Whether in the form of an indoor fireplace or outdoor fire pit, an open fire provides the perfect ambience for you to sit back and enjoy a nice cosy evening.
However, managing your fire can be a little difficult without a good pair of fireplace tongs. Designed for handling hot items, fireplace tongs allow you to safely add or readjust burning logs (or coal). This keeps the fire hot, reduces ash, and makes for a more pleasurable experience.
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Best Choice: Epica Fireplace Tongs
After researching and comparing numerous fireplace tongs, we’ve determined the Epica Fireplace Tongs are the best choice. They offer simple, easy to use functionality, are made from extremely durable materials and are incredibly budget-friendly.
All this adds up to a great product that provides a ton of value and will hold up to season after season of heavy use. If you want true American made quality, you might consider upgrading to the more expensive Ohio Flame 30 inch Campfire Tongs instead.
Keep reading below for our full review of the Epica Fireplace Tongs.
Fireplace Tongs Comparison Table
We’ve included the below table so you can quickly and easily compare all of our top choices.
 | #1 (Heavy Duty) Grill Daddy King Tong Pro | View Review | - 28" Long - Scissor Type - Stainless Steel |  |
 | Rocky Mountain Goods Firewood Tongs | View Review | - 26" Long - Scissor Type - Wrought Iron | |
 | The Perfect Campfire Grill Heavy-Duty Log Tweezers | View Review | - 31" Long - Scissor Type - Carbon Steel | |
 | U-Ten Log Grabber Fireplace Tongs | View Review | - 31" Long - Scissor Type - Carbon Steel | |
 | Ohio Flame 30 inch Campfire Tongs | View Review | - 30" Long - Pincer Type - Carbon Steel (USA) | |
 | #1 (Easy-to-use) Genuine Stainless Tongs 42” Log Grabber | View Review | - 42" Long - Pincer Type - Stainless Steel | |
 | Sunnydaze Decor 40” Log Claw Grabber | View Review | - 40" Long - Pincer Type - Carbon Steel | |
 | 36-inch Campfire Fireplace Tender Tongs | View Review | - 36" Long - Pincer Type - Cast Iron, Steel, Wood | |
 | #1 (Budget) Epica Fireplace Tongs | View Review | - 26" Long - Scissor Type - Carbon Steel | |
 | EZ Outdoors Log Grabber – Small | View Review | - 26" Long - Scissor Type - Wrought Iron | |
Best Heavy Duty Fireplace Tongs
If you happen to host regular outdoor gatherings in your backyard, or simply love to unwind after a long day curled up in front of the fireplace, you will want tongs that can handle frequent usage.
These heavy-duty fireplace tongs are designed to do just that. They all feature a quality build that can not only take the heat but also make it easier to move heavy logs.
1 – Grill Daddy King Tong Pro
Length: 28 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Type: Scissor Action
Material: Heavy-duty stainless steel body with glass-filled nylon handles
After extensive research, we have concluded that the Grill Daddy King Tong Pro deserves the title of the best heavy-duty fireplace tongs in the market. Designed for use on both indoor and outdoor fires, these fireplace tongs offers safety, comfort, and durability; all in the quality build of stainless steel construction that is rustproof and heat tempered.
Using the Grill Daddy King Tong is super easy thanks to serrated jaws that provide a secure grip on logs, and a power lever located halfway down the grabber. Its innovative handle makes lifting heavy logs practically effortless.
And, at 28” long, the tongs provide you with plenty of room to move everything from large smouldering logs that have fallen out of place to tiny bits of kindling while maintaining a safe distance from open flames.
What’s more, these fireplace tongs fold away for easy storage and are a relatively affordable product, making it an even more appealing fire pit accessory.
2 – Rocky Mountain Goods Firewood Tongs
- Length: 26 inches
- Weight: 1.15 pounds
- Type: Scissor Action
- Material: Wrought iron
The Rocky Mountain Goods Firewood Tongs boast a clever expandable design with a wide range that allows you to adjust the jaws to grab everything from small sticks all the way to large 12” thick logs.
As a result, you get to add and adjust logs to perfect precision and have complete control over how your fire will burn. These tongs also fold all the way back and take up very little storage space.
The best part of these Rocky Mountain Firewood Tongs is their build quality. They are made of a reinforced wrought iron material that is strong enough to carry even the heaviest of logs without bending or breaking.
You will get a lifetime warranty upon purchase to back up the extra strength claim of the product. Included also in the tongs design is a rust-resistant finish that ensures the product will last a very long time even with regular outdoor use.
