James Anderson

A portable fire pit is one of the most essential pieces of camping gear of all.

Why? Because having a roaring campfire is the most essential element of the whole camping experience. It’s the first image that comes to mind when you picture what “having a great time while camping” looks like. It’s people socializing, laughing and relaxing around a hearty fire.

I mean, sure, your tent is important – don’t forget to take that – but what’s also important is to take a portable fire pit. The top picks in this guide are all ones which are virtually smokeless, unlike a regular campfire. That makes a huge difference, as you might imagine.

Armed with a smokeless fire pit, you’ll no longer have to deal with “smelling of campfire” afterwards, as well as all those futile attempts to stop it smoldering so much when the wood’s not perfect. You don’t even need a fire poker either, because the ventilation system of a smokeless fire pit makes it burn evenly already.

And when it’s all over and done with, the wood in a smokeless fire pit will have burned down completely to ash because it was able to burn so hot and with consistently enough oxygen from start to finish. That means a whole lot easier cleanup than you’re used to.

So, let’s take a look at my reviews of the top portable fire pits out there.

The Best Portable Fire Pits Reviewed

To be honest, the top pick in this guide wins by a long shot.

It’s currently the best designed fire pit on the market, so the other mentions are more alternative picks for those with more niche personal preferences or for those on a budget. You’ll see why when we take a closer look at this remarkable piece of kit.

Best Portable Fire Pit: Solo Stove Bonfire

The Solo Stove Bonfire is a hallmark of good design. This is exactly what I like to see in a product: sheer, beautiful simplicity in its design, that makes it ridiculously reliable and able to outperform the living daylights out of the all-too-common “conventional” designs out there, that either break after a year or end up being high maintenance in any case.

That’s what this site is about.

Anyway, rant over. The only way I can put it, is that the sheer simplicity and genius of the Solo Stove Bonfire’s design is the reason why it’s the top pick. Here it is, in picture form:

Don’t worry, this isn’t going to get technical. I promise. That’s simply a diagram of the oxygen coming in through this fire pit’s double wall, and you can see how it gets directed to two places: into the fire from underneath, and directly into the flames up above. This happens automatically because of how physics works. No power needed.

And here’s what makes this genius: This design creates a super-high heat, entirely smokeless fire that boosts the height of its own flames automatically in one and the same motion. It’s beautiful.

Basically, fire smoke happens when you have incomplete combustion, which is the scientific way of saying “you need more oxygen in your fire, son.” Smoldering, smoky bonfires also give off carbon monoxide, which is lethally poisonous, so it’s not just an inconvenience to ignore. It’s genuinely a big deal.

This fire solves all that by automatically sucking in oxygen from the bottom. Hot air rises, as you know, and this fire uses that fact to pull fresh oxygen back in from the bottom. It works a bit like a straw.

The double walls also extend the use of that effect, by sucking some of that oxygen all the way up the inside to be jettisoned right into the start of the flames themselves. That’s the holes you can see on the inside of the rim.

This is what makes the flames so tall.

You see, it would ordinarily be a bit of a downside to have a fire pit with solid sides that obscure the flame, but the Solo Stove Bonfire gets around that by boosting the flames with the oxygen it propels into them using its seemingly magic application of simple physics.

So, basically, just think of the design as a kind of “flame-boosting heat-operated oxygen straw.” Yeah. It’s not exactly catchy, but it’s pretty darn effective.

And, like I said before, the simplicity of its design, its stainless steel construction, and its lack of moving parts means it’s a whole lot more durable than the other options out there. There’s not even any legs on it that can get damaged or break off.

The only thing that can be moved in this fire pit is the stainless steel rim on the top. That’s removable just so it’s easier to pour ash out when you realize your firewood’s all used up after having lost track of time while staring into the flames.

Lastly, I’ll say that it really is nice to be able to have a fire pit without smelling of one afterwards, or having to get your hands all sooty when the time comes to put it away.

It’s something that feels like it just adds to the whole ease of use of the product. It’s just no-fuss, no matter how you look at it. Nothing is a hassle – not even cleaning.

The only downside would be it taking up space wherever you’re storing it. It’s not exactly something you can fold away and carry in a backpack, but you have to remember: it’s empty on the inside. You can just put stuff in it, so it doesn’t waste space at all in your car.

So, in the end, its shape is just something that’s a problem if you’re wanting something to fit right into your backpack.

Need a Way to Protect Your Floor? Here’s the New Bundle Version

There’s now a bundle set that includes a stand. That’s what you’ll need if you’re wanting a fire pit for your patio.

Well, if you care about keeping your patio nice, anyway. Otherwise you can just go ahead and leave scorch marks on the ground without a care in the world.

Or, you know… you could sit the fire pit on something like some spare bricks that you have lying around. Anything that keeps it off the ground, that won’t set on fire will work.

But, that being said, this kit has clear advantages over that option.

First of all, it all packs away neatly, as you can see in the photo on the right. That means the stand doesn’t take up any more space than if you just had the main fire pit.

Then there’s also the waterproof cover you get with it to consider. Now, I don’t think that this is nearly as important, but that really depends upon where you’re thinking of storing your fire pit.

I mean, if it’s going to be sitting in your garage and it’s not too dirty or damp in there, then you don’t really need a cover, do you? But on the flip side, if your garage is swamped with stuff and not exactly fully shielded from the elements, then the cover is going to make the difference in keeping your fire pit looking as good as new.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the Solo Stove Bonfire is not the only size available. If you’re on a patio, you might even prefer a smaller fire that’s still the same quality as what you’d get with the model we’ve been looking at here.

The smaller version is called the Solo Stove Ranger, and it’s… well… patio sized. There’s no other way to put it. It’s just a good size for a patio.

You can see it below.

It’s on the stand you get with the bundle in that picture above too. It’s basically just less wide that the bonfire model.

