The Dual-Fuel Blue Sky Fire Pit Brings the Heat
Updated: Jun. 12, 2024
There's no place I'd rather be on a warm summer night than relaxing with family and friends around a crackling bonfire. So, why not bring the party on the go with the smokeless Blue Sky Fire Pit?
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
I see compact smokeless fire pits everywhere—at the beach, campgrounds, tailgating at sporting events, or neighbors’ decks and patios. Naturally, I was intrigued by the idea of it. Did everyone know something I didn’t?
So, I ordered the Blue Sky Outdoor Living Ridge Smokeless Fire Pit, picked up some s’mores fixings and got ready for a long Fourth of July weekend. Let’s see what I really thought of this dual-fuel fire pit.
What is the Blue Sky Ridge Fire Pit?
The Blue Sky Ridge is an 18-pound portable steel fire pit. It stands about 16 inches tall and 12.5 inches wide and supports a medium-sized fire in its 11.5-inch wide-burn chamber.
It’s a dual-fuel device, meaning it’s approved to burn standard firewood, wood pellets or a mixture of both. And when the party is winding down, the fire pit breaks down easily. Its pieces neatly nest together and slide into an included carrying bag for easy transport.
The low sheen, solid design of the Blue Sky Ridge is modern and sleek, reminiscent of something from a 1980’s sci-fi movie. Blue Sky is also an officially licensed partner of the NFL, NHL and U.S. Army. So if you’d like to support your favorite team or military branch, there are plenty of customized options.
The unit feels durable, sturdy and well-made. Plus, Blue Sky Outdoor Living products come with a three-year limited warranty. Score!
Blue Sky Outdoor Fire Pit
This fire pit has a sturdy and easy-to-use design.
Pros:
- Smokeless design reduces smoke and embers from escaping
- Lightweight and portable
- Emits heat nicely
- Dual fuel
- Durable construction
- Easy to use and clean
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Prone to rust
Blue Sky Fire Pit Features
This Blue Sky fire pit is easy to set up, use, haul and clean. The included storage bag is handy for transporting and keeping ashes and soot from smudging the inside of your trunk. Additionally, the Blue Sky Ridge sets up and breaks down in seconds. The top burn chamber sits on top of the ash-catching base. With some firewood or pellets, you’ll have a fire raging in minutes.
How We Tested It
With clear weather on the horizon and the Fourth of July weekend approaching, we packed our vehicle for a long weekend at the lake. This excursion would be the perfect opportunity to test the Blue Sky Fire Pit.
I was curious to see how well it packed and set up and whether it was truly a smokeless fire pit. I had wood pellets from our pellet grill, so I planned to test the dual-fuel concept.
The Blue Sky website says the Ridge can handle fires up to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, and I believe it. This fire pit gets roaring, expelling flames out of the top and pumping out heat you can feel on your shins a couple of yards away. I sensed a faint smell of something industrial the first few times I used it, but that disappeared. It was probably just excess paint or the powder coat from the manufacturing process.
When it was time to pack up and head home, the Blue Sky Ridge cleaned up quickly. I emptied the ashes from the collection stand, nested the pieces back together and was on my way.
Duel Fuel Design
The dual fuel test was eye-opening and a learning curve. The wood pellets burned thoroughly but quickly.
First, I dumped a 1.5- to 2-inch pile of grill pellets into the bottom of the burn chamber and set four tiny fires, ignited with torn-off chunks from a brown paper bag. Minutes later, the fire roared and burned for 20 or 25 minutes.
Once the pellets burned up, the fire was extinguished quickly. But that’s the best part—to keep the fire going a few minutes longer, just toss on a handful or two of pellets rather than an entire log.
Using firewood with the Blue Sky Ridge Smokeless Fire Pit is slightly different. First, you’ll need to split the firewood into smaller uniform pieces that will fit snugly in the bottom of the fire pit rather than sticking out of the top. For best results, create a more intense pile in the bottom half.
This process reflects how a smokeless fire pit works. Outside air is pulled into the bottom ring of the burn chamber while it moves up the pit’s hollow walls. The heated air is released into the top of the burn chamber, which infuses the fire with an extra burst of oxygen. This air vaporizes wood or moisture particles, creating little or no smoke or embers.
If you build a fire with your firewood pieces in a typical teepee design out the top of the fire pit, like I did the first time, expect plenty of smoke and embers—the opposite of what you’re looking for.
After trying pellets alone, then firewood and lastly, a mixture of both, I think wood pellets alone offer the best way to keep a low-profile fire blazing while minimizing smoke.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
Amazon customer, Cynthis Fussell says, “I love this fireplace. I use it almost every day. Have it under my patio and it is great. One of my neighbors has purchased one after sitting around mine. It is just as they claim and a bargain for sure.”
Verified Amazon customer says, “The perfect fire if you want to have a nightcap. We enjoy a small fire and a nightcap at the end of the evening. If you fill the pit to the fill line and start the fire with a fire starter you will have a hot, smoke free fire for 30 minutes followed by a gradual decline until the fire completely out at around an hour.”
Product Comparison
Comparably-sized portable smokeless fire pits from market leaders cost nearly double the price of the Blue Sky Ridge and come with fewer features.
The Blue Sky Ridge is easy-to-clean, ash-catching and simple to move and store. It’s also customizable with your favorite sports team’s logo or military branch emblem. Blue Sky offers several sizes and shapes of smokeless fire pits, including two portable models (the Pike and the Ridge) and larger backyard pits like the Peak and the Mammoth models, which measure 32 inches wide.
Final Verdict
If you are thinking about getting a smokeless fire pit but aren’t sure which one, try this affordable option from Blue Sky Ridge. The design makes it easy to use, set up, haul and clean. Additionally, it is compact enough to throw over your shoulder yet pumps out enough heat to keep family and friends warm year-round.
Where to Buy the Blue Sky Fire Pit
Blue Sky Outdoor Fire Pit
Shop the fire pit at multiple retailers like Walmart, Amazon and more.
The Blue Sky Outdoor Ridge Fire Pit is available at Amazon, Walmart, Lowe’s, Wayfair and Camping World. Whether you’re looking to spruce up your patio or take fun on the road, you need a Blue Sky fire pit to warm up your toes.
FAQs
Can you burn wood in a Blue Sky fire pit?
Yes, you can burn wood in a blue sky fire pit. The only caveat is that it needs to be wood pellets and firewood only.
How do you turn on a blue flame fire pit?
It’s simple to turn on a Blue Sky fire pit. Just turn the gas valve on with the included key.
How do you use a fire pit for the first time?
Alyeas makes sure to see the fire put 10 feet away from flammable objects such as trees, buildings, or fences. Also, make sure that you have your fire pit properly set up. From there, check that your wood or pellets are ready to be placed into the fire pit. And when you’re ready, start your fuel. You can use lighter fluid, fire starters, newspaper or dry leaves to help get it going.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a testing expert, Sheri Katz put the Blue Sky Fire Pit to the test. At Family Handyman, Sheri focuses on the home and lifestyle categories, where she’s tested numerous products. She also has over 30 years of experience gardening and planted her first garden as a child while living on a farm. Sheri is also versed in helping her interior design clients with with exterior designs, including hardscapes and gardens, including the best fire pits to display outside. She regularly contributes to Family Handyman, Reader’s Digest and Taste of Home.
Originally Published: July 05, 2022
