Some things in life just make you say "awww" the moment you see them. Puppies. Babies. Mini bananas. You get it. Sometimes, this cuteness overload carries over to home goods: vintage Christmas ornaments, puffy pillows and now, Solo Stove's newest creation, the Cinder.
A smaller version of the brand's popular S'mores Bowl, the Cinder is Solo Stove's first-ever firepit that can be used indoors. Its diminutive size is indeed quite adorable, it's easy to set up and move around and, at fifty bucks, it doesn't break the bank. I got ahold of a tester a few days ahead of today's launch, and here's what I think so far.
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The Cinder: The Details
Weighing in at just five pounds, the Cinder is constructed from a natural bamboo base and a concrete vessel. It provides 3,000 BTUs of radiant warmth and a three-hour burn time per gel fuel canister. The canister can be easily replaced, and because the fire is powered by smokeless, food-grade gel fuel, there's no cleanup involved. Making some tasty s'mores from the comfort of your living room (or campsite) is as easy as popping the lid off the gel fuel and striking a match.
The Cinder: My Experience
I've used Solo Stove's products in the past, including its Campfire Gear Kit, and what impresses me each time is the simplicity and ease of setup baked into every release. The Cinder is no different — it doesn't even come with instructions, because it doesn't need them.
My Cinder came with one gel fuel canister, which I was familiar with thanks to Solo's Lloyd Modern Gel Fireplace. If you've opened a can of paint before, the process is the same: find a flathead screwdriver, pop it under the rim of the lid and work your way around with quick movements until it's loose enough to pry off. That's the hardest part. Then, just light the fuel, break out the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers, and take it from there.
A few caveats: Just like with a fire fueled by wood, if you let your marshmallow get too melty and it drops into the flame, you won't be able to eat it; you'll have to start fresh. Unlike with a bigger unit, you can only roast one marshmallow at a time. The gel fuel smells like rubbing alcohol when the canister is opened. But the flames themselves are odorless, which is nice unless you really like the smell of a fire (as many of us do).
While it's quite easy to set up and use the Cinder, please don't let your kids play with it unsupervised; it's not a toy. And although it's made from durable materials, I'd recommend bringing it back inside if you use it on the patio or at the campsite. It'll last longer and look nicer with a little care.
If you relish the idea of a small, low-maintenance fire you can easily light up indoors or out, the Cinder is an affordable, fun way to spice up any evening — and the perfect vessel to bring more s'mores into your life.
