Keep Your Fire Pit Burning With the Best Pokers This Summer

Naima Karp

May 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM·5 min read

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SPY.com may receive an affiliate commission.

This summer, keep the fire roaring as safely as possible with an invaluable tool: the fire poker. Along with a log grabber and other fireplace tools, a poker helps you safely adjust logs and burn your fire more evenly while keeping you and your loved ones safe. This can be done in an indoor fireplace, and with outdoor fire pits or a bonfire.

Today's Top Deals

Poking your wood helps it burn better by letting air circulate between the logs and the fire, as when you use tongs. The long-handled tool comes in different lengths, and unlike a basic wood stick, it won’t result in splinters or breakage. This prodding tool is generally long, rigid and made of metal.

Things to Consider in the Best Fire Poker

Length: A shorter length is best for wood fire stoves and smaller flames, but a standard-sized one is suitable for indoor fireplaces. Choose an extra-long poker for outdoor fires, large fire pits and bigger flames.
Material: The materials should obviously be fire resistant: stainless steel, cast iron or wrought iron are your best choices. Keep an eye out for powder-coated steel, which is extra durable. Stainless steel will have more of a lightweight feel than cast or wrought iron alternatives.
Function: Look for a hook or claw-style prong towards the tip of your poker. If your poker will be used outdoors, consider purchasing a rust-proof one. If you have a gas fireplace, it’s important to get a poker that’s designed specifically for those uses, and the same goes for fireplace inserts — make sure your poker is the right size for it.

1. Rocky Mountain Goods Fireplace Poker

BEST OVERALL

This heavy-duty steel poker is an affordable solution to help you move heavy logs or fire grates. With a rust-resistant finish, it’s suitable for both indoor and outdoor usage and features an understated, matte look complete with a tapered handle and hooked tip that works as a grabber. At 27 inches long, it’s the optimal length to keep your hands safe from the flames. A must-have for any indoor set-up or backyard fire pit.

Buy: Rocky Mountain Goods Fireplace Poker $23.95

2. Skyflame Stainless Steel Poker

RUNNER UP

Stainless steel is one of the most durable materials you can get, and it also offers a more contemporary aesthetic. Ideal for a campfire, fireplace or lidded fire pit, Skyflame’s 40-inch poker stick is longer than average, and the ultimate balance between length and control for easy maneuvering. It also has a built-in lid-lifter. Just assemble the three pieces and use a hook to hang the poker up when it’s not in use.

Buy: Skyflame Stainless Steel Poker $20.99 (orig. $24.99) 16% OFF

3. Walden Fire Poker

BEST EXTRA-LONG PICK

If you require an extra-long poker for your fire-tending needs, opt for this Walden poker, which is safer to use, especially for kids. The air jets within this item make it one of the only dual stokers and pokers; just place the tip into the base of the fire and blow air through it to reignite your flames. Besides the unique length, we love the wooden handle and the fact that this XL option removes the need for bellows.

Buy: Walden Fire Poker $67.49

4. Coghlans Expandable Fire Poker

BEST FOR CAMPING

Prefer an adjustable fire poker? Perfect for camping or backpacking trips, this compact, chrome-plated poker by Coghlans can extend to 30 inches and be collapsed for easy storage and transportation. One buyer says, “I was a little skeptical on if I really needed a fire poker while camping. However I have found myself unable to find a stick durable enough to move the logs around or not catch fire. This compact extending fire poker is exactly what I needed.”

Buy: Coghlans Expandable Fire Poker $10.00

5. Pleasant Hearth 30-inch Fireplace Poker

BEST BUDGET PICK

This black steel fire poker helps move logs inside your fireplace or fire pit for a very affordable price, and it’s powder-coated for extra strength. A shopper describes it as “just the right length” and it offers long-term durability for a reasonable price. If you need an extra-long option, this might not be the best fit, but it’s perfect for your standard fireplace or outdoor fire pit.

