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Fire pits range from being purely a source of warmth to being the centerpiece of an outdoor living setup. What’s nice about the TIKI Brand Customizable Propane Fire Pit is it’s both those things, and everything in between. TIKI sent us a fire pit to see first hand what it can do.
While people might associate the TIKI name with torches, their expanded line of backyard fire products have some of the best designs on the market. Their Propane Fire Pit is no different. It’s a modular system, so it has accessories that transform its functionality.
Obviously it can be used as a fire pit, but you can also get a table for it, or a glass surround around the fire to transform the look. If you really want to change its functionality, TIKI also sells a glass tube patio heater accessory that warms the area and is hard not to stare at.
Summary
I’ll go through an exhaustive review of the fire pit, but if you’re short on time, rest assured that this product works just like you hope it will. TIKI did a great job engineering the fire pit and all the accessories for it.
There aren’t any real downsides to the fire pit, other than it’s hard not to buy all the accessories for it. While it’s hard to beat the sensory experience of a wood fire, it’s also way more convenient to use a propane fire pit. This is the fire pit you want if you go propane.
Features and Specs
- Retail price of $499 (check price – they run sales) for the fire pit
- Puts out 40,000 BTUs and will last about 7 hours on a propane tank
- Includes a fuel gauge on the gas line
- Has a tip sensor for safety
- There’s a wheel underneath to make it easier to move around
- Includes lava rocks and a metal cover for the top
- The combustion assembly is made from stainless steel and the body is made from powder coated steel to protect it from the elements
Includes Everything You Need
One thing I really like about the TIKI products that I’ve gotten is they come with everything you need to enjoy them. It’s a bummer to buy something only to unbox it and realize you really can’t use it without buying something else.
For example, I see this often with pizza ovens not coming with peels, or fire pits needing stands and covers. It makes them basically unusable and kills the excitement at checkout, or worse when you have the thing unboxed.
You obviously can buy much more in the accessory department for this, but you can also use just the fire pit right out of the box by just getting a propane tank. It comes with lava rocks, and a metal cover for the top, so it’s ready to go.
Assembly
Assembly of the propane fire pit was pretty straightforward and can easily be done in under an hour. The only hiccup I ran into was at step 13 it wasn’t clear to me that you were putting the combustion assembly onto the rest of the fire pit. Maybe I was just in a rush and not thinking about it and it’s clear to everyone else, but that’s just a heads-up.
One other detail worth mentioning is the removeable panel to access the propane tank area lines up with two pins on the bottom. You have to finesse them into place a little bit because it’s a tight fit.
The fire pit also comes with the tools you need to put it together. I used the included tools for assembly to make sure they work well and they do.
Accessories
If you bought the fire pit, you could use it and be perfectly content with it as a fire pit. It does everything you can ask from it. It’s easy to start, looks good, and puts off heat. There are some great accessories though to get even more use out of it.
- Table Attachment – Screws on the top of the fire pit to add a table and make the fire pit more of a feature in your backyard
- Glass Surround – Rests on top of the fire pit to add a cool look and some safety
- Propane Heater Attachment – This is my favorite accessory, it changes the fire pit into a beautiful patio heat
All of the accessories can be used interchangeably. It’s hard to not get all of them because the both the Glass Surround and Propane Heater Attachment add to the fire pit, and it’s always nice to have a table with it too.
As far as assembly with the accessories, it’s all really easy and integrates perfectly with the fire pit. The accessories all swap out really easily too. The part that took the longest with shooting the Reel above was taking the lava rocks in and out.
Details
My favorite part of the Propane Fire Pit is the little details that make it a joy to use. There is a wheel underneath to make it easier to move around, and a handle that’s hidden under the top of the fire pit.
It comes with a gas gauge, so you don’t go to use your fire pit only to have it die a few minutes into using it. There are swiveling legs under the fire pit that are height adjustable for leveling. To make changing the propane tank easier, there is a slide out tray.
All of the little things like that increase the useability and give it more of a quality feel. It’s what I’ve come to expect from TIKI, and I really like it.
Using the Fire Pit
You buy a propane fire pit because it’s easy to use. The TIKI fire pit delivers on that. It couldn’t be easier to use.
It starts just like a gas grill. You turn on the gas by turning a knob, then push it in while you press the big button for the ignitor. That’s all there is to it.
The fire pit is fun to look at and it also puts off heat for those cool nights outside. The patio heater also works as intended. You can feel the heat in a larger radius as the heat is deflected out.
Gas vs. Wood Fire Pit
TIKI sells both wood and gas fire pits, and both are great options. Your needs will determine which is the better route to go with because they offer different experiences.
A gas fire pit is ideal if you want the ultimate level of convenience. It’s simple to start and there is no maintaining it, no smoke getting on your close, and when you’re ready to go inside you just turn it off. It also offers a different look than a wood fire pit.
A wood fire pit is a more interactive experience. It can be fun to build a fire and get the nice wood burning aroma. It also will put off more heat because you can build a bigger fire than with the gas fire pit. TIKI’s wood fire pit is also the most convenient one we’ve used because of the 30-minute wood packs.
Pros
- Looks – This is a great looking product with or without all of the accessories. I also like that you can hide the propane tank in the base to keep that clean look.
- Versatility – It’s a fire pit, it’s a patio heater, it’s a centerpiece for the backyard. You can do more with this product that any other propane fire pit on the market.
- Engineering – I’ve already mentioned this a couple times, but they did such a great job thinking about useability when they designed and manufactured this product.
Cons
- Mobility – It’s really hard finding cons with this propane fire pit. If you do plan on moving it around much just know that you can’t fight physics. There is a wheel underneath, but to keep it hidden and under the dimensions of the fire pit, it can get a little wobbly.
- Cost – Good product design costs money, and once you add in some accessories, the price won’t be for everyone.
Conclusion
The TIKI Propane Fire Pit delivered on what it claimed it could do. It’s a great looking fire pit that has different attachments to completely change its functionality.
The engineering is top notch both from a useability standpoint and for integration of the different attachments. There isn’t a better designed propane fire pit on the market.