A camp stove and portable heater in one?! That’s the shiny new Ignik Skullet. But it isn’t your typical camp stove OR propane heater. It takes the concept of the brand’s original Firecan (for no-fuss campground coziness) and Firecan Deluxe (which made cooking a few small items possible), plus more traditional cooking surfaces, and flips them both on their head.
In fact, the Skullet is both a functional portable heater and easy-to-use camp stove in one moderately convenient package. But is it perfect? We tested it with friends to find out.
What is the Ignik Skullet?
First things first: the Skullet is a portable heater for camping and a cooking surface in one clever contraption (not at the same time but we’ll get to that in a minute). The brand calls it a portable heater stove. It’s a portable heater, but also a portable stove.
Where does the name “Skullet” come from? Well, it’s business below and a party up top. So kind of the opposite of the terrible haircut of the same name (seriously, don’t Google it unless you want images of truly disturbing heads seared into your brain).
Portable because with the push of a few buttons it expands to a cooking and heating contraption and then collapses to a more manageable size for transportation and storage. It even comes with a removable handle to make getting it from your gear shed to your vehicle to your campground easy.
Plus, you can add on options like adjustable tripod legs and a custom skillet for even more functionality. It runs on propane, either a standard BBQ tank or an Ignik Gas Growler (which are also refillable and more compact), but not those wasteful 1lb bottles.
You can purchase just the Skullet heater and sit it right on the ground or on a picnic table or purchase the cook set bundle with tripod legs and a skillet to create an adjustable-height system.
How We Tested the Skullet
Naturally, I was intrigued when I first got a hold of one of the new propane camping heaters. At first glance, the design didn’t really seem to fit my minimalist style. I usually opt for a compact and streamlined two-burner camp stove like the Primus Tupike (which I love). But the Skullet was certainly unique, so I was stoked to give it a try.
After all, it wasn’t that bulky, and it was a cook stove and camp heater in one. And honestly, as much as I love a campfire, I can’t always be bothered to build one and maintain it, especially if there’s not a water source nearby with plenty of liquid to drown a fire before bed, per Leave No Trace principles. So that feature appealed to me. Plus, I live in the mountain west where it’s often dry and wildfire danger is real, so campfires aren’t always an option.
So we set it up in the backyard and performed a trial run by lighting it up and cooking some vegan steaks and sautéed veggies on the skillet. Then we pulled it out on a chilly night when we had some friends over, all of whom were instantly taken with this fire-breathing heater on tripod legs. We gathered around it all night, warming our hands and our backsides with its warmth. Here’s what we thought after testing it on these and other occasions.
Design and Build Quality
The Ignik Skullet is at least as solidly built as any other gear we’ve ever tested from the brand. All the parts and pieces are metal, some is sturdy iron. Clearly a lot of thought went into this design (I mean, it collapses for ease of storage and deployed for more space to heat and cook!) and most of the attachment points, parts and pieces have good tolerances.
I did find the tripod legs a bit wobbly, but once I pulled them outward to their max circumference I wasn’t worried at all about the structure collapsing. It felt plenty sturdy.
It’s obviously a durable piece of kit, but it also comes with a lifetime warranty. That means if something goes wrong or you need a part, repair or replacement, Ignik will “Make it right.”
The cast iron skillet that comes with the Skullet bundle is a great cooking surface. It’s pre-seasoned, large enough to stir fry veggies or cook burgers for up to four people, and easy to use thanks to heat-resistant handles.
It’s also cool. Which, OK, may be a relative term, but this thing is objectively unique. Our outdoorsy friends were mesmerized with it. They (and we) love the inventive design, the functionality, and how sleek and modern it looks. It’ll definitely be the talk of the campground wherever you set it up.
Ease of Use
Whether you can’t be bothered to build a campfire or you want one straightforward device that can be used to cook (or both), the Skullet is easy to use.
Telescoping (and removable) tripod legs let you adjust the height and there is a quick-connect propane input and hose. There’s just one knob to ignite and adjust the flame plus printed directions on the heater body.
It’s easily deployable from its more compact storage mode. Whether you want to use it as a camp stove or a heater, just push the three lock buttons on the corners and slide the metal mesh section upward until it locks into place at the top of the base. Unscrew the removable handle, connect the propane hose to your propane tank or Gas Growler, and you’re ready to go!
If you want to use it as a cooking surface, fold out the three heavy duty wings/vents on the very top that act as a pot rest (the skillet accessory nestles perfectly on top). If you want to use it as a heater, fold them closed. Then light it up using the igniter knob. To turn it off again just turn the knob all the way off and the flame will disappear.
Let it cool for about 30 minutes before you collapse it again and stash it away.
We found it just as easy to set up and use in the dark as in the light of day. The igniter sometimes took a few clicks to get it lit, but it was a plus not to have to keep a lighter handy.
Performance
Let’s talk about cooking with the Skullet first. The Cook Set bundle comes with a nice big skillet (which you can also buy separately), but you can also place a large pot, cast iron skillet or dutch oven on the Skullet if you need to boil water or want to use your own pot or pan. The base of that vessel does need to be large enough to rest on the fold-out pot rests, but as long as it is (and most full-size items are), you’re good to go.
So it had plenty of sturdy space to rest big, heavy pans, but I mostly used the Ignik skillet to cook some vegan steaks and veggies. Whoa did it cook fast! Largely because the heat wasn’t super adjustable, so I couldn’t turn it down low enough to simmer or just keep things warm. But it did make quick work of preparing dinner. Because the heat doesn’t go super low, if you consider yourself a real camp chef, you may prefer a more finely tuned system.
