As an avid outdoorsman who‘s relied on my trusty BioLite stove and headlamp across over 50 backcountry trips, I‘m here to give you the definitive lowdown on this revolutionary company.
Overview: BioLite‘s Mission to Fuel Sustainable Outdoor Adventure
Founded by Jonathan Cedar and Alec Drummond in 2006, BioLite aims to spark a renewable energy revolution through gadgets converting natural elements into usable power on– and off-grid.
Their breakthrough idea? A wood-burning camp stove generating usable electricity to charge phones, power lights, and more no outlet required.
Today they offer smokeless stoves, fire pits, solar panels and lighting solutions enabling low-impact outdoor living powered by people, pumps, and good ‘ol sunshine. Pretty cool right?
But BioLite takes it a heroic step beyond just equipping weekend warriors with nifty gadgets. Their philanthropic mission manifests through distributing cleaner cookstoves across dozens of underprivileged countries, conserving local environments and improving lives globally.
So when you support BioLite with a purchase, you also support their movement harnessing sustainable energy innovations to solve monumental humanitarian and ecological challenges.
Now that‘s what I call a win-win!
I‘ve directly experienced BioLite’s benefits during over a decade of camping trips and outdoor adventures. Today I’ll be reviewing their leading products so you can determine if their purpose-driven gear deserves a spot in your kit too.
BioLite At A Glance
| Year Founded | Employees | Stoves Donated | Key Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 125 | Over 125,000 | CampStoves, Fire Pits Headlamps |
Rather than hipster hype, BioLite earns reverence through legit innovations facilitating outdoor living with minimized footprints. Trust me – their gear performs as eco-friendly as promised!
Next let’s examine BioLite’s greatest hits revolutionizing renewable energy one adventure at a time…
Reviewing BioLite‘s Breakthrough Products
BioLite FirePit+: Gather ‘Round The Flame Redefined
On my Colorado camping trips, brisk evenings make gathering around a campfire my group’s nightly ritual. But wrestling smoldering logs and choking on smoke often cut the experience short. Enter BioLite changing the campfire game with their smoke-taming FirePit+!
This portable fire pit ingeniously burns renewable wood fuel supplemented by an internal battery-powered fan. Precision airflow makes the chamber incinerate wood completely creating mesmerizing smokeless flames.
You can manually adjust the fan with buttons on the FirePit+ or control it from your phone via Bluetooth and the BioLite app. Custom bonus features letting the flames dance to your delight include:
- Battery supplying 30+ hours of fan runtime on lower settings
- Easy-clean stainless steel mesh cage containing every spark
- Weighs only 20 pounds with foldable legs conveniently toting it anywhere
- Grill accessory transforms the chamber into a backyard BBQ on-demand
My crew can‘t get enough of this modern marvel delivering smoke-free fires even when winds shift unexpectedly. The FirePit+ earns a glowing 5/5 stars across reviews validating its versatility and durable construction in all weather extremes.
Starting at $299 with stellar accessories included, I assure the immediate ambiance and hosting perks make the FirePit+ well worth every penny!
BioLite FirePit+ Specs
| Weight | Burn Time | Light Output | Charging | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 lbs | Up to 30 hrs | 12,000 Lumen Max | USB-C + App | $$299 |
BioLite Headlamp 750: Brightening Outdoor Excursions
Having relied on cheaper headlamps pooping out mid-hike, I realized you get what you pay for with pivotal gear like hands-free lighting. Enter BioLite’s Headlamp 750 preventing stumbling through tents and trails ever again.
This LED headtorch shines supreme with 750 lumens illuminating maps, hazards, and campsites well over 100 feet ahead. Making it my nighttime navigating BFF are bonus perks including:
- Six lighting modes from burst to red night vision
- Rear safety light identifying group members
- Moisture-wicking band staying slip-free however I sweat
- 150-hour battery conveniently recharged via USB-C
Weighing only 5.3 ounces, I often forget I’m sporting this featherlight beacon. But unlike cheaper brands dimming over time to conserve juice, the Headlamp 750 beams consistently until I power down.
While $100 exceeds bargain options, adventure experts swear the long-range clarity, Battery brawn, and durability justify the slight splurge. I fully agree after relying on my trust Headlamp 750 across over 20 trips and counting without a single issue!
BioLite Headlamp Comparison
| Model | Lumens | Run Time | Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 750 | 750 | 150 hrs | $$$ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 330 | 330 | 45 hrs | $$ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 200 | 200 | 40 hrs | $ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
BioLite CampStove 2+: wood-fired Meals With A Spark
No BioLite review covers their greatest hits without their claim-to-fame CampStove sparking a portable power revolution. This 2-pound pellet grill cooks via fiery sticks and pinecones collected from your campsite rather than wasteful processed fuels.
