Solo Stove’s new indoor/outdoor tabletop fire pit is the perfect centerpiece for dining on the patio this summer.
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Hello, Patio Season! This Solo Stove Tabletop Fire Pit Can Be Used Indoors and Outdoors
Updated on Apr. 03, 2025
Do you love the sweet tradition of hanging out by the fire but don’t want to do the work of actually building said fire? Perhaps you want to avoid the lingering smell of a campfire that takes several washes to get out of your favorite flannel. Or maybe you need a quick and safe tabletop fire solution for young kids and evenings on the patio.
One of Solo Stove’s latest tabletop fire pits, The Runner, grants all of these summertime wishes. Here’s what you need to know about this indoor/outdoor fire pit.
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
I Tried It
Solo Stove's 'The Runner'
This modern, sustainable tabletop fire pit works indoors and outdoors.
What is the Solo Stove Runner?
TerraFlame by Solo Stove launched The Runner, an elongated fire pit that sits flat on any tabletop surface. The Runner—in black, white or graphite—adds a flare of modern warmth to any outdoor (or indoor) gathering space.
Whether you want to bring your A-game for dinner party hosting or unwind at home, The Runner is the perfect centerpiece to add instant cozy charm with a modern flare. The “anywhere-fire” centerpiece comes with a snuffer that makes extinguishing the flames a breeze, one liter of bio-ethanol fuel for eco-friendly flames and a funnel for easy refueling.
How We Tested It
I tested The Runner using Solo Stove’s Bio-E, which is bioethanol made for the TerraFlame line of Bio-E burners. It’s a clean, clear liquid that can be easily poured into select Solo Stove appliances. The fuel does not produce smoke, soot or residue, so it’s great for outdoor and indoor spaces like a sunroom or screened-in porch because it won’t produce any harsh odors or smoke.
Getting Started
Like the tabletop Mesa from Solo Stove, The Runner requires no assembly. All I had to do was unbox the product and pop the burner insert into the concrete body. After unpacking The Runner, I used the handy collapsible funnel (included in the box) to pour the bioethanol fuel into the chamber. The chamber holds up to a half-liter of fuel, so you’ll want to be careful not to overfill past the max fill line.
You’ll also want to ensure that you set The Runner on a flat, level surface away from flammable objects. Once it’s burning, do not try to pick it up and move it. If you need to move it, extinguish the flames first.
In addition to being fueled by clean-burning bioethanol, The Runner tabletop fire pit itself is made from sustainably sourced materials. You won’t have to fret about the fire starting, either. Simply ignite the fuel with a lighter, and you’re ready to go—there’s no need to feed the flame or stoke logs. The Runner offers Solo Stove’s signature smokeless flame that doesn’t require ventilation, so you can truly use it anywhere.
Lighting and Extinguishing
Lighting and extinguishing The Runner are easy-peasy, especially with the included snuffer. I used a long lighter to ignite the liquid fuel by putting the flame from the lighter directly on the reservoir. You’ll definitely need to use a long lighter to ignite the device. Otherwise, you risk severely burning your hand.
It took a few minutes for the flame to reach full burn, and I had to stick the lighter in a few times to reignite the fuel in the beginning. The first time I used The Runner, I let the flame die down on its own. With just enough fuel to coat the bottom of the insert well, it burned for about 10 minutes. With more fuel added, I got it to burn for about a half-hour.
To extinguish the flame, you just place the snuffing tool on top of the burner area. Its long, lifted handle keeps your fingers from direct contact with flames. Once the flame is extinguished, The Runner only takes a few minutes to cool down. If you wait about five minutes after extinguishing, The Runner will be ready for a fuel refill and ignition again.