3 – The Perfect Campfire Grill Heavy-Duty Log Tweezers
- Length: 31 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Type: Scissor Action
- Material: Carbon Steel
As the name suggests, the Perfect Campfire Grill Heavy Duty Log Tweezers are designed for outdoor fires and even have the build to match their name.
Although made of steel, these log tweezers are a bit heavier than most of your average grabbers. As a result, they can handle large logs without incurring so much as a scratch. To top it up, the tweezers also feature a new clean powder coat surface that helps enhance the durability of the product.
Besides their robust design, the Perfect Campfire Grill Heavy Duty Log Tweezers don’t disappoint when it comes to performance. The tweezers feature a scissor action design, which makes it easy to not only grab logs to add to the fire but also manoeuvre burning logs with precision.
The ends actually bend inward and dig into logs providing a secure hold that prevents mishaps as you are tending to your fire. Overall, these heavy-duty log tweezers from The Perfect Campfire Grill perform their duty excellently and are built to last.
4 – U-Ten Log Grabber Fireplace Tongs
- Length: 31 inches
- Weight: 1.15 pounds
- Type: Scissor Action
- Material: Carbon Steel
The U-Ten Log Grabber Fireplace Tongs are very similar to the Perfect Campfire Grill Heavy Duty Log Tweezers. This pair features the same scissor action design down to the tongs that bend inwards and is made of the same extra heavy-duty steel material with a new clean powder coat surface.
What’s more, both of these tongs are forged from steel. However, that’s where the similarities between these two fire tongs end. The major difference is that the U-Ten Log Grabber Tongs are lighter.
This makes them a more versatile tool that can be used on everything from wood-burning barbecues and indoor home fireplaces to outdoor fire pits.
In addition to being one of the lightest designs, the Log Grabber Fireplace Tongs fold up to a compact size that is easy to carry around. They are easily one of the best portable fireplace tongs given their excellent build quality and inexpensive price range.
4 – Ohio Flame 30 inch Campfire Tongs
- Length: 30 inches
- Weight: 4.5 pounds
- Type: Pincer Type
- Material: Carbon Steel
They may not have a clever or fancy-looking design like some of our other top choices, but the Ohio Flame 30-inch Campfire Tongs are a tough product that is designed to last you a lifetime.
These American made tongs even come with a lifetime warranty that covers the structural integrity and durability of the product. The construction consists of a simple 2-part design that is actually hand wrought from ½” thick American steel.
The metal is treated to a high heat resistant black finish that enhances the tong’s appearance and usability. This finish eliminates the need for special handles (which the tongs do not have) as the product remains relatively cool even when poking through the hottest of fires. During construction, the tongs are also hand riveted for longer wear.
As for performance, these 30-inch Ohio Flame Campfire Tongs are strong and can carry the heaviest and hottest logs thanks to their sturdy and heavy-duty construction. They also have a solid pincher end that will maintain a good grip on logs.
Best Easy-To-Use & Newbie-Friendly Fireplace Tongs
When choosing fireplace tongs, length is an important consideration. This is because the work of building a fire becomes a lot easier with longer sets of tongs.
Well, the following 3 fireplace tongs feature some of the longest lengths on the market. They are therefore super easy to use and as such a lot safer than most options.
1 – Genuine Stainless Tongs 42 Log Grabber
- Length: 42 inches
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Type: Pincer Type
- Material: Stainless steel
At 42 inches, the Genuine Stainless Log Grabber is one of the longest fire tongs available on the market. So, buyers face a bit of an awkward phase during the first few uses as they make the transition from shorter tongs to these.
However, once you get the hang of it, you will love how effortlessly this pair handles everything from small, to large, to heavy logs. Its enormous size keeps you at a very safe distance from radiant heat and unexpected wild flames that can be blown in your direction by sudden gusts of wind, especially when tending to open outdoor fires.
The slightly textured tips of this unit produce a secure grip. This makes it easy for you to lift and twist logs in a fire. And, the best part is that the tongs are strong enough to handle just about any type of logs with a thickness of up to 8 inches.
The Genuine Stainless Tongs 42-inch Log Grabber is made of ½” thick American made 304-grade stainless steel material that is not only rustproof but also corrosion-resistant. Coupled with its hand-forged steel and Tig welded construction, this Log Grabber is designed to last despite accidental drops or exposure to rain and the elements.
2 – Sunnydaze Decor 40” Log Claw Grabber
Length: 40 inches
Weight: 2.5 pounds
Type: Pincer Type
Material: Carbon Steel
Measuring 40 inches long, the Sunnydaze Decor Log Claw Grabber is one of the safest fireplace tongs and also makes easy work of picking up and moving burning logs just like the Genuine Stainless Tongs 42” Log Grabber.
