Portable Fire Pit for Cooking: 15 Best Picks for Campers

Can a lightweight fire pit really replace the bulkier barbecue you usually haul to camp? Absolutely. Modern portable fire pits are purpose-built for cooking, with food-grade grates, controllable airflow, and pack-down weights that won’t punish the back. Whether you favour the aroma of mānuka logs or the clean convenience of propane, today’s models reach safe cooking temperatures quickly and keep smoke to a minimum—many are even approved on DOC sites that ban open ground fires. In short, yes, you can cook safely and well on a truly portable fire pit.

This guide rounds up 15 stand-out options available in, or deliverable to, Aotearoa. We explain what “portable” really means—dimensions, carry cases, fuel compatibility—and how a cooking-ready pit differs from the decorative bowls sold for back-yard ambience. Along the way you’ll find concise answers to the common queries: wood versus gas flavour, propane food safety, and why a fire pit usually beats a chiminea for campsite meals. Specs tables, pros and cons, and buying tips sit beneath each pick, so you can choose confidently and get the sausages sizzling sooner.

1. Breeo Y Series Portable Smokeless Fire Pit

If you’ve trawled forums looking for a genuinely smokeless portable fire pit for cooking, the Y Series is the model campers name-drop first. Breeo took the secondary-combustion tech from its backyard X Series, shrank it to ute-boot size and added folding legs so it qualifies as “portable” in real-world Kiwi terms.

Why It Made the List

Built in Pennsylvania and honed through years of pit-master feedback, the Y Series burns hotter and cleaner than most rivals. The twin-wall body pre-heats incoming air, reigniting smoke particles before they escape—handy on cramped DOC sites where neighbours won’t tolerate billowing clouds. It also mates with the Breeo Outpost grill pole, turning the pit into a height-adjustable BBQ station.

Cooking System & Accessories

The 480 mm (19 in) rim doubles as a sear plate for steaks; expect a 30 mm rib-eye to hit medium-rare in about four minutes per side. Optional add-ons include a kettle hook for billy tea and a cast-iron griddle. Because the rim is flush, cast-iron pans sit dead-level—no more sausages rolling into the fire.

Portability & Build Quality

Flip-out legs lift the fire off grass yet fold flat for transport. At roughly 12 kg it’s no backpack item, but one person can hump it from carpark to hut porch. Corten steel sides shrug off salt-spray; the stainless top ring resists warping after repeated red-hot sessions.

Key Specs at a Glance

Best For

Car campers and base-camp hunters chasing restaurant-quality sear without the smoke, and anyone who wants one pit that grills, simmers and doubles as the night’s social hub.

2. Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 Stainless Steel Fire Pit

Solo Stove proved that smokeless doesn’t have to mean bulky, and the updated Ranger 2.0 drives that point home. It’s the smallest wood-burner in the Texan brand’s line-up, yet still big enough to knock out dinner for two or three hungry campers. If you want a truly grab-and-go portable fire pit for cooking that lights fast and leaves almost no ash, this tidy cylinder deserves a look.

Stand-out Cooking Features

Pair the Ranger with Solo Stove’s Cast-Iron Grill Top and Hub (sold separately) and you get a stable, 375 mm diameter griddle that heats edge-to-edge—ideal for smash burgers, kebabs or vege skewers that hate hot-cold spots. Because the grill sits 125 mm above the flames, you can feed in extra kindling without lifting the plate, keeping heat constant.

Heat Output & Secondary Combustion

Solo Stove’s trademark 360° Airflow system draws air through the base, super-heats it in the double wall, then jets it out of the upper vents. Result: secondary combustion that torches smoke before it escapes and pushes surface temps past 450 °C, plenty for steak searing. A new removable base-plate simplifies dumping fine ash next morning.

Weight & Pack-Down

At just 6.8 kg—including the draw-cord carry bag—it’s half the heft of many wood pits. The 381 mm × 318 mm body nestles upright in a ute well deck or van cubby; no disassembly required.