In the end, it’s just down to personal preference which one you prefer. You could just go with the top pick, which is the bonfire model, if you just want to live it up and have a good sized fire on demand.

Here’s their official unboxing video if you’re interested getting a feel for the size.

What We Like:

• Excellent Design – This fire pit’s design creates a super-high heat, entirely smokeless fire that boosts the height of its own flames automatically in one and the same motion. This way, it doesn’t matter that you can’t see through the sides.
• Easy to Clean – This is, in part, due to it being smokeless and capable of very high temperature fires. Everything gets burned down completely to ash. There’s also that the rim can be lifted off to simply pour out that ash, and then you can just rinse it out with water whenever you want to fully clean it out.

Things to Consider:

• Alternative Sizes – The Solo Stove Bonfire is the best size for most people. The Solo Stove Ranger is a less wide version that’s more suited to patios, especially with the stand that comes with the bundle. Then there’s the Yukon, which is massive. It’s amazing, but impractical for carrying around.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Portable Fire Pit With Grill: BioLite FirePit

The ability to have this portable fire pit turn into a hibachi grill is its best feature.

Honestly, the way the heat evenly comes through from below even makes it an ideal pick for if you simply wanted a portable hibachi grill. I guess you can say, it’s a “two in one” kind of product.

But the real reason why the BioLite FirePit is a great pick, is that it doesn’t compromise between being a grill and a fire pit. Instead, it’s designed to be a smokeless fire pit that happens to work perfectly as a grill too, because it burns so efficiently and evenly.

That’s thanks to the mesh side that you can see in the picture below.

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I see that clearly visible free-standing fire, it makes me feel as though I were looking at a fireplace rather than a fire pit.

So, right there is a defining factor that makes the choice between this one and the Solo Stove Bonfire not quite so simple.

Granted, this one has a much less simple design, but when you look at the quality of the fire alone, this one lets you see the burning logs directly from the side, at the cost of it having a lower flame height than the boosted flames the Solo Stove Bonfire has.

So, take a look at it for yourself in action, and if you really like being able to see through the side above all else, then this is the one to go for:

But, of course, the design is this fire pit isn’t quite as innovate as the Solo Stove Bonfire’s all-in-one, automatic, powerless design.

This one entirely relies on the unit on the side, which propels air through small holes around the fire similar to how the Solo Stove ones work. The difference is though, that it achieves that air flow through a powered fan in that side unit, rather than through the genius use of physics to make it happen automatically.

But, of course, it would be impossible to have an open fire that you can see into from the side with the Solo Stove design, and the fan’s battery lasts for 24 hours of burning. In reality, its design doesn’t negatively impact the user experience at all.

You could only say that it’s not a rain-proof, “leave and forget” fire pit, because of the electronic parts; and it has more potential for damage and rust, because of the mesh, foldable standing legs and so on.

Let me make that clear: this fire pit is not waterproof. You can’t clean it out with water like you can with the Solo Stove Bonfire. You also can’t use it with cookware like pots either, because it’s only intended for grilling food directly.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the electronics of this one have an upside, and that’s the smart features it has. You can control the fan speed from the free BioLite Energy App for Android or iOS. I guess it makes sense that they decided to go with making an app to do that, because it’s better than having to get your fingers close to the fire to flick some kind of fan speed switch.

What We Like:

• Sides You Can See Through – Because of this fire pit’s unique mesh sides, it’s the only one out there that lets you achieve the effect of a free-standing floating fire when it’s dark. It’s also nice being able to see the burning logs.
• Smokeless – The side fan unit’s battery lasts for 24 hours of burning, and it blows air inwards from all angles along the fire, rather than just from that side like you’d expect. That’s why it burns so evenly, and why it’s smokeless.
• The Hibachi Grill – It’s simply just a very good hibachi grill, so when you’re getting this as a fire pit you’re essentially getting a “two in one” deal here.

Things to Consider:

• Not Waterproof – Because of the electronics of course, but also because of the mesh. It’s not exactly rust proof, so it needs to be kept dry.
• Less Damage-Proof – Compared to the Solo Stove’s unibody design, there’s a whole lot more on this one that could end up damaged at some point. I do wish the metal was thicker too.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Cheap Portable Fire Pit: UCO Flatpack Stainless Steel Fire Pit

This fire pit is, surprisingly, the most portable one of the bunch, even though it’s more of a budget option.

Not only is it pretty cheap already, it’s even better value for money when you consider you also get a grill with it. Granted, there’s no airflow system at all in this one, but it opens up wide enough to limit its smokiness to what you’d expect with any normal campfire.

But really, the most interesting thing about this fire pit is that it’s by far the most portable option out there because it folds completely flat. As you can see in the photo on the right, it’ll fit into your backpack no problem.

The metal’s actually not as thin as I thought it would be, considering it’s an inexpensive piece of kit. The whole thing feels like it’s put together in a way that’ll last a good while.

Also, since it’s quite a stable base, you’re able to stack logs in it higher than the sides, so it’s not like the fire is just confined to the bottom of the V-shaped pit. Still, don’t expect it to be smokeless because of it. It’s not.

Like I said before, it’s only as good as normal campfire in terms of smoke output because it has no ventilation system, but the advantage of having this fire pit is safer fire containment, an easier cleanup, and a stable grill rack for cooking whatever you like on.

For the price, it’s absolutely worth it if you’re at all interested in having a fire pit for camping, outdoor grilling, or even social gatherings.

Simply having something like this that’ll keep a nice fire going without any mess while you relax with your friends or family on your patio is worth it alone. Though, if you’re thinking it’d be a more regular thing or if you’re a fire aficionado, then you’d be better off with the Solo Stove Bonfire, which is the top pick in this guide and the one we looked at first.

It’s basically a straight upgrade to this kind of fire pit, because both of them are easy to use and easy to clean, and neither of them use power.

