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When Howl Campfires invited me to test its R4 portable gas fire pit, I was both intrigued and apprehensive. On the website, it looked like an awesome product with a heavy-duty build and strong performance claims. But I’ve tested quite a few propane fire pits, both portable and semipermanent, and while most of them can produce a bright flame, heat output is typically lacking. They range in price from a couple hundred dollars to more than $1,000, and this little portable was priced higher than the others. Could it really be worth it? A month of backyard and backcountry testing made me a believer. In this Howl Campfires R4 review, I will share my observations with regard to portability, performance, price, and the best-use cases for this compact propane fire pit.
Howl Campfires R4: At a Glance
Our rating: 5/5
| Howl Campfires R4 Specs | |
| Fuel source | Propane |
| Material | 304 stainless steel, aircraft aluminum, brass |
| British thermal units (BTUs) | 61,800 |
| Dimensions | 16.24 inches high by 22.09 inches long by 12.73 inches wide |
| Weight | 34 pounds |
Testing the Howl Campfires R4
I received the Howl Campfires R4 portable campfire pit in the middle of the summer. I already had a camping trip on the calendar later that month, so the timing was perfect. But before heading to the woods, I spent an evening in the backyard learning how to operate the unit. After reading the safety instructions on the control panel and watching a quick instructional YouTube video, I was ready to get started. No assembly was necessary, and it only took a minute or two to connect the gas and light a fire.
The home trial made a good first impression. While the design featured key innovations that I hadn’t seen elsewhere, it was super easy to use. The R4’s compact size and packability made it, at a minimum, a really good tailgate fire pit. Actually camping with it would be a better test. I wanted to experience the Howl Campfire in the quiet of the backcountry to get a better feel for the noise factor, heat output, and a realistic number of campers that it might serve.
On the two-night campout, I estimated that we would spend 2 or 3 hours each night beside the campfire. The company estimates a burn time of about 6.5 hours per 20-pound propane tank, but you can expect the actual time to vary based on your usage patterns and the altitude. (There is no altitude conversion kit—the campfire self-adjusts the fuel intake to match the air density.) Since it was summer and we were camping below 3,000 feet, a single tank would be more than enough. We ended up burning the campfire for a little over 6 hours total and still had gas left in the tank when we went home.
| What We Like | What We Don’t Like |
| Outstanding heat production | Luxury price point |
| Rugged stainless steel construction | Does not support outdoor cooking |
| Choice of bright flame, glowing heat, or both | Burns lots of propane |
| Very easy to operate and transport | |
| Safe and legal for use during most burn bans |
Built Like a Tank With Innovative Features
Right away, the heavy-duty build—34 pounds of thick-plate 304 stainless steel, aircraft aluminum, and brass—impressed me. It arrived as a single solid unit, with no assembly required, and was not slapped together haphazardly. The cut edges and bends were perfectly symmetrical, the welds were invisible-smooth, and the feet sat perfectly on flat ground without wobbling. The materials and attention to detail in assembly were outstanding.
The R4 comes with a 10-foot quick-connect regulator hose that mates to a brass fitting on the underside of the campfire. The control panel features a pair of gas valves, one to control the “A-Flame” and the other to control the “Barcoal” feature. I had never seen anything like this, but it’s key to the R4’s performance.
In other gas fire pits, the burner is surrounded by lava rocks or fire glass pebbles that absorb and radiate heat. A single burner produces both the visual flame and any heat output. In contrast, the Howl Campfires R4 divides the visual and heating functions. The A-Flame puts out a big bright flame with very modest heating capacity, and the Barcoal valve is the source of the brand’s self-professed “thigh-melting heat” emanating from a set of superheated steel tubes below the A-Flame. Separating those functions allows you to burn fuel more efficiently while getting the results you want: bright flames (lantern mode), warming heat (stargazing mode), or both (campfire mode).
Rides Securely and Fast to Set Up
Creative design helps save space and improves the R4’s ride. Four slots in the legs and underside of the campfire body allow you to strap it to a fuel tank piggyback-style. In this configuration, the assembly is highly resistant to tipping and rolling. From there, it’s a simple matter of strapping the assembly to tie-down points in the truck. I was able to convert the equipment from operating mode to fully packed in less than 2 minutes.
One question that arose while packing was how much propane to bring in order to run the camp stove, lantern, and the campfire. Our typical setup involves a pop-up fire pit plus firewood, and a dual outlet gas supply “tree” that lets us connect the stove and lantern to a single propane tank. Rather than buying a three-way tree, knowing the campfire would burn a lot of gas, we dedicated a separate additional tank for the campfire. We didn’t ultimately save much space by leaving the wood-burning fire pit and firewood bundles at home, but the neatly assembled Howl Campfires R4 strapped together with its tank makes for a much more seamless setup.
