If you're not aware of the must-have backyard accessory of the moment—the Solo Stove smokeless fire pit—you should be!
The popular portable pits have gone viral, in part because of their smart, sturdy design, and relatively low price, showing up at tailgates and backyard cookouts and hangouts everywhere.
They light up fast, keep the smoke from getting in your eyes, and are pretty easy to clean, making them great for backyard s'mores, or simply sipping some adult beverages with friends on an evening.
But if you have one, you may also have felt a pretty typical bit of anxiety when using it—especially if you've got children or pets. Fire pits can get quite hot, and burns from one are no joking matter.
Even brushing up against a hot fire pit can cause potentially life-altering burns, to say nothing of accidentally tripping or falling onto one.
That's why I was especially interested when I found out that Solo Stove was releasing a new safety accessory—a heat screen that they call the "Surround Lite" (There's a bigger version as well, called the Surround.)
What Is the Surround Lite?
Essentially it's a screen that protects people or animals from accidentally bumping up against the (very hot) sides of a Solo Stove when it's lit. This is done by placing two sturdy metal rings around the outside of the stove, and having tightly-woven fabric go between them.
This lets hot air escape, and the fabric can stay cool. The rings are not resting directly on the stove, but are attached at the top with four hooks, and at the bottom rest on four rubber feet, so the rings also don't get too hot.
Solo graciously sent along a sample of it for me to test. Here's what I thought:
Assembling the Solo Stove Surround Lite
If you've ever bought or assembled a Solo Stove product, you were probably pleasantly surprised. They're smartly designed, sturdy, and easy to put together. This heat shield, while a little more complicated than setting up the actual stove, was pretty straightforward.
You will need a Philips-head screwdriver to tighten the screws down. It comes disassembled in four panels, which are then connected to each other on a sturdy ring with some screws. Another ring is then set in the top with four more screws. All the screws are the same size, so you don't have to worry about using the wrong kind.
The panels are covered in fabric—there's a black side and a gray side, and the fabric can be moved so you can decide which you want to face out. I left the black side out.
Once it's assembled, then you simply slide it around your stove. They make a Surround Lite for the Ranger, Bonfire, and Yukon sizes of stove, so if you have the larger Canyon size, you'll have to get the larger "Suround" screen. Here's what it looked like fully assembled:
Testing the Solo Stove Surround Lite
To test out the Surround Light, I set up the Solo Stove in my front yard, and invited a few friends, and their kids, to come hang out. (Hey, it's a tough job.)
Solo cautions to only add or remove the screen when the stove is absolutely cool, which makes sense. So I put the screen on, then built up a good roaring fire in the stove.
After it was night and hot, I put my hand next to the screen. It was warm, but not burning. Then my neighbors "tested" it by putting their feet and shoes on the screen. I recommended against this, but they did it anyway.
One of my neighbors (possibly after an adult beverage) elected to remove his shoe, and place his socked foot on the screen.
His verdict: it was still quite cool. Clearly, accidentally brushing up against, or even bumping into the screen would be much safer and less painful than brushing up against the metal of the fire pit itself.
Also, clearly: it's not a good idea to put your feet this close to any kind of fire pit, whether or not there's a screen there. I asked him to stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How sturdy is the Solo Stove Surround Lite?
Once assembled, the screen is pretty sturdy. The rings are made of steel and will not easily bend or warp. It won't take someone sitting on it (why would you sit on it) but it'll certainly stand up to any accidental knocks or kicks, and it'll do its job keeping limbs away from the side of the stove. I was very impressed by how well made it is.
Will the Solo Stove Surround Lite fit in the carry case?
No. Because the bag is designed to fit pretty snugly around the Solo Stove, there isn't room for the screen to also fit. However, the screen does easily go around the bag, making it pretty simple to bring along when traveling—just set the bag down, place the screen around it, and then continue packing your truck or car.
How heavy is the Solo Stove Surround Lite?
Because it's mostly a fabric screen, it's actually very light: about 5 and a half pounds. You won't have any problems carrying or moving it.
Final Thoughts
At $150 to $250 (depending on the size) the Solo Stove Surround Lite will almost, but not quite double the price of your Solo Stove fire pit, so it's not exactly cheap. But it's not cheaply made, either, and I think the price is well worth it for peace of mind.
If you're a parent with young kids or pets, and you're worried about lighting up your Solo Stove and someone accidentally bumping into it, this stylish, sturdy, and safe screen will ensure that it's a lot harder to burn yourself.
Nothing will make a fire pit entirely safe, of course, and this won't protect against all possible burns. But it seems like it comes about as close as you can get. You can get one right now, only on their website.
Christopher Michel has been the Senior Food and Gardens Editor at Country Living Magazine since March of 2021. Chris has over ten years of experience writing and editing for national magazines and websites, mostly in the food space, such as Cooking Light, The Kitchn, Rodale’s Organic Life, and Bon Appetit. Prior to that, Chris worked in a variety of food spaces in New York City. In 2022, Chris completed the Alabama Master Gardener’s Program hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Chris lives in Birmingham, AL, where he enjoys running, reading, and cooking for his wife and two girls.