Pros & Cons

• Pros
  • Feather-weight for a stainless wood pit
  • Fast, clean burns with minimal fuel
  • Accessories range keeps growing
• Cons
  • Cooking kit adds to overall price
  • Single-wall rim radiates less lateral heat for warming hands

Ideal For

Back-packers, van-lifers and anyone counting kilos but not willing to sacrifice real-wood flavour or smoky-free evenings around the flames.

3. BioLite FirePit+ (Wood & Charcoal)

Part gadget, part grill, the BioLite FirePit+ appeals to campers who like their flames with a side of smart tech. Instead of using extra metal to chase a smokeless burn, BioLite forces fresh air through 51 jets controlled by a rechargeable power-bank, giving you precise combustion at the swipe of a phone screen. If you want a portable fire pit for cooking that also keeps the phones charged on a multi-day mission, this one is hard to beat.

Integrated Tech Highlights

A 12,800 mAh battery powers the four-speed fan, injecting oxygen directly into the ember bed. More air means hotter flames (≈ 650 °C at top speed) and virtually zero smoke once wood is fully alight. An “X-Ray” mesh body lets you see fuel levels without lifting the grate—handy when you’re timing steaks.

Cooking-Ready Extras

BioLite ships the pit with a food-grade, slide-out grill grate big enough for six burgers or a 30 cm cast-iron skillet. Flick the side lever to switch from wood to charcoal mode, lowering fuel for steady heat ideal for kebabs or slow-singed vege skewers.

Portability

Fold-out legs drop pack height to 265 mm, and the steel body plus battery weigh in at 8.9 kg. A padded carry handle spreads the load, so one person can tote it from car to beach without feeling like a pack-mule.

Battery & App Notes

Expect up to 30 hours of fan run-time on “Low” and about 5 hours on “Max”. The battery tops up via USB-C and doubles as an emergency power bank—roughly one full phone charge if you don’t want to sacrifice airflow. Bluetooth connectivity lets you throttle the fan from inside the tent when southerlies roll through.

Perfect Use Case

Tech-savvy tramping parties or family road-trippers who want flame-grilled flavour, minimal smoke, and a tidy way to keep gadgets alive between cafés and caravan parks.

4. Winnerwell Flat-Fold Smokeless Firepit + Grill

A favourite with ute-packing anglers and rooftop-tent tourers, Winnerwell’s flat-fold pit disappears to barely thicker than a laptop yet opens into a sturdy, virtually smokeless cooker. Full 304 stainless construction laughs at West Coast salt spray, so you can rinse, dry, and stow without rust worries.

What Kiwi Campers Love

• Collapses to just 30 mm, slotting behind seat backs or into panniers.
• Laser-cut airflow slots create a gentle secondary burn that keeps smoke drift down when the nor’wester swings.
• No fiddly bolts—every plate nests, so nothing gets lost in river gravels.

Cooking Surface & Accessories

The supplied grill rack locks onto two height positions: 60 mm for steak-searing heat or 120 mm for slower camp-oven work. Drop in the optional pot stand and you’ve got a rock-steady perch for a billy or moka pot.

Assembly & Stability

Five interlocking panels slide together in under a minute; corner tabs brace the body so the pit feels rock-solid even on uneven tussock. Wide feet spread weight, reducing scorch marks on DOC turf.

Key Specs at a Glance

Best For

Trampers, overlanders, and anyone who values boot space as much as a proper flame-grilled dinner.

5. Snow Peak Takibi Fire & Grill

Few bits of camp kit have reached cult status like Snow Peak’s Takibi. Designed in Niigata for post-ski riverbank cook-ups, this folding brazier has become the reference point against which every other portable fire pit for cooking is measured.

