Solo Stove Mesa: Elevate Your Outdoors with this Tabletop Fire Pit – Reviewed
Updated: Jun. 30, 2024
A miniature fire pit packs all the fun of a standard-size fire pit but doesn’t involve mess or cleanup.
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Sometimes you just want backyard summer s’mores without having to start a whole fire—and let’s face it, microwaved s’mores don’t always cut the craving. The Solo Stove Mesa is the perfect tabletop fire pit for backyard s’mores without the hassle and heat of a big fire.
The Mesa (AKA a miniature fire pit) is the perfect quick fire pit solution for those nights when you decide to have an outdoor adventure last minute. It’s quick and easy to use, and there’s virtually no cleanup. Plus, you can enjoy a 20-minute or longer fire, depending on how long you want to feed the flames.
And if you’re looking for a grander fire pit undertaking, check out our latest review of the Solo Stove Pi Fire, a pizza oven made to sit on top of your larger fire pit. For all the deets on the adorable tabletop fire pit, look below. We put the Mesa to the s’mores test.
On This Page
What is the Solo Stove Mesa?
The Mesa has the same signature stainless steel design as other Solo Stove fire pits (e.g., the Bonfire 2.0) but is small enough to put on an outdoor table. Plus, it’s a smokeless fire pit like larger Solo Stoves, so you don’t have to worry about smoke blowing into your face from the table.
Getting a fire going only takes a few minutes with the Mesa, too. Simply place your fuel (wood or pellets) into the base of the Mesa, light your fire starter and boom! You can add more fuel as needed to sustain your mini flame.
Solo Stove Mesa Product Features
The Solo Stove Mesa is about five inches in diameter and seven inches in height, and it weighs less than a pound and a half! (There’s also the Mesa XL that’s seven inches in diameter and about 8-1/2 inches tall.) It comes in the classic Solo Stove stainless steel and five additional colors: Deep olive, ash, water, bone and mulberry. Plus, there’s a limited-edition speckled color right now that you’ll want to snag before it’s gone. It’s a red, white and blue patriotic design.
You can customize the Mesa with your name, initials or favorite college logo—did someone say tailgate!? This is the perfect miniature fire pit companion for game day—and it’s adorable on a snack tray to roast marshmallows, meats and more.
Mesa’s flames will burn ultra-hot whether you’re burning wood pellets or Solo Stove Mini Oak Firewood, and it comes with a stand to elevate your fire pit from the table plus, a portable nylon carrying case so you can take it with you wherever you go. All that’s left to complete the experience is the Solo Stove chair.
How We Tested It
I tested the Mesa with both fuel types, pellets and wood, and used it to make s’mores with the Mesa Accessory Pack (a must-have if you plan to roast treats over this thing). It comes with sticks, stick rests, a pellet scoop and a lid for your Mesa.
The Mesa comes with a mini pellet adapter—so don’t sweat; you can use pellets or firewood in your Mesa as soon as it arrives. Heads up: The Mesa XL does not come with a pellet adapter because it is designed to hold pellets and firewood without conversions.
If you’ve read our review of the Solo Stove Pellet Adapter or if you’re a fire pit aficionado, you probably already know that while pellets can be more expensive than firewood and wood chunks, they also typically burn longer. When it comes to the Mesa, it’s really a matter of convenience and preference. I didn’t notice much difference between fuel types. Have some twigs and small sticks cluttering the backyard? Use them as fuel in your Mesa (if they’re dry)!
Getting Started
There’s no assembly required with the Mesa. All you have to do is pop out the little legs on the stand, rest the Mesa on the stand and flip the flame ring so that the narrow opening is on top. If you want to use pellets, simply place the pellet adapter inside the fire pit before filling it with pellets.
Once you’ve got the Mesa set up where you want it and filled with a fuel source, you can light a fire. I always use Duraflame Firestart firelighters to get my fire going because they’re efficient and inexpensive. My local dollar store even carries them! Once your flame is going, you can sit back and enjoy a few sips around your quick and easy fire or roast snacks of your choice.
Cleanup involves dumping the ash from the inside of the Mesa and putting the contents (flame ring, stand and pellet adapter) back inside the fire pit. Yep, they all tuck conveniently inside the Mesa, which you can put back in the carrying case.
Pros
- Same smokeless, 360-airflow design as larger Solo Stove fire pit
- Can be used with pellets, firewood chunks and sticks
- Ceramic-coated stainless steel can handle extremely high temperatures
- Multiple colors available
- Ultra-lightweight and portable
- Comes with carrying case, stand and pellet adapter
- Custom etching available
- Great for backyard snacks and camping trips for a no-hassle fire
- Easy to setup, use and clean
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Gets hot to the touch, so let it cool before trying to pick it up or move it across a table
- A little pricey
FAQ
What surfaces can I use the Mesa on?
The Mesa is for outdoor use only, so please do not try to use it indoors at your kitchen table. You can, however, use it on outdoor dining tables and end tables. Additionally, the Mesa should always be used on stable surfaces and with its stand to keep the surface from overheating. You shouldn’t use the Mesa on heat-sensitive surfaces, as hot air may gather underneath.
How long does the Mesa burn?
During testing, I found that the Mesa burns for around 25-45 minutes, depending on how much fuel I put in and which type of fuel I used.
What Other Reviewers Have to Say
The Mesa has a whopping 4.8-star rating at Solo Stove and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. Here’s what reviewers had to say:
Five-star reviewer Paul Esteves writes, “Our family loves this little stove. If you’re looking for major heat output, go with a larger model but this one is perfect for s’mores and ambiance. It’s easy to use and to clean. We use this almost every night in our backyard. Highly recommend.”
Verified purchaser Chris Calle says, “I bought it for my wife for her birthday. She loves it. She uses it every evening.”
Colin Patrick says the Mesa is another excellent addition to the Solo Stove line. They write, “All the durability, quality, and design of a full-size Solo Stove, but at an attractive fraction of the size. Very much enjoy/ed!”
Final Verdict
If you want a quick and easy miniature fire pit that you can use on a nightly basis, the Mesa does not disappoint. They’re great for tailgating, poolside fun, backyard date nights and wherever else you want a little spark. It’s truly a perfect centerpiece for any outdoor table!
Where to Buy the Solo Stove Mesa
The Mesa retails for $80 at Solo Stove, and the Mesa XL retails for $100. You can also shop the Mesa on Amazon but expect to pay about $20 more. The upside to shopping on Amazon is that the bone color is currently available there and not on the Solo Stove site. The other benefit of shopping on Amazon is fast Prime shipping.
If you’re craving convenient summer s’mores or want to create a little backyard ambiance without hassle, check out the Mesa. We’re pretty sure you’ll want one for every one of your outdoor tables—I know I do.
Originally Published: June 29, 2023
