Vs. other propane pits
“For years I’ve compromised… THIS is the fire pit I’ve always wanted to buy.”
J. Shaw Verified buyer
HOWL R3World's smallest radiant propane fire pit
HOWL R3World's smallest radiant propane fire pit
4.8 96 reviewsReal BarCoal® heat. Keeps you warm spring through fall. Packs down smaller than a case of beer. Built for burn bans.*
Real BarCoal® heat. Keeps you warm spring through fall. Packs down smaller than a case of beer. Built for burn bans.*
- Welded in the USA
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- 30-Day Returns
“Trust me… when it arrives at your house, you will not regret this purchase.”“Trust me… when it arrives at your house, you will not regret this purchase.”
*Standard USFS and BLM fire restrictions. Always check local regs.*Standard USFS and BLM fire restrictions. Always check local regs.
Complete your system
RV Kit$74
HOWL R3
$875Ships free · 30-day returns
HOWL R3$875 · ships free
Howl Campfires built it like a tank, and it will become a family heirloom.
Radiant propane fire pit
Heat that extends your night.
Back away, or turn to toast your other side.
Other fire pitsShort flames
Buried behind walls. The heat rises and blows away. Everyone’s cold.
HOWL R3Adds heat
Radiant heat like wood coals, and no walls. Your crew stays warm.
Most propane fire pits hide short flames behind walls. The hot air rises and blows away. But the R3’s BarCoal® burners crank out heat like wood coals.
- 1,100°F
- Operating temp
- 3 min
- To full temp
- 24 in
- Flame height
Warm enough that we completely forgot we weren’t sitting around a wood fire.
Built for burn bans.
Stage I and II fire restrictions*
No embers, no sparks. The R3 is UL certified, so you can still have a campfire when wood fires get shut down.
Propane fire pits for burn bans
*Standard USFS and BLM fire restrictions. Always check local regs.
HOWL R3 reviews
Yep, it’s hot.
Build quality
“From the moment you open the box, you can tell that this product is a different level of quality…”
Tim C. Verified buyer
5 nights, 1 tank
“A standard 20lb tank gave us 5 nights of fuel, running a few hours each!”
Allen W. Verified buyer
Radiant heat
“The radiant heat is a game changer! Most fire pits provide little to no heat but not the HOWL!”
Kristi W. Verified buyer
Packable radiant fire pit
Real BarCoal heat. Packs into any rig.
Smaller than a case of longnecks, the R3 Tetrises into truck drawers, van garages, roof boxes, and camper cubbies. Or just strap it down and haul ass.
- 24 packFolded size18 × 12 × 5.8 in.
- 20 lbsOne-hand carryTruck to camp in one trip.
- One knobHeat + flameCampfire in one twist.
Propane fire pit vs. wood fire
Wood, propane, or HOWL?
Fires always made you sacrifice something. Then came the HOWL R3.
| Feature | Wood fire | Regular propane pitPropane pit | HOWL R3100% campfire, 0% compromise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makes you warm? | Radiant heat from coalsCoal heat | Flames only. Hot air rises and blows away.Flames only | Radiant BarCoal heat at 1,100°FRadiant BarCoal heat |
| Works in burn bans? | Usually the first thing bannedNope | Usually allowedUsually OK | Built for it.* UL certified.Built for it.* UL certified. |
| Smoke and ember free? | NopeNope | YepYep | YepYep |
| Works in high wind? | DangerousDangerous | Flames blow outBlows out | Stays lit in 120 mph windsStays lit in 120 mph winds |
| Warms you up quick? | 30–60 minutes for good coals30–60 min | Hardly at allBarely | Full heat in 3 minutesFull heat in 3 minutes |
| Easy to put out? | Wait, drown, stir, buryDrown or bury | Turn it offTurn it off | Turn it offTurn it off |
| Easy to haul? | Unwieldy, makes a messBig mess | Rocks rattle, tank rollsTank rolls | No rocks, no mess, packs smaller than a case of beerNo mess, packs smaller than a case of beer |
See the full comparison
- Makes you warm?
- Wood fire: Radiant heat from coals
- Regular propane pit: Flames only. Hot air rises and blows away.
- HOWL R3: Radiant BarCoal heat at 1,100°F
- Works in burn bans?
- Wood fire: Usually the first thing banned
- Regular propane pit: Usually allowed
- HOWL R3: Built for it.* UL certified.
- Smoke and ember free?
- Wood fire: Nope
- Regular propane pit: Yep
- HOWL R3: Yep
- Works in high wind?
- Wood fire: Dangerous
- Regular propane pit: Flames blow out
- HOWL R3: Stays lit in 120 mph winds
- Warms you up quick?
- Wood fire: 30–60 minutes for good coals
- Regular propane pit: Hardly at all
- HOWL R3: Full heat in 3 minutes
- Easy to put out?
- Wood fire: Wait, drown, stir, bury
- Regular propane pit: Turn it off
- HOWL R3: Turn it off
- Easy to haul?
- Wood fire: Unwieldy, makes a mess
- Regular propane pit: Rocks rattle, tank rolls
- HOWL R3: No rocks, no mess, packs smaller than a case of beer
*Standard USFS and BLM fire restrictions. Always check local regs.
Compare all three HOWL propane fire pits
Ships free · 30-day returns
Three-season propane fire pit
Three seasons. Zero excuses.Three seasons. Zero excuses.
