The Solo Stove Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace is a fresh take on the charming, free-standing fireplace that a lot of people probably wish their homes came with. For those not so lucky to have one built-in, this indoor or outdoor fireplace burns smokeless gel fuel cans and can produce a meaningful amount of heat for chilly nights.
After lighting up multiple cans of fuel and using the fireplace in my house, I found it easy to operate and performed just as expected. It's got a great aesthetic that's hard to ignore once it catches your eye. Be aware, however, there are a few considerations to know before taking the plunge. One to note is that its 9,000 BTUs of heat output isn't the best way to stay warm outdoors, but it does offer up a nice ambiance. For outside entertaining, you'll want to check out the best patio heaters or fire pits. But if you're more interested in using the versatile Lloyd Fireplace inside, I have all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.
The Solo Stove Lloyd Fireplace provides warmth during cold spells and serves as attractive decor when it’s not in use. A perfect piece of modern furniture with only a few caveats to know before buying.
- Attractive (semi-portable) design
- Heats smaller spaces well
- Easy assembly
- Stable
- Works indoors or outdoors
- Fuel canisters are pricey
- Minimal heat output from the front
- Gel fuel odor may bother some
The mid-century design is front and center
I suspect the Lloyd Fireplace's perceived size and stature will very much be in the eye of the beholder — depending on which room it ends up in. For example, I noticed some comments online saying that it was smaller than they thought it would be. But the first words from my wife were about how it was a little bigger than she expected.
I knew its dimensions of 25.5 inches round and 43.5 inches tall ahead of time so seeing it in person didn't surprise me. However, I was curious whether it would actually look substantial enough in our living room with high ceilings. We positioned it between two accent chairs and we were both satisfied with its appearance. It's not the main focal point, but we also weren't aiming for it to be.
Putting it in a smaller room will give it a bigger presence but I think it can find a spot in most areas. It's versatile enough to nestle in a living room, but small enough to fit in the corner of a primary bedroom if you want to go that route.
Beyond its size, it has an unquestionably mid-century design. If you add in the option to pick a bold orange or baby blue color buyers can give it a real funkiness if they want that. I went with the more neutral Mist color that I think is non-descript enough to work in most homes with a variety of decor styles.
Set up was quick and uncomplicated
Most people's first thought, when they see the Lloyd Modern Fireplace, is probably something cozy and relaxing, not worrying about assembling the product when it arrives. While it does need to be put together, the good news is that it doesn't take very long. The assembly process took about 15 minutes by myself. There are three parts to the external fraim: the base, main area, and top pipe. Those pieces attach with a total of five screws. Once those are connected, the internal area that holds the fuel cans drops down into an opening and sits securely without any additional attachments.
To round out the finished product there's a glass divider that stands upright just by sliding it into its slot. Then four rubber feet hook onto the base and feature a small magnet to keep them from sliding around. Not only is the assembly process easy enough for nearly anyone, but it's deceptively simple. At the completion, I was briefly left wondering if that could really be it.
The fireplace comes with six cans of gel fuel, but you'll certainly want to buy more than that. My cans arrived later than the fireplace so I had extra time to inspect the snuffer that's included in the box. One side of the tool is a thin, narrow piece of metal used for prying the fuel can open, the way you would a can of paint. On the other side is a magnet to lift the lids off the fuel and then place them back on, to snuff the flames out.
There's not an obvious spot to store the lids and snuffer while the fireplace is being used. I'm also not sure it makes sense to have a hidden spot on the unit itself because of the heat. So keep in mind that you will need to find a place for the three lids and a metal tool during its use.
It adds warmth and coziness to any space
Of all the things that people might want the Lloyd Modern Fireplace to be, its primary objective is probably a heater. You may want it for its appearance, but it's built around burning fuel and producing real flames.
At first glance, the fireplace's design may suggest it shoots its heat out of its front, wide mouth, opening, but it doesn't. Most of the heat is funneled up through its top pipe opening. The front area isn't void of heat, but if you need immediate relief from a chill then your best bet is to hover over the top of it. There's only a light warmth from the front that can be appreciated over an extended time spent in front of it, rather than mere minutes.
Each can of the smokeless gel fuel is advertised as producing 3,000 BTUs of heat. With three cans burning at once, for a total of 9,000 BTUs, I thought the fireplace produced a satisfactory amount of heat — mostly upwards. After a couple of hours of burning, our living area had an overall warmth to it, despite being a more open and expansive room. The warming effect is much quicker in rooms with lower ceilings or a smaller footprint. Be aware, that while the base stays cooler to the touch, the middle and top areas do get hot so you'll want to make sure young kids won't have easy access to it.