Excess heat then gets converted into usable 5-watt electricity output to charge phones, power lights, speakers, and other gadgets no outlet or batteries required. Pretty brilliant if you ask me!
Standout specs electrifying my wilderness culinary experience courtesy of the CampStove 2+ include:
- Burns gathered tinder avoiding harmful pressed fuel tablets
- Precision airflow fan delivering hotter, cleaner burning
- Generates over 5-watts of usable electricity
- Updated kettle and grill accessories streamlining cooking
- Weighs only 2 pounds including the detachable battery
Multiple upgrades enhanced the user experience since the original CampStove. Improvements encompass quicker starts, a lighter overall design, and an advanced combustion algorithm boosting heat efficiency over 40%.
While converting flames to functional energy remains its superpower, the CampStove 2+ simply excels at grilling grub fast. Across over 30 camping weekends, I’ve whipped up pancakes, bacon, stir-fries, and foil meals as conveniently as my kitchen range!
Starting at $169 ($60 less than the discontinued first gen), reviews praise how this futuristic stove amps adventures by sustaining smartphones and power banks off-grid no heavy solar panels required. I award BioLite my highest recommendation for outdoor chefs and techies alike thanks to the CampStove 2+’s brilliant versatility!
CampStove Model Comparison
| Model | Weight | Charging Output | Burn Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Gen ❌ | 2 lbs | Cyclical bursts | 30 mins | $225 | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 2+ | 2 lbs | Steady 5W | Infinite | $169 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 2E | TBA | None | TBA | $TBA | N/A |
After highlighting BioLite‘s greatest hits across dozens of my adventures, their popularity seems well-earned given rave reviews and my firsthand validation. Next let‘s examine ideal owners getting the most from their eco-conscious gear.
Determining The Perfect BioLite Customer
Consider BioLite products ideal for:
- Weekend warriors, campers, and outdoor explorers
- Off-the-grid enthusiasts and rural homesteaders
- Disaster relief workers and international voyageurs
- Hunters, anglers, and wilderness photographers
- Environmentally conscious consumers
I fall firmly under the weekend warrior demographic as does my entire crew. We appreciate quality gear allowing rustic journeys self-sustained by renewable elements converted into functional amenities sustaining our missions.
Beyond catering specifically to my ilk, BioLite’s expanding catalogue also aims to upgrade developing communities still cooking and heating homes through dirty open fires. Their philanthropic HomeStove program tackles this crisis distributing clean-burning stoves while offsetting carbon otherwise choking the atmosphere and forests.
So whether equipping recreational retreats, sustaining remote villages, or anything between, BioLite innovates sustainable solutions bettering life everywhere we roam. Now that earns 2 sustainable thumbs up in my book!
Verdict: Is BioLite Worth Buying?
In one word – absolutely!
I can personally validate BioLite excels creating kickass camping gear also directly bettering lives abroad. How many brands offer you that feels-good bonus?
Their stoves, lamps, chargers, and fire pits allow transcending off-grid while treading lighter environmentally – a combo my crew cheers for even at premium prices. Because let‘s face it, quality never comes cheap especially when products give back.
While less expensive options exist, BioLite wins my loyalty and dollars through unparalleled performance plus an inspirational mission making energy poverty history across disadvantaged regions worldwide.
So if your conscience smiles upon upgrading your kit responsibly while joining a movement for global good, BioLite offers plenty to appreciate. Investing in their innovation engine allows personally offsetting a share of emissions choking our atmosphere while ending household hazards threatening vulnerable families daily.
For eco-appreciators like me, that value is absolutely priceless!
Special Deals + Buying BioLite Gear
BioLite offers seasonal sales around holidays and special occasions taking 10-25% off all products directly through BioLiteEnergy.com.
Bundling related products often proves cheaper long-term too. For example, the CampStove Complete Cook Kit’s grill, kettle, coffee press and more cost just $239 instead of $299 separately.
BioLite also sells certain popular products via:
- Amazon
- REI Co-op
- Backcountry.com
- Outdoor outfitters internationally
New subscribers also get 10% off their first order for signing up to their email newsletter. Just beware that discount codes exclude sale items, bundles, and the HomeStove.
Regardless where you buy, all BioLite gear includes a limited 1-year warranty protecting against defects. Reach their helpful support team with any warranty questions or concerns directly through BioLiteEnergy.com.
Hopefully this comprehensive BioLite review illuminated why their purpose-driven products deserve your hard-earned dollars too. Because when you support them, they can support more families worldwide transitioning to cleaner renewable energy improving life everywhere under the sun.
Stay tuned for more of my in-depth outdoor brand reviews helping discover your next adventures fueled responsibly. Let me know which gear guides you’d like to see next in the comments!
