I tried Gozney's new Tread pizza oven – it's ultra-thin pizza stone means it heats up seriously fast

I've tried a fair few Gozney pizza ovens now as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, so my expectations for this newest release were sky high. The brand is back with the Tread pizza oven (which I previewed in my first look at its features), which the brand claims is portable enough to create a 'pop-up kitchen' anywhere.

I couldn't wait to try it out to see if it could join the other Gozney ovens (the Arc and the Roccbox) on our list of the best tried and tested pizza ovens. Here's how I got on.

In a nutshell

This oven is broadly just as capable as the Arc (which I gave 5 stars in my Gozney Arc pizza oven review), though it's not quite as affordable as the Roccbox, which I also loved in my Gozney Roccbox review after using it.

While I think the Arc takes the crown if you're looking for a pizza oven that'll stay rooted in your back garden, I'd recommend the Tread to anyone who wants a pizza oven to take out and about. Those who want to use it on the beach or out when camping will appreciate so many of the innovative features, including the ultra-fast heat-up time.

It's easier to cart around than ovens that have come before it, but it's still not super easy-to-carry for anyone going any distance on foot. The carry case that you can buy with it (£89.99 at Gozney) is ideal for slotting it into the boot of the car or camper van, but I would not recommend a trek to your nearest beach with it – it's still plenty heavy at 13.5kg.

In terms of cooking, the Tread heats up gloriously fast (which is exactly what you want on the go), thanks in part to an ultra-thin 12mm baking stone. But it doesn't keep hold of heat quite as easily as the Arc for this very reason too.

I can't say that it was too much problem for me at all when getting through cooking 6 pizzas in one sitting, but if you're catering for a seriously big crowd (how many friends do you have?!) then you might struggle.

Specs

• Fuel: Gas
• Hose: 120 cm
• Weight: 13.5kg
• Pizza size: 12 inch
• Preheat time: 15 minutes
• Oven external dimensions: Width 418mm (16.5”) x Depth 484mm (19.1”) x Height 320mm (12.6”)
• Oven internal dimensions:  Width 310mm (12.2”) x Depth 380mm (15”) x Height 150mm (5.9”)
• Warranty: 5 years if you buy direct from Gozney

Design

One thing that has always set Gozney ovens apart is the brand's emphasis on design.

The Tread is no different. While you can tell it belongs to the Gozney family (with a sure similarity to the Arc), it has features that go that extra mile to prove its portability.

Two handles running across the top make it easy to lift (in and out of car boots is the scenario I can easiest imagine) and it connects with ease to the particularly impressive Tread Venture stand, which doesn't require an even surface to house your oven.

I tried the Tread Peak Bundle (£1,099.93 at Gozney), which has all of the accessories that you could possibly buy with this oven. Unless you really are a chef and intrepid explorer, it's likely to be overkill but it's also a lot of fun. It features a roof rack, carry bag, placement peel, turning peel and a mantel which attaches to the opening of the oven to give you more space to readjust your pizza.

All of the accessories felt extremely well-made and attaching the oven onto the Venture Stand (£199.99 at Gozney) was a standout experience. It has four independently adjustable legs and two different height levels. To set it up, you can use the in-built level in the top of the stand to get things just right.

I tried the Tread in 'Olive' – it has to be the best colour on a pizza oven out there. If you're more into your neutrals, it's also available in 'Off Black'.

Cooking

The USP with the Tread is that it has advanced insulation. That means that it heats up in a flash (as little as 15 minutes) and cools down similarly quicky too (in about 20 minutes). As anyone who has waited a long time for a portable version of the best BBQs to cool down before they get on the road will known, this is an extremely welcome feature.

First things first when cooking (after seasoning the stone) was to test the quick heat-up times then. It was exactly around the 15 minute mark that the temperature gauge on the side of the oven showed that it was good to start firing pizzas in, proving that the ultra-thin cordierite stone is definitely doing the job here.

Another plus during this part of the process was that the controls for the gas were situated directly under the temperature gauge, so that you can so easily tweak it to get the heat back into a sweet spot.

The pizzas I cooked on the Tread were easy to manoeuvre thanks to a) the cavern-like design and b) the added mantel accessory, which gives you the added space you really need. It's genius that you can pop it on and off too.

The bases on the 6 pizzas I did all came out well, but admittedly I was part of an assembly line which allowed me to focus on the cooking and tweaking the temperature while someone else shaped and topped the dough. Even with this set-up there were some points where the oven had dropped off in temperature and I had to scramble to get it back up again.

For a smaller batch of pizzas (which is what you're probably doing on the go), I don't think it'll present much of an issue. It's only for a long line of continuous cooks that the super-insulated design might cause you a problem and it might be the case that the Arc is more suited to you size and use wise anyway.

How does it compare to similar pizza ovens and predecessors?

If you want a pizza oven that looks good and has the functionality to boot, pick a Gozney. Picking which one is the trickier part, though this comparison tool from the brand does a very good job of top-line similarities.

From my experience of trying the Roccbox, Arc and the Tread I'd recommend the first for beginners or those on a budget, the second to anyone with the budget at all and the Tread to anyone outdoorsy who is always out and about on the weekends and in the evenings.

If you're looking for an entry level oven that has more of the essentials that you need included, I really love the Woody Oven starter kit, which I covered in my Woody Pizza Oven review. Ooni is, of course the other brand that you have to mention here. The brand's Fyra oven is a great choice too and on the affordable side.

Should you buy the Gozney Tread?

If at-home pizza to the highest possible standard is your aim and you want to take your oven away with you, then you've found the right oven for you in the Tread. The small details go a long way to make this oven easier to carry and operate (even if it's still not something you'll want to lug around for long) and the fast heat-up times and fast cool-down times claim really does ring true.

This, like other Gozney ovens, is impressive in terms of quality and bound to be the total envy of your neighbours – whether that's at home or on a campsite on your next holiday. Wherever you choose to use it, the Tread is a total treat.