The Ultimate Buyer's Guide
There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to buying firewood. Is it dry? How long will it burn? How heavy is it? Is it hard or soft wood? What’s the form – log length, or split? Where do I buy it? Will Smokey the Bear come and arrest me if I don’t use heat treated wood?
Firewood is actually pretty simple: it’s just wood. Trees used for firewood aren’t necessarily ones we would turn into furniture or use for construction — they’re simply the trees that nobody wants.
Some woods are better for just burning, while others are better for burning longer or keeping you warm.
Here’s an in depth guide for you on what firewood you should acquire, how much you will need to buy and the best place to buy it.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Better Wood Products Fatwood Firestarter Box | Best Overall |  |
| Pine Mountain StarterLogg Select-A-Size Firestarting Blocks | Budget Pick |  |
| duraflame 6lb 4-hr Firelogs | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Better Wood Products Fatwood Firestarter Box
Pros:
- Wide range of uses
- Burns with a high heat – good for emergencies
- Highly flammable
- Great for fireplaces, wood stoves, and fire pits
Cons:
- Expensive
- Waterlogged wood is worthless – it will not generate any heat
This Fatwood box is my top pick as it’s carefully packaged and made from 100% renewable pine sapwood.
It’s easy to light and super easy to transfer from the large box to your fireplace or wood burning stove. Even better, there are 12 little containers inside the box that are perfect for any emergency kits.
What's more, it doesn’t take up a lot of space, so it’s easy to store.
2. duraflame 2.5lb 1.5-hr Firelog
Pros:
- The mineral-coated surface helps to produce clean burning.
- The steel is a dense, heavy metal helps to create a longer burn.
Duraflame firelogs bring a world of warmth and ambiance to the backyard or a space in your home. Firemedelfirelogs | xd617. Holiday fire pits | diy wood burning fireplaces | gas log fireplace | portable propane. How to start a fire by hand | survival tips. Stoveways wood fire logs with crackle.
3. Pine Mountain StarterLogg Select-A-Size Firestarting Blocks
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Long Tinder life
- Easy to use
- Good variety
- Cheap
- Generous amount of fire started
This is a firestarter that I would recommend for anyone who needs a decent firestarter that is inexpensive. The Pine Mountain Starterlog produce a generous amount of firestarter chips which would be more than enough to start your fire. It is also very lightweight which is great for carrying around.
This firestarter comes in a variety of sizes which is very accommodating to anyone. Due to the fact that it has a long life tinder that lasts up to 30 minutes, it is even more convenient for you. It can also be used to start any fire. You can use it in your fireplace, your wood stove, outside, or even in your fire pit.
This is a starter log specifically for camping or backpacking. It was designed to be cordless and lightweight.
4. duraflame 4.5lb 3-hr Firelog
These Duraflame 4.5 lb Firelogs are split up into 6 logs which will give you 3 solid hours of heat. They burn up to 100% cleaner than regular fire logs and are all natural.
The durable accelerant-free logs are environmentally safe and are independently certified to the EarthLogs® standard by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
It's been found that this particular fuel is cleaner and burns hotter than standard fire logs, giving you 12% more heat per pound than firewood.
5. Kiln-Dried Cedar Kindling
Pros:
- Ideal for outdoor usage and indoors as well.
- Can be used for multiple purposes
- Can be stacked inside itself since they are interlocking.
- Kiln-dried and tightly compacted
- Has a nice aroma
- Burns really well and can heat a room really quickly.
- Very reasonably priced for all that you get
- Great for starting a fire with your fireplace or campfire
Log Cabins, Camping, and Outdoor Use!
These are the best firewood as per customer reviews because of their functionality. However, you might want to check with your local fire department before using them in a fireplace.
Cedar firewood is one of the most durable firewoods that you can get. The reason for this is because it does not retain water and will not swell during the rainy season. The cedar firewood is also very aromatic and has a pleasant smell.
6. duraflame 6lb 4-hr Firelogs
Pros:
- Burns longer
- Burns hotter
- No assembly required
7. Duraflame 2-boxes 4637 6-pack Crackleflame Firelogs
Pros:
- Perfect size for easy storage
- Durable
- Sold in twos to keep you from burning too much in one sitting
- They burn very slowly at about the same rate of a regular fire
- Can leave your fireplace with a decorative, crackling flames pattern
- Said to be cleaner than regular fire logs
Cons:
- No color other than grey
- High density chunks can be hot and practically burn your hand
- Crackleflame brand reportedly emits harsh fumes
The Duraflame Crackleflame firelogs are made from 100% recycled materials. They are perfect for burning inside and can last up to 4 hours when burned.
These firelogs are low in smoke and are very clean compared to regular firewood. These 2-boxes (4637) are 6-packs of firelogs.
8. Enviro-Log Earth Friendly Fire Log
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Burns cleaner than wood.
- Smells like a real campfire.
Cons:
- More expensive than real wood.
- Requires a starter log or paper.
Since the actual wood of the Enviro Log itself is made from recycled cardboard and newspaper, it makes it extremely eco-friendly and a great alternative to store bought fire starters, like wood.
This log is not only good for the environment, but it also burns extremely clean.
It’s also tested and approved for a log fire place and burns up to 15 hours. This makes it perfect for backyard parties.
9. Premium Cherry Kiln-Dried Firewood 36-42 Lbs
Pros:
- It’s less expensive than other options on the market.
- It’s kiln-dried, so you’re getting a higher quality product.
- It’s a consistent product (nice and split) which makes it easy to burn and good for longer fires.
- This product comes with a 100% no-smell guarantee, and is guaranteed to burn.
- It’s especially good for fireplaces, but can also be used for general grilling.
- It’s affordable, and available in small, medium, large and giant bags.
- It’s smaller than some other bags of wood, so if you’re looking for a product with a longer burn time, this one isn’t quite as good.
10. Pine Mountain Ultraflame 3-Hour Firelogs
Pros:
- Easily light up a fire
- Turn on the burner, put the firelog in the burner and you`re ready to start your fire
- Burns at a level of 7
Are you looking for ways to keep yourself warm in the cool, cooler weather? Or are you hoping to be able to have some great bonfire moments with your friends and family outdoors? Then this firelog may be the perfect log for you.
Here you get the satisfaction of starting a fire by using only one product because this firelog has everything you need to easily build a fire. You don’t have to buy tons of other accessories. Just use your fire pit, surrounding rock, or campfire with this firelog.
It’s a unique fire log that lasts up to 3 hours on high. It is safe and environmentally friendly since it reduces smoke by 75% compared to campfire wood. It will produce a steady flame that won’t emit too much sparks, so if you’re doing bonfires with kids or pets, you don’t have to worry about their safety. The great thing is you can use the logs with stoves, fire pits, fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces and patio fireplaces.
Conclusion
It can be confusing knowing which firewood is the best for your needs. Furthermore, how do you know which wood type is best suited? There are many factors to consider when you go out to buy firewood. These considerations will be different based on your location and the type of fireplace or fire pit you plan to use the firewood for. This article will help you understand the basics of choosing firewood, and it will teach you about the different types of woods and which is the right fit for your needs.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Better Wood Products Fatwood Firestarter Box | Best Overall | |
| Pine Mountain StarterLogg Select-A-Size Firestarting Blocks | Budget Pick | |
| duraflame 6lb 4-hr Firelogs | Upgrade Pick | |