Heritage & Build

The Takibi arrives as a 5-panel, 1.5 mm thick stainless frame with chrome-plated grill net and embers tray. It slots into a tough canvas carry case that survives airline baggage tosses and the odd wet boot. All welds are immaculate—typical Japanese over-engineering that explains why 20-year-old units still circulate on Trade Me.

Modular Cooking Kits

Out of the box you get the mesh grill for steaks or kahawai fillets plus a lower coal bed for yakitori skewers. Upgrade paths abound: drop the pit into Snow Peak’s Jikaro table for a central hibachi vibe, add a cast-iron half plate for teppan-style pancakes, or clip on the adjustable fireplace tong holder so tools stay out of the dirt.

Fire Management

Because each side wall is hinged, you can tilt a panel forward with a leather glove, feed fresh mānuka, then close it again without disturbing the grill height—a small touch that keeps heat stable and hands soot-free.

Weight/Size

• Footprint set-up: 455 mm × 455 mm
• Pack thickness: 32 mm
• Total weight (with grill & tray): ≈ 10.6 kg

Best Match

Family crews or mate’s-trip campers who linger for hours around the fire and appreciate gear that looks as good as it cooks. Throw it in the wagon once, and you’ll still be flipping venison backstrap on it a decade from now.

6. Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit (Regular & Large)

Swedish stove icon Primus built the Kamoto for places where ground fires are frowned on but real-flame cooking is still part of the adventure. The firebox sits inside a ventilated steel cradle that lifts embers clear of turf, so you won’t leave black circles on DOC grass or scorch the deck of your mate’s boat. Two sizes cover everything from couples’ coastal missions to big-group base camps, and both models arrive with a food-grade grate straight out of the box—no upsell required.

Unique Vent Baseplate

A perforated galvanised plate under the burn tray draws air from below, feeding oxygen to the coals while acting as a heat shield. Independent tests show surface temperatures stay under 180 °C on the grass beneath, meeting most campsite “no ground scorching” rules.

Cooking Grate Design

The hinged stainless grate flips up one-handed, letting you drop an extra log or shovel in charcoal without removing dinner first. Bar spacing is tight enough for halloumi or asparagus, yet sturdy enough to support a Dutch oven.

Packability

Scissor legs fold flat against the body; a webbing strap keeps everything tidy. The Regular model is just 60 mm thick when stowed and slides behind a ute seat or inside a kayak hatch.

Quick Specs

Ideal Camper

Eco-conscious travellers and festival goers who need a leave-no-trace, portable fire pit for cooking full meals without lugging excess kilos.

7. Adventure Kings Portable Steel Fire Pit

A no-frills way to get flames on a flat-mate budget, the Adventure Kings Portable Steel Fire Pit punches well above its price tag and is stocked by most big-box stores across Aotearoa.

Budget-Friendly Appeal

Usually retailing under $120 NZD, the pit is cut from 3 mm mild steel plate—thicker than many “premium” models double the cost—so you’re paying for metal, not marketing.

Cooking Accessories

Two removable cross-bars span the top and happily support a camp oven or cast-iron fry-pan. Kings also sells a bolt-on BBQ plate with drainage holes; lay streaky bacon across it and the fat drips clear of the fire, reducing flare-ups.

Assembly

Four side panels slide into a slotted base—no tools, bolts or swearing required. First-time set-up takes about 60 seconds; after that you’ll manage it by head-torch.

Durability Tips

Because it’s raw steel, season the panels like a skillet: coat with cooking oil, burn for 20 minutes, cool, repeat. A quick hit with heat-proof paint each winter keeps surface rust at bay. Store in the supplied canvas bag once cool.

Great For

New campers, university road-trippers, or anyone wanting a solid, affordable portable fire pit for cooking snags and marshmallows without stressing the student loan.

8. ARB Collapsible Camping Fire Pit

Designed by the Aussie 4x4 gurus at ARB, this flat-pack brazier is built to survive corrugated roads, salt spray and the odd rogue recovery strap. If your camping style involves bull bars, max-trax and a fridge slide, the ARB is the portable fire pit for cooking that will feel right at home in the ute tray.

