Not Sure Which Howl Is Yours? Let's Sort It in Five Minutes.
Three fire pits, three very different jobs. Call and we will match one to how you actually camp, confirm current build times, and cover hoses, tanks, and mounts before you commit.
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Howl R1 vs R3 vs R4 MKii: Which Portable Propane Fire Pit Should You Buy?
Choose the R1 if you want atmosphere and the smallest possible pack size. It weighs 10 pounds, folds to shoebox dimensions, and throws a 32-inch flame for 8 hours on a 20 lb tank. It is built around flame and light, not radiant warmth.
Choose the R3 if you want real radiant heat without giving up drawer space. It adds a 1,100°F BarCoal U-Tube to the A-Flame burner, weighs 20 pounds, and folds to about half the packed volume of the R4 MKii.
Choose the R4 MKii if you camp in genuinely cold weather. Twin BarCoal tubes run past 1,300°F with angled EchoHeat reflector shields aiming that heat at your legs. It weighs 27 pounds and carries UL and UL-C certification.
All three are built by Howl Campfires in Arvada, Colorado from 304 stainless steel, aircraft aluminum, and brass. All three run on liquid propane, ship with an 8-foot regulator hose, fold flat, and produce no smoke, embers, sparks, or ash. The differences come down to one question: do you want fire to look at, or fire to keep you warm?
The Three at a Glance
Howl R1
10 lbs | 800°F | 32 in flame
- Single A-Flame burner with 160 micro-emitters
- Folds to 13.3 x 8.4 x 6.1 in, about shoebox size
- 8 hours at full output on a 20 lb tank
- Infinitely adjustable pressure regulator
- FlexDome windscreen, GullWing legs
Howl R3
20 lbs | 1,100°F | 24 in flame
- Two burners: BarCoal U-Tube plus A-Flame
- Folds to 18 x 12 x 5.8 in, roughly half the R4's volume
- 6 hours at full output on a 20 lb tank
- Single knob runs both burners together
- Built to order, currently 6 to 8 weeks
Howl R4 MKii
27 lbs | 1,300°F+ | 24 in flame
- Three burners: twin BarCoal tubes plus A-Flame
- EchoHeat reflector shields aim heat at you
- 6.5 to 10 hours on a 20 lb tank
- 12 gauge stainless PressBrake frame, StrapLock slots
- UL and UL-C certified for the US and Canada
Full Specification Comparison
| Specification | Howl R1 | Howl R3 | Howl R4 MKii |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burners | 1 A-Flame | 1 BarCoal U-Tube plus 1 A-Flame | 2 BarCoal tubes plus 1 A-Flame |
| Operating temperature | 800°F | 1,100°F | 1,300°F and above |
| Radiant heat | No BarCoal burner | Single BarCoal tube | Twin BarCoal tubes plus EchoHeat shields |
| Flame height | 32 in | 24 in | 24 in |
| Fuel consumption at max | 54,000 BTU per hour | 64,750 BTU per hour | 61,800 BTU per hour |
| Burn time, 20 lb tank | 8 hours at full output | 6 hours at full output | 6.5 to 10 hours |
| Weight | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | 27 lbs |
| Folded dimensions | 13.275 x 8.43 x 6.05 in | 18 x 12 x 5.8 in | 21.00 x 14.34 x 7.53 in |
| Leg system | GullWing folding | GullWing folding | JackKnife folding, Type 3 anodized aluminum |
| Flame control | Infinitely adjustable regulator | Single knob, both burners | Multi-burner control |
| Frame | Stainless PressBrake | Stainless PressBrake | 12 gauge stainless PressBrake, stitch welded |
| Vehicle mounting | R1 Rally Mount sold separately | Not offered | StrapLock slots in frame |
| Certification | UL certified | UL certified | UL and UL-C certified |
| Materials | 304 stainless, aircraft aluminum, brass | 304 stainless, aircraft aluminum, brass | 304 stainless, aircraft aluminum, brass |
| Included | 8-foot regulator hose | 8-foot regulator hose | 8-foot regulator hose |
| Sold separately | Propane tank, carry strap | Propane tank, carry strap | Propane tank, carry strap |
| Availability | In the line | Built to order, 6 to 8 weeks | In the line |
| Origin | Made in Colorado, USA | Made in Colorado, USA | Made in Colorado, USA |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see all three models.
Flame or Heat: The Decision That Matters Most
Flames heat air. Air rises, and the first breeze carries it out of camp. That is why you can sit next to a large conventional propane fire and still feel cold three feet away. The R1 leans into this honestly: it is designed to make the tallest, most fuel-efficient column of visible flame in the line. 160 micro-emitters produce 160 small flames that band together into one tall column, and the FlexDome windscreen domes upward as it heats to build height without burning more gas. That is how it gets 32 inches of flame and an 8-hour burn out of 54,000 BTU per hour.
The R3 and R4 MKii solve a different problem. A bed of wood coals emits infrared at frequencies your body absorbs directly, which is why a dying wood fire still feels warm on a cold night. BarCoal reproduces that: a steel tube glowing at 1,100°F on the R3, past 1,300°F on the R4 MKii, radiating in the same band. The R4 MKii adds electropolished reflector fins that aim the output at your torso, thighs, and feet while the ground seven inches below stays cool.