Pros
- Easy to set up and ignite
- Visually stunning and sleek with elongated fuel chamber
- Funnel and snuffer included for filling with fuel and extinguishing
- Heavy, short concrete body reduces risk of tipping or falling over
Cons
- Pricey
- Only takes liquid fuel
Product Comparison: The Runner vs. Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl
Both the Solo Stove Runner and the Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl have a thick, concrete construction that keeps it sturdy on a tabletop, whether inside or outside. The Runner, as noted, has a sleek, elongated design and runs on liquid bioethanol fuel, while the Cinder Tabletop Bowl runs on gel fuel and has a smaller, taller circular body.
If you’re looking for a Solo Stove tabletop device for indoor and outdoor roasting, then the Cinder Tabletop Bowl (and the Solo Stove S’mores Bowl) are the way to go. Solo Stove’s gel fuel powers the Cinder and S’mores Bowl. So, marshmallows can be roasted over the Pure Gel Fuel, which has about a 3-hour burn time. The Cinder is also significantly more affordable at just $40.
However, if you’re looking for an elegant tabletop centerpiece for your outdoor dining space, I’d definitely go for The Runner.
Final Verdict
If you have the means to splurge a little on a stunning, fiery centerpiece for your outdoor dining area, The Runner is great. It’s easy to use and handle, plus its clean, odorless, smokeless flames won’t ruin your outdoor dinner party. I also appreciate that its low-profile concrete body makes it feel sturdy and safe when sitting on top of a table—a bit safer than the Mesa, which could tip if knocked hard enough.
While I wish the Bio-E fuel burned a bit longer in the chamber of The Runner before needing to be refilled, the impressive straight line of clean-burning flames produced by The Runner makes the fire pit unlike any other I’ve tested from Solo Stove. I know The Runner will add the wow factor to my patio lounge set when we have friends over this summer.
Where to Buy The Runner Tabletop Fire Pit
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
I Tried It
Solo Stove's 'The Runner'
This tabletop fire pit is the perfect centerpiece for outdoor dinner parties
You can buy The Runner directly from Solo Stove for $130. ‘Tis the season for sales and deals, so keep an eye out for discounts.
FAQ
Is the Solo Stove Runner food-safe?
Technically, Solo Stove only recommends its Pure Gel Fuel for roasting. “Although we have not extensively tested cooking over a gel fuel flame, our product produces a clean, odorless and smokeless flame. Our gel fuel is an alcohol-based source using 99.9% pure isopropyl alcohol, ethanol an organic gelling agent which is the cleanest fire source you can generate for roasting food,” Solo Stove says on the brand’s Help Center. Solo Stove does not suggest cooking food over their Citronella gels.
While the Bio-E fuel is also a clean, odorless and smokeless fuel source, Solo Stove does not say whether it recommends it for roasting food. Of course, you can roast foods over food-safe pellets and hardwoods, as you would with a traditional bonfire.
How hot does The Runner get?
The Runner’s thick concrete body gets warm to the touch when in use but not hot. Still, you want to extinguish flames before you move or handle The Runner.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a Family Handyman Shopping Editor, I’m an expert in outdoor trends. For almost three years, I’ve been tracking and testing Solo Stove products and writing thorough, honest reviews. I’ve spent countless hours testing all things Solo Stove in my backyard, including the Bonfire 2.0, Mesa, pellet adapter, cast-iron grill top, Pi Fire pizza oven, Mesa heat deflector, Adirondack chair and Mesa torch. If a new product comes on the market, you can count on me to test it.
Solo Stove fire pits, in particular, are worth the hype. Each outdoor fire pit is made with sturdy, weatherproof 304 stainless steel and designed to funnel smoke upward and away instead of outward. The brand’s 360-degree Signature Airflow design heats air to burn off smoke, so you don’t have to shift around the fire pit to avoid teary eyes. Cleanup is easy, too; the base plate and ash pan are removable for quick dumping. Each fire pit is compatible with multiple accessories, too, for a custom experience.
Across the board, I find Solo Stove gear to be worth the cost and elevate my backyard experience. Plus, it’s built to last. After my initial round of testing—in which I judge packaging, setup, performance, cleanup and value—top products are continuously evaluated throughout their lifespan.