What We Like:

• Value for Money – It’s a really cheap option compared to smokeless fire pits that have a ventilation system. If you don’t mind the usual smokiness you get with campfires, then this is a great money saver – or even an ideal starter kit, you could say.
• Easy to Clean – With no moving parts, electronics or any of that kind of thing, it’s just easy to clean stainless steel. Since it’s not smokeless, it’ll have more residue than the Solo Stove Bonfire, but at least you can still clean it off with water, some soap or detergent, and some scrubbing.
• Folds Completely Flat – In terms of portable campfires, this one wins by a large margin because it’s the only one that folds flat. The others are all portable, but not this portable.

Things to Consider:

• Not Smokeless – Because of there being no ventilation method in its design, it functions like an ordinary campfire. There’s no flame boosting shenanigans or oxygen jetting wizardry with this one. It’s just a good old fashioned fire you’re getting.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

A little secret that not many people know, is that a pergola is the single easiest way to make a patio look expensive.

Even if you’re not going to be growing any grapes, a pergola has a real Mediterranean resort vibe to it. Pretty much any patio can be transformed into a luxury hangout location with nothing more than a pergola and a few chairs.

Now, I’d highly recommend you get a cedar pergola rather than a metal one, because they just look so much better. Even the most “modern looking” metal pergolas out there are somewhat lacking in that they never quite look exquisite like the cedar ones do.

At first you’d think the cedar would give your patio more of a classy, “rustic” look than a neat, modern look, but the important thing to note is that cedar pergolas go with everything. They always look good, while a metal one can look cheap if you don’t pair it with the right outdoor furniture.

Then there’s how it’ll look over time, to take into account. Wooden pergolas continue to look great as they age, and you could say they even look better than when they’re new if you’re after that rustic look to your patio.

On the other hand, metal tends to develop rust or discoloration over time, which I guess you could say is taking “rustic” too literally. Actual rust never looks good.

Finally, the warm color of stained cedar wood really helps to make the whole place feel like a cozy little haven. It goes with everything too, which is why I’d recommend it unless you have a specific idea in mind of what you want your patio to look like.

Staining your pergola white or using a colorless finish are also popular ways to go about it, but you might find, like I do, that the classic, reddish stained cedar color tends to look better. And, like I said, it goes with everything.

I’m all about that minimalist look and I usually go with the color white in my home, but with a wood pergola, the color of the top pick in this guide just looks much better. You’ll see.

Click to jump to each topic

• The Best Wood Pergola Kits Reviewed
  • Best Wood Pergola Kit
  • Best High End Pergola
  • Alternative Choice for a High End Pergola
• The Different Types of Pergola
• What Are Pergolas Used For?
• Why Don’t Pergolas Have Roofs?
• Pergolas vs Pavilions
• Can a Pergola Be Built on Decking?
• Can a Pergola Be Attached to a House?
• How to Maintain or Restore a Pergola

The Best Wood Pergola Kits Reviewed

Best Wood Pergola Kit: Backyard Discovery’s Cedar Pergolas

Most Popular Size:	12′ by 10′
Extra Wide Version for a Larger Social Space:	14′ by 10′
Square Shape for Limited Space (or Those on a Budget):	10′ by 10′

Without a doubt, Backyard Discovery make the best looking pergolas you can get.

Of course, that wouldn’t matter if they weren’t sturdy too. You don’t exactly want a pergola that’s going to fall apart after a year.

But that’s the thing. Backyard Discovery’s pergolas aren’t hollow. They’re made of solid wood all the way through. Good wood too.

The particular wood they’re made from is Chinese cedar, which is actually a different species to the Cedar found in the US.

You see, Chinese cedar has the same natural ability to repel rot, fungus, decay and pests as American cedar, but unlike American cedar, it has the grain and texture qualities of Douglas fir.

Now, I know you’re probably not a tree expert, so that doesn’t really mean anything to you alone, so let me put this into context. Douglas fir, when compared to cedar, is almost twice as hard per square inch. Impressive, huh?

And, let me just say, that contrary to what some other reviews have said, this pergola is in fact 100% cedar all the way through. There’s no tricks here. You get what you see.

But anyway, the pergola itself just looks incredible, and you’d be hard pressed to get a custom one made that gets even close to this one’s Mediterranean looks. Custom made pergolas are ridiculously expensive too. They start at $2,000 and average about $5,000, so this one is essentially 2-4 times cheaper than that option.

Now, with Backyard Discovery’s pergolas having more of a traditional layering to their arbor tops, they’re especially good for growing vines such as grapes up it. The wooden beams are just the right distance apart so that vines can weave themselves in and out of the top.

Of course, you don’t have to grow any vines up your pergola, and most people don’t, but the option is always there for you. I’ve gotta be honest though, they do look truly amazing even with some fast growing ivy up them. I’d highly recommend growing vines up your pergola, and possibly even adding string lights if you’re wanting to make your pergola look like something from a top tier luxury resort in Italy.

As for the sizing, I’d primarily recommend the most popular option: the 12′ by 10′ pergola. There’s a good reason why it’s the most popular size: It fits right in with just about any patio.

Not to mention, that rectangular pergolas also tend to look better than square ones when it’s near to your house. It’s just more pleasing to the eye.

If your pergola is more away from your house, however, then the 10′ by 10′ size works really well too, because it looks approachable from any direction, rather than looking oddly too square like it would if it was near your house.

I mean, you can make a square pergola work well near your home, but I’ve always thought that the rectangular ones look better. Even the 14′ by 10′ option, which is what you’d call “extra wide,” looks more natural to my eyes.

Though, it must be said, that that longer version is only really for longer patios where you’re basically wanting to have more chairs and possibly a longer table out there. I’d say for certain that that’s the one to go for if you’re looking for a larger social space to accommodate more people at once.

As for the assembly, you’ll have to do it yourself, as you might have guessed. After all, this thing is way too big to fit in a truck. Don’t worry though, because putting the pergola together really isn’t too difficult at all, but do be aware that it’s definitely a two-person job. Big wooden beams and all.