Buy: Pleasant Hearth 30-inch Fireplace Poker $12.49

6. Home Decorators 5-Piece Fireplace Tool Set

BEST SET

If you’re in need of some other fireplace tools, make your life easier and invest in this set, which contains a poker, tongs, broom, shovel and stand. You’ll have everything to keep your fireplace and chimney clean, and the simple aesthetic will fit in with any home and make it more complete. It does require some assembly upon arrival.

Buy: Home Decorators 5-Piece Fireplace Tool Set $40.00

7. 18-Inch Mini Rope Design Fire Poker

BEST FOR WOOD STOVES

If you have a wood stove, a more compact fire poker might actually be easier to manipulate. This miniature wrought iron choice with a twisted handle has a classic, timeless look and a loop at the end so that it can be hung from a hook or wall bracket when not in use. Plus, with its shorter length, it’s much easier to store.

Buy: 18-Inch Mini Rope Design Fire Poker $29.43

8. Solo Stove Fire Pit Tools

BEST FOR SOLO STOVES

If you want a streamlined, minimalist look, consider Solo Stive’s fire pit tools, which include a log poker and a grabber. While they can be used with any fireplace or pit, these 304 stainless steel tools are designed and angled specifically to work with a Solo Stove. The grabber and poker are both angled to make adjusting smaller pieces of wood easier, so it’s an essential must-have if you do that, Solo Stove owner or not.

Buy: Solo Stove Fire Pit Tools $69.99

9. Tiki Metal Fire Pit Screen and Poker Set

BEST SPLURGE

Stop flying sparks in their tracks with this Tiki metal fire pit screen and two-piece poker set. With its handsome aesthetic and functional nature, it’s no wonder that this fire safety set has plenty of five-star reviews on Home Depot. It’s not the cheapest option, but it will last a lifetime and keep you safe from ash and debris. The ergonomic poker handle even includes a bottle opener, which can be useful for social occasions.

Buy: TIKI Metal Fire Pit Screen and Poker Set $150.00

More Top Deals from SPY

Best of SPY

Click here to read the full article.