However, it has a lot more to offer other than a generous length that enhances fireplace safety. True to its name, the Log Claw Grabber maintains a bear-like grip on logs. Much of this can be attributed to its claw-type design at the end. This design helps to make tending to an open fire a cinch.
Made from tubular steel and coated with a heavy-duty powder, the Sunnydaze Decor Log Claw Grabber is designed with durability in mind. It is also quite lightweight, which makes it easier to handle heavy logs.
And, although it features a rather simple design, the Log Claw Grabber can pick up logs that measure as much as 16 inches in diameter. Overall, this is an incredible set of fireplace tongs and well-deserving of a place on our list.
#3 Campfire Fireplace Tender Tongs
Length: 36 inches
Weight: 2.5 pounds
Type: Pincer Type
Material: Cast iron and steel with wooden handles
As far as looks go, the 36-inch Campfire Fireplace Tender Tongs are probably the cutest fireplace tongs in the market. You won’t find many fire tongs that feature insulated handles. These tongs feature large, rounded deluxe wooden handles that add a rustic charm to the unit while also providing you with a few other benefits.
For starters, you won’t have to worry about the unit heating up and burning your hands. What’s more, the wooden handles have stringed holes that allow you to hang the fireplace tongs when they are not in use. The Campfire Fireplace Tender Tongs only weigh about two and a half pounds but feel surprisingly heavy duty.
In addition, the grabber portion clamps down tightly on logs. So, you should expect durability as well as the excellent performance with this product. It comes at a very affordable price and you can purchase these tongs along with the matching 36-inch extra-long Campfire Fireplace Tender Poker by Wilcor.
Best Budget Fireplace Tongs
Inexpensive fireplace tongs are great if you are not ready to spend the money required for a high-end tong but want something a little less risky than a stick or a makeshift fire poker to tend to your fires.
These 2 tong units are the best affordable fireplace tongs for those on a budget. They offer great features and are of good quality despite their low prices.
1 – Epica Fireplace Tongs
Length: 26 inches
Weight: 1.5 pounds
Type: Scissor action
Material: Carbon Steel
For a cheap product, the Epica Fireplace Tongs have a lot to offer. At 26” inches in length, the tongs keep you at least two feet away from the dangerous flames of an open fire.
Their sturdy metal construction coupled with carefully crafted joints and hinges ensure the unit provides years of dependable use even in the face of handling large or heavy logs. We also love the fact that these tongs offer great versatility and can tend to any fire, be it on a boiler, wood-burning stove, or chiminea.
The Epica Fireplace tongs even offer one of the best user experiences for a number of reasons. To begin with, these tong’s design features a curved gripper that maintains a stronghold on logs. Therefore, you don’t have to go through the frustration of dropping and re-picking up logs repeatedly.
The specially crafted scissor action not only opens and closes smoothly but also adjusts to the size of whatever object you are picking or moving. For a bonus feature, these fire tongs fold up to a nice size of about 17”, making them easy to store and transport.
With all of these features coming at the very affordable price of less than $20, the Epica Fireplace tongs are clearly the best pick for anyone working with a tight budget
2 – EZ Outdoors Log Grabber – Small
Length: 26 inches
Weight: 1.6 pounds
Type: Scissor action
Material: Wrought iron
Slightly cheaper than the Epica Fireplace Tongs, the EZ Outdoor Log Grabber is another great pick for someone looking for low-cost fireplace tongs. Featuring a high-quality iron construction and 26 inches of tong length, the EZ Outdoors Log Grabber is sturdier and longer than the average cheap fireplace tongs.
It is designed with a scissor action that makes short work of picking up nicely chopped logs. Fumbling with logs and coal should not be an issue because these tongs have functional curved tips that maintain a good grip. The round, scissor-type handles also allow for easy one-handed operation when lifting or adjusting small logs.
Other great qualities of the EZ Outdoors Log Grabber include a foldable design that collapses down to flat compact size and versatile functionality. The folding design on these fire-logging tongs lends them the convenience of portability. In fact, you can easily fit them under a car seat when folded.
Whether you need it during camping trips, backyard parties, or for tending to indoor fireplaces, the EZ Outdoor Log Grabber is easy to use anywhere.
Fireplace Tong Buyers Guide:
In this section, we’ll take a quick look at the major factors that go into deciding which set of fireplace tongs is best. We’ll also cover a few nice to have accessories, material selections and more. After reading this guide you’ll be informed and ready to buy a set of fireplace tongs with confidence.
