Yeti has dominated the drink wear space for years. The brand revolutionized coolers and launched outdoor bags built for exploring. Now, Yeti has created its first fire pit.
I was eager to see Yeti's take on this backyard staple and try it for myself. I've been testing fire pits, including the Solo, Breeo, and Tiki, for years and wanted to see how Yeti's version stacked up. Plus, my family of six loves to gather around a fire to roast marshmallows year-round. We also frequently host friends in our backyard and use our fire pit to stay warm.
Like most of Yeti's offerings, its fire pit is thoughtfully designed and built to last — with a price tag that reflects quality craftsmanship.
After using the fire pit for several weeks, I think it's great, although not what I expected. It's one of the sturdiest and most durable fire pits available, but lacks some features of other best fire pits, including portability and a smokeless design. Nevertheless, after a few weeks of heavy use, I decided I could live without those features, especially because sticking with Yeti means I will probably never have to buy another fire pit again.
Yeti’s first fire pit is made from durable corten steel, designed to last a lifetime. Its low, open design generates a lot of heat, making it easy to cook or roast marshmallows over the fire.
What we like
What we don't like
What I like
It's designed to be durable and low maintenance.
Yeti is known for quality and great design, so I had high expectations. Everyone in my family has a Yeti water bottle they use daily, and I'm also a big fan of Yeti's coolers and backpacks. I consistently think Yeti's products are worth the price because they last and always work well.
The fire pit is made from corten steel — a material many people prize for its durability. Corten steel develops a protective patina. That helps items crafted from the material last for decades, even over 100 years, with practically no maintenance. If you're paying $1,000 for a fire pit, it's good to know your investment is likely to last a lifetime. Because I am a working mom of four, I appreciate that Yeti's fire pit does not require any maintenance because it develops a protective patina. However, the patina may be negative for some. More about that below.
The fire pit comes with a corten steel fire iron and lid. The fire iron is long and sturdy. The lid is a nice addition to help keep debris like leaves out of the fire pit. Yeti offers a soon-to-be-released carbon steel grill kit compatible with the fire pit for an additional $500. The kit comes with a large grill and a smaller, adjustable grate. Cast iron pans are sold separately and start at $150. Yeti's grill kit and cast iron pans are perfect for those who want to cook outdoors.
Yeti's fire pit requires no assembly. It's ready to use right out of the box. It's great to go from delivery to a backyard fire in minutes.
It feels just like cozying up around a bonfire.
The Yeti fire pit is lower and larger than any other fire pit I've tried. I wasn't sure how I would like a fire pit that has such a different style than what I'm used to. However, the style and size worked really well for my family of six. There is plenty of room in the easily accessible fire pit to stack wood and add tinder. The fire started quickly and the long, sturdy fire poker was very useful to keep the fire going.
My family easily gathered around the fire to stay warm. I don't allow my youngest child to get too close to the fire, and he could still feel the heat from about a foot away. We could also all make s'mores at the same time without bumping into one another.
Because of the design of Yeti's fire pit, my family decided that sitting around Yeti's fire pit felt more like a bonfire we would build while camping than sitting in the backyard. That was a nice change from other fire pits we have tried with walls.
It's not smokeless, but the smoke didn't bother my family.
Another difference between Yeti's fire pit and other high-end fire pits I've tested is that Yeti's version is not smokeless. This can be a pro or con depending on your preference.
The wide, open design of Yeti's fire pit is great for kicking off a lot of heat and providing easy access to the fire. However, the open design releases more smoke than fire pits with walls. I've become used to smokeless fire pits, which are popular for good reason. I was apprehensive about having to cope with smoke and worried that my kids wouldn't want to sit around a smoky fire. Fortunately, the smoke didn't bother us much.
Where it falls short
The patina helps the fire pit last for years, but it's not aesthetically pleasing for most.
Because the fire pit is made of corten steel, it will develop a patina quickly. The patina changes the fire pit from a bright silver to a rusty brown very quickly. That may also be an issue for some people.
I was surprised that my Yeti fire pit started to develop a patina after just a few days outside. The patina corten steel develops, looks like —and is — rust. Yeti explains that the patina protects the fire pit and will help it last longer.
Ahmed Harhara, founder of environmental assessment company Houston Home Tools, who has a PhD in chemical engineering and has experience in the steel industry, explains that the patina on corten steel is not the same as typical rust, which is porous, flaky, and continues to corrode over time. The patina that develops on corten steel is "designed to form a stable oxide layer that seals the surface, which slows further oxidation, making it ideal for outdoor structures," Harhara said. He likes using corten steel for outdoor projects because it's low-maintenance and has a natural look.
Still, not everyone will like the way the patina looks. Under normal conditions, the patina will likely cover the entire fire pit within six months. One reviewer joked that because their Yeti fire pit looks like it is covered in rust, it is less likely to get stolen. While I think the fire pit looks better when it's shiny and new, it's hard to pass up a fire pit that is low-maintenance and likely to last forever, so the patina is something I can live with.
There's only one style, and it's heavy.
So far, Yeti only makes one fire pit, and it is only available in one size, color, and material. If the fire pit is too big or too small for your space, or too heavy for your liking, you are out of luck. The fire pit can also only use wood for fuel.
Another limitation is the fire pit's weight. Because the fire pit weighs 70 pounds and the lid an additional 15, it's not easy to move around my yard, let alone bring it camping.
It's not smokeless.
Yeti's fire pit also isn't the right choice for those who prefer a smokeless option. The fire pit's wide-open design has its advantages, but the trade-off is a lack of walls to contain smoke, a feature available in many other popular fire pits. Although the smoke didn't bother my family, it could be a deal-breaker for others. However, no fire pit I have tested is truly smokeless. I've also found that some fire pits marketed as"smokeless" emit a surprising amount of smoke. I didn't think that the smoke created by the Yeti fire pit was much greater than some supposedly smokeless fire pits I've tested.
It's pricey — but still cheaper than other similar fire pits.
At $1,000, Yeti's fire pit doesn't come cheap. That sounds steep. However, other quality fire pits run around $300 to $400 and need to be replaced periodically. Because the Yeti fire pit should last forever, the high price doesn't seem like such a bad deal, and consumers could come out ahead in the end. Other similarly sized corten steel fire pits, like the Breeo, cost even more. Nevertheless, the cost could be too high for some.
What are your alternatives?
For those who want a large, corten steel fire pit but prefer a smokeless option, consider the Breeo X30. The Breeo X series made our list of best fire pits, but there are a few caveats. Although the Breeo X has a smokeless design, our testing found it still emitted a significant amount of smoke. Additionally, the Breeo X30 is heavier and more expensive than Yeti's fire pit, so it doesn't solve the issues with Yeti's portability constraints or high cost.
If you are seeking a less expensive option, the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 tops our list of best fire pits. The Solo Bonfire 2.0 gets high marks for its ease of use and smokeless design that emits a low amount of smoke.
The bottom line
Yeti's fire pit is a welcome addition to other fire pits on the market, but it's not for everyone.
This fire pit is a great option for anyone who wants a large, high-heat fire pit with a fire that is easily accessible for cooking or roasting marshmallows. It's also built to last, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants a low-maintenance fire pit they probably won't need to replace.
However, those who want a portable fire pit or a smokeless design won't be happy. It's also not a good choice for those with a small space or anyone on a budget. Moreover, the shiny silver fire pit that arrives in the mail won't look new for very long. Look elsewhere if you will be disappointed that your new fire pit will develop a patina and turn brown quickly.
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