7 Best Portable Fire Pits For Camping In Australia In 2024
The Supa Peg Supa Cube is built tough, and it's one of the best all-around fire pits I've seen. The stainless steel design means that it won't rust, and it's fully foldable to make it easy to store and transport.
On top of this, the ground plate is designed to catch the ash for easy cleanup while protecting the ground underneath. There are loads of vents for airflow, and the square design means that you can place a pan or camp oven on top for cooking.
The main downside of the Supa Cube is its price, which will be restrictive for some. It's also quite heavy, which will make it difficult for some people to move. But overall, it's an excellent all-around product that's definitely worth considering.
There's nothing better than sitting around a campfire at night, enjoying a drink or cup of tea under the stars. Some campsites have dedicated campfire areas, but using one of the best portable fire pits for Australia will let you take advantage of having a fire as often as possible.
Choosing the right fire pit can be confusing, so I've put together a complete guide to the best fire pits in Australia - including 7 of the best options on the market today.
My Review Process
I love camping, I love cooking, and I love sitting around the campfire with a beer. Having a portable fire pit makes all three a breeze. I don't always take a fire pit with me when I head off on a new adventure, but I do if there's any chance I'm going to be able to use it.
The best fire pits are compact, easy to transport, durable, and come with extra features for cooking. I've used this knowledge combined with my extensive camping experience to bring you the following list of the 7 best fire pits for camping on the market today.
The Supa Peg Supa Cube is built tough, and it's one of the best all-around fire pits I've seen. The stainless steel design means that it won't rust, and it's fully foldable to make it easy to store and transport.
On top of this, the ground plate is designed to catch the ash for easy cleanup while protecting the ground underneath. There are loads of vents for airflow, and the square design means that you can place a pan or camp oven on top for cooking.
The main downside of the Supa Cube is its price, which will be restrictive for some. It's also quite heavy, which will make it difficult for some people to move. But overall, it's an excellent all-around product that's definitely worth considering.
If you're looking for an affordable fire pit for your next camping adventure, this model from UCO ticks all the boxes. I love its simple, flatpack design, and it's super easy to set up. And at just over 1.5kg, it's also a very lightweight model that's suitable for hiking and backpacking.
There's also a built-in grill that you can use to cook, and the safety base makes cleanup easy. The main downside is the small size of this unit, which can make it difficult to generate a large amount of heat.
There's also no carry bag for this collapsible fire pit, but that might expected for the low price.
But overall, I'm a fan, and it gets five out of five stars for what it is.
For something a little larger, you might like to go for the Winnerwell Flat Firepit. It's a simple model, but its size means that it's perfect for bigger groups where you want more heat. You can fold it up for simple storage and transport, and it weighs just 4.1kg.
There's no carry bag, but there's little else not to like about this fire pit. There are even a few sizes available, so check it out and grab a nifty little camping fire pit for your next trip!
The Grills 70cm Fire Pit is a rather simple option, but I'm a big fan of its basic design. There are a few models available, but it's basically an upturned dish held a little way off the ground. The bowl is built to catch ash, while the curved design naturally funnels smoke and flame upwards.
This portable campfire can be used with various fuel types, including heat beads if you want to cook over it. It's a little bulky and can be difficult to transport, but could be the perfect centrepiece of your next campsite.
The Supa Peg Frontier is a large yet highly portable fire pit that's designed for camping. The eight-panel design comes with cutouts for airflow, reducing smoke and maximising heat output. You can set up a grill for cooking with the included BBQ rails, and the base plate is designed to protect the ground.
What's more, you can use the Frontier with both wood and heat beads for fuel. It's lightweight and durable, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a larger fire pit option.
AUSWAY's 2-in-1 Fire Pit BBQ isn't the most transportable option on this list, but it remains an attractive choice if you have a little space. It boasts an 82cm diameter, can be used with wood or heat beads, and comes with a safety mesh lid to prevent accidental burns.
You can also cook on this fire pit with the included BBQ grill. If you're looking for a versatile option for a larger group, I'd suggest giving this one a look. Bonus points - it's very competitively priced as well!
This classy stainless steel fire pit from Darche is a little pricey, but it's an attractive option for Australian conditions. It boasts a foldable design, a solid ember tray, and built-in BBQ features. There's also a one-year warranty, which is great to see.
The main thing that turns me off this firepit is its 11.5kg weight. However, this is due to its tough stainless steel construction, so I guess it can be forgiven.