Why do You Need Fireplace Tongs?
Frankly speaking, you don’t need fireplace tongs to have a beautiful fire. That being said, they make the process a whole lot easier.
While tending a fire the log will constantly shift and move as the wood burns down. This leads to reduced airflow, excess smoke and increased ash. An easy way to prevent this is to position the logs into a small compact pile. That positioning is made much easier with the use of a good set of fireplace tongs.
Furthermore, you can use the fireplace tongs to lift the spark screens off of the fire pit. This dangerous activity can be performed with heat resistant gloves, but the swinging lid always has the potential to burn your arm or legs.
You can also easily add or remove firewood into chimineas without having to risk quickly diving into the intense heat to toss it in. In general, if you’ve got any sort of wood-burning flames, it’s just a downright good idea to have a set of fireplace tongs handy and ready to go.
What’s the best Fireplace Tong Material?
When it comes to fireplace tongs, you’ll really be limited to only two materials. Those are coated carbon steel and stainless steel. We’ll go over the advantages and disadvantages, but in general, stainless steel is always going to be a better choice, although it’ll be a bit more expensive.
Coated Carbon Steel
As a widely available affordable yet extremely durable metal, carbon steel is found in 90% of fireplace tongs. It offers superior strength at a budget price.
The only downside to this material is that it can easily rust. As such any set of carbon steel fireplace tongs needs to be coated in either a high heat resistant coating or a powder coating. This coating does a great job of preventing rust and helps to protect the surface of the steel.
Overall this is a great material and we’d have no issues recommending it for everyday use.
Stainless Steel
If you’re looking for a high-end material that is extremely tough, rust-resistant and looks great, stainless steel is the easy choice. Due to the inclusion of chromium in the metal stainless steel is totally resistant to rust and is great for outdoor environments.
Plus, it has strength equal to and sometimes in excess of carbon steel. Even more, it doesn’t need any protective coating and requires basically no maintenance. The only downside to this material is that it is more expensive than common carbon steel. In general, this is the best fireplace tongs material out there and is well worth the price.
Which Fireplace Tong Design is Best?
Fireplace Tongs come in two distinct varieties, scissor-type units and pincer type units. In general the two type perform exactly the same. However, during our research and testing, we noted that pincer type models are generally more reliable and require less maintenance.
This is due to pincer tongs having fewer hinges and a thicker build. The downside of pincer fireplace tongs is you have to open them up fully to grasp along.
Scissor type tongs on the other hand are typically easier to use, but have a bit less strength and are more prone to failure. Overall though, they both perform incredibly well and all the options on our list of the best fire tongs were vetted for strength, durability and reliability. So no matter which you choose, you can rest assured your tongs will be of the highest quality.
How long should my Fireplace Tongs be?
When it comes to fireplace tongs, the longer they are, the safer they should be. However, if they get too long you’ll have trouble handling and moving logs as they will be too heavy at the end of the tongs.
Typically you’ll want a set of tongs in the range of 26”-42”. This is the sweet spot where they are long enough to protect you from the flames, but not too long so as to cause trouble lifting logs.
Fireplace Tong Accessories
While a good set of fireplace tongs are essential for any wood-burning fireplace, there are a few other accessories that you might want to pick up as well.
These will help protect you from the flames and give you an overall more enjoyable experience on those cold winter nights. We’ve compiled a list of our top choices that pair incredibly well with any set of fire tongs.
Fire Poker:
A good fire poker is a great addition to your fire tool kit. While it isn’t able to pick up logs like a fireplace tong, it is much more durable at poking around in the fire and shifting logs into your desired position.
We’d recommend the Dpnamron Firedragon: Blow Poke Fireplace Tool as our top choice. Not only is it extremely reliable, but it also has an included blow tube which allows you to force extra air into your fire to really get it going. Furthermore, with the brass top and blackened design, it looks incredibly stylish as well.
Fire Gloves
A good set of fire gloves can go a long way to helping protect our hands and forearms while shifting around wood. Even with an extra-long fireplace tong a few sparks can still jump out and give you a small burn.
We’d recommend you opt for a set of G & F 8115 Premium Grain Leather Gloves. These high-quality fire gloves offer superior protection
Summary
Fire tongs are just as important to have as a well-constructed fireplace. They enhance safety when tending to open fires. However, to ensure you get the best experience, you need to buy the best fireplace tong you can afford.
Our top 10 picks reviewed above can help you narrow down to some of the best models on the market without spending so much time researching the web.
Now that you’ve got the tools, take a look at some of the best fire pits to furnish your patio.
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