diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 5159140..21e8713 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-use core::{fmt, marker::PhantomData, mem::MaybeUninit};
+#![cfg_attr(not(feature = "std"), no_std)]
+
+use core::{fmt, mem::MaybeUninit, ops::Index};
 
 #[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
 extern crate alloc;
@@ -6,12 +8,11 @@ extern crate alloc;
 macro_rules! test_println {
     ($($arg:tt)*) => {
         if cfg!(test) {
-            if std::thread::panicking() {
+            if crate::util::panicking() {
                 // getting the thread ID while panicking doesn't seem to play super nicely with loom's
                 // mock lazy_static...
                 println!("[PANIC {:>17}:{:<3}] {}", file!(), line!(), format_args!($($arg)*))
             } else {
-                #[cfg(test)]
                 println!("[{:?} {:>17}:{:<3}] {}", crate::loom::thread::current().id(), file!(), line!(), format_args!($($arg)*))
             }
         }
@@ -31,37 +32,37 @@ macro_rules! test_dbg {
 }
 
 mod loom;
-#[cfg(test)]
-mod tests;
 mod util;
 
-use crate::loom::{
-    atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering},
-    UnsafeCell,
-};
-
-use crate::util::{Backoff, CachePadded};
-
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+mod thingbuf;
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+pub use self::thingbuf::ThingBuf;
 #[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
 mod stringbuf;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
-pub use stringbuf::StringBuf;
-
-/// A ringbuf of...things.
-///
-/// # Examples
-///
-/// Using a
-pub struct ThingBuf<T, S = Box<[Slot<T>]>> {
+pub use stringbuf::{StaticStringBuf, StringBuf};
+
+mod static_thingbuf;
+pub use self::static_thingbuf::StaticThingBuf;
+
+use crate::{
+    loom::{
+        atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering},
+        UnsafeCell,
+    },
+    util::{Backoff, CachePadded},
+};
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct Core {
     head: CachePadded<AtomicUsize>,
     tail: CachePadded<AtomicUsize>,
     gen: usize,
     gen_mask: usize,
     idx_mask: usize,
     capacity: usize,
-    slots: S,
-    _t: PhantomData<T>,
 }
 
 pub struct Ref<'slot, T> {
@@ -73,27 +74,28 @@ pub struct Ref<'slot, T> {
 pub struct AtCapacity(usize);
 
 pub struct Slot<T> {
-    value: UnsafeCell<T>,
+    value: UnsafeCell<MaybeUninit<T>>,
     state: AtomicUsize,
 }
 
-// === impl ThingBuf ===
-
-impl<T: Default> ThingBuf<T> {
-    pub fn new(capacity: usize) -> Self {
-        Self::new_with(capacity, T::default)
+impl Core {
+    #[cfg(not(test))]
+    const fn new(capacity: usize) -> Self {
+        let gen = (capacity + 1).next_power_of_two();
+        let idx_mask = gen - 1;
+        let gen_mask = !(gen - 1);
+        Self {
+            head: CachePadded(AtomicUsize::new(0)),
+            tail: CachePadded(AtomicUsize::new(0)),
+            gen,
+            gen_mask,
+            idx_mask,
+            capacity,
+        }
     }
-}
 
-impl<T> ThingBuf<T> {
-    pub fn new_with(capacity: usize, mut initializer: impl FnMut() -> T) -> Self {
-        assert!(capacity > 0);
-        let slots = (0..capacity)
-            .map(|idx| Slot {
-                state: AtomicUsize::new(idx),
-                value: UnsafeCell::new(initializer()),
-            })
-            .collect();
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    fn new(capacity: usize) -> Self {
         let gen = (capacity + 1).next_power_of_two();
         let idx_mask = gen - 1;
         let gen_mask = !(gen - 1);
@@ -104,13 +106,9 @@ impl<T> ThingBuf<T> {
             gen_mask,
             idx_mask,
             capacity,
-            slots,
-            _t: PhantomData,
         }
     }
-}
 
-impl<T, S> ThingBuf<T, S> {
     #[inline]
     fn idx_gen(&self, val: usize) -> (usize, usize) {
         (val & self.idx_mask, val & self.gen_mask)
@@ -130,46 +128,19 @@ impl<T, S> ThingBuf<T, S> {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn capacity(&self) -> usize {
-        self.capacity
-    }
-}
-
-impl<T, S> ThingBuf<T, S>
-where
-    S: AsRef<[Slot<T>]>,
-{
-    pub fn from_array(slots: S) -> Self {
-        let capacity = slots.as_ref().len();
-        assert!(capacity > 0);
-        for (idx, slot) in slots.as_ref().iter().enumerate() {
-            // Relaxed is fine here, because the slot is not shared yet.
-            slot.state.store(idx, Ordering::Relaxed);
-        }
-        let gen = (capacity + 1).next_power_of_two();
-        let idx_mask = gen - 1;
-        let gen_mask = !(gen - 1);
-        Self {
-            head: CachePadded(AtomicUsize::new(0)),
-            tail: CachePadded(AtomicUsize::new(0)),
-            gen,
-            gen_mask,
-            idx_mask,
-            capacity,
-            slots,
-            _t: PhantomData,
-        }
-    }
-
     #[inline]
-    pub fn push_with<U>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut T) -> U) -> Result<U, AtCapacity> {
-        self.push_ref().map(|mut r| r.with_mut(f))
+    fn capacity(&self) -> usize {
+        self.capacity
     }
 