Also, while I’m at it, I’ll add that there’s a good chance you’ll actually need to drill out the pre-drilled holes on this one because they’re actually not really wide enough to begin with. At least they’re not too wide, because that would be a real problem, so it makes sense why they’re often under-drilled rather than risking any over drilled ones.

It’s also a really good idea to secure this pergola’s 5 ½” posts to either wooden decking or concrete slabs using the included powder-coated metal brackets. The idea is that it’ll have extra stability during strong winds or storms, which will bring the chance of it ever moving down to practically zero, but it’s not entirely necessary.

If you just want your pergola to be straight on the grass like in the picture on the right, then then you can just go ahead and do that, because the 12′ by 10′ version, for example, weighs 450 lbs already. You can use your own judgement here.

What We Like:

• Looks Expensive – If you’re going for a pergola, you’re aiming for something that’ll make your patio or outdoor space look amazing. There’s nothing that comes close to beating this timeless style of pergola, which is why even the most expensive ones out there look remarkably similar to this one.
• High Quality Imported Cedar – The wood in this one is Chinese cedar all the way through, so doesn’t have any warping or splitting problems. Chinese cedar has the same natural ability to repel rot, fungus, decay and pests as American cedar, but unlike American cedar, it has the grain and texture qualities of Douglas fir, which is twice as hard per square inch. Basically, this pergola will still look good years down the line.

Things to Consider:

• A Drill is Required for Assembly – As I mentioned earlier, the pre-drilled holes are a little too slim, so you’ll actually want to widen them out with a drill.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best High End Pergola: Backyard Discovery Oasis 14′ by 10′ Cedar Pergola

As you can pretty much figure out already, the actual core design of this pergola is the same as the 14′ by 10′ version of the top pick in this guide.

But, if you’re looking for a more “complete” luxury outdoor area, then it really does make sense to have a bar area to accommodate eating and some benches to chill out on – especially when it doesn’t cost that much more on Amazon than the regular 14′ by 10′ one.

I mean, most people use a bar like that for drinks, but they’re actually far better for eating than having a plate on your lap or attempting to eat off that low coffee table you’re almost certain to have in the middle of your pergola.

Of course, if you’re thinking of having an outdoor dining table in the middle, then this is a less important feature for you, but then it still stands that it’s better to relax with drinks at the bar area or on the benches than at a dining table. Besides, I think the whole “cushioned garden chairs and coffee table” setup is the best anyway. It’s just so versatile for when you have friends over.

What We Like:

• Accommodates Eating – You can eat at the bar. That’s pretty much a complete solution to the problem of outdoor spaces not being particularly suitable for eating plated food that isn’t just easy-to-eat barbecue food or something.
• The Benches are Spacious – And there’s an extra-wide armrest / drinks rest in the middle, which is a nice touch.

Things to Consider:

• It’s Brown, Rather than That Classic Reddish Brown Color – This is entirely down to personal preference of course, and you might even prefer this more “rustic” than “Mediterranean” color.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Alternative Choice for a High End Pergola: MM Cedar Pergola Gazebo with Bar Counter and Sunshade

When going with a less traditional style of pergola, you can kind of break the rules a little.

You see, the neutral timber gray stain to this one makes it look a million dollars. And let me say: it’s high end, but it’s not that much of a price jump above the top pick in this guide.

Like the other high end pergola featured above, the biggest difference with this one compared to your usual pergola is that it accommodates eating. After all, it’s not exactly ideal to eat in the low, reclining furniture that you’d be putting under a pergola, so you’d be pretty much have to eat somewhere else.

And whether or not you have an outdoor kitchen doesn’t matter: you’d still have to have another place where you can eat, unless you’re just having a casual barbecue, in which case it’s not so much an issue.

The pergola itself is roughly the same, standard size as the last one, being 2′ wider than a standard 12′ by 10′ pergola to accommodate the bar, coming to a grand total of 14′ by 10′ for its overall, outside dimensions.

What We Like:

• Sunshade – If you’re looking for some shade in your pergola and don’t like the idea of waiting painfully long for vines to grow up a traditional pergola, then a sunshade solves that problem for you. The fabric helps block out UV rays too, but you should still always wear sunscreen if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors in general.
• Bar Area for Eating and Drinking – You can actually eat a meal at the bar counter, unlike with more traditional pergola designs, where it’s always a bit awkward to eat anything other than barbecue food or snacks on a plate on your lap.

Things to Consider:

• Not as “Mediterranean” as the Backyard Discovery’s Pergolas – If you’re looking for that luxury Mediterranean villa vibe, then Backyard Discovery’s pergolas will be far better suited to achieving that than this one. This one looks modern for sure, and even cozy and rustic, but I wouldn’t say it looks like a true Mediterranean wood pergola.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

The Different Types of Pergola

First of all, pergolas were traditionally made of cedar because of its natural ability to repel rot, fungus, decay and pests; and, of course, the fact that the warm reddish-brown color just looks amazing.

Basically, cedar is pretty much the perfect wood for outdoor structures like pergolas. You also have to remember that, back then, they didn’t have water sealer either, so the wood’s natural resistance plays an even more important role.

But now? Now you can get pergolas made of other types of wood, or even ones made of metal. Neither of those two options are better than a cedar though. Sure, you might call them different types of pergola, but I wouldn’t say that they really are that different from one another except for what they’re made from.

So, aside from that, and aside from small differences in aesthetic, there’s two actual different types of pergola you can get. There’s the ones with a flat arbor top, like all the ones in this guide, and less commonly there’s ones with a gable arbor top.

Let’s start by looking at the gable arbor top style, because I really don’t recommend them unless you’re absolutely in love with the style. They’re just too much maintenance.

Here, I’ll explain.

