The Gozney Arc XL meets
the Ooni Koda 2
The backyard oven that cooks like a wood-fired hearth and swallows a family dinner whole. We tested it head-to-head against the Ooni Koda 2 across 7 key dimensions.
Gozney Arc XL
“The backyard oven that cooks like a wood-fired hearth and swallows a family dinner whole”
Ooni Koda 2
“The forgiving first pizza oven that gets the base crisp without draining your wallet”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gozney Arc XL
- 16-inch cooking floor fits a full 16-inch pizza or two 10-inch pies at once, and Peddling Pizza slid in 13-inch cast-iron pans to roast whole chickens alongside sides
- Double-layered top insulation plus under-stone insulation and a thick 20mm stone give it the best heat retention of the mainstream ovens, with Some Dads Cook clocking a 3-minute recovery between bakes
- Some Dads Cook measured it hitting 850F in 33 minutes, faster than the smaller standard Arc, and the built-in digital thermometer and precise flame dial make control easy
- At 58.5 lbs it is strictly stationary; Tom Voyage, Some Dads Cook, and Peddling Pizza all treat it as a permanent backyard fixture, not a camping oven
- Tom Voyage found the stone hard to remove for cleaning because it needs a special tool and awkward tipping of the heavy body
- Some Dads Cook notes it commands a clear premium, roughly $500 more than the portable Tread and a step above the 18-inch Ooni Koda 2 Pro
Ooni Koda 2
- The Technology Man praised the upgraded 15mm cordierite stone, which recharges to 400C in roughly 2 minutes between bakes, enough to feed a family
- The 14-inch mouth gives beginners real room to launch, turn, and pull a standard 12-inch pizza, which The Technology Man called the perfect first pizza oven
- The Technology Man weighed the gas bottle before and after a run and calculated about 80p per hour to run, closely matching Ooni's efficiency claims
- No built-in thermometer, so The Technology Man had to buy a separate infrared gun to know when the stone was ready
- The single rear flame blew out on windy days in The Technology Man's testing, forcing him to reposition the oven
- Because the heat comes from one rear burner, The Technology Man had to turn the pizza every 15 seconds to keep the back edge from scorching
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Gozney Arc XL wins because it does the two things a backyard oven is for better than anything else in the mainstream tier: it retains heat and it holds a real meal. Tom Voyage traced the retention to the construction, a thick 20mm cordierite stone sitting on under-stone insulation, with a double layer of insulation in the roof. Some Dads Cook put numbers to it, watching the stone climb back to 850F in about 3 minutes after a bake, which is what lets you feed a line of hungry guests without waiting between pizzas. The 16-inch floor is the other half of the story. Peddling Pizza fit two 10-inch pizzas side by side and then swapped in 13-inch cast-iron pans to roast whole chickens and sides, so the Arc XL genuinely replaces the barbecue rather than sitting next to it. Heat-up is quick for the size, with Some Dads Cook logging 850F in 33 minutes, faster than the smaller standard Arc. Add the built-in digital thermometer and a precise flame dial and you get an oven that is powerful and easy to read at the same time.
Gozney Arc XL
The Gozney Arc XL wins because it does the two things a backyard oven is for better than anything else in the mainstream tier: it retains heat and it holds a real meal. Tom Voyage traced the retention to the construction, a thick 20mm cordierite stone sitting on under-stone insulation, with a double layer of insulation in the roof. Some Dads Cook put numbers to it, watching the stone climb back to 850F in about 3 minutes after a bake, which is what lets you feed a line of hungry guests without waiting between pizzas. The 16-inch floor is the other half of the story. Peddling Pizza fit two 10-inch pizzas side by side and then swapped in 13-inch cast-iron pans to roast whole chickens and sides, so the Arc XL genuinely replaces the barbecue rather than sitting next to it. Heat-up is quick for the size, with Some Dads Cook logging 850F in 33 minutes, faster than the smaller standard Arc. Add the built-in digital thermometer and a precise flame dial and you get an oven that is powerful and easy to read at the same time.
- Backyard hosts who cook for a whole family or a party
- Cooks who want one oven that also roasts chicken, fish, and sides
- Buyers with a dedicated stand or outdoor kitchen space
- Propane users who want a rolling side flame that mimics wood-fired heat
- Anyone who values back-to-back baking and a built-in thermometer over portability
Ooni Koda 2
The Ooni Koda 2 in its 14-inch form is the most oven per dollar. The Technology Man focused on the upgraded 15mm stone and measured it recovering to 400C in roughly 2 minutes, close enough to the premium ovens that a family will not notice the gap on a normal pizza night. The 14-inch mouth is the quiet hero for anyone new to this, because it gives you room to launch and turn a 12-inch pizza without fighting the opening, which is why he called it the perfect first pizza oven. It is cheap to run, too. He weighed his gas bottle before and after a two-hour burn and landed at about 80p per hour, matching Ooni's own claims. For a buyer who wants authentic high-heat gas baking and the freedom to pack the oven away, nothing at this price does more.
- First-time pizza makers who want a forgiving 14-inch opening
- Couples and small families cooking a pizza or two at a time
- Buyers with limited space who need to pack the oven away
- People who want authentic high-heat gas baking on a tight budget
- Cooks happy to add a cheap infrared thermometer and turn the pizza themselves