It’s that time of the year when you’re looking forward to having fires in your fireplace on a regular basis and you’re preparing everything you need to make this winter a success. However, one of the biggest mistakes people make is not making sure they have a strong and sturdy fireplace poker.
So many accidents can be avoided when you use a reliable poker to move burning logs around inside your fireplace or even outside in your fire pit, or campfire. Believe it or not, a quality fire poker makes all the difference in how you control your fire. So we went ahead and researched the best pokers on the market today.
Take a look below at what we consider to be the best options.
Product Review
Below you will find our top picks for the best fireplace poker and why they made it onto our top choice list. We have also provided the answers to the most common questions asked about pokers and how you can choose the best one.
Here we go…
KUAICHAI Fireplace Outdoor Firepit Poker Heavy Duty Steel — Best For Quality
What We Liked Best
This fire poker from Kuaichai has a simple design and matches just about any type of interior design in your home. We liked that it is made from a solid steel foundation and doesn’t seem to have much flexibility which helps prevent it from bending or breaking.
Pros
- Heavy-Duty Quality Construction
- Doesn’t Easily Bend Or Break
- Made From Super Durable Steel
- Good Packaging
Cons
- Might Be Too Long For Small Fireplaces
- No Additional Protection On Handle
Recommended?
Yes, we recommend this poker because it is made of the best quality materials and will last a long time.
Minuteman International Shepherd’s Hook Single Fireplace Poker — Best For Design & Shape
Do you want a fireplace poker that looks just as cool as the rest of your decor? If so, then this nicely designed poker from Minuteman International stands out for its design and shape. The length makes it versatile for just about any size fireplace and would also work outdoors in those fall firepits.
What We Liked Best
We definitely loved the design, it really has appeal and adds character to your fireplace setting. We were also impressed with the fact that this one was made from graphite and has a nice rounded handle that lets your thumb sit comfortably while taking control of your fire.
Pros
- Perfect Length
- Made Of Graphite
- Matching Accessories Are Available
- Double Tipped With Curved Hook
Cons
- Finish Color Is Grey
- Maybe Too Big Of Handle For Smaller Hands
Recommended?
The design and shape of this poker make it stand out from the rest and adds extra appeal to any room or space. It’s durable and well-made.
Stanbroil Fireplace Fire Pit Poker Black Steel with Heat Resistant Handle — Best For Heat Resistant Handle
The best thing about this fire poker is the resin handle that is heat-resistant and won’t burn your hand. This one is great for fireplaces, fire pits, wood stoves, and even campfires due to its safe length. You can easily hang this with either the handle or the hook to keep it hidden when not in use.
What We Liked Best
We found this fireplace poker to be the best choice for young adults or older children who know how to properly adjust firewood while burning a fire. The heat-resistant handle is the selling point with this one, along with the quality materials used to make it.
Pros
- Heat Resistant Handle
- Easy To Assemble
- Great Quality & Very Durable
- Perfect Handle For Hanging
Cons
- Maybe Too Long For Some Fireplaces
- Requires A Screwdriver For Assembly
Recommended?
We highly recommend this for anybody who has children and wants to make sure they don’t accidentally grab the poker after it has been used. The heat-resistant handle makes this a safe option for all your family members.
Wilcor Campfire Fireplace Poker Extra Long 36-inch — Best For Stability
This fireplace poker from Wilcor has the perfect combination of length and weight making it super easy to manipulate the wood around in your fireplace. The wood handle is a nice addition and adds character to your fireplace area. It’s made very well from durable materials and will withstand many years of usage.
What We Liked Best
The design on this poker gives it a more campsite feel which is great if your decor is based on the outdoors. We thought the wood handle was a nice touch and the fact that it doesn’t get too hot to touch with bare hands was a great bonus.
Pros
- Heavy Gauge Cast Iron & Steel
- Handle Doesn’t Get Too Hot To Touch
- Can Be Used Both Indoors And Outdoors
- Has A Nice Solid Feel, Not Flimsy
Cons
- Assembly required — Delivered In Three Pieces
- Handle Might Spin If Not Screwed Tightly
Recommended?
The wood handle and workmanship on this fire poker make it a nice addition to your fireplace tools. It’s stable and equally balanced when using it to adjust your burning logs.
Rocky Mountain Goods Long Fireplace Poker Rust Resistant Black — Best For Rust Resistance
If you plan on using your fireplace poker outdoors in a fire pit or a campfire, then this one from Rocky Mountain Radar is the best choice for all weather conditions with its rust-resistant black finish. But it also works great indoors and has a stylish design that fits almost all decor and is sized perfectly for any type of fireplace.
