The Howl R3 Just Landed at Smokeforges
Radiant BarCoal heat in a fire pit that folds to 18 x 12 x 5.8 inches and weighs 20 pounds. Built to order in Colorado. Free shipping on all orders.
Shop the Howl R3 Call 833-777-2962Questions on sizing or build times? Email info@smokeforges.com
What Is the Howl R3?
The Howl R3 is a portable, folding, radiant propane fire pit made by Howl Campfires in Arvada, Colorado. It runs two burners, a BarCoal U-Tube radiant burner and an A-Flame flame burner, from a single control knob. The BarCoal tube reaches 1,100°F and emits infrared heat in the same band as a bed of wood coals, so warmth reaches your body directly instead of rising with the hot air.
Folded, the R3 measures 18 x 12 x 5.8 inches and weighs 20 pounds, roughly half the packed volume of the flagship R4 MKii. It is UL certified, produces no smoke, embers, sparks, or ash, and runs about 6 hours at full output on a 20 lb propane tank. It sits in the middle of the Howl line between the R1 and the R4 MKii.
The R3 is new to the Smokeforges catalog, and it fills the gap that most people shopping this category actually land in. They want real warmth on a cold night, not just something pretty to look at. But they are not willing to give up half a drawer in the truck to get it.
Why Most Propane Fire Pits Do Not Keep You Warm
This is the thing nobody tells you before you buy one. A conventional propane fire pit makes flames, and flames heat the air. Hot air rises immediately and the first breeze carries it out of camp. You end up sitting three feet from a fire that looks great and feels like nothing.
A wood fire behaves differently, and the reason is coals. A bed of glowing coals emits infrared radiation at frequencies your body absorbs directly. That energy does not need the air to carry it. It is why you can stand near a dying wood fire on a cold night and still feel genuinely warm.
The BarCoal U-Tube in the R3 is built to reproduce that. The steel tube runs at 1,100°F and emits infrared in the same frequency band as wood coals. You warm up from absorbed radiation rather than from heated air, which is what makes the difference in wind and in cold.
Does a Higher BTU Rating Mean More Heat?
No, and this trips up a lot of buyers. A BTU rating tells you how much propane an appliance consumes per hour. It says nothing about how much of that energy reaches your body. The R3 burns 64,750 BTU per hour at maximum, and the BarCoal design converts that fuel into 1,100°F of directed radiant heat rather than a column of warm air headed for the sky.
What the R3 Actually Has
BarCoal U-Tube burner
A steel U-tube running at 1,100°F, emitting infrared in the same band as wood coals. No smoke, no embers, no ash bed to clean out.
A-Flame burner
Up to 24 inches of fully exposed flame with a windscreen protecting the base. If a gust puts it out, it re-lights from the BarCoal's hot exhaust.
GullWing folding legs
Flip out for a wide, stable stance at camp. Fold flush into the frame so the unit packs flat enough to live in a drawer system.
Single-knob control
One valve runs both burners together. Nothing to balance, no second regulator to pack. Unfold, hook up the tank, light it.
How Small Is It, Really?
Folded, the R3 is smaller than a case of longnecks and takes up roughly half the packed volume of the R4 MKii. At 20 pounds it carries across camp in one hand. In practice that means it fits DECKED drawers, van garages, camper cubbies, trailer boxes, and gear lockers, which is the whole point. A fire pit that lives in the truck full time is a fire pit you actually use.
How Does It Handle Weather?
Wind. The BarCoal's air intake is concealed entirely inside the body, which keeps the combustion air path out of the gusts. The A-Flame windscreen protects the base of the flame, and it relights from the BarCoal exhaust if it does blow out. You will feel radiant heat in winds up to roughly 20 mph.
Altitude. Air density drops as you climb, but the momentum of the BarCoal fuel jet draws in air proportionally. Combustion stays clean and complete from Death Valley to Pikes Peak.
Rain and snow. Both burners are self-draining. After days of precipitation they light right up. If you wake to a foot of snow, brush it off and fire it.
Howl R3 Specifications
| Fuel type | Liquid propane |
| Burners | 2 total: 1 BarCoal U-Tube plus 1 A-Flame |
| Operating temperature | 1,100°F |
| Fuel consumption at max | 64,750 BTU per hour |
| Flame height | 24 in in calm air |
| Burn time | 6 hours at full output on a 20 lb tank |
| Weight | 20 lbs |
| Folded dimensions | 18 in x 12 in x 5.8 in |
| Packed volume | About half the packed volume of the R4 MKii |
| Leg system | GullWing folding legs |
| Controls | Single knob operating both burners |
| Materials | 304 stainless steel, aircraft aluminum, brass |
| Certification | UL certified |
| Included | 8-foot regulator hose |
| Sold separately | Propane tank and carry strap |
| Lead time | Built to order, currently 6 to 8 weeks |
| Origin | Made in Colorado, USA |
Who the R3 Is For
- Three-season campers who head out when the forecast is anybody's guess and want warmth that holds up when the temperature drops.
- Overlanders and van builds with a fixed amount of drawer space and no room for a fire pit that takes up a whole compartment.
- RV and trailer owners who want fire at the site without hauling wood or dealing with an ash bed.
- Anyone camping under fire restrictions. The R3 is UL certified and produces no embers or ash, and propane fire features are frequently permitted under Stage I and Stage II restrictions. Rules vary by jurisdiction and season, so confirm with your local fire authority before use.
Common Questions About the Howl R3
How long does one propane tank last on the R3?
About 6 hours at full output on a standard 20 lb tank. Running below maximum extends that considerably. The included 8-foot regulator hose connects to a standard tank.
Is a propane tank included with the R3?
No. The R3 ships with an 8-foot regulator hose. The propane tank and the carry strap are sold separately.
Can the Howl R3 be used during a burn ban?
The R3 is UL certified, and propane fire features are frequently permitted under Stage I and Stage II fire 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.
How does the R3 compare to the R1 and the R4 MKii?
The R3 sits in the middle of the Howl line. It runs the same BarCoal radiant burner technology as the R4 MKii but packs down to roughly half the volume, so you get serious radiant output in a size that stores easily. The R1 is the smallest and lightest and is built around flame and light rather than radiant heat. The R4 MKii runs twin BarCoal tubes past 1,300°F and is the four-season flagship.
Is the Howl R3 smokeless?
The R3 burns liquid propane, so there is no smoke, no ember scatter, no sparks, and no ash bed to clean out afterward.
Where is the Howl R3 made?
Design, cutting, press-braking, assembly, testing, and packaging all happen at Howl's facility in Arvada, Colorado. It is built from 304 stainless steel, aircraft aluminum, and brass.
Why is there a lead time?
Units are built in sequence at Howl's Colorado factory rather than pulled from stock. Your build slot is confirmed when you order. Call 833-777-2962 before ordering if you have a date you need to hit and we will confirm the current production schedule.
What about setup and safety?
Set the R3 on level, non-combustible ground and unfold both legs until they seat. Check every fitting for leaks before lighting. Keep clearance from tents, awnings, vehicles, and overhanging branches, and never move it while lit. Never operate it while mounted to a vehicle. Review the Howl manual for complete instructions.
Ready to Order, or Still Deciding?
Smokeforges is an authorized Howl Campfires dealer. We can walk the R3 against the R1 and the R4 MKii for how you actually camp, confirm the current build window, and sort out hoses, tanks, and accessories before you commit.
Shop the Howl R3 | Call 833-777-2962 | Email info@smokeforges.com
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