Gable Roof Pergolas

Take a look at this picture:

Yes, I know that it’s technically an arbor, not a pergola, but it’s still a good enough example to show you what I mean.

You see that buildup of vines on the top? You get that same dense bulk of vines coming together at the top of gable roof pergolas. Naturally, that makes it much harder to keep it looking neat compared to simply trimming any vines hanging down from a flat roofed one.

Also, this gabled or curved roof design is typically reserved for arbors, rather than pergolas. The difference between the two is that arbors are for walkways, like in that photo above, while pergolas are a social space, for putting chairs and a table under.

Basically, arbors are for gardeners, while pergolas are for people who want to turn their backyard into their own luxury Mediterranean resort.

But anyway, the important difference here is that you only walk through arbors in one direction, while you can approach pergolas from any direction. That’s another reason why the gable roof design isn’t really suitable for pergolas to be honest. The vines will be lower at the sloped edges, so you get kind of an uneven effect there.

So uneven, in fact, that they’ll start getting in the way on those sides until your pergola has effectively transformed itself into an arbor through a lack of maintenance. That is, unless you keep the vines trimmed before they start blocking those entry ways.

Flat Roof Pergolas

Ah, much better.

Look how much easier to maintain it is. All you have to do is trim any vines that hang down too much. That’s all there is to it.

There’s also that because there’s less of a clump of tangled vines at the top, and more of a flat layer, there’s actually plenty of airflow through it. Think about it: even if your wood is mildew and rot resistant, the vines aren’t going to handle a lack of airflow if they’re all stuck in a big bunch.

Also, this is my personal opinion of course, but I think this style of roof just looks so much better. It had to be said.

What Are Pergolas Used For?

Originally, they were used in Italy to make fancy walkways.

That’s right. Pergolas were an offshoot of arbors. Then some genius came along and thought, “This would be a really nice place to just hang out at,” and put some chairs and a table under it.

That’s really what pergolas are for. They’re just amazing outdoor social spaces. So much so, that people usually don’t even bother growing vines up them any more. That’s because they look cool as they are, and the crisscross filtered sunlight of the shadow they cast looks cool too.

Also, depending on the time of day, you’ll actually get a pretty decent amount of shade out of a bare pergola. We’re talking the hottest hours of the day, where the sun is somewhat overhead, but in the mornings and evenings the sun’s angle casts the shadow pretty much outside the pergola entirely.

Also, the emphasis is on “somewhat overhead,” because a directly overhead sun will just send its rays right through the gaps in the pergola roof. You kinda want it to so that the vertical slats of your pergola’s roof work like shutters, you see.

Of course, that’s only if shade is what you’re looking for. If you just want to enhance your patio or backyard space, then you can’t really go wrong no matter what you do

Why Don’t Pergolas Have Roofs?

That’s because the crossed wooden beams of the arbor top is meant to be for vines to grow across. Think about it, if you have leaves block out the sun, why would you need a roof?

Of course, leaves don’t block out rain too well, but you’re not exactly going to be sitting out in the rain, with your garden chairs’ cushions getting soaked through and your drink slowly topping up by the minute. If, however, sitting outside when it’s raining does sound appealing to you, then you might be better off with a pavilion, or at the very least, a waterproof sunshade.

Though, I have to warn you, the roof on a pavilion ruins the exotic Mediterranean look of a pergola. They only tend to look good when they’re massive. Otherwise, they tend to look a bit awkward and out of place in a backyard.

Pergolas vs Pavilions

They’re both outdoor structures, sure, but that’s where their similarities end.

You can’t grow vines up a pavilion. I mean, you could try, but it’s absolutely not made for that.

A pavilion is a kind of permanent hardtop gazebo, usually without the sides, just four support pillars like a pergola has.

Now, pavilions don’t have the same exotic vibe as pergolas, but if you want a pavilion to actually look good then I suggest you get some lights on the inside of the roof pointing upwards, so they illuminate the roof from around the edges. It’ll look good in evenings, which is more the pavilion’s strong point.

Also, bear in mind that with a pavilion, you get complete, total shade. So much shade, that it seems kinda dark under there on a sunny day.

On the other hand, with a pergola, you get filtered sunlight coming through even when you have vines growing across the arbor top, a bit like when you’re in a forest during a sunny day.

Can a Pergola Be Built on Decking?

Yes, it can. It’s actually advisable to do that, because you can secure it to the ground with metal brackets far more easily than if you were just going to put it straight on grass.

The only real way to secure it on grass would be to put down cement posts down in the ground as a foundation for its legs, so you can actually use metal brackets to secure them.

That, of course, is extra effort. Especially because it involves digging.

Can a Pergola Be Attached to a House?

It sure can. Again, you’ll want to secure it to the floor with metal brackets, and then secure it to your house with a ledger board, lag bolts and so on.

It’s a complex woodworking project, because you’re using your house as support instead of two of the pillars, so I’d just recommend having your pergola right next to your house if you want to achieve the same effect without having to call out a professional when it inevitably gets too complicated.

However, I do get that a pergola can look amazing when attached to a house. It emulates the look you see here in these photos:

That’s in Crete, in Greece. You have to remember though, your house looks a whole lot different to those buildings.

In reality, just having your pergola right next to your house, with all four legs secured to the floor is actually going to look better than if you had it attached to your house at the top.

The two pillars on the inside actually look good, and not having them gives more of a sensation of “being on your patio” than being in an outdoor social space next to your house. It feels less self-contained, if that makes sense.

How to Maintain or Restore a Pergola

First of all, you’ll want to make sure you re-seal your pergola once a year. It’s actually expected of you to do that, in the warranties of most pergola manufacturers.

Don’t worry, it’s super easy though. You’ll need some step ladders and this Thompson’s Water Seal to be able to do it. It only takes one coat, so you can get it over and done with pretty quickly. It’s not like an extensive project or something.