What We Liked Best
We were impressed with the rust-resistant finish and that we could not only use this both indoors and outdoors but that we could actually leave this outdoors or store it in an area without worrying about it rusting. It also has a nice sleek design in black. It also comes with two in the package!
Pros
- Rust Proof And Weather Resistant
- Made Of Heavy-Duty Steel
- Nice Design And Length
- Lifetime Warranty
Cons
- Handle & Tip Need To Be Tightened On A Regular Basis
- Handle Gets Warm
Recommended?
We strongly recommend this poker for anybody wanting to use it outdoors for their fire pit or campfire. The rust resistance feature adds to the strong construction and durability.
Buyer’s Guide
If you’re burning a fire, then you better make sure you have a fireplace poker at your liberty to move the burning logs to control your fire. It not only helps you control the flames, but it will also assist in managing the sparks and embers from flying around your room.
People often underestimate the job a good fireplace poker does and how it can help protect you and your family from getting unnecessary injuries due to not using one at all. There are a variety of different types of pokers and below we have given you all the details you need to make the best decision on what will fit your needs.
What’s Important When Looking For A Fireplace Poker?
There are a few things you should take into consideration when buying a new fireplace poker. You first need to decide where this will be used — is it mainly for your indoor fireplace or do you plan on taking out back and using it in your fire pit or campfire? Trust us, this makes a difference because some pokers are more durable and weather-resistant than others.
Here is what you should be checking:
Durable and Materials
Most of the pokers today are made from high-quality stainless steel that is heavy-duty and can withstand pretty intense temperatures. However, you will want to pay attention to the weight and thickness of the fireplace poker because it can determine how strong it will hold up in the most extreme heat.
You can still find wrought iron rods, however; these can get quite messy and never look good after a while.
Length
The length of the fireplace poker makes a huge distance in how you can handle it and control the fire. If the poker is too long, it might be very uncomfortable to manipulate around burning logs. But if the poker is too short, you run the risk of burning your fingers, hand, or worse — your clothes! Be mindful of how big your fireplace is and then choose a poker that fits accordingly.
The best way to determine the size you need is by measuring the inside of your fireplace’s depth when not in use and see how much room you have to play with. Make sure your hand is outside the fireplace when measuring so that you don’t end up cutting yourself short in the length needed to safely maintain a fire.
Handles
This is probably one of the most important factors because it affects your safety the most. Unless you plan on wearing gloves every time you use your poker — you’re going to want to make sure that the handle remains cool to touch so that you or your loved ones don’t burn their hands while grabbing the poker and using it in the fire.
Keep in mind that most of the single-designed pokers will get hotter than their opposites who generally have three pieces including a heat-resistant handle.
Keep in mind that most of the single-designed pokers will get hotter than their opposites who generally have three pieces including a heat-resistant handle.
Type of Hook
There are a few different types of hooks available when choosing the best fireplace poker for your home. If you are generally using your poker indoors then you can simply choose the widely available hook style that you find in most homes.
But if you are going to use your fireplace poker outdoors in a fire pit or campfire, you might want to consider looking at the fishhook styles or the rake type so that you can easily lift logs and move them accordingly.
If you keep all these things in mind when choosing the best fireplace poker then you should have no problem getting the perfect poker for your home.
How Do You Use A Fireplace Poker?
You can normally use a fireplace poker with just one hand, your dominant hand preferably. The main idea of using a poker is to help control the fire by moving the burning logs to reduce the risks of logs falling or the heat not being distributed evenly.
We suggest using a fireplace poker to ‘poke’ the burning logs in order to get them to move a little into a more desirable location. However, sometimes people use their poker to move burning logs and this can sometimes be dangerous. It’s important that you know exactly what you are doing and don’t try to move more than one log at a time.
Where Can I Store My Fireplace Poker?
This will depend on where you are using the fireplace poker. If you are using the poker mainly in your home, then it is a good idea to store it left of the opening of your fireplace if you have a single door. If your fireplace is equipped with two doors then you could easily store it wherever it makes more sense and is easily accessible.
You can purchase a fireplace tool stand that holds your essential tools for your fireplace including your poker. This is the most ideal place to store your poker when not in use. However, if you don’t like the appearance of your fireplace tools being seen at all times, you could simply store the stand in a less discreet place such as behind your stack of firewood or even behind a speaker.
If you are using your poker for your fire pit or a campfire, then you could store your fireplace poker in a shed or up against a tree (if it’s not too hot). Regardless of where you store your poker — be sure to make sure it is not touching anything that is flammable.