120 mph wind
BarCoal stays lit in 120 mph winds. The A-Flame can blow out around 60 mph, but re-lights off the BarCoal.BarCoal stays lit in 120 mph winds.
Snow + rain
Self-draining burners keep it running in rain and snow, so weather won’t end the night.Self-draining burners keep it going in rain and snow.
Altitude
HOWL’s 100% primary-air combustion system works at any altitude on earth.Works at any altitude on earth.
25°F nights
Rated for three-season camping. BarCoal heat keeps you warm on crisp nights and frosty mornings.Real BarCoal heat for frosty nights.
HOWL R3
Packs down. Punches up.
Hot enough to extend your night. Smaller than a case of beer.Hot enough to extend your night. Smaller than a case of beer.
- Rated to
- 25°F · three-season
- Folded size
- 18 × 12 × 5.8 in
- Weight
- 20 lbs
- Heat
- 1,100°F BarCoal operating temp
- Burn time
- 6 hrs wide open (20 lb tank)
- Flame height
- 24 in (calm air)
- Burners
- U-Tube BarCoal® burner + A-Flame®, one knob
- Altitude
- Any
- Materials
- 304 stainless, aircraft aluminum, brass
- Safety Certified
- Underwriters Laboratories
In the box
R3 fire pit, 8-ft regulator hose
You bring
Any standard 20 lb propane tank
What’s inside
- U-Tube BarCoal® burner
A U-shaped 1,100°F radiant tube that glows like wood coals. No electricity, no moving parts, built for a lifetime.
- A-Flame® burner
A bright, tall flame that doesn’t hide behind walls, still holds strong in the wind, and uses far less fuel than regular burners.
- GullWing legs
Flip out for a stable base at camp. Fold into the frame so the R3 packs flat.
- PressBrake frame
Our stainless steel exoskeleton. Burn it hard and put it away wet, year after year.
- GroundCool™ technology
The tube glows at 1,100°F to make you scoot your chair back. But just 5 inches below, the ground stays cool.
Not your temperature?
Different HOWLs handle different seasons and weather.
Slide to your coldest night
World's most portable campfire
HOWL R1
$374
45°F rated · Warm-season
Small propane fire pit
45°F
Warm-season · Size of a shoeboxShoebox size
32-inch flames, shoebox size
You’re here
HOWL R3
$875
25°F rated · Three-season
Three-season propane fire pit
25°F
Three-season · Size of a case of beerCase of beer size
Real BarCoal heat that packs small
World's hottest propane fire pit
HOWL R4
$1474
0°F rated · Four-season
Four-season propane fire pit
0°F
Four-season · Size of a Pelican carry-onPelican carry-on size
Stargazing Mode: flames off, heat on
R3 propane fire pit FAQ
Got a burning question?
Call the crew at our Colorado factory.
Call (720) 336-4622
Can I use the R3 during a burn ban?
Usually, yes. The R3 is built for Stage I and II burn bans on most public land. Always check local regs before you light up.
Why not a $200 propane fire pit?
Because a $200 propane fire pit gives you flames, not heat. The flames are short, the walls block what heat there is, so it rises and blows away. The R3’s U-Tube BarCoal® burner glows at 1,100°F+ and throws heat like wood coals, with full heat in 3 minutes. It keeps working in 120 mph winds, packs smaller than a case of beer, and is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
How long does a 20 lb propane tank last with the R3?
About 6 hours wide open. Turn it down and it goes longer. One customer got five nights out of a single tank, running it a few hours each night.
Is the R3 warm enough for cold nights?
It’s rated to 25°F. The U-Tube BarCoal glows at 1,100°F and throws radiant heat like wood coals. Camping colder than that? The R4 is rated to 0°F.
How hot does the R3 get?
The BarCoal tube runs at 1,100°F, hot enough that you’ll scoot your chair back. But thanks to GroundCool™ technology, the ground just 5 inches below stays cool.
Is a higher-BTU propane fire pit warmer?
BTUs tell you how fast a fire pit burns fuel, not how much heat you get. A 20 lb tank holds 430,000 BTUs, so a bigger BTU number just means you empty it faster. Even in our own lineup, the R4 burns less fuel than the R3 and still puts out more heat. What matters is how much of your propane turns into radiant heat aimed at your body.
What do I need to run the R3?
The 8-foot regulator hose comes in the box. Add any standard 20 lb propane tank. Running off your RV’s tank? Grab the RV Kit.
R3 vs. R4: which one should I get?
Go by the coldest night you camp. The R3 is rated to 25°F and packs smaller than a case of beer. The R4 is rated to 0°F, puts out the most heat of any HOWL, and has separate controls for the flame and BarCoal.
Can you cook on the R3?
No. HOWLs are certified as campfires, not stoves, so we can’t advertise them for cooking.
What’s it made of, and where?
304 stainless steel, aircraft aluminum and brass. Every R3 is cut, bent, welded, assembled and tested by hand at our factory in Arvada, Colorado.
What if I break it?
Dents and scratches are part of the story. Manufacturing defects are repaired or replaced free under our limited lifetime warranty, and anything you break we’ll fix at a reasonable cost.
What’s the return policy?
Burn it for 30 days, and if you don’t love it, send it back. If it needs refurbishing, there’s a $30 refurb fee.
Get your night extender.
HOWL R3 · $875 · Ships free.
30-day returns · Even after you burn it