Solo Stove Yukon 2.0

Ours is decked out with pretty much every attachment they make, and we've had it for years, so this is the long-term version of the review, not the honeymoon version. Short answer up top: I definitely don't regret getting the biggest one they have, and everything Solo Stove builds, at least everything sitting in my backyard, is just a really well designed and crafted product.

The Attachment That Matters Most

Start with the piece I'd tell every dad to budget for: the Surround, the guard that wraps the pit. Its whole job is protection, small hands, dogs, accidental touches. We pretty much only used the Yukon once as a family without it, and I was constantly on edge, watching my boys, waiting for somebody to lean against it or put a hand on it. That was enough. Immediately after, I was like, yeah, that is worth the money, just to save the stress of little hands, or my German Shepherd rubbing up against it and melting off his tail.

The rest of the kit earns its spot too: the Shield spark screen over the top, the hard lid that closes it down between burns, and the soft Shelter cover over everything for what Texas weather throws at it.

Truly Smokeless, and That's the Whole Point

My favorite thing about this pit is that it just burns super clean. My biggest issue with every other fire pit is the smoke: smelling like smoke after a fire, and the wind carrying it so you're constantly moving to a different seat around the pit because it's blowing in your face. The Yukon actually ends that. I won't pretend I know exactly how it works, but it draws in cooler air from below to feed the fire and keep it burning hot, and in big part that's what keeps it smokeless. It burns hot, it's self-contained, and it stays clean burning even with the spark screen over the top.

Texas Rules

I'll be honest about our usage window: we're in Texas, so bonfire weather is a small slice of the year. That cuts both ways. When it finally is cold enough to justify a fire, the Yukon is always the excuse to get everybody outside. The rest of the year it just sits there, outside, year round, same exact spot, because with the Surround and the attachments on it, it's way too big to be moving around. It's a permanent resident, not a seasonal one.

Battle Scars: The Cover Saga

Here's the one that keeps this from a perfect score. The original cover we had baked in the Texas sun for maybe one or two seasons, and one day I went out to grab it and it basically disintegrated on me. We ended up needing a new one anyway once the Surround went on, because the old cover no longer fit around the table, and the newer cover is a clear quality upgrade. It has lasted, no signs of quitting. So shout out to Solo Stove for fixing that, but it's the pattern worth naming: some of the accessory materials over the years haven't been as durable as I'd like at this price tag, even while the pit itself is definitely bulletproof.

What's Next in the Fire Lane

The Yukon has me sold enough that a smaller pit is on my list, one of their little ones we could throw in the truck for camping, or light up quick for marshmallow roasting with the boys. They love s'mores, and we do outside movie nights every now and then. Being able to have a little fire experience without firing up the big old Yukon, and without needing a whole tree to get it going, would be huge. When that one lands, it gets its own review.

Who Should Skip This

If you need a fire you can move, take traveling, or light on a whim, this is not that pit. Even I want a smaller one for exactly those jobs. The Yukon is for the yard where the fire is the gathering point, staying put, with the crowd coming to it.

Every Dad Carry is reader-supported. This is my own fire pit, bought with my own money; the link goes through our Amazon affiliate account at no extra cost to you.