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    Solo Stove Mesa XL

    Smokeless Fire Pit • 7" / with Stand

    The Solo Stove Mesa XL is a tabletop smokeless fire pit that’s mainly about cozy flame and quick s’mores, not heating a whole patio. It burns pellets or small wood pieces, and once it’s fully lit and hot, it runs noticeably cleaner than a typical little tabletop burner.

    HearthTrail Badges™

    Achievements

    Quick, game-style callouts that show what this pit is built for—so you can compare faster.

    MiniBoss
    Tabletop Sized
    ModSlot
    Accessory Ready
    FirstFire
    Easy First Fire
    LowRegret
    Low-Regret Pick
    S-TierGift
    Gift Ready
    FreshStart
    New Year Reset
    CocoaSpawn
    Christmas Morning Patio

    Usability & Value

    How it fits in real life

    What it’s best for, and where it lands on value.

    Use-Cases

    Tabletop / Personal ambianceSmall Patios / BalconiesDeck-Friendly with Stand

    Value / Price Tier

    Budget
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    Score

    Fit Score

    HearthTrail Fit™ is our shorthand for how easy this is to live with in real backyards – balancing performance, ease of use, and value.

    Overall Fit Score 7/10 Strong pick with a few trade-offs worth knowing.
    Smoke & Spark Control
    4/5
    Heat Output & Warmth
    3/5
    Ease of Use & Cleanup
    4/5
    Portability & Storage
    6/5
    Over Achiever!
    Value for Money
    3/5

    Great if…

    • You want a compact tabletop fire pit that’s still genuinely low-smoke once it’s hot
    • You like dual-fuel flexibility (pellets for tidy burns, mini-logs for easier top-ups)
    • You want longer burns than the standard Mesa without jumping to a full-size pit
    • You want something truly easy to pack and store (tiny footprint, light, stand included)

    Think twice if…

    • You’re buying it for warmth (it’s mostly “feel it up close,” not “heat the group”)
    • You don’t want to babysit pellets (adding too much can choke airflow and make it smoky)
    • You want a long, mellow fire without refilling or swapping fuel mid-session
    • You plan to use it on a nice table without being careful about heat/soot underneath

    Our take…

    This is the “bigger little” Solo Stove for tabletop fires — great for patio vibes and s’mores with noticeably more burn time than the Mesa, but still not a real heat source for a whole seating circle. It’s cleanest once it’s fully lit and ripping, and pellets take a little technique to avoid smoldery refills.

    Basics

    Backyard Basics

    The quick, real-world stuff: cooking, warmth, space, and what it’s like to live with.

    Cooking Ready?

    Snack-only (s’mores, hot dogs)

    Ideal Group Size

    1–2 people (solo & couples)

    Heat Radius

    Cozy within ~3 ft (tight circle)

    Space Needed

    Tiny balcony / nook (3' x 3' clear space)Small patio corner (4' x 4' clear space)Works in most suburban patios

    Worthy Mentions

    1. Pellets are the “set it and forget it” fuel here (more consistent flame and longer runs); wood chunks work, but you’ll be feeding it more often to keep real flames going.
    2. It’s low-smoke once it’s fully burning, but you can still get smoke during startup and especially if you top it off mid-burn (adding pellets/wood can cause a short smoky phase).
    3. Treat it like a very hot tabletop appliance: always use the stand, use a truly heat-safe surface, and keep it away from low overhangs or anything that can melt/scorch.

    Fuel

    Fuel & Burn Profile

    What to burn, what to avoid, and what the “real” burn looks like once it’s going.

    Fuel Type

    WoodPellets

    Recommended Fuel

    Pellet smokeless bundle (premium hardwood pellets in burn basket / pellet adapter)Smokeless default bundle (kiln-dried hardwood splits, 3–4" thick)

    Fuel to Avoid

    Standard wood-safety bundle (no green wood, no softwoods, no treated/painted lumber, no plywood/MDF, no construction scraps/pallets, no trash/cardboard)Airflow blocking bundle (avoid overfilling pellets or stuffing wood above the inner air holes)

    Typical Burn Time

    About 45–60 minutes of strong flame per load

    Get Unit Started

    Fire starters + small log cabin stack of mini hardwood pieces (keep inner air holes visible)Fire starter on top of pellets filled to just below the inner vent holes (no kindling needed)

    Ash / Residue Output

    Moderate

    Piece Thickness (wood models only)

    Kindling + small splits (1–3" thick)

    Max Piece Size (wood models only)

    Up to 7 inch logs (tabletop model)

    Details

    Product Specs

    The quick-reference stuff you actually compare.

    Brand
    Solo Stove
    Model
    Mesa XL
    Dimensions
    7"D x 7"W x 8.6"H
    Weight
    2.3 Pounds
    Model Family
    Mesa Tabletop
    Release
    2023
    Materials
    Body: 304 stainless steel (same “best-in-class” stainless Solo uses on their bigger pits).
    Made In
    Imported – designed by Solo Stove in Grapevine, Texas, and manufactured overseas (primarily in China).
    Warranty
    ndustry-leading lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects on genuine Solo Stove products. Normal wear and misuse aren’t covered; if damage from misuse can’t be repaired, Solo Stove offers a one-time 50% off replacement discount.

    In Plain English

    The real-world take

    Short, practical notes—what matters, what doesn’t, and what to expect.

    Why we like it

    • Bigger flame and less babysitting than the regular Mesa, while still staying truly table-friendly
    • Dual-fuel is the win: pellets give you a steadier burn; mini wood gives you that classic crackle
    • Simple setup with the included stand, and it’s easy to stash or bring out for weeknights
    • For its size, it puts out a surprisingly satisfying “real fire” vibe

    Best for

    • Patio-table hangs; balconies or small patios; s’mores nights; renters who want the fire vibe without a full-size pit

    Things to know

    • Heat is close-range. You’ll feel it at the table, but it won’t warm a whole seating circle.
    • Pellet burn time is usually around 45–60 minutes per full load, and adding pellets mid-burn can be a little fussy if you overdo it.
    • Wood size is limited (about 7 inches max), so think small chunks/splits, not big logs.
    • Like any fire pit, it needs full cooldown time before moving or packing up (especially if you’re using pellets).

    Other HearthTrail favorites

    If you want even more “warmth, not just vibe,” the Mesa Heat Deflector accessory is worth considering. If you want a fire you can actually sit around, step up to Solo Stove Ranger 2.0 (portable) or Bonfire 2.0 (backyard size).

    Sources solostove.com, homedepot.com, bestbuy.com, amazon.com, walmart.com, reddit.com, people.com, youtube.com

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