There’s something cozily comforting about being around a fire, no matter the time of year. Though the summer season has wound down, you can keep your outdoor party going with help from a handful of pyro-themed purveyors on the South Fork.
If you’re looking to spruce up your outdoor wood-burning fire pit situation, “copper is best,” says Sag Harbor’s Justin Taylor Ward, a fire-making expert and on-call curator of the perfect party fire pit and beach-bash bonfire. “But I also tend to use lots of stainless steel fire pits and recently started exploring ones made of brass and bronze.”
Your local hardware store is a good place to grab a standard fire pit in a pinch for a few hundred dollars, but if you’re looking for something extra special, check in with the experts at both Hampton Hearth and Patio (22 West Main St., Southampton, 631-283-4852) and Sag Harbor Fireplace (1434 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, 631-725-0636) for both standard models and higher-end, custom designs and accessories.
For most wood-burning units, prices start at around $275 and can run up to $3,000 per pit. Gas-powered (liquid propane or natural) prices range from about $600 up to over $15,000.
Wood-Burning
Fire Pits UK (pricing starts at $325)
Hand-forged in Great Britain, the Plain Jane ranks among the bestselling wood-burning fire pit beloved for its classic aesthetic and utilitarian qualities. With the tallest model clocking in just over a foot high and ranging from about 20 to 35 inches in diameter, the bowl sits on a three-legged frame made from 3mm steel, complete with a removable swing arm BBQ rack. Mobile and relatively light weight (with most models weighing in under 50 pounds), they’re ideal for beach bonfires and camping trips.
California Firepits (pricing starts at $290)
Well-known for crafting portable, user-friendly outdoor fire pits, these folks have been building cowboy-style campfires since 1972, offering two standard styles — Monterey and Tahoe. While the former is the smaller option (13 inches high and 24 inches in diameter), allowing for convenient mobility, the Tahoe lends itself better as a more permanent fixture, weighing in at about 120 pounds and with more space for glowing open flames. Both offer cold-forged bowls and are double pass MIG welded, ensuring durability that the team at Sag Harbor Fireplace says, “will last at least 20 years.”
Jatex (pricing starts at $1,400)
These copper bowl wood-burning fire cauldrons are rich in both beauty and durability. Handcrafted and built to last, the cauldrons sit on an iron grate and are freestanding for easy relocation. Available in 30 to 36-inch sizes, the deep-set bowl is both a rustic and sturdy safety feature with old-world, minimal charm.
Gas
HPC Fire (pricing starts at $850)
For five decades, HPC Fire has been bringing the unique beauty of safe backyard blazes to homes across the nation, expertly combining the elements of fire and water into one feature. Products range from aluminum-spun bowls and oil-rubbed and hand-hammered copper pits, to easy-to-transport sport pits and custom tiki torches.
Outdoor Greatroom (pricing starts at $1,000)
These gas fire pits come in the form of a bowl as small as 29 inches in diameter or in a table as long as 80 inches. While the concrete bases are available in unique color variations with stainless steel burners, these American-made pits are sure to add contemporary elegance to outdoor spaces while providing an impressive heat output of 80,000 BTUs for natural gas and 65,000 BTUs for liquid propane. Perfect for snuggly star gazing!
American Fyre Designs (pricing starts at $2,800)
With a roster that boasts specially crafted outdoor fire tables — in both coffee table and dining room table styles (up to 72 inches long) — and simple yet versatile fire bowls (with diameters ranging from 24 to 50 inches), all are crafted from durable glass fiber reinforced concrete and come in a variety of colors and textures. Tables are available in squares, rounds and rectangles and can easily conceal propane tanks within or be hooked up to natural gas. If you’re looking for a more rustic look, there’s also an entire reclaimed wood line of handcrafted tables.