Ignore the BTU Number
Worth saying plainly, because it is the most common mistake in this category. BTU per hour measures how much propane an appliance burns, not how much warmth reaches you. The R4 MKii burns 61,800 BTU per hour, which is less than the R3's 64,750, and it puts out considerably more usable heat. Design decides that, not fuel consumption.
Pack Size and Weight
This is where most buyers actually make the call, because a fire pit that does not fit in the rig stays in the garage.
- R1, 10 lbs, 13.3 x 8.4 x 6.1 in folded. Roughly a shoebox. Fits DECKED drawers, RV cubbies, van garages, Aluboxes, rooftop carriers. It disappears into whatever gap is left.
- R3, 20 lbs, 18 x 12 x 5.8 in folded. Smaller than a case of longnecks and only 5.8 inches tall, so it slides into drawer systems and trailer boxes flat.
- R4 MKii, 27 lbs, 21.00 x 14.34 x 7.53 in. About the size of a Pelican case. Heavier and larger, but it straps to a rig through the StrapLock slots in the frame and rides stable alongside the tank.
Which One Should You Buy?
Buy the R1 if you are optimizing for space and atmosphere
You want firelight on the porch, at the trailhead, or at a packed campsite, and you do not want to sacrifice drawer space to get it. You camp in mild to moderate conditions where warmth is nice but not the point. You want the longest burn per tank in the line.
Buy the R3 if you want warmth without stepping all the way up
You camp three seasons a year and the forecast is often a coin flip. You want BarCoal radiant heat, but the R4 MKii is more size, weight, and cost than you need. Keep the 6 to 8 week build window in mind if you have a trip on the calendar.
Buy the R4 MKii if cold weather is the whole reason you are shopping
You go out in winter, at altitude, or in wind, and you want the most radiant heat and the most control in the line. You want to strap it to the rig and not think about it. You want UL and UL-C certification for travel between the US and Canada.
What All Three Share
- Made in Arvada, Colorado from 304 stainless steel, aircraft aluminum, and brass
- Liquid propane fuel with an 8-foot regulator hose included; tank and carry strap sold separately
- Folding legs and a flat pack profile
- No smoke, no embers, no sparks, and no ash bed to clean out
- UL certification, with the R4 MKii adding UL-C
- Self-draining burners that light after days of rain or snow
- Free shipping on all orders from Smokeforges
Common Questions
What is the main difference between the Howl R1, R3, and R4 MKii?
Radiant heat. The R1 has a single A-Flame burner and is built around visible flame, reaching 800°F. The R3 adds a BarCoal U-Tube radiant burner reaching 1,100°F. The R4 MKii runs twin BarCoal tubes past 1,300°F with EchoHeat reflector shields that aim the heat at you. Weight climbs with heat output, from 10 lbs to 20 lbs to 27 lbs.
Which Howl fire pit is the most portable?
The R1. It weighs about 10 pounds and folds to 13.275 x 8.43 x 6.05 inches, roughly shoebox size. The R3 is the most portable of the two radiant models at 20 pounds and 18 x 12 x 5.8 inches folded.
Which Howl fire pit puts out the most heat?
The R4 MKii. Its twin BarCoal tubes run past 1,300°F, and the EchoHeat reflector shields direct that radiant output toward your torso, thighs, and feet rather than letting it rise.
Which one lasts longest on a tank of propane?
The R1, at about 8 hours of full output on a 20 lb tank. The R4 MKii runs 6.5 to 10 hours depending on how high you run it, and the R3 runs about 6 hours at full output. Running any of them below maximum extends burn time considerably.
Can these be used during a burn ban?
All three are UL certified, and propane fire features are frequently permitted under Stage I and Stage II restrictions because they produce no embers or ash. Rules vary by jurisdiction and season, so confirm with your local fire authority or land management agency before use.
Do any of them mount to a vehicle?
The R4 MKii has StrapLock slots built into the frame so it can be ratchet-strapped to a rig alongside the propane tank. The R1 has an optional Rally Mount, an aluminum plate that locks it to a rack, bedrail, or Molle panel. Never operate any of them while mounted or strapped to a vehicle.
Is a propane tank included with any of them?
No. All three ship with an 8-foot regulator hose. The propane tank and the carry strap are sold separately. The RV Kit adds a 20-foot hose and a Y-splitter so one tank can feed two lines.
Why does the R3 have a lead time when the others do not?
The R3 is built to order in sequence at Howl's Colorado factory rather than pulled from stock. The current window is 6 to 8 weeks from the order date. Call 833-777-2962 before ordering if you have a date you need to hit.
Still Deciding? Call Us.
Smokeforges is an authorized Howl Campfires dealer. Tell us where you camp, what you drive, and how much space you have, and we will point you at the right one. We can also confirm current build windows and sort out hoses, tanks, mounts, and carry bags before you order.
Call 833-777-2962 | Email info@smokeforges.com
Free shipping on all orders. Easy returns.