Optionally, you can use this All in One Thompson’s Stainer and Water Sealer to restore to your cedar that warm reddish color that we all know and love.

When Should You Re-Seal a Pergola?

You’ll know when you need to do it because you’ll notice that water doesn’t form droplets on the outside. The pergola itself just gets wet. That usually happens about a year after the last time it was sealed.

Now, Cedar and Chinese Cedar are excellent for being resistant to rot and to moisture-loving fungus like mildew, but if you want your pergola to continue looking neat rather than worn-down, then sealing it once a year is the simple way to achieve that.

If your pergola is looking a bit dirty or weathered already, then the best thing you can do is hire or buy a pressure washer. If you’ve ever seen this cheekily-named subreddit, you’ll know just how incredible power washers can be at cleaning just about anything. It’ll do the trick far better than anything else for cleaning up your pergola to make it look like new again.

You’ll even find for the most part, that when you think the wood on your pergola is faded, it’s actually just dirty. When all that dirt comes right off with a pressure washer, the wood’s true color will be restored once again. Then all you need to do is let it dry out thoroughly before sealing it again.

Staining Your Pergola

If you’re wanting to restore or enhance that red cedar color, then opt for this All in One Thompson’s Stainer and Water Sealer instead of the colorless Thompson’s Water Sealer.

Of course, you can stain it any shade you like, but that red cedar color really suits the classic Mediterranean look of Backyard Discovery’s pergolas better than anything else.

This is a quick guide to the best boat trailers, with our recommendations based around different people’s criteria, so you can choose the boat trailer that suits you best.

They’re summed up in this table below. If you want to skip all the other talk and you just want to know which specific boat trailer are currently the best to go for, then they’re all right here in one place for you.

Editor’s Award	Winner
Best Boat Trailer	Ironton Personal Watercraft and Boat Trailer Kit
Best Kayak Trailer	Malone EcoLight 2-Boat J-Rack Kayak Trailer Package
Best Budget Option for Small Watercraft	Ultra-Tow 40in. x 48in. Aluminum Utility Trailer Kit
Best Dolly for Inflatable Boats	Dynamic Dollies 9′ Inflatable Boat Dolly

Click to jump straight to each topic.

• Why You Need a Boat Trailer
• What to Look for in a Boat Trailer
• The Best Boat Trailers Reviewed
  • Best Boat Trailer
  • Best Kayak Trailer
  • Best Budget Option for Small Watercraft
  • Best Dolly for Inflatable Boats
• Other Worthy Mentions

Why You Need a Boat Trailer

The reason for why you need a boat trailer is pretty straightforward.

Simply put: a boat trailer allows you to take your boat anywhere with ease.

I mean, without one, your only other option would be to strap a canoe or kayak to your truck, but if your boat isn’t an easy shape to just strap to your truck or your vehicle’s roof rack then you’re out of luck.

The reason for why you need a boat trailer is pretty straightforward.

Simply put: a boat trailer allows you to take your boat anywhere with ease.

I mean, without one, your only other option would be to strap a canoe or kayak to your truck, but if your boat isn’t an easy shape to just strap to your truck or your vehicle’s roof rack then you’re out of luck.

There’s also that having boat trailer means you don’t have to leave your small fishing boat or small sailing boat moored anywhere if you don’t want to, since you can just store it in your garage or backyard where it’s much safer.

What to Look for in a Boat Trailer

When shopping for a boat trailer, you’re going to have to make sure you’ve got these criteria checked before you buy.

The Right Dimensions

If your boat won’t fit on the trailer, then it’s not going to be much use to you.

Also, if you have a wider boat, it’s worth making sure that the trailer will actually be able to accommodate to that width properly, since some trailers out there are pretty narrow.

You don’t want your boat trailer twisting to either side while you’re driving because it’s unbalanced.

Enough Maximum Weight Capacity

Even if your boat would fit, it doesn’t mean that the trailer will always be suitable still.

Do check first that your boat is within the weight limit of the trailer.

Road Safety Considerations

If you’re expecting to travel at night, in winter when it’s dark earlier, or in bad weather at all, then it’s worth noting that some boat trailers out there have lights and protective fenders on them, which are really good to have.

So, putting all of this together, let’s look at our recommendations for the best boat trailers out there right now.

The Best Boat Trailers Reviewed

Best Boat Trailer: Ironton Personal Watercraft and Boat Trailer Kit

Best Boat Trailer

Best Kayak Trailer: Malone EcoLight 2-Boat J-Rack Kayak Trailer Package

Best Kayak Trailer

Best Budget Option for Small Watercraft: Ultra-Tow 40in. x 48in. Aluminum Utility Trailer Kit

Best Budget Option for Small Watercraft

Best Dolly for Inflatable Boats: Dynamic Dollies 9′ Inflatable Boat Dolly

Best Dolly for Inflatable Boats

Other Worthy Mentions

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We hope this list of the best boat trailers has been helpful.

If there’s anything good that you think we’ve missed, or if you have any questions about anything, then let us know down in the comments below.

This is a no-nonsense guide to the best air bikes on the market, with quick recommendations further on in the article so you can choose the air bike that suits what you’re looking for the best.

They’re summed up in this table below. If you want to skip all the other talk and you just want to know which specific ones are currently the best to go for, then they’re all right here in one place for you.

Editor’s Award	Winner
Best Air Bike	Assault AirBike Classic
Best Lower Price Point Alternative	Schwinn AD2 Airdyne
Best High End Option	Schwinn AD7 Airdyne
Best Budget Option	Ativafit Fan Bike

Click to jump straight to each topic.

• Why You Need an Air Bike
• What to Look for in an Air Bike
• The Best Air Bikes Reviewed
  • Best Air Bike
  • Best Lower Price Point Alternative
  • Best High End Option
  • Best Budget Option
• Air Bikes We Don’t Recommend
• Other Worthy Mentions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Need an Air Bike

An air bike is also called an air fan resistance bike, because that’s what it is. It’s essentially an exercise bike that uses a fan of sorts to provide resistance against your cycling action.