As for heating functionality, it’s surprisingly warm from every side. At a recent backyard shindig on a cool night, we fired it up and it provided at least as much heat as our Solo Stove. Friends were gathered around it all night and over four hours we used about 3/4 of a 3.8lb Gas Growler.
Portability
For those tight on space, the Skullet is definitely not the most compact coking surface and source of heat. For example, on a spring camping road trip through the Utah national parks with my parents, there wasn’t a square foot of extra space in our small SUV (including in the roof box) for a cooking/heating system this bulky. We and all our gear were crammed in that car like sardines.
All of our kitchen gear had to fit in one Gregory Alpaca Camp Box (except our Primus camp stove, which is low-profile enough to slide between other gear). We did bring our 3.8lb Ignik Gas Growler, but even that was pushing it.
That said, for what it is, it’s tolerably compact. When you’re done using the stove and it’s cooled down, just press the three lock buttons on the corners and the metal mesh section slides down over the lower heating section onto the base. That way, it takes up about 2/3 the space as when fully deployed.
The skillet is fairly flat so is easily packable and the tripod legs fold into a tidy bundle, too.
Functionality
Like other Ignik propane-powered products, one of the functional upsides of the Skullet is that it’s OK to use in areas where there are fire bans in effect. That’s because it’s technically a stove, not an open fire that throws off sparks, and it can be turned off instantly with the turn of a dial.
So if you live or regularly travel to areas where there are fire bans, this is a convenient option for both cooking and staying warm that won’t put forests in danger of wildfires.
But it’s also just functional. For heating and cooking. At the same time. That’s especially beneficial when preparing meals on chilly nights.
That said, the Skullet is not strictly speaking necessary if you mostly camp at developed campsites with fire pits (especially if you ALSO are short on space). Fire pits offer the warmth and ambience of a fire, plus a way to cook your food if you enjoy a little open fire cooking over pits with a grill grate or if there’s a charcoal grill on site.
And there’s only one cooking surface, so if you’re the type who wants to boil water, sauté vegetables and grill burgers all at the same time, you’ll either have to bring a second cooking surface or learn how to focus on one thing at a time. It’s a downside that’s easily remedied (change your menu or bring a second separate burner), but if cooking several things at once is your M.O. most of the time, note that just bringing the Skullet likely won’t be enough on its own.
Price and Value
If you’re on a budget, then you should know the Skullet doesn’t come cheap. At $400 for just the Skullet and $500 for the bundle with the heater, skillet and tripod legs, it’s quite an investment. And I would recommend at least getting the tripod legs so you don’t have to squat to use it or have access to a picnic table.
And while you don’t need Ignik’s Gas Growlers to use it (any propane tank will do), one of those would be an extra investment. But one we actually do think is worth it for those who travel often and for longer periods and need a mid-size tank option. Bonus: propane is pretty cheap in most places, meaning fuel costs pennies per use.
That said, it does function as both a cooking stove and heater, so if you were going to buy premium options for both of those things, the Skullet sits at a comparable price. And thanks to its durability and solid construction, it should last for years if not decades.
Ignik Skullet Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Instant heat
- Fast and easy setup
- Easy to use
- Multifunctional
- Usable in fire ban regions
- Usable with your own cookware
Cons:
- Only one burner
- Fairly bulky and heavy
- Expensive
- Limited temp control
Who the Skullet Is and Isn’t For
Not everyone will find the Ignik Skullet the perfect piece of camping gear, but some will.
Who Will Love It
- Boondockers and dispersed campers who regularly camp off grid in undeveloped campsites
- Those with enough storage space to store and transport the Skullet
- Anyone who wants a single device for cooking and heating
- Families or groups or four or less (for cooking functionality)
- Folks who like to stick with one pot or skillet meals
- Those hovering somewhere between camp minimalism and maximalism
- Tailgaters, ski bums and BBQers who want a simple, portable, compact cooking and heating system
- Anyone who camps in areas with fire bans
- Folks who hate smelling like campfire
- Cold weather campers
Who Should Skip It
- Big groups who need multiple cooking surfaces or a large fire to gather around
- Those who like a source of heat while they’re cooking
- Anyone who’s short on space
- Camp chefs who want more cooking surfaces and control
- Those on a budget
Bottom Line
Would we recommend the Ignik Skullet? That depends. If it suits your lifestyle and camping style (and your budget), then heck yeah, get yourself the whole kit! But if the price tag is a stretch for you or you tend to lean to the minimalist side of camping, it may be a bit overkill for you.
As for me, I love having it for cool weather backyard hangs because my home is too small to accommodate more than about four people indoors, lol. I’ve never had a full-on grill, so this feels like a great, more compact, minimalist, storable option that I’ll actually use for outdoor cooking and grilling (especially in the summer when it’s too hot inside to turn on the stove).
And I’m stoked to use it on more fall and winter camping trips when we want the easiest, fastest cooking and heating setup possible because it’s too dang cold to sit outside with no fire at a time when fire pits may be filled with snow, or there may not be viable picnic tables for more traditional camp stoves. And frankly, I know some skiers who hang out in resort parking lots aprés ski would be obsessed with this.
Is it the perfect piece of kit for everyone? No. But it’s a pretty rad option.
