Patrik Orcutt 01.09.25
Located in Grapevine, Texas, SOLO Stove was started by two brothers who wanted to create a virtually smokeless firepit. Back in 2016 they launched their product on Kickstarter and reached their goal of $15,000 in a mere two hours and would ultimately raise over 1.1 million dollars on the website. Today, the company’s worth is closer to half a Billion making them a true Kickstarter success story. Now, they produce more than fire pits and have ventured into making camo stoves, pizza ovens, and grill accessories including the Mesa XL.
The goal of all their products is to “help you get in touch with whatever is “good” for you. Whether it’s a primal moment in awe of a smokeless flame, the moment right after you’ve taken a hot sip of coffee in the mountains, the gratification of sharing a hand-crafted artisan pizza, or your kid’s face when they bite into a delicious s’more. The subject of this review will be over their Mesa XL, a tabletop firepit that is portable and easy to use.
(WARNING, Many smores were harmed in the making of this review!)
The SOLO Stove Mesa XL was purchased by myself and SOLO Stove has not been allowed to preview this review prior to publishing.
Specs – SOLO Stove Mesa XL
- Pellet Burn Time: 45 – 60 min
- Max Firewood Size: 7″
- Pellet Capacity: 1,000 g
- Heat Radius: 2 – 3 ft
- Marshmallows at a time: 4+
- MSRP: $150 (but commonly on sale for $100)
SOLO Stove Mesa XL
Solo Stove now has two tiny smokeless firepits, named the Mesa and the Mesa XL. Having tried both models, I think there is a clear winner. However, the price tags of $80 and $100 for the two sizes respectively might not be as appealing. Is it worth spending your money on this fire pit? Continue reading my Solo Stove Mesa XL review to find out.
The Mesa was initially released in the summer of 2022 and is available in Solo Stove’s traditional stainless steel finish, similar to their other fire pits. However, it also offers various color options such as blue, black, red, green, and white. Considering its purpose as a tabletop accessory, I would recommend selecting an accent color. Regardless of the chosen color, the Mesa is priced at $79.
On the other hand, the Mesa XL became available in February 2023 and shares the same color choices as its smaller counterpart. However, it carries a higher price tag of $109.
As of now, the Solo Stove Mesa is widely available, but the Mesa XL appears to be exclusively offered on Solo Stove’s website.
Both the Mesa and the Mesa XL resemble miniature versions of Solo’s full-size fire pits, featuring a cylindrical steel body with perforations along the bottom. Proportionally, the Mesa is slightly taller and narrower compared to the larger fire pits. To provide a visual comparison, the Mesa is roughly the size of a large 35-ounce can of tomatoes found in grocery stores, while the Mesa XL is a bit wider as roll of paper towels.
Similar to the full-size pits, the Mesa includes a few removable parts, such as an airflow-directing ring at the top and a small stand to elevate it from the table surface. Additionally, the Mesa features a pellet adapter that fits inside the stove, while the Mesa XL incorporates a dual-fuel grate suitable for both pellets and hardwood.
Both the Mesa and the Mesa XL produce impressive flames, rivaling those of the best fire pits available. The flames reach a height of approximately 3-4 inches above the rim of the Mesa, which necessitated relocating it away from a nearby folded patio umbrella. It’s worth noting that when attempting to toast marshmallows over the Mesa XL, my daughter and her friends encountered an issue where the marshmallows quickly caught fire. Hence, it is advisable to wait until the fire dies down or maintain a safe distance from the top of the fire pit.
However, despite the substantial flames, one should not expect the Mesa or the Mesa XL to function as tabletop versions of the best patio heaters. They do not generate a significant amount of heat but I have found that they do make a difference when you sit closer to them on a cool summer evening.
Both stoves offer the option to use either wood or pellets, but I found using wood to be impractical with the smaller Mesa. It requires finding pieces of wood that are 3 inches or smaller, which can be challenging. Consequently, I resorted to using wood pellets. However, the Mesa burns through pellets rapidly, necessitating the addition of a handful every five minutes. This process can become tedious, and forgetting to replenish the pellets requires starting the fire anew.
In contrast, the larger Mesa XL can accommodate wood chunks up to 7 inches in size. It was much easier to find suitable wood for this stove, and the wood burned for longer durations compared to the pellets. As a result, I only needed to add a new piece approximately every 15 minutes, providing a more relaxed experience.
Cleaning both models was a breeze due to their efficient fuel consumption, resulting in minimal leftover ash. To clean them out, simply remove the interior parts and turn them over.
While the Solo Stove Mesa might not provide significant warmth on a winter night, it serves as a decorative tabletop accessory and makes for a great excuse to make some smores at home.