But that’s the thing right there. It’s not literally a big fan with pedals strapped to it.

You see, an air bike fan doesn’t glide through the air easily with a slight angle to the fan blades so they push air out in one direction like a normal fan.

What they do instead is have fan blades that are flat against the direction they’re spinning in. This makes them as inefficient at spinning as possible.

But that’s precisely the whole point. Because of that “inefficiency,” you have to really work hard to push the air out of the way of the flat spokes of the fan blade.

That’s where the genius of the design lies. What you get is an incredible high resistance version of an exercise bike that’s surprisingly much less hard on the knees and hip flexors than your ordinary exercise bike.

But most importantly, it’s a thorough workout that makes you not feel like you have to cycle for such a long time for you to build up a good sweat. That’s something normal exercise bikes are definitely guilty of.

So, now I have your attention, let’s take a look at what makes the best air bikes out there the best.

What to Look for in an Air Bike

Here’s a quick rundown of the reasons why the best air bikes out there are crowned as the best.

Smooth Gliding Motion

Basically, the harder you pedal, the harder your workout gets.

And I don’t mean that in terms of pedaling more means more calories burned. I mean that the resistance that the fan flywheel generates actually increases as you pedal harder.

That’s why it’s important to get an air bike that has a smooth gliding action with the fan mechanism.

If it’s a well-made air bike that works smoothly, you’ll be able to essentially fine tune the level of resistance you’re comfortable with keeping in your workout.

Instead of fighting against the machine and not really “feeling” the flow of the workout, you’ll instead be able to just keep a good pace naturally without having to think about it.

Sturdy Construction

Like I said before about how these air bikes are technically high resistance exercise machines to begin with, I can’t stress enough how important it is that it’s well-built.

If you’ve ever had a normal fan or air con that rattles, or an exercise bike that has a kind of loose, wobbliness to it, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Those kinds of defects just ruin it, at least for me.

In a good air bike that becomes your favorite exercise machine, these things shouldn’t exist. Honestly, if you get a good one, you’ll never go back to a standard exercise bike.

The feel is different to a normal exercise bike like a spin bike. It’s hard to explain, but they just feel so much more natural with you being able to set your own resistance on the fly.

Of course, like with the previous point about having a smooth gliding motion, getting one that’s actually sturdy and stable enough to make full use of that is simply key.

Adjustable Resistance

Now, with the ability to change your resistance by simply pedaling harder or less hard, you’re probably thinking that a light workout is going to mean slow pedaling.

But that’s why it’s important for an air bike to have an adjustable resistance level that works properly. It means you can dial back the resistance so you can pedal faster for a lighter workout, or make it so you have to pedal even harder by default.

Basically what this means is you’re able to move the “default” level of resistance when you cycle on the air bike to where it feels just right for you. It lets you tailor the action of the bike to your own level of strength and fitness.

The trick is to set it to that level of resistance where it feels just right for you, so you can make full use of the smoothly increasing and decreasing resistance levels you get when you change up the intensity of how hard you’re pedaling.

So, putting all of this together, let’s look at our recommendations for the best air bikes out there right now.

The Best Air Bikes Reviewed

Best Air Bike: Assault AirBike Classic

Best Air Bike

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Lower Price Point Alternative: Schwinn AD2 Airdyne

Best Lower Price Point Alternative

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best High End Option: Schwinn AD7 Airdyne

Best High End Option

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Budget Option: Ativafit Fan Bike

Best Budget Option

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Other Worthy Mentions

Air Bikes We Don’t Recommend

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We hope this list of the best air bikes has been helpful.

If there’s anything good that you think we’ve missed, or if you have any questions about anything, then let us know down in the comments below.

This is quick guide to the best hot foil stamping machines, with our recommendations based around different people’s criteria, so you can choose the hot foil stamping machine that suits you best.

Editor’s Award	Winner
Best Hot Foil Stamping Machine	Henvee Pneumatic Hot Foil Stamping Machine with Double Column
Best Option for Hobbyists	ToAuto Upgraded Hot Foil Stamping Machine
Best Budget Option	Vevor WT-90AS Hot Foil Stamping Machine
Even Lower Budget Alternative	TBVECHI Hot Foil Stamping Machine

Click to jump straight to each topic.

• The Best Hot Foil Stamping Machines Reviewed
  • Best Hot Foil Stamping Machine
  • Best Option for Hobbyists
  • Best Budget Option
  • Even Lower Budget Alternative
• Other Worthy Mentions
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Best Hot Foil Stamping Machines Reviewed

Best Hot Foil Stamping Machine: Henvee Pneumatic Hot Foil Stamping Machine with Double Column

Best Hot Foil Stamping Machine

• Designed with a double column setup so you can stamp pretty much any area of a portfolio or larger item.
  
  Compare that to the other machines out there with an arm lever can only hit about 2.5 inches down because the support column is in the way.
  
  This pneumatic hot foil stamping machine is not limited in that way at all.
  
• Features being able to complete a hot foil stamp in under 3 seconds. It’ll only take one second when you get used to using it.
• Features higher stamping pressure than the manual type of machines out there.
• Comes with plenty of space on the working table.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Option for Hobbyists: ToAuto Upgraded Hot Foil Stamping Machine

Best Option for Hobbyists

• Has a generous amount of space for stamping work.
• Uses a digital display for operation.
• Designed with balance adjustment springs to get a more uniform stamping action and a more durable stamp as a result, than most other machines out there.
• Allows you to stamp leather, soft PVC, PU, hard plastic, paper, and many more types of material.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best Budget Option: Vevor WT-90AS Hot Foil Stamping Machine

Best Budget Option

• Constructed from stainless steel, and well-built enough to handle hundreds and hundreds of hot foil stamping projects.
• Uses a clear digital display for operation.
• Able to hot foil stamp with a maximum stroke height of 22cm (8.66″).
• Very reliable for the price. One reviewer even commented that they accidentally left it on for two days once and somehow it didn’t melt down. Don’t try it though.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Even Lower Budget Alternative: TBVECHI Hot Foil Stamping Machine

Even Lower Budget Alternative

• Features a safe temperature control system. This is really important, since it’s a bronzing pen design with out a full stand.
• Features being able to everything that the full size machines can do, although with the stamping pressure relying on you yourself creating that pressure with the bronzing pen.
• Uses a double heat pipe for fast heating.
• Includes a built-in digital temperature display.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Other Worthy Mentions

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We hope this list of the best hot foil stamping machines has been helpful.

