It's fair to say the Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit is one of the more versatile options in our guide to the best fire pits. Not only is it a solid circular wood burner suitable for a quiet evening around the fire, it also has an integrated grill, meaning you can use those embers for more than just warmth.
But while it's practical and can certainly rival a great patio heater in terms of heat output (at least if you're adept at building a strong fire), Bali's offering has a fight on its hands in the fire pit space. That's because there are a large number of taller, prettier, and more cleverly designed pits looming above it in the market, albeit at a much higher price.
The question is, will the Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit be the right fit for your space? In our review, we look at its features, design, specs and user reviews to help you answer this burning question.
Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit review: Overview
The Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit is built of out steel, though Bali has been economical with its construction to keep weight to a minimum - this only hits 27lbs, making it one of the most portable burners in our fire pit guide. The relatively light weight means it's perfect to move around your garden or yard, and also makes it plausible to pack in an RV for a camping trip.
Mesh-covered sides mean you get a good surrounding glow from the fire, so this could be an interesting alternative to solar lights if you're planning an atmospheric evening; the integrated swivel grill also makes the Bali Fire Pit a contender against the best gas grills, albeit one which is a little more rustic.
Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit review: Spec
- MSRP: $168.99
- Type: Wood burning
- Dimensions: 32" x 25"
- Weight: 27lbs
- Material: Steel
- What’s included: Log rack, poker
Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit review: Design
It's important not to get too wrapped up in marketing fluff here: while the diameter of the Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit is indeed 32 inches, that includes the outer rim. The actual wood space is a lot narrower at 24 inches. This gives it slightly less capacity than the excellent Tiki Brand Fire Pit.
Given that we're comparing circles to squares, there's a lot less space than the slightly cheaper Amazon Basics 26" Geometric Square Fire Pit. That doesn't make it small, as such, but you may need to cut down some logs.
Bali has been pretty clever with the overall design here. This model consists of four legs, with a lower ring around them which creates a stable base, reduces the potential for those legs to be trip hazards, and can act as a handy foot rest.
Mesh-ventilated sides offer plenty of air to feed your fire and ensure that more of that heat radiates outwards, and there's a collapsible rack inside which helps position logs for optimal airflow. That upper ring shelf on the Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit isn't just for looks - it's perfect for keeping hot drinks and food warm.
Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit review: Features
The cooking surface of the Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit really sets it apart from others. It's made of wire mesh, it can swivel to precisely hit the sweet spot of the heat, and it offers a very generous 452 square inches of burger-grilling space. It should be sturdy enough for cast iron cookware or you can cook on it directly, but you'll want to make sure it's well-seasoned before you do, and bear in mind that cleaning this mesh won't be quite as easy as it would be on a bar grill.
That cooking surface is also height-adjustable via a thumb-turn on the outside of it bracket, which may be a little tricky to operate when things. Bali includes a poker to adjust its horizontal position, though some owners suggest it might be a little flimsy so you may wish to provide your own.
What's not included, however, is a cover. That's an extra $25, and well worth the investment, as a few good burns will likely put paid to the coating on this fire pit and leave its steel material susceptible to rust.
There's also no spark shield, and no way to really add one - look to the Amazon Basics 26" Geometric Square Fire Pit if you want something which includes a shield. Its outer shelf does offer up a little extra stability should you wish to introduce a griddle, though.
Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit review: How could it benefit you?
Whether you're looking for evening warmth or a wood-cooked burger, few grills pull off double duty quite as well as this one. Pick one up for your patio and you can expect the enjoy the best features of wood burners.
- The Bali Fire Pit radiates heat well, over a wide area thanks to its semi-open sides.
- You can certainly build a big fire if you want it - there's the capacity for a large number of logs, and great airflow to keep that fire going.
- Even discounting the cooking aspect of this fire pit, it's a very versatile design that will suit a wide range of situations.
- It's pretty portable, so you could use it on the patio one night and on the lawn the next - be sure to put something heatproof underneath though.
Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit review: User reviews
The Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit scores a solid 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and it's not hard to see why: reviewers frequently praise how sturdy it is, and how easy it is to get a good fire going - or a small one, if you use the wood-raising bracket to prop up a single log. That component is not infallible, however, with at least one reviewer building a fire large and hot enough that it was completely destroyed.
Users praise its relatively light weight, its sturdiness, and the ease of assembly (as long as you follow the directions properly) but there are some misses. The slightly dished base does hold water if it's left uncovered in the rain, so you may wish to drill a hole to use as a drain, and certain reviewers are critical of the longevity of the paint and lack of included cover.
The biggest hit, on the other hand, seems to be cooking: the grill portion is universally praised and very effective if you build the right fire for it. While some score better with users (the Solo Stove Yukon, to name one) they can't all boast Bali's flexible features - or its low price.
Should you buy the Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit?
This isn't low-smoke, and you'll need to be very creative (and remove the cooking surface) if you want to use a spark shield, but the Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit is one seriously strong and flexible fire pit. It looks fine (perhaps not Tiki Brand Fire Pit fine, but decent in its own right) it gets hot over a wide area, you can use it for small fires or big blazes - and, most importantly, it's ready to grill up a burger or five.
Pick up a cover, grab an upgraded poker and some barbecue tools, and we'd say you're all set: there's little that can match this design for the combination of a warm evening and a full stomach.
If you're not cooking, though? You could save a little on a pit without a grill, or spend a little more on a smoke-inhibiting fire pit that may last longer. This is a brilliant combo device, but doesn't stand out to us as a fire pit staple on its own.
