The chilly fall air brought another product drop by cult smokeless firepit maker Solo Brands last year. The item was the Cinder, a mini-pit intended to move the brand’s massively popular flickering, no-odor flame products into rich new territory.
The Cinder promises “an open flame indoors,” to be emitted by a 6-by-4-inch polished concrete bowl capable of doubling as a dining centerpiece, or chilling next to a stack of coffee-table books.
At $50, the new entry is more affordable than its camp-stove-sized siblings, and uses the same smoke-free gel fuel. The design targets urban dwellers yearning for a backyard, but the Cinder can also do s’mores, giving it near-universal appeal at dessert time—or mid-meal, if the occasion demands fondue.
The Cinder is indoor-proofed, yet the burner doesn’t skimp on power: It reportedly gets hot enough (3,000 BTUs) to raise an outdoor patio temperature by several degrees, should this feature be necessary.
If the debate over the health risks and environmental impact of gas stoves pours cold water on cooking with fire, a Cinder could also provide enterprising city slickers access to a sustainable kitchen flame.
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