If there’s anything good that you think we’ve missed, or if you have any questions about anything, then let us know down in the comments below.

As just a quick note to start with, the top picks in this guide are more aimed as the best choices at an average price point.

That means if you really are looking for the absolute best electric marine toilet, then you’re going to want to skip straight to our high end pick, which is undoubtedly the best choice, but does cost more than the others.

Anyway, this is a quick guide to the best electric marine toilets, with our recommendations based around different people’s criteria, so you can choose the electric marine toilet that suits you best.

Editor’s Award	Winner
Best Electric Marine Toilet	Jabsco 37010 Series Electric Marine Toilet
Alternative Top Pick	TMC Marine Electric Toilet Large Bowl
Best High End Electric Marine Toilet	Jabsco Deluxe Flush Marine Head
Most Well-Built Electric Marine Toilet	Raritan Sea Era Marine Size Electric Toilet
Best Budget Electric Marine Toilet	Johnson Pumps 80-47435-01 AquaT

Click to jump straight to each topic.

• The Best Electric Marine Toilets Reviewed
  • Best Electric Marine Toilet
  • Alternative Top Pick
  • Best High End Electric Marine Toilet
  • Most Well-Built Electric Marine Toilet
  • Best Budget Electric Marine Toilet
• Other Worthy Mentions
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Best Electric Marine Toilets Reviewed

Best Electric Marine Toilet: Jabsco 37010 Series Electric Marine Toilet

Best Electric Marine Toilet

• Is able to bring sea, river, or lake water into the bowl using its integral self-priming rinse pump.
• Suitable for overboard or holding tank discharge due to its flexible design.
• Contains a built-in backflow preventer. That really helps guard against flooding and waste return: two things you absolutely don’t want, let me tell you.
• Constructed with corrosion-resistant materials throughout, so that it can handle either fresh or salt water.
• Mountable 3′ (1m) above or below the waterline with appropriate plumbing.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Alternative Top Pick: TMC Marine Electric Toilet Large Bowl

Alternative Top Pick

• Uses a high capacity scavenger pump to grind up waste and pump it out.
• Has a convenient, big red heavy-duty push button to operate it.
• Able to be cleaned easily thanks to the full China bowl.
• Can be installed above or below sea level in any boat.
• Doesn’t require an external macerator pump.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best High End Electric Marine Toilet: Jabsco Deluxe Flush Marine Head

Best High End Electric Marine Toilet

This deluxe Jabsco electric marine head features a multi-function one-touch control pad with four options: “Fill,” “Quick Flush,” “Flush” and “Empty.”

The Quick Flush option is really useful for saving water usage, since it uses less than 1 quart (1 litre) per flush.

Speaking of water usage, you can also set this bowl so that it’s always left either “Dry” or “Wet” after flushing.

Jabsco recommend leaving on the default ‘Dry’ setting because it minimizes total water usage.

However, if water usage isn’t a concern to you, you’ll be able to use the “Wet” setting if you like. It simply fills the bowl after flush, ready for the next user.

If you simultaneously hold down both the “Quick Flush” and ‘”Flush” buttons for 5 seconds, it switches the bowl between these two “Always Left Dry” and “Always Left Wet” modes.

Aside from saving water usage, this deluxe electric marine head uses less than 1.0 amp/hour of electricity per day. It’s just efficient all-around.

One other amazing thing about this marine head though, is that it has virtually silent operation.

Practically every other marine toilet out there is loud, so you can use this one in the night without waking everyone up. That can be a deal-maker for this one in itself.

Other than that, the design is durable, space saving and conforms to a standard household size seat.

The flush pump and macerator also have a non-clogging large bore design to save you from having to deal with clogging, or waste return and flooding.

Lastly, this marine head can be used in both power and sailing craft, and can be installed either above or below the waterline for use on sea, river, lake, or canals.

And when you do install it, ll plumbing and wiring is easily concealed, and you can rest assured that the whole setup is safe since it has ignition protection that conforms to the ISO 8846 marine standard.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Most Well-Built Electric Marine Toilet: Raritan Sea Era Marine Size Electric Toilet

Most Well-Built Electric Marine Toilet

• Features a design that separates the intake water from the discharge water by the full length of the motor, which ensures no possibility of cross contamination.
• Lets you rotate the porcelain bowl 90 degrees for mounting in confined spaces and retrofit mounting.
• Features a push button flush that leads to 1 or 1-1/2″ ID discharge fittings.
• Includes a built-in macerator, in-line water strainer and integral intake pump.
• Features an intake pump that can dry flush without damaging the pump.
• Includes quick-connect fittings.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Here’s an alternative listing on Amazon you should check the price (or availability) of too.

Best Budget Electric Marine Toilet: Johnson Pumps 80-47435-01 AquaT

Best Budget Electric Marine Toilet

• Features a compact profile.
• Made from white vitreous porcelain.
• Built with corrosion resistant parts throughout.
• Equipped with a combined pump unit for flushing and disposal.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Other Worthy Mentions

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We hope this list of the best electric marine toilets has been helpful.

If there’s anything good that you think we’ve missed, or if you have any questions about anything, then let us know down in the comments below.