We Tested the Cutting Edge Firewood Subscription for Fire Pits and Pizza Ovens (2024)

The best firewood for heating your home used to be anything you could get your ax and hands on, but times have changed and people have options. We’re not just talking about hardwood vs. softwood or seasoned vs. kiln-dried firewood. Firewood delivery companies like Cutting Edge Firewood deliver “premium” logs for indoor fireplaces, backyard fire pits and pizza ovens. It claims its firewood burns cleaner, is easier to light and lasts longer than traditional firewood.

As an avid outdoorsman who has cut his firewood and tried dozens of brands found at home improvement stores, I was skeptical of Cutting Edge Firewood, especially since some boxes cost around $150. Is it worth it? After testing it for nearly two months, my answer is yes, but with some caveats that I’ll address in my full Cutting Edge Firewood review.

What is Cutting Edge Firewood?

Anthony O'Reilly

Cutting Edge Firewood is a firewood delivery service specializing in artisanal wood for fire pits and wood-burning pizza ovens. This review focuses on firewood for fire pits because I, unfortunately, do not own a pizza oven.

You know how some people have fancy dinnerware sets they reserve for company or special occasions? I like to think of Cutting Edge Firewood as the same thing but with firewood. Each log is inspected by firewood experts who throw away any wet or rotten pieces, and the good ones are kiln-dried for 48 hours at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This process removes moisture and kills anything that might be inside the wood, such as bugs or mold, resulting in firewood that’s easier to light, burns longer and gives off less smoke. The firewood is then delivered right to your door, and there’s even an option to have an employee set it up in your firewood rack for you.

Cutting Edge Firewood has a wide variety of firewood, including uncut rounds and “extended burn” wood that’s four times thicker than your average logs. It also has fire butlers—someone who tends to your fire during parties—and fire pit rentals. It’s essentially a one-stop shop for all your firewood and fire pit needs.

How We Tested It

Anthony O'Reilly

With temperatures dropping and friends coming by for holiday gatherings, there was no better way to test Cutting Edge Firewood than right in my backyard. I used the wood in an in-ground fire pit and the Tiki Brand smokeless fire pit.

Cutting Edge Firewood delivered a box of their its cherry firewood right to my door, and it should go without saying, but the box was pretty heavy. This wasn’t a problem for me since I lift weights regularly, but the average homeowner might need assistance getting it to their firewood rack. Maybe it was a placebo effect, but I swear I smelled the sweet aroma of cherry wood as soon as I opened the box. I was also impressed at the quality of the wood—most pieces were the same size, and there was zero mold, mushrooms or splintering. Some of the logs had the Cutting Edge Firewood logo imprinted on them, which was a nice touch. Each box comes with excelsior fire starters, wood matches and kindling to help start your fire and, to be honest, the fire starters are one of my favorite parts of this box. I’ve used them on other firewood and they’ve helped get everything lit in seconds. The matches are high quality, too.

Onto the main event: the firewood. These logs lit quicker than any other firewood I’ve tried in my life—and I’ve used quite a lot of firewood during my time. The first time I tested them I used a few pieces of the included kindling along with a few sticks from my backyard, but it quickly became apparent the extra wood was unnecessary. My second fire with Cutting Edge Firewood only had about three pieces of kindling and a starter, and it lit just as well as the first one.

I like a hot fire (who doesn’t?), which means I’m usually placing extra logs for extra fuel. This wasn’t the case with Cutting Edge Firewood. One of my first fires lasted about 25 to 30 minutes before I needed to add another one to the pit, which meant I needed to use less wood. To give you an idea of how well they perform, I’m writing this review about two months after receiving my first box and I still have enough wood left for at least two more hour-long fireside sessions.

The firewood provided that lovely crackle we all know and love, but it didn’t spark or give off smoke like the firewood you find in the wild or at roadside stands. You could stand directly over this fire without getting irritated eyes, which makes it a smart option for people with indoor fireplaces (the cleaner-burning wood is also less likely to cause creosote buildup in your chimney).

I usually try to balance my reviews with something I didn’t like about a product, but honestly, I can’t think of anything other than the high price.

Pros

• Delivered to your door
• Cleaner-burning wood
• Smokeless
• Kiln-dried
• Easier to light
• Lasts longer
• Starters, kindling and matches included

Cons

• Pricey

FAQ

What is the best way to cut firewood?

Anthony O'Reilly

The most efficient way to cut firewood is by using an appropriately sized chainsaw to cut your logs to a size that will fit in your backyard or in-home fire pit.

Is kiln-dried firewood worth it?

If you’re looking for firewood that’s easy to light and doesn’t produce smoke, then kiln-dried firewood is worth it. These logs are placed in a kiln for 24 to 48 hours to draw out moisture and kill anything that might be in the wood, such as mushrooms or bugs. Kiln-dried firewood also produces less creosote buildup in chimneys.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

Anthony O'Reilly

Cutting Edge Firewood has an average rating of 4.8 out of five stars on The Home Depot, and 22 of the 25 customer reviewers gave it five stars, though most of the comments were about its cooking firewood.

“Smells great and makes the food taste great,” writes one five-star reviewer. “Have used on a grill and in a pizza oven. Amazing how the food tastes so much better.”

Product Comparison

There are thousands of firewood delivery services, but Cutting Edge Firewood is one of the few that offers nationwide delivery. If you’re in the New York City Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut), Woodburne Boys offers similar services at comparable prices. Ranch Hand Firewood covers the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, and United Kingdom customers can check out Love Logs. All those companies have fewer firewood types than Cutting Edge Firewood.

Minneapolis-based Firewood.com is another popular nationwide delivery service, though it’s one we haven’t tried (yet). It offers a cut and split mix of oak, birch and maple firewood and white paper birch logs. It’s more affordable than Cutting Edge Firewood, and it uses a natural drying process instead of kiln drying. Cutting Edge Firewood also has a wider variety of firewood types.

Final Verdict

Listen, I understand if Cutting Edge Firewood gave you sticker shock—I felt it, too. That said, after using it for nearly two months I now understand why indoor gas fireplace owners would invest in this stuff. It just smells, burns and looks better than any other firewood I’ve bought. Its delivery services ensure you’ll never run out of firewood.

For those with outdoor fireplaces, I’ll repeat that this firewood is like your “fancy” dinner set. Bring it out when you have company or if you’re celebrating a special occasion.

Where to Buy Cutting Edge Firewood

Cutting Edge Firewood costs from $89 to $189, depending on the type. The wild cherry firewood we tested for this review is $149 per box and comes with about 20 logs, four starters, eight pieces of kindling and a box of wood matches. You can shop Cutting Edge Firewood on the brand’s website, Amazon and The Home Depot.