Safeway Firelog vs. Duraflame Logs - Product Review

My wife and I recently moved into an apartment with a small open fireplace. We were advised that it is best to use only artificial firelogs in our new fireplace, so I have been experimenting with different brands of artificial firelogs. Duraflame seemed to be the natural choice because it is a national brand and reasonably assured to be of high quality. However, Safeway brand firelogs are a good deal cheaper, and I often find them on sale anywhere from half to two-thirds the cost of Duraflame logs.

After having tried both Duraflame and Safeway brand firelogs, my results have been mixed. Duraflame is certainly the easier brand to light. Duraflame logs require no coaxing or relighting, and they light nearly perfectly with a single application of a lit match. They burn for the full three hours as described on their packaging and advertising, and the flame produces a steady glow and even heat for the full three hours. That being said, however, the Duraflame logs cost anywhere from 25 dollars to 30 dollars for a box of six logs. At that price, the Duraflame logs can add up to a significant sum over the course of a long winter. For that reason, I find myself purchasing Safeway firelogs more frequently than I purchase Duraflame logs.

Safeway brand firelogs do not light as easily as the Duraflame logs, and they often require that I light some newspaper to adequately start the fire. Duraflame logs, by contrast, can be lit just by igniting the wrapping paper surrounding the logs. However, once the Safeway firelogs are lit, it is very difficult to tell the difference between a Duraflame log and the generic Safeway firelog. Safeway firelogs also burn for the full three hours, although their flame and heat tend to drop off a bit toward the end of the three hours. But by that time I am usually ready to add another firelog onto the fire, so the practical impact is minimal. Safeway firelogs can usually be purchased with a Safeway Club Card for around 20 dollars for a box of six, which is a 33% savings over the cost of the Duraflame six pack. All things considered, I find the Safeway brand firelogs to be a better value than the Duraflame logs. However, it is unquestionable that the Duraflame firelogs are of higher quality and last the full three hours with an even flame.

In conclusion, after having tried both Duraflame firelogs and the Safeway brand firelogs, I find that Safeway brand firelogs are a better value and are mostly indistinguishable from Duraflames once they are lit. With a little patience in the initial lighting, and with a steady supply of firelogs, the generic Safeway brand logs should be more than adequate for an apartment-sized fireplace. Of course, no artificial firelogs take the place of a real crackling wood fire, but they are clean burning, manageable, and create plenty of ambiance. I can confidently recommend Safeway brand firelogs in place of Duraflame, as long as you are comfortable doing a little stoking and tending to get your fire started.