A campfire is never just a campfire. It’s warmth, light, a sense of direction—and that one moment when any random spot becomes a campsite where you want to stay.
It is precisely this moment that is increasingly subject to restrictions today. Drought, fire bans, and the growing risk of wildfires have changed the rules of the game. Anyone who spends time outdoors knows this. Wood fires are not only often prohibited, but in many situations simply no longer justifiable. HOWL Campfires addresses this very issue. Not by trying to imitate a campfire, but by aiming to rethink it.
Designed as a tool—not as an accessory
HOWL builds portable propane fire pits for real-world outdoor use, and you can feel that from the very first moment. This isn’t a patio solution or a decorative element for the front yard, but gear that works where wind, cold, and reality begin.
The goal was clear from the start: to build a fire that matches the warmth of a wood fire, is easy to transport, and can still be used even under restrictions—without compromising on safety. This led to the development of systems like the R1 and the R4 MKii. Two different approaches that lead to the same goal: the authentic feel of a fire without having to accept the risks of a traditional wood fire.
While the R1 is compact, efficient, and designed for tight spaces, the R4 MKii delivers exactly what many propane solutions have never managed—tangible, serious heat, even when it gets really cold outside. This isn’t just about atmosphere; it’s about function.
It didn’t start with an idea, but with a mistake
The story of HOWL doesn’t begin with a business plan, but with a bad feeling. In 2020, one of Colorado’s largest wildfires blanketed entire regions in ash for weeks. It was sparked by an unattended wood fire. Shortly thereafter, the future founders found themselves in the Utah desert, in the cold, with a fire ban—and a propane fire pit that looked good but barely provided any warmth.
The question that arose that night was as simple as it was radical: What if you could build a propane fire that felt like a real fire—strong enough to provide warmth, yet designed in a way that made it safe? And that’s exactly how HOWL came to be. From the simple realization that hardly anyone is willing to sacrifice the experience for safety if the alternative doesn’t work.
You’re not sitting next to a flame, but in the warmth.
The key difference lies not in the flame, but in the way heat is generated. Traditional gas fire pits primarily rely on visible flames that radiate upward, often resulting in little heat reaching the body in practice. HOWL, on the other hand, relies on radiant heat, similar to the embers of a wood fire.
With the developed BarCoal technology, the heating tubes reach temperatures of up to 700 °C and generate heat that doesn’t simply dissipate but remains palpable. Combined with the A-Flame burner, this creates a system that operates efficiently while delivering stable, visible flames without losing its focus. The result is not merely a decorative play of flames, but a fire that actually warms.
The conscious decision against the obvious
One of the most common questions concerns cooking. Why not use such a fire as a cooking surface at the same time? The answer is unusually clear because it is based on a conscious decision.
Existing safety and certification standards practically preclude this exact combination. Cooking appliances are limited in their output, while a real fire far exceeds those limits. At the same time, fire pits cannot be marketed as cooking appliances if they are to comply with certain standards.
HOWL was thus faced with a simple yet fundamental decision: build a weaker product that can do several things halfway well, or develop a powerful product that fulfills its purpose without compromise. They chose the latter. For heat, for safety, and for clarity in function.
Safety as an integral part of the design, not an afterthought
This approach is also evident in our handling of certifications. While many providers bypass this step, HOWL has gone through the entire process. UL and UL-C certification are not just labels, but a series of real-world stress tests that evaluate stability, temperature response, operation under adverse conditions, and the entire control logic. This is time-consuming and expensive, but it provides a level of clarity that is crucial in real-world use. The product is not only built to function, but also to remain reliable under real-world conditions.
Built for real adventurers
HOWL isn’t aimed at casual users, but at people who spend time outdoors when things get uncomfortable. Overlanders, van life enthusiasts, winter campers, or photographers who get up early and stay out late don’t need a solution that looks good—they need one that works. The R1 blends into the setup and is available exactly when it’s needed. The R4 MKii becomes the focal point of the camp when temperatures drop and warmth becomes essential to staying outside at all. Both systems follow the same principle: stripping things down to the essentials without compromising on function.
About HOWL Campfires
HOWL Campfires is a manufacturer based in Colorado, USA, that designs and produces portable propane fire pits for outdoor use. The entire production process takes place locally, with a commitment to maintaining control over design, manufacturing, and quality. The brand was born from real-world experience in the field and has pursued a consistent mission ever since: to bring the experience of fire to life without endangering the places where it is created.
One Life. Live it.
And keep the forest and the fire alive.