Slinky Stove: A Collapsible Wood and Propane Fire Pit and Pizza Oven
Slinky Stove: A Collapsible Wood and Propane Fire Pit and Pizza Oven
When you're camping in an RV, some of the best memories happen outside. Whether it's gathering around a warm fire after a day on the road or enjoying a freshly baked pizza at your campsite, having the right outdoor cooking equipment can make the experience even better.
That's where Slinky Stove comes in. The company offers two interesting products for outdoor enthusiasts: the Slinky Stove Collapsible Dual Fuel Fire Pit and the Slinky Stove Pizza Oven.
Both are designed to bring more versatility to outdoor living, making them worth a look for RVers, campers, tailgaters and anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors.
Slinky Stove Collapsible Dual Fuel Fire Pit: A Campfire That Travels
One of the biggest challenges of bringing outdoor equipment along in an RV is finding a place to store it. Traditional portable fire pits can take up quite a bit of valuable storage space. The Slinky Stove approaches that problem with an unusual design inspired by something most of us remember from childhood: a Slinky toy.
The Slinky Stove 23-inch Collapsible Dual Fuel Fire Pit expands to approximately 18.5 inches tall and collapses to just 6 inches. Even better, the fire pit remains assembled during the process. There's no need to take it apart and keep track of a collection of separate pieces just to put it away.
That compact design makes it particularly interesting for RV owners who enjoy campfires but don't want to dedicate a large storage compartment to a traditional fire pit.
A propane fire ring can be installed in the Slinky Stove transforming it into a propane fire pit
Wood or propane: You get a choice
Another interesting feature is the dual-fuel design. The Slinky Stove can burn either traditional firewood or propane, with the two fuel systems used separately.
If you enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional wood-burning campfire, you can use the wood-burning configuration. The company has incorporated an airflow design intended to produce a hotter, cleaner burn with significantly less smoke than conventional fire pits. Dry, seasoned wood is recommended, and some smoke can still occur during startup and when adding wood.
For those who prefer convenience, the propane configuration delivers up to 50,000 BTUs of heat. That's a substantial amount of heat for an outdoor gathering, and propane can be especially convenient when you don't want to deal with gathering firewood.
The propane option is also nice when you’re in an area that bans traditional fires. Another plus - you can simply turn off the propane fire and be done for the night, not having to worry about embers.
Switching between propane and wood burning is simple - two thumb screws hold in an ash pan or the propane fire ring and it’s very quick to swap them out.
More than just a fire pit
The Slinky Stove includes a stainless-steel grill grate with three adjustable cooking heights for wood-fired cooking. That gives it another purpose beyond providing a place to gather around a fire.
The fire pit is constructed from stainless steel and measures approximately 23 inches in diameter. It weighs about 30.2 pounds, so while it is collapsible, it's not an ultralight backpacking accessory.
Other included accessories include a propane burner and hose, ash pan, lid, poker and carrying bag. The lid can also serve as a small tabletop once the fire pit has completely cooled.
For RVers who enjoy outdoor cooking, having a fire pit that can also handle some grilling is a nice bonus and you’ll know that people haven’t been using this fire pit to put their stinky slinky on.
Slinky Stove Pizza Oven: Bring Pizza Night to the Campsite
If a campfire is good, fresh pizza at the campsite might be even better.
Slinky Stove takes its collapsible concept one step further with its 23-inch Collapsible Pizza Oven Attachment. This accessory transforms the Slinky Stove fire pit into an outdoor pizza-cooking setup.
The pizza oven is designed specifically for the 23-inch Slinky Stove fire pit. It isn't a standalone oven, so you'll need the fire pit to use it. The oven attachment is sold separately, and a pizza stone is not included.
The design is particularly interesting for RV travelers because conventional outdoor pizza ovens can be bulky and difficult to store. A collapsible oven offers a different approach for people who want to enjoy outdoor cooking without giving up too much storage space.
Cooking pizza outdoors
The Slinky Stove pizza oven uses heat from the fire pit below and directs it through the oven to cook the pizza. Its design is intended to provide both heat from underneath and overhead heat to cook the toppings and finish the crust.
The company describes a cooking environment capable of reaching temperatures above 900 degrees Fahrenheit under suitable conditions, with potential pizza cooking times of approximately 60 to 90 seconds.
That's the sort of high-temperature cooking that can produce a crisp crust, melted cheese and the distinctive appearance of a traditional Neapolitan-style pizza.
Of course, cooking times will depend on the fire, temperature, dough, toppings and how the pizza is prepared. You'll also want to keep an eye on your pizza because high-temperature cooking happens quickly.
For RVers who enjoy experimenting with outdoor cooking, this could be a fun alternative to the usual campground menu.
Why the Slinky Stove Could Be Interesting for RV Owners
There are several reasons these products deserve a look from the RV community.
Storage-friendly design
RV storage space is always at a premium. The ability to collapse the fire pit and pizza oven makes the system more practical for people who travel with limited storage capacity.
More outdoor cooking options
Between the fire pit's adjustable grill grate and the pizza oven attachment, this system offers several ways to prepare food outdoors.
Flexibility with fuel
The ability to choose between wood and propane is a useful feature. Depending on where you're camping, one option might be more convenient than the other. Always check campground rules and local fire restrictions before using either fuel.
A more enjoyable campsite
Sometimes the best part of RV travel is spending an evening outside. A fire pit provides a gathering place, while a pizza oven adds another reason to invite the neighbors over.
Is Slinky Stove Worth Considering for Your Next RV Adventure?
The Slinky Stove is an interesting example of how someone identified a problem with traditional outdoor equipment and came up with a different solution.
Founder Eddie M. Cantelar developed the original idea during a cross-country RV trip. He wanted the enjoyment of a full-size campfire without having to find room for a bulky fire pit. Inspired by the expanding and collapsing action of a Slinky toy, he developed a patented design that addresses that storage challenge.