How To Choose The Best Portable Fire Pit
Choosing the right portable fire pit can be difficult. Should you go for a round one or a square one? An expensive, on-the-ground option or a cheaper elevated one?
Here, I've looked at a few of the most important things to think about when you're buying a new fire pit.
Material
Portable fire pits often have quite a simple design, with some sort of chamber to hold the fire and an ash collection tray. There are a few different materials used in Australia.
- Cast iron fire pits are durable and radiate heat extremely well. However, they are also very heavy and quite expensive, and they aren't the most portable option.
- Copper isn't used as widely as it's more expensive than iron or stainless steel, but it doesn't rust or corrode. It's also an excellent heat conductor.
- Stainless steel is cheap and widely used for portable fire pits. Most folding fire pits are made with stainless steel, and they are durable when cared for well.
- Aluminium is lightweight and won't rust, but it's rather expensive. Like copper, it's not used as widely as steel or iron because of this.
Portability
Some collapsible fire pits can be packed away into a small bag, while others require much more storage space. I've had fire pits that are on the heavy side before, and they tend to be quite frustrating to move around. It is nice to have a bulky fire pit at the centre of your camp, but I really would suggest going for something a little more portable in most cases.
Efficiency
Different fire pit designs are much better at dispersing heat than others. Round camping fire pits tend to disperse heat much more evenly, while square and rectangle models can leave "cold spots".
Cooking Features
If you're a keen camp cook like me, you will want a fire pit with some sort of cooking features. Some come with a grill or other accessories for cooking camp meals, while others feature a simple trivet or stand for a pot or frying pan. There's nothing like backyard cooking on a fire, so I'd strongly recommend a model with at least a few extra features.
Fuel Source
Most fire pits are designed to be used with wood. However, it's also possible to find models that are made for fuel like charcoal, heat beads, or wood pellets, which may be useful in some situations.
Ash Collection & Clean Up
Packing away your fire pit can become a laborious chore if you choose the wrong design. I'd recommend going for something with a contained ember collection tray or container. This allows you to dispose of the ash quickly and easily when you're leaving camp rather than having to try and sweep it off of the ground.
Ground Protection
Most of the leading fire pits on the market come with some sort of ground protection. This is to ensure you don't leave the grass burnt and dead. In many cases, the fire itself is held up off of the ground, while some pits come with a heavy-duty base or ground plate to reduce heat transfer to the surrounding environment.
Summary
The best overall fire pit for Australia in 2023 is the versatile Supa Peg Supa Cube. Other popular options include the budget-friendly UCO Flatpack Firepit, along with models from Darche, Winnerwell, and others.
If you're looking for a new camping fire pit, you should be able to find one that meets your needs on this list.
What are you waiting for? Get that fire pit, cut some wood, and hit the road on your next camping adventure!
Common questions
The best fire pit is one that's durable, easy to transport, and large enough to keep your entire camping group warm. My all-time favourite is the SupaPeg Supa Cube Stainless Steel Fire Pit, but every option on this list is worth considering.
Both round and square fire pits are excellent options with their own merits. On the one hand, square fire pits are easier to store and transport, and they tend to enable larger fires compared to round pits of a similar size. However, round fire pits boast much more even heat distribution, and there are various attractive designs on the market.
Yes, fire pits do an excellent job of keeping you warm. Smaller models are great for small groups of 2-6 people, and larger fire pits can cater to even larger groups. There's nothing better than sitting around a warm fire on a cold night out camping.
Fire pits in Australia are made from various different materials. Cast iron is great for radiating heat, but it's heavy. Stainless steel is lightweight and easy to transport, and aluminium is rust-resistant (although a little more expensive). Last, but not least, copper is also a popular option, but it's also on the expensive side.
If you look after them well, fire pits can last for years, even with heavy use. Look after them poorly, and they will probably be falling apart after a year or two. To keep your fire pit in good condition, try to use dry firewood, keep a nice hot fire burning, and always clean it after use.
Living in the Australian outdoors from a self-converted campervan, Daniel has over a decade of experience in the field that he shares in his writing at CampingAussie. When not travelling, you can find Daniel near the ocean - either fishing, diving or surfing.
*The information on this site is based on research and first-hand experience but should not be treated as medical advice. Before beginning any new activity, we recommend consulting with a physician, nutritionist or other relevant professional healthcare provider.