Yahoo Finance
Warren Buffett pays tribute to Charlie Munger on a 'tough day' for shareholders
This year’s Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting marked a new era for the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. It’s the investing legend’s first without his right-hand man, Charlie Munger.
Politico
Democratic officials criticize Meta ad policy, saying it amplifies lies about 2020 election
The secretaries of state said allowing ads that claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen will further erode trust in elections.
Reuters
Sadiq Khan wins re-election as London mayor
Sadiq Khan was re-elected as London's mayor, final results showed on Saturday, helping to cement the Labour Party's commanding lead over the governing Conservatives in local polls ahead of Britain's national election later this year. Khan's victory, his third in a row, was widely expected despite some public anger over knife crime and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which charges drivers of older, more polluting vehicles a daily fee.
Associated Press
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database. Russian officials did not immediately clarify the allegations against Zelenskyy and Poroshenko, and independent Russian news outlet Mediazona claimed on Saturday that the two had been on the list for months. In an online statement published that same day, Ukraine’s foreign ministry dismissed the reports of Zelenskyy’s inclusion as evidence of “the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda.”
USA TODAY
It's tick season: What types live in your area and how to keep them under control
Ticks come out this time of year but you can control them and keep ticks off you and your pets with some simple steps.
Associated Press
London, meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Mayor Sadiq Khan wins historic third term
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has a lot of cleaning up to do. Khan, who made history Saturday by becoming the city's first mayor elected to a third term, has pledged to make the River Thames swimmable. It wasn't a top campaign issue but it's an audacious goal considering the waterway was declared biologically dead not long before his birth in the city in 1970 and flows as an open sewer of sorts when heavy rains overwhelm London's ancient plumbing system.
Associated Press
Cheers and flames as Orthodox worshipers greet the ancient ceremony of the 'Holy Fire'
One of the most chaotic gatherings in the Christian calendar is the ancient ceremony of the “Holy Fire,” with worshipers thronging the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Saturday. Cheers and prayers rang out as candles one by one were lit after reaching through a small opening into Jesus’ tomb.
AFP
History maker Sadiq Khan: a mayor with global renown
Sadiq Khan, who was Saturday re-elected for a record third term as London mayor, rose from humble roots to spar with world leaders and bring consequential change to the British capital. Victory continues a remarkable journey for the Pakistani immigrant bus driver's son, who became the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when initially elected in 2016.
AFP
Russia adds Zelensky to criminal 'wanted' list
Russia has added Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to its list of wanted criminals, a move Kyiv dismissed as a sign of Moscow's "desperation".There was no immediate comment from Russian officials as to why Zelensky had been added to the list.
NBC News
Biden to sign new bipartisan law targeting child 'sextortion' online
On March 25, 2022, Jennifer Buta learned that her son, Jordan DeMay, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
USA TODAY
'We are serious': Houthis offer to educate US students suspended in campus protests
The Houthis join Hamas and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ai Khamenei in publicly supporting the campus protest movement in the U.S.
Associated Press
Senate races are roiled by campus protests over the war in Gaza as campaign rhetoric sharpens
The student protest movement disrupting university campuses, classes and graduation ceremonies over the war in Gaza is also roiling Senate contests across the nation as Democrats tread cautiously over an internal divide and Republicans play up their rivals' disagreements. The political impact of the protests on the White House campaign has drawn considerable attention, with opposition to President Joe Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war reverberating from Columbia to UCLA. The fast-evolving landscape of the demonstrations is shaping pivotal Senate races, too.
AFP
Cyclone bears down on flood-hit Kenya, Tanzania
Beaches were deserted and many shops closed on Saturday as heavy rains and winds from a tropical cyclone buffeted coastal areas of Tanzania and Kenya. But there were no reports of casualties or damage as of Saturday afternoon as the cyclone rolled in from the Indian Ocean and made landfall in Tanzania.
Associated Press
It's Cinco de Mayo time, and festivities are planned across the US. But in Mexico, not so much
The United States is gearing up for Cinco de Mayo. Music, all-day happy hours and deals on tacos are planned at venues across the country on Sunday — May 5 — in a celebration with widely misunderstood origins that is barely recognized south of the border. In the U.S., the date is largely seen as a celebration of Mexican American culture stretching back to the 1800s in California.
Associated Press
A British Palestinian doctor was denied entry to France for a Senate meeting about the war in Gaza
A well-known British Palestinian surgeon who volunteered in Gaza hospitals said he was denied entry to France on Saturday to speak at a French Senate meeting about the Israel-Hamas war. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta was placed in a holding zone in the Charles de Gaulle airport and will be expelled, according to French Sen. Raymonde Poncet Monge, who had invited him to speak at the Senate. Abu Sitta posted on social networks that he was denied entry in France because of a one-year ban by Germany on his entry to Europe.
CNN
US and Israeli officials say finalizing any ceasefire deal could take days
As negotiators meet in Cairo on Saturday, US and Israeli officials say any potential agreement on a framework that would pair a temporary ceasefire with a release of hostages in Gaza would likely be followed by continued negotiations over the finer details of the deal.
Yahoo Finance
Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting: Warren Buffett takes stage without Charlie Munger for first time
Warren Buffett will take hours of questions from shareholders on Saturday without his right-hand man, Charlie Munger, for the first time in decades.
NBC News
Indigenous doulas lead the fight for reproductive care access gap in Gaum.
After the closure of the island’s only standalone birth center in December 2022, medical professionals have been sounding the alarm for what they consider a “maternal care crisis” on Guam.
CNN
I love Quarter Pounders. But I don’t get why people enjoy chicken
In the latest in our occasional series, “I Just Don’t Get It,” CNN’s Saira Mueller explains why she has never liked eating chicken — and how many people seem baffled by this.
NBC News
Speaker Mike Johnson could look to another GOP speaker who took on rebels in his own party
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is facing a threat a few of his Republican predecessors can relate to: members of his own party vowing to oust him from power.