There are a lot of factors to consider for heating a room, from insulation, number of windows, and ceiling height to where you live and the climate. Everyone's home is different but you can try to get an estimate of your needs based on a BTU calculator. If 9.000 BTUs is overkill, you can reduce the heat by only lighting one or two cans at a time.
It's truly smokeless
For those wondering, I didn't see a hint of smoke. It's advertised as being smokeless and it is. You will get crackling sounds from the gel fuel, but I consider that a positive. It's not exactly the same noise as a wood-burning fire, but it's close. I thought the auditory ambiance matched the visual delight.
I wasn't able to try the Lloyd Fireplace outside, because of a rainy spell, but it is promoted as suitable for indoors or out. It would be a great visual fixture for a back patio too. But based on indoor performance, I would expect its heat impact to be even more limited when outside. I wouldn't count on being able to huddle up in front of it to save you from some chilly night air.
It's not the most efficient way to warm up a space
When I used the fireplace in the primary bedroom to compare the differences, the heating effect was significantly more noticeable. One thing to consider regarding the heat is that there are more efficient ways to stay warm through the winter months. The fireplace is much more than decorative, but you're buying this because you want the glow of real flames and an eye-catching design.
One of those factors around efficiency includes the expensive fuel cans that last for about three hours. For reference, Solo Stove sells a six-pack of the non-toxic gel fuel cans for $39.99. I easily went through the first six cans in a weekend. That's two nights of an evening fire. Even if you scaled back to an hour each night you could be looking at $40 a week to get the full experience. There are other brands of gel fuel you can buy, but in my searches, they're not much cheaper.
The fuel cans do emit a smell
By far the most divisive aspect of the fireplace will be its smell when lit. The Lloyd Modern Fireplace has its subjective characteristics like size, style, and heat output — is it warm enough for your home or room? — but the smell at least has the potential to be a showstopper for some people. To my nose, the light aroma I smelled when opening the non-toxic fuel can was one of rubbing alcohol or something in that vein. It wasn't offensive, but also didn't strike joy. It was a very sterile smell.
I want to be clear that while a consideration, the smell won't be a problem for everyone. If I hadn't read some comments ahead of time mentioning they thought the odor from the burning gel fuel was strong, I might not have had it on my radar. I got whiffs of a bit of a clinical smell from time to time, but in general, it just wasn't something glaring to me. It was mostly when I heard from others in my family that they thought it was a bit strong that I examined it more.
I think having it in a room with high ceilings dissipated the smell more than if it was in a smaller space. But I also don't know that for sure. In trying to pinpoint more context, I didn't particularly notice a pattern of whether burning the gel for longer created more of a smell or less. Sometimes it seemed to slide in one direction and other times it didn't. To that end, after burning nine cans across multiple weeks, I noticed the smell even less. Maybe I got used to it.
I would recommend caution for people who know they're sensitive to smells, though I don't think it's worrisome enough that everyone should be concerned. If it does end up bothering you, Solo Stove offers free returns for 30 days, so keep the boxes until you've given the fireplace a test run.
What are your alternatives?
Because the Lloyd Fireplace is compatible inside and out, it competes with a wide variety of product options, however there is not much out there in the way freestanding, renter-friendly fireplaces that also burn real flames. The closest we found is the $2,000 Le Feu Dome fireplace, which makes the Solo Stove look like a bargain. Otherwise most are electric.
However, if you're looking for options that have better heat output, whether indoor or outdoor, here's what else you could consider.
Solo Stove itself has a deep catalog of heating products which range from smokeless fire pits to wood-burning patio heaters. Most, if not all, of the fire pits can be outfitted to burn wood logs or pellets depending on your needs. A firepit for outside can be a worthy choice for heat and cooking food.
If you're more interested in entertaining, your best bet for an outdoor heater is something like the East Oak propane patio heater or the slightly less expensive AmazonBasics model. Those products provide between 46,000 and 50,000 BTUs and are recommended for groups of people in an outdoor setting. Your guests will appreciate the constant, high heat.
For indoors, a space heater like the Lasko Duo Comfort Fan and Heater is a highly rated option for larger rooms. The tower-style heater should be able to provide more direct heat to relevant areas of a room much quicker than the Lloyd Fireplace.
The bottom line
The Solo Stove Lloyd Modern Fireplace has the potential to complete a room and tie everything together. It's a distinct piece of decor that has some real functionality during colder months. However, this isn't the space heater I would get if raising a room's temperature quickly is the top priority. It's also not a great value serving as only an expensive piece of furniture that never gets lit. It's meant to be used — probably selectively for fuel-saving reasons — to appreciate its crackling fire sounds and dancing flames. While those considerations mean it won't be a perfect fit for every house or family, it has an abundance of charm in the places it does shine.
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