Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The surprise must-have item for your winter sports adventures

The BioLite Firepit+ is the grown-up ski-bum's tailgating essential this winter

When you’re serious about snow sports, your interest goes beyond your time on the slopes. Sure, while the lifts are running, there’s no better way to show you’re basically one of the locals at that little-known ski hill than shredding the best runs and finding those hidden lines. But when the day’s shredding is over, the true ski-bum — or would-be ski-bum — doesn’t retreat to the warmth of a bar and spend their thrifty dollars.

No, the true skier or snowboarder is at one with the resort. As the parking lot clears, you can see them enjoying that mainstay of adventure sports enthusiasts all around the world: Tailgating. A cooler of beers, a few camping chairs, and a good crew hanging out under the stars, reliving those moments from the day — what more could you want? Well, you can’t just make your campfire on the ground, so how about the best firepit on the market?

Closeup of campfire inside BioLite FirePit+ fire pit.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Recommended Videos

We ski bums have grown up a little, though, haven’t we? Just like how we’ve updated our snowboarding gear from that ratty old setup we bought in a thrift store that we promised ourselves we’d never part with, it’s about time we upgraded our tailgating setup. It’s true that once you’ve experienced sitting outside around a fire with the stars overhead and the snow all around you, there are very few other places you want to be. But if we’ve learned one thing, it’s that being cold and pretending it’s not an issue is the teenager’s domain. Us? We’d rather wear quality snow gear and have a good time.

The BioLite Firepit+ is one of the most advanced firepits on the market. It’s perfect for winter tailgating or even having lunch breaks where you want to chill out, warm up, and eat some good food without hitting up the resort food halls or restaurants.

“How good can a firepit be?” I hear you ask. What if it came with a built-in fan to get your fire roaring as quickly as possible? A hibachi-style grill for cooking up the perfect lunchtime burger or that post-ride steak that will have other skiers drooling as they leave the parking lot? What if you could use that same battery that runs the fan to charge your phone while you enjoy your lunch? Well, the BioLite Firepit+ has all of this in a package that fits comfortably inside the trunk of your car or the back of your truck with the rest of your cold weather gear.

Large enough to be fueled with standard cordwood but small enough not to be left at home to save space, this portable firepit packs a punch. It’s this winter’s must-have upgrade for your cold-weather gear setup, whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, or just good, old-fashioned tailgatin’ it with the crew.

Tom Kilpatrick
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A London-born outdoor enthusiast, Tom took the first ticket out of suburban life. What followed was a twelve-year career as…
Aterra Slide-In truck camper transforms your pickup into an overland-ready rig
Get the DIY shell with only the essentials or upgrade to a full-blown, ready-to-overland ride
AT Overland Equipment's Aterra Slide-In truck camper parked in a campsite.

For our money, there's no better solution for overlanding than a classic truck camper. Now, Arizona's AT Overland Equipment has just debuted an all-new slide-in solution that perfectly balances weight, features, and price.

The Aterra Slide-In is the latest addition to AT Overland Equipment's Aterra series. It's designed for maximum versatility and customizability for full-sized pickup owners who want a truck camper that's exactly as dialed-in as they need it to be. The base model is merely a lightweight (roughly 750 pounds) shell — a blank canvas, if you will — designed to be the perfect starter for your DIY build. The surprisingly spacious interior offers a 6'9" standing height and a few essentials, like an RV King-sized sleeping area with a mattress, dual-pane Tern Windows, and a locking Tern rear entry door. It's all well-insulated with an R6 value and R7 for the roof.

Read more
The 2025-26 Ikon Pass adds a must-visit North American ski spot
Ikon adds Le Massif de Charlevoix for the winter 2025-26 season
Man skiing on slopes wearing yellow jacket Nordic poles sunglasses

The Ikon is a multi-resort ski and snowboard season pass offered by the Alterra Mountain Company that gives you access to a wide network of ski destinations worldwide. Currently, the Ikon Pass gives you access to 62 resorts across five continents and eleven countries for a total of 239,363 acres, 1,697 lifts, and 7,539 trails. If you've ever considered getting the Ikon pass, the 2025-26 winter season is shaping up to be a great year with the addition of Le Massif De Charlevoix in Canada.

The Le Massif De Charlevoix is located between the Laurentian Range and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River and is the steepest mountain east of the Canadian Rockies. This area receives a whopping 254 inches of annual snowfall, but it has enough adventure for every skill level. With 53 new trails and glades to explore, the total number of destinations in Canada will increase to nine, including the Tremblant in Quebec.

Read more
My thoughts on InfinaCore’s P3 Pro: A must-have portable power solution
Sick of using multiple charging bricks and cords? Simplify with the P3 Pro
Infinacore P3 Pro charging Apple AirPods

One of the worst feelings while camping or hiking is watching the battery go down on your devices, especially if you're on a multi-day trip without a power source. There are a ton of power bank options out there, but InfinaCore just released a game-changing solution that might switch up the way you carry your power.

The P3 Pro has been highly anticipated ever since it was unveiled at CES 2024 and was successfully backed by a Kickstarter campaign. InfinaCore graciously sent me a model to test out, and it was exactly what I needed on my two-day ski trip to Santa Fe. Here's everything you need to know about this next-generation device.
Does the P3 Pro live up to the hype?

Read more