The Breeo X Series 24 Turns Your Backyard Into The Place To Be

Asking any outdoor cooking enthusiast for a recommendation on new grilling and cooking equipment is like asking truck owners which brands they prefer. You might as well walk into a cult assembly and ask which underground lizard king its people prefer, because the brand bias is simply off the charts. I mean, why does everything always have to be Marvel vs DC when we should all simply appreciate that we get to watch WandaVision and the Snyder Cut?

You can't fault people for being fiercely loyal, but some of us just like to walk out to the backyard, fire up the grill, and make some delicious burgers. And others who weren't blessed with the ability to make mouth-watering ribs (humble brag) simply want to hang out and wait for someone to ring the dinner bell, so they can run to the table and enjoy the fruits of the grillmaster's labor.

But what if you don't even have to give up your seat to get a prime choice of fixings? That's just one of the things we love about the Breeo X Series 24 Smokeless Fire Pit.

It's both... eventually. First and foremost, this is a very cool, stylish backyard fire pit that offers the primary advantage of being smokeless, so it's great for sipping cocktails with family and (hopefully one day again) friends while the kids wear themselves out so everyone can keep enjoying it after the little ones go to bed. It is big enough for a small group to gather around it and keep warm, but it's not so big that it becomes a distraction or takes up too much space.

My experience with Breeo is a little backwards. I started with the Outpost Grill Grate because I wanted to relearn how to start my own fires and cook responsibly in the great outdoors when my son is old enough to enjoy camping. The portable grill grate is convenient for such occasions because it is incredibly easy to set up and packs away easily for space-saving storage. Still, knowing that this thing was intended to complement the X Series 24 left it in the back of my mind that one day I was going to have to try the complete package.

While planting the Outpost in the ground can be a little tricky until you get the hang of it, with the fire pit, it's a snap. Pop it in the hole, adjust the height, and—bingo, bango—it's time to drop your well marinated chicken and/or veggie skewers over the flames. The hardest part is learning the intricacies of cooking over wood (don't laugh—it can be tricky for newbies who only know gas or charcoal) but thank goodness for the Internet.

There are two things, actually:

1) You don't need the Outpost to cook. Yes, it's great for grilling and making enough food for guests, but if you're sitting outside on a cool evening, sipping your Woodford old fashioned or a smoky mezcal neat, and suddenly the mood strikes for a little filet, just grab the meat and slap it on the outer steel ring, which just so happens to act as a sear plate.

Of course, the important thing to note here is that means the outer rim can be extremely hot, so make sure your guests and especially the kids know not to touch it (or else they'll be like Hugh Grant in The Gentlemen, which I can't stop referencing or watching because of this fire pit).

2) The X Series is designed so that over time the corten steel exterior of the base will develop a natural patina, so it will age as well as the Blanton's I'll be sipping next to it well into the next decade.

It's not as easy as setting up and dropping a match on some logs, so here are a few additional items you might want to consider for the best overall backyard experience.

The best thing about cooking in the backyard is the distance you can go with creativity. Now, if you're like us and can't stop thinking about when you'll get back to your favorite destinations again, you should find foods and especially sauces that will help you celebrate those places. In this case, this flavor-packed tropical tamarindo sauce might come from Costa Rica, but when you're smothering your chicken and veggies with it, you'll be thinking about every great beachside meal you've ever enjoyed at your favorite Caribbean resorts.

And this is just one of the flavors Ricante offers. We also highly recommend the Guanabana ChimiChurri and Pineapple Habanero bottles for culinary creativity that'll make your friends and family think you earned a Michelin star overnight.

Obviously, if you have the time, nothing beats the satisfaction of starting and cultivating your own flame. But when an evening by the fire is a spur of the moment idea, you'll need to act faster. Pull Start Fire is as simple as, well, pulling a string and starting a fire. It burns for 30 minutes to get your logs nice and toasty, even if they're wet.

To think I've spent so many years using cheap tailgate chairs, while this throne has been out there waiting for me to spend many an evening kicked back and relaxed. Plus, if your pit is fired up for a romantic evening under the stars, "oversized" means it's good enough for snuggling. Although, no one will blame you if you want the space all to yourself.

Whether making steaks for two or burgers for the whole squad, you'll need tongs and a spatula, as well as a good brush for cleaning your Outpost and especially the sear plate after use. Durability is the key here, so you'll want something that will last as long as this fire pit.