As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my restaurant, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the privilege of working with a variety of pizza ovens, each offering unique features and performance. Today, I’ll compare the Halo Versa 16 and the Cru Champion Pizza Oven, both of which I’ve tested extensively in my kitchen. My evaluation covers crucial aspects such as quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and a real pizza cooking test to see how long it takes to make the perfect pizza. For those interested, you can check out the thorough testing process I follow in a separate article.
The Halo Versa 16 is a propane-powered pizza oven designed for quick and consistent cooking, offering versatility in size and style. Meanwhile, the Cru Champion Pizza Oven is a wood-fired oven celebrated for its traditional flavor and robust construction, making it an excellent choice for outdoor cooking enthusiasts.
I’ve conducted thorough tests to compare the Halo Versa 16 and the Cru Champion Pizza Oven, detailed in this article.
Lastly, I’d like to mention that if you decide to purchase either of these ovens, using my referral links helps keep my blog alive by earning me a small commission at no cost to you. Stay tuned for my detailed comparison!
Halo Versa 16 VS Cru Champion: Quality and Materials
| The Halo Versa 16 boasts top-notch materials, with durable construction and robust design. It is crafted for longevity, making it suitable for both professional and home use. |
The Cru Champion oven features a durable stainless steel build with ceramic stone insulation. While sturdy, some users report discoloration in the chimney over time.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Cru Champion: Temperature Control
| The Halo Versa 16 heats up to 950°F in about 20 minutes and maintains even heat distribution with its rear burner, ensuring consistent cooking results. The built-in thermometer is somewhat unreliable, but using an infrared thermometer ensures accuracy. |
The Cru Champion oven heats up to 900°F in approximately 13 minutes, but its larger dome design can lead to some heat loss. Retaining consistent temperatures requires careful management.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Cru Champion: Shape
| The Halo Versa 16’s shape is optimized for even cooking, accommodating up to 16-inch pizzas while ensuring good airflow for uniform results. |
The Cru Champion features a semi-round dome that facilitates heat retention and airflow. Its spacious design is great for larger dishes, but the size can lead to some heat escape.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Cru Champion: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Using the Halo Versa 16 for the first time was straightforward, though a slight learning curve is involved in managing the rear burner. Once mastered, it delivered excellent results. |
The Cru Champion impressed with its quick setup and fast heating. However, managing the wood fire and ensuring even cooking required a bit of practice.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Cru Champion: Power Source
| The Halo Versa 16 is powered by propane, offering flexibility with both standard 20 lb. tanks and portable 1 lb. canisters. Its quick-connect regulator makes setup a breeze. |
The Cru Champion uses either wood or charcoal, providing the option for a smoky flavor. This adds versatility but requires more attention to manage the fire.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Cru Champion: Size
| The Halo Versa 16 is compact and portable, weighing 43.21 lbs., with dimensions of 24.3″ x 21.64″ x 14.82″, making it ideal for outdoor gatherings. |
The Cru Champion is much larger, with a cooking area of 24” x 24” and a 17.5-inch opening. It is better suited for larger gatherings but less portable due to its size and weight.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Cru Champion: Ease of Cleaning
| Cleaning the Halo Versa 16 is simple. The hinged access top and removable Cordierite stone allow for easy maintenance. Regular brushing and wiping keep it in excellent condition. |
The Cru Champion’s removable dome makes it easy to clean the interior, though the stones and soot buildup require extra attention. Care must be taken to avoid cracking the stones during cleaning.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Halo Versa 16 and the Cru Champion pizza ovens each excel in their own ways when it comes to performance. Here’s how they fared during the cooking test.
The Halo Versa 16 took approximately 20 minutes to heat up, reaching a stone temperature of around 732°F. While this falls slightly below the manufacturer’s claim of 950°F in 12 minutes, it was more than sufficient for pizza cooking. Once preheated, the Halo Versa 16 cooked a classic Margherita pizza in under 2 minutes. The result was a perfectly balanced pizza with a crisp, golden crust, melted cheese, and evenly cooked toppings. The rear burner required minor adjustments during the process, but the end product was delightful, showcasing both texture and flavor.
The Cru Champion oven impressed with its quick heating time, reaching around 850°F in just 13 minutes, despite the manufacturer’s claim of 20 minutes. Once heated, the Margherita pizza cooked in approximately 96 seconds. The crust achieved a nice leopard spotting, and the toppings were beautifully caramelized. The wood-fired flavor added a subtle smokiness, elevating the taste to a new level. However, the larger cooking space required more attention to rotate the pizza evenly to prevent overcooking on one side.
Both ovens produced exceptional pizzas, but the Halo Versa 16 delivered a slightly more uniform cook with less manual intervention. The Cru Champion excelled in creating an authentic wood-fired flavor, making it an excellent choice for traditionalists.
How We Tested
To provide an objective comparison, we conducted thorough tests of both the Halo Versa 16 and the Cru Champion pizza ovens under similar conditions. Each oven was evaluated for its heating time, cooking performance, and the resulting taste of a classic Margherita pizza.
We began by preheating both ovens, following the manufacturer’s guidelines for setup and operation. Infrared thermometers were used to monitor stone temperatures, ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the testing process. Each oven was tested in an outdoor environment with similar weather conditions to eliminate external variables.
For the pizza, we used the same dough recipe and toppings—a traditional Margherita featuring fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce. This ensured that any differences in the outcome could be attributed solely to the performance of the ovens.
During the cooking phase, we carefully monitored the heat retention and distribution of each oven. Pizzas were rotated manually when necessary to evaluate evenness of cook. We timed the cooking process and recorded observations on crust texture, cheese melt, and overall flavor.
The Halo Versa 16 impressed with its steady heat distribution and ease of use, while the Cru Champion stood out for its capacity to create a smoky, wood-fired flavor. Both ovens delivered high-quality results, but nuances in performance highlighted their unique strengths, which we detail in the rest of this comparison.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice between the Halo Versa 16 and the Cru Champion depends on your cooking style and personal preferences. Both ovens have unique strengths, whether it’s the precision and efficiency of the Halo Versa 16 or the versatile, wood-fired flavor of the Cru Champion. Each oven offers an excellent outdoor cooking experience, and either would be a valuable addition to your pizza-making arsenal.
If you decide to purchase one of these ovens, I’d greatly appreciate it if you use my referral links. It helps support my work and keep this blog alive, all at no cost to you. Here’s the link for the Halo Versa 16 and the Cru Champion. Thank you for your support, and happy pizza-making!