The HOWL R4 is a very good propane campfire, but it does not replace a real wood fire or a Solo Stove Canyon. The heat is strong for propane, but directional and localized, not the enveloping “thigh-melting” warmth of a large wood fire.
Where it shines is fire-ban and National Park use, plus early mornings when you want heat without dealing with coals or cleanup. Clean, predictable, and better than typical propane fire pits.
I’ll still choose wood when I can, but the HOWL R4 earns its place as a convenient, legal alternative.