4x4-Ready Design

Laser-cut side vents double as bottle-openers and airflow boosters, while the folded lip around the rim stops pans sliding when the ground isn’t level. All edges are deburred so they won’t nick swags or air beds.

Cooking Performance

A stainless grill insert ships standard—no hidden upsell. Heat spreads evenly across the 3 mm steel walls, giving solid sear lines on steaks yet enough thermal mass for slow-roast veggies wrapped in foil.

Set-Up Demo

Six panels slide and lock together; the first time takes about a minute, after that 30 seconds. No tools, pins or washers—just line up the tabs and tap with a palm.

Spec List

Target User

Off-roaders and high-country tourers who need kit that packs flat, cooks hard and won’t complain about a dusty ride to the next river crossing.

9. Outland Living Firebowl 863 Propane Pit

Nothing beats the convenience of clicking a dial and having instant, controllable flame—especially during summer fire bans that still allow CSA-approved gas appliances. The Outland 863 earns a place on this list because it delivers that push-button ease while still offering enough heat for legitimate camp cooking.

Why Include a Gas Option

Wood isn’t always legal or practical. DOC “restricted fire season” notices often prohibit open fires yet permit propane units with shut-off valves. The Firebowl 863 ticks those boxes, so you can keep grilling when your neighbours are eating cold beans.

Cooking Possibilities

Drop a cast-iron griddle or plancha across the 445 mm rim and you’ll hit pancake-friendly temps in under two minutes. Lava rocks distribute heat evenly and, because there’s no soot, your cookware stays far cleaner than over wood. Marshmallow skewers? Go for it—food safety is fine as long as the grate you use is food-grade stainless.

Quick-Connect System

A 3 m hose and pre-set 2.4 kPa regulator clip straight onto standard 9 kg Kiwi bottles. The output tops out at 9.5 kW, but the brass dial lets you feather the flame down to a gentle simmer for foil-wrapped kumara.

Weight & Transport

At 10 kg including lid and carry straps, the Firebowl rides easily in a hatchback boot. The lid clips keep dust off the burner when it lives in the garage between trips.

Best Suited To

Campers who want no-mess flames under partial fire bans, late arrivals who can’t be bothered sourcing dry wood, and families after kid-safe, spark-free marshmallow sessions.

10. Camp Chef Sequoia Propane Fire Pit

If you’d rather twist a dial than coax damp logs, Camp Chef’s Sequoia gives you barbecue-worthy heat in under 60 seconds. The Utah brand is best known for big flat-top grills, and that DNA shows here: the burner pattern and lava-rock bed are designed to spread heat evenly across a pot, griddle, or toasted-marshmallow assembly line. At 6 kg it’s lighter than most gas rivals, making it a true portable fire pit for cooking—even when the camp is a fair walk from the car.

Cooking Compatibility

The Sequoia’s 550 mm ring accepts Camp Chef’s clip-on BBQ Box or any flat cast-iron griddle that bridges the rim. Lava rock acts as a diffuser, preventing hot spots so burgers, pancakes, and veges brown instead of scorch.

Heat Control

Matchless piezo ignition fires a 55,000 BTU (≈ 16 kW) stainless burner. The brass control valve lets you dial back to a gentle simmer for slow-cooked foil packets, then crank to steak-searing temps in seconds.

Portability

Three folding legs tuck under the bowl, and the hose, regulator, and two roasting sticks all stow in the padded carry bag. Total haul weight: just 6 kg.

Safety Notes

Elevated design keeps the flame well off the ground; use the supplied heat shield on timber decks. Check the O-ring and regulator before each trip, and keep hose clear of foot traffic.

Ideal Camper

Glampers, festival crews, or anyone wanting instant, spark-free heat where wood fires are banned but good tucker is still on the menu.

11. GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro Campfire

Proof that “portable” can mean laptop-thin, the Pinnacle Pro is a folding brazier that all but disappears in a pannier yet still turns out a proper fry-up. If you’re chasing a portable fire pit for cooking but space in the van—or bike trailer—is measured in millimetres, this clever bit of kit deserves attention.

Ultra-Slim Storage

Once the legs fold and the side walls collapse, the whole unit is only 38 mm thick—about the same as a MacBook. Slide it under a van bench seat, into a kayak hatch, or behind 4 x 4 drawers and you’ll forget it’s there until hunger strikes.

Dual-Fuel Versatility

Burn split sticks for camp-fire ambience or drop in charcoal briquettes when you want steady, grill-style heat. A perforated base plate keeps airflow high whichever fuel you choose.

Cooking Surface

Hard-anodised aluminium side panels act as a plancha for bacon or pancakes, while the stainless grill grate handles six burgers at once. Bar spacing is tight enough that asparagus spears don’t commit seppuku through the gap.

Spec Snapshot

Who It Fits

Cycle tourers, minimalist van-lifers and anyone counting grams but not willing to sacrifice flame-grilled flavour on the trail.

12. Harebarchi Portable Steel Fire Pit & Grill

Need a pit that can feed the whole tramping club yet still flat-pack into the wagon? The Harebarchi ticks that brief. Cut from slab-thick plate, it behaves more like a commercial teppanyaki station than a flimsy braai, but the six panels still break down in seconds. Because it ships from Machinery House’s Auckland warehouse, most Kiwis will see it on the doorstep before the next long weekend—no waiting on offshore freight.

NZ Supplier Convenience

Harebarchi units are regularly held in stock by Machinery House and a handful of industrial tool shops, meaning overnight shipping to most main centres and two–three days to the Coast or Invercargill. Replacement parts—grates, ash pans, even side plates—follow the same quick turnaround, so a bent panel never writes off the whole pit.

Heavy-Duty Plates

At 8 mm thick, the mild-steel walls suck up heat and radiate it like a pizza stone. Once the metal is fully seasoned, you can slide a cast-iron skillet to one side for low-and-slow beans while the centre stays scorching for steaks. The heft also prevents warping if someone gets trigger-happy with mānuka off-cuts.

Assembly & Cleaning

Each plate slots into keyed tabs; gravity does the locking, so no bolts to drop in the dark. Post-cook, lift the removable ash pan, tip it into the designated DOC fireplace, and wipe the walls with an oiled rag—seasoning improves with every burn.

Key Dimensions

Best For

Larger groups, scout troops or extended whānau who want a robust portable fire pit for cooking big feeds without installing a permanent brazier at camp. One person can carry it, two can feast from it all night.

13. UCO Flatpack Portable Grill & Firepit

Back-country kilometres feel longer when your pack is heavy, which is why gram-counters swear by the UCO Flatpack. At a scant 1.7 kg—including the grill mesh—it’s one of the lightest stainless options that still qualifies as a true portable fire pit for cooking.

Featherweight Option

Folded, the Flatpack measures just 340 × 285 × 25 mm—about a paperback’s thickness—so it slips down the side of a daypack or bike pannier without hogging space.

Quick Deploy

The accordion body springs open; drop in the base plate and grill and you’re ready to spark up in under 30 seconds. Once loaded, angled side walls funnel breeze to the coals, helping wood catch fast.

Cooking Capacity

The 240 × 280 mm grate handles six quarter-pound burgers or two medium steaks. Because there’s no built-in wind shield, you may need to angle the pit or rig a foil screen on blustery ridgelines.

Maintenance

All stainless parts are dishwasher-safe. After cleaning, wipe dry and rub a film of cooking oil over hinges to fend off surface tea-staining.