Truly Wood Campfirelike Heat
We already knew from our backyard test that the A-flame was big, bright, and relatively quiet. Camping was the chance to test the Barcoal feature. Temperatures dipped to the 50 degree Fahrenheit range on our camping trip, which is not cold by most camper standards but cool enough to assess heat output. We were able to feel the heat, in a meaningful way, from as far as 10 feet from the edge of the R4. It was too hot to comfortably stand within 5 feet until we turned the gas down at least halfway. The size and heat output seem to be right for up to six people. Really, at this temperature, the A-Flame alone would have been fine had we not also wanted to assess burn time per tank of fuel. With the A-Flame and Barcoal both on full blast, we got about 6 hours of burn time for our camping trip and still had fuel left in the tank.
I am a traditional wood-fire guy at heart. I like the intentional process of building a fire from scratch, the smell of wood smoke, the crackle of the fire, and the interactive aspect of readjusting and poking the logs. You don’t get that experience from a gas fire pit. However, where the risk of wildfire necessitates a ban on traditional campfires, the Howl Campfires R4 is the best alternative. The A-flame is a realistic substitute for a flickering wood fire flame, but I was blown away by the Barcoal heat tubes. Their cherry-red glow and incredible radiant heat output replicate the visual and warming effects of glowing embers like no other gas fire pit. And they produce a low roaring hiss, not unlike the sound of a camp stove, which is pleasant in its own right.
Why I Would Pay This Much for the Howl Campfires R4
When I tested the best fire pits, I hoped to find a really good propane-fueled portable fire pit for camping. The original Ignik Firecan was my pick at the time; it was easy to transport and operate, and the visible fire was nice in mild weather, but the heat output was not great. Most gas fire pits are not fast, clean, or portable because they require messy lava rock. They are also typically under-built with thin steel that is easy to dent and may warp in high heat.
The Howl Campfires R4 does the job better in every way. It is built a lot stronger, plus it’s easier to transport, easier to operate, produces bigger flames, and generates an incredible amount of usable heat. The R4 is also a lot more expensive, but it’s worth every penny. It is designed and built in the United States, which probably adds to the price but helps with quality control. The Howl Campfires R4 is the only gas fire pit I can recommend for campers who need it for the heat—and the way it’s built, it really is a buy-it-for-life investment.
Buy the Howl Campfires R4 at Howl Campfires for $1,299.
Product Comparisons
| Howl Campfires R4 | Ignik FireCan See our review. | Outland Living Cypress Fire PitSee our review. | Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire PitSee our review. | Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0See our review. | |
| Fuel source | Propane | Propane | Propane | Firewood | Firewood |
| Dimensions | 16.24 inches high by 22.09 inches long by 12.73 inches wide | 10.75 inches high by 15.5 inches long by 6.5 inches wide | 21 inches in diameter by 9.25 inches high | 15 inches high by 24 inches long by 24 inches wide | 22 inches in diameter by 17 inches high |
| Weight | 34 pounds | 11.5 pounds | 26 pounds | 8 pounds | 20 pounds |
| Material | 304 stainless steel | Powder coated steel | Powder coated steel | Aluminum frame, steel mesh | 304 stainless steel |
| Safe during burn bans? | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Maybe | Maybe |
| Price | $1,299.00 | $179.95 | $224.95 | $99.95 | $249.00 |
So, is the Howl Campfires R4 right for you?
With the Howl Campfires R4 priced a little more than seven times that of the Ignik FireCan, there is no escaping financial reality. No matter how good it is, many shoppers will have a look and buy something else. They could pick up a portable smokeless fire pit, but it might not be acceptable during fire bans. They might go for a less powerful gas fire pit for ambience and add a propane heater for warmth. That solution could save on the purchase price but will add to the packing list and fuel costs.
If you value the simplicity of a single, effective wood campfire alternative that will actually keep you warm in camp, the Howl Campfires R4 is the best option. Sure, it’s expensive, but it’s unlike anything else out there. It comes with a unique dual-control setup that lets you adjust flame size and heat output based on your needs. It sets up in seconds and is built for a lifetime of hard use.
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester who spent 20 years in the nursery and landscaping industry. For more than 20 years, he mowed, edged, planted, pruned, cultivated, irrigated, and renovated beautiful landscapes. Now, he tests and writes reviews about the latest outdoor power equipment, hand tools, lawn care products, and other outdoor living goods.