The best part about using the fireplace stand for your poker and other tools is that they normally come with a flat bottom that is used as a tray for catching any ashes or dirt that is still on your fireplace tools when you are putting them away.
Bottom line: It will really depend on your decor and the space you have in your room with your fireplace. It’s really a personal preference even though we highly recommend using a fireplace stand for all your fireplace tools.
Note: If using your fireplace poker outdoors and storing there as well, make sure that it is rust-resistant and weatherproof. If not, then consider getting one specifically for the outdoors and keep the other one for your indoor fireplace.
Why Do You Need To Use A Fireplace Poker?
Pokers are not just an accessory for looks that people put beside their fireplace. It’s a vital tool that every homeowner with a fireplace should have available at all times while tending a fire in their home.
Fireplace pokers are essential for keeping you and your loved ones safe. They give you the ability to control and move burning logs without putting you at risk of getting burned. They also help keep flaming sparks and embers under control so that they don’t damage your floors or furnishings.
KUAICHAI Fireplace Outdoor Firepit Poker Heavy Duty Steel — Best For Quality
Check PriceFAQ’s
Why Does The Size Of Your Fireplace Poker Matter?
This question is asked a lot and for good reason — people rarely think about the size of their fireplace poker and often buy one that is too small or too big. It’s really important to get the size that actually fits your fireplace to avoid unnecessary injuries. If you use a fireplace poker that is too small, chances are you or a loved one might get your fingers or hands burned from the flames of the fire. The goal is to make sure that your poker is long enough to keep your hands out of harm’s way. If you choose a poker that is too long, you will probably have trouble controlling it in the fireplace let alone being able to move the burning logs. It will feel awkward and rarely do what it's intended to do — control the fire and manipulate the burning logs.
Does The Material Of A Fireplace Poker Make A Difference?
Absolutely! Ever touch a hot iron rod? Probably not, but if you did — you would never forget how bad that hurt! This is why making sure that the fireplace poker you choose is heat-resistant and has a cool to touch handle that helps prevent you from getting burned. If you choose a one-piece fireplace poker you may need to use gloves while handling it in order to prevent touching it while it’s still hot — which can last for hours after being used in a hot fire with extreme heat.
Are Fireplace Pokers Childproof?
No, you won’t find a fireplace poker that is childproof. You should always teach children to leave a fire alone and allow the adults to handle it. You can even explain how hot they get and what could happen if they did touch or play with your fireplace poker. But more importantly, if you choose to allow your young adults to handle your fireplace poker — you need to teach them the proper way to use it and show them what its main purpose is. Remind all children that pokers are not a toy and should never be pointed at another human being.
How Do You Choose The Style Of Your Fireplace Poker?
If you are talking about the type of hook you need, then you should decide based on how and where you will be using the fireplace poker. There are five common types of fireplace hooks: - Fish Hook - Round - Fork Hook (prong style) - Sharp Point - Rake If you are using this mainly for your indoor fireplace, then we suggest going with a fish hook, round, or sharp point style because they all will easily move logs around in your fire. You will be able to find fireplace pokers in different styles and colors to accommodate your decorating style. You will also find that there are different finishes that will add character to your space such as rustic, victorian, traditional, elegant, modern, and retro. Just make sure you choose one that is made from high-quality, durable, and trustworthy materials that will last for many years to come.
Can You Use A Fireplace Poker On Your BBQ?
You could do this in an open flame BBQ pit, just make sure your fireplace poker is weatherproof and rust-resistant if you plan on keeping it outside with your BBQ. However; we do not recommend using any type of fireplace poker on a traditional style BBQ or grill — it would not be beneficial in any way and is not safe to use with food. Keep in mind that a fireplace poker is mainly used to control and move burning logs. Anything outside of those conditions is pretty much unadvisable and could potentially put you or your loved ones at risk or in danger. There are tools that are designed for BBQ’s and those are what we recommend you use. Keep your poker with your fireplace, campfire, wood burner stove, or fire pit — and save your BBQ tools for just using while you are using your BBQ.
Conclusion
Choosing the best poker isn’t just about design, it’s also about the quality and how it will be used. It’s important to factor in everything we listed in our guide before deciding which fireplace poker will work best for you. We would suggest the KUAICHAI Fireplace Outdoor Firepit Poker Heavy Duty Steel.
We hope this guide helped you get informed about choosing the right fireplace poker and that you found valuable information that will help you make an educated decision on which fireplace poker will work best for you and your home.
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