Perfect Audience

• Overnight hikers wanting real flame without extra kilos
• Bike-packers tight on frame-bag volume
• Civil-defence or 4 × 4 emergency kits needing a compact heat-and-cook solution

14. Wolf and Grizzly Fire Safe + Grill Kit

Proof that weight and flavour can coexist, the Wolf and Grizzly combo caters to hikers who usually leave the portable fire pit for cooking at home because of bulk. Both pit and grill slide into a 30 cm long, 5 cm diameter tube—small enough to ride in a bottle cage or lash under a pack lid.

Modular Minimalism

The stainless “Fire Safe” unfolds like origami: two pan-shaped halves lock to form a 3-sided burn tray that concentrates embers yet lets ash fall for good airflow. Roll-up grill rods and side rails slot together in under a minute.

Cooking Performance

Three grill heights (8 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm) let you bounce between steak-searing proximity and low-n-slow kumara. The thin rods leave restaurant-style char lines without hogging pack weight.

Sustainability Angle

For every kit sold, Wolf and Grizzly funds global re-forestation projects—an easy way to offset the mānuka you’ll burn.

Key Specs at a Glance

Best For

Ultralight trampers, bike-packers, and thru-hikers who still want real-flame meals but refuse to carry more than a kilo of kit.

15. Breeo X Series 24 (To-Go Grilling Bundle)

Size usually kills portability, yet Breeo’s flagship X Series 24 proves there’s room in the ute tray for a genuine backyard-grade cooker. At 610 mm across it dwarfs the other pits on this list, but the “To-Go” bundle ships with every accessory you need to turn a remote river flat into a gourmet kitchen—and back again without leaving a scorch mark.

Why a Larger “Portable” Option

While most portable fire pits for cooking top out around 480 mm, the 24-inch Breeo gives you a full family-sized firebox. That extra real estate means:

• More coals for consistent heat when you’re reverse-searing venison back-straps
• Enough grate space to run meat on one side, veges on the other
• Stronger radiant warmth for chilly South Island evenings

In short, it’s portability measured in vehicle space, not backpack litres.

Comprehensive Cooking Kit

The bundle folds in three core add-ons:

1. Sear Plate Rim – 9 kg of 304 SS that hits > 500 °C for steakhouse crusts.
2. Outpost Grill Pole + 18-inch grate – height-adjustable for fine temperature control.
3. Kettle Hook – dangle a billy or Dutch oven without hogging grill space.

Together they let you flip smash burgers, boil coffee, and slow-cook stew—all over the same fire.

Durability

The Corten steel body arrives raw orange and weathers to a chocolate-brown patina that seals out rust. Breeo backs welds with a lifetime warranty, so stones kicked up on a forestry road won’t be the pit’s last word.

Portability Considerations

• Weight: 23 kg (pit), 6 kg accessories—two-person lift recommended.
• Carry: Integrated side handles; stows upright in a trailer, ute well deck, or caravan front locker.
• Footprint: Legs raise the fire 100 mm, keeping grass singe-free with a spark screen underneath.

Ideal Audience

Caravanners, base-camp anglers and overlanders who stay put for several nights and want restaurant-level results from a single, bomb-proof portable fire pit for cooking.

Ready to Cook Up Memories Afield

From the 0.9 kg Wolf & Grizzly to the 23 kg Breeo X24, there’s a portable fire pit for cooking to suit every boot, bike rack or caravan locker. Fold-flat stainless models are great for quick missions; fan-assisted tech keeps smoke down when the nor’wester kicks; propane bowls let you grill even under total fire bans. The common thread is safe, controllable, food-grade heat wherever you park.

Before you click “add to cart”, tick three boxes:

• Fuel – wood, charcoal or gas: confirm it’s legal on your chosen DOC campsite and that you can source it nearby
• Weight & pack size – will the pit fit beside chilly bins, or does it need its own seat-belt?
• Cooking surface – stainless or well-seasoned steel grates clean easily and won’t leach nasties into kai

Gear up right and the only thing burning will be good memories. Browse the full line-up of cookware, cast-iron and fire accessories at Action Outdoors and start planning that next feast under the stars.