199.99), which fits on the pit's top ring to deflect errant sparks and embers. There's also no cover included as standard, so the Shelter ($59.99) is an optional extra, or you can opt for the stainless steel Yukon Lid ($119.99). The latter covers up the main chamber and doubles as a table when the fire pit isn't in use.

Solo Stove Yukon: Features

The airflow design here is quite clever. The Yukon is designed to draw oxygen through the ring of holes on the base of its outer casing, which provides plenty of oxygen to the base of the fire - itself burning on a floating platform around mid-way up the main chamber, in the manner of a traditional furnace. 

There's a second air chamber around the edges of the Yukon, allowing it to also draw warmed air through the internal vent holes at the top. This provides oxygen for a secondary burn, igniting much of the smoke from its combustion process in order to produce a bigger flame and less in-your-face carbon clouds. That can only be a good thing, particularly in more windy or densely-populated environments, and it looks great.

The ash pan is a nice touch, keeping your embers and logs split up from their byproduct to make for a cleaner flame, but it's not the easiest thing to clean out. Solo Stove's suggestion is that you turn the whole thing upside down to get that ash out, which may be a more practical method to use on the Yukon's smaller cousins: this thing is 38lbs and big with it, so be sure to ask a friend for help.

That size is to its advantage, though, when it comes to fuel. There's space in its burn chamber for logs up to 220-inches long, meaning you won't need to whip out the axe to do the same preparation some other fire pits might demand.

Solo Stove Yukon: Benefits

Fire pits tend to reside right in the middle of the action. They're things to sit around and enjoy, and the Solo Stove Yukon is made for just that even if you don't currently have a fire burning (or at least it is as long as you also pick up the Yukon Lid). It might be expensive, but it'll fit right in most situations for a number of reasons:

• Minimal smoke is a very attractive feature; the less coughing you're doing, the more fireside relaxing you can do.
• An efficient burning mechanism means you should get optimal heat from your fuel, so it shouldn't need too much preparation beforehand.
• Stainless steel materials mean it should be easy to clean with the right products and should be very durable.
• It's a stunning design and could be a superb focal point on your patio.

Solo Stove Yukon: User reviews

Reviews here are generally very favorable, with the Yukon scoring 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon and a full 4.9 out of 5 stars on Solo Stove's own website. Users of the Solo Stove Yukon highlight a few interesting points. First, the smoke-reducing nature of its air circulation system really works best when you have a big fire going; smaller fires won't draw in quite enough air to kickstart the second burn at the top. 

Second, while it does radiate a lot of heat, that heat is mostly directed upwards, with the double walls of the main pit acting as something of an insulator - something the Tiki Brand Fire Pit manages to sidestep. "Most of all," says one reviewer, "you don't smell like a fire pit at the end of the evening." Which is nice.

Not so nice aspects include an uncovered Solo Stove Yukon's tendency to collect rainwater, and the fact that it is difficult to empty of ash when you're done. Numerous reviewers also grumble that, despite its satisfying heat and impressive flames, this isn't the complete package: nearly everyone suggests picking up the optional extras, which does increase the price quite significantly.

Should you buy the Solo Stove Yukon?

It’s sleek, modern, durable, and has received many positive reviews, so there are many positives to the Solo Stove Yukon. The heat generation and minimal smoke output are also key benefits to consider. It’s not as portable as some of Solo Stove’s smaller fire pits, so it may not suit every patio, but it will create a cozy atmosphere where it does find a home. 

Budget could be one of the primary concerns when deciding whether to purchase this fire pit. The initial package is a firepit, which could be ideal if you just want a heat-generating wood burner for your patio to socialize around, and stainless steel is highly resistant to rust and corrosion so a cover may not be necessary. If you do want to add in the convenient extras then the price would stack up, although it’s worth looking out for Solo Stove’s ‘Backyard Bundle’ to save some extra dollars. 

If this product isn't for you

If you want to keep using your garden, patio or backyard area all year round, but the Solo Stove Yukon isn’t quite for you, then take a look at these other fire pits which may better suit your needs. 

For small backyards, we’d suggest the Westinghouse Infrared 5100 Electric Patio Heater, a freestanding model with a heating range of 6 feet. It’s easy to move around, and with built-in safety protection against overheating and adverse weather conditions, this is a useful model for couples with a small area to heat.

Our eco-friendly pick is the wall-mounted Bromic Smart-Heat Electric Patio Heater which offers directional heating for your patio. It scores big for its choice of models/power output which ranges from 2000w to 6000w, and its modern design. 

We’ve also included a neat tabletop patio heater as one of our top picks, which is one of the most portable models on the market. The Fire Sense Table Top Patio Heater runs on propane and is an ideal solution for picnics or camping trips.