-    pub fn push_ref(&self) -> Result<Ref<'_, T>, AtCapacity> {
+    fn push_ref<'slots, T, S>(&self, slots: &'slots S) -> Result<Ref<'slots, T>, AtCapacity>
+    where
+        T: Default,
+        S: Index<usize, Output = Slot<T>> + ?Sized,
+    {
+        test_println!("push_ref");
         let mut backoff = Backoff::new();
         let mut tail = self.tail.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
-        let slots = self.slots.as_ref();
 
         loop {
             let (idx, gen) = self.idx_gen(tail);
@@ -178,7 +149,7 @@ where
             let slot = &slots[idx];
             let state = slot.state.load(Ordering::Acquire);
 
-            if state == tail {
+            if state == tail || (state == 0 && gen == 0) {
                 // Move the tail index forward by 1.
                 let next_tail = self.next(idx, gen);
                 match self.tail.compare_exchange_weak(
@@ -188,12 +159,25 @@ where
                     Ordering::Relaxed,
                 ) {
                     Ok(_) => {
+                        // We got the slot! It's now okay to write to it
+                        test_println!("claimed tail slot");
+                        if gen == 0 {
+                            slot.value.with_mut(|value| unsafe {
+                                // Safety: we have just claimed exclusive ownership over
+                                // this slot.
+                                (*value).write(T::default());
+                            });
+                            test_println!("-> initialized");
+                        }
+
                         return Ok(Ref {
                             new_state: tail + 1,
                             slot,
-                        })
+                        });
                     }
                     Err(actual) => {
+                        // Someone else took this slot and advanced the tail
+                        // index. Try to claim the new tail.
                         tail = actual;
                         backoff.spin();
                         continue;
@@ -215,15 +199,13 @@ where
         }
     }
 
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn pop_with<U>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut T) -> U) -> Option<U> {
-        self.pop_ref().map(|mut r| r.with_mut(f))
-    }
-
-    pub fn pop_ref(&self) -> Option<Ref<'_, T>> {
+    fn pop_ref<'slots, T, S>(&self, slots: &'slots S) -> Option<Ref<'slots, T>>
+    where
+        S: Index<usize, Output = Slot<T>> + ?Sized,
+    {
+        test_println!("pop_ref");
         let mut backoff = Backoff::new();
         let mut head = self.head.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
-        let slots = self.slots.as_ref();
 
         loop {
             test_dbg!(head);
@@ -245,10 +227,11 @@ where
                     Ordering::Relaxed,
                 ) {
                     Ok(_) => {
+                        test_println!("claimed head slot");
                         return Some(Ref {
                             new_state: head.wrapping_add(self.gen),
                             slot,
-                        })
+                        });
                     }
                     Err(actual) => {
                         head = actual;
@@ -273,13 +256,24 @@ where
             head = self.head.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
         }
     }
-}
 
-impl<T, S> fmt::Debug for ThingBuf<T, S> {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        f.debug_struct("ThingBuf")
-            .field("capacity", &self.capacity())
-            .finish()
+    fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        use std::cmp;
+        loop {
+            let tail = self.tail.load(Ordering::SeqCst);
+            let head = self.head.load(Ordering::SeqCst);
+
+            if self.tail.load(Ordering::SeqCst) == tail {
+                let (head_idx, _) = self.idx_gen(head);
+                let (tail_idx, _) = self.idx_gen(tail);
+                return match head_idx.cmp(&tail_idx) {
+                    cmp::Ordering::Less => head_idx - tail_idx,
+                    cmp::Ordering::Greater => self.capacity - head_idx + tail_idx,
+                    _ if tail == head => 0,
+                    _ => self.capacity,
+                };
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -289,16 +283,23 @@ impl<T> Ref<'_, T> {
     #[inline]
     pub fn with<U>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&T) -> U) -> U {
         self.slot.value.with(|value| unsafe {
-            // Safety: if a `Ref` exists, we have exclusive ownership of the slot.
-            f(&*value)
+            // Safety: if a `Ref` exists, we have exclusive ownership of the
+            // slot. A `Ref` is only created if the slot has already been
+            // initialized.
+            // TODO(eliza): use `MaybeUninit::assume_init_ref` here once it's
+            // supported by `tracing-appender`'s MSRV.
+            f(&*(&*value).as_ptr())
         })
     }
 
     #[inline]
     pub fn with_mut<U>(&mut self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut T) -> U) -> U {
         self.slot.value.with_mut(|value| unsafe {
-            // Safety: if a `Ref` exists, we have exclusive ownership of the slot.
-            f(&mut *value)
+            // Safety: if a `Ref` exists, we have exclusive ownership of the
+            // slot.
+            // TODO(eliza): use `MaybeUninit::assume_init_mut` here once it's
+            // supported by `tracing-appender`'s MSRV.
+            f(&mut *(&mut *value).as_mut_ptr())
         })
     }
 }
@@ -344,42 +345,22 @@ impl<T: fmt::Write> fmt::Write for Ref<'_, T> {
 
 // === impl Slot ===
 
-impl<T: Default> Default for Slot<T> {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        Self::new(T::default())
-    }
-}
-
 impl<T> Slot<T> {
-    const UNINIT: usize = usize::MAX;
-
     #[cfg(not(test))]
-    pub const fn new(t: T) -> Self {
+    const fn empty() -> Self {
         Self {
-            value: UnsafeCell::new(t),
-            state: AtomicUsize::new(Self::UNINIT),
+            value: UnsafeCell::new(MaybeUninit::uninit()),
+            state: AtomicUsize::new(0),
         }
     }
 
     #[cfg(test)]
-    pub fn new(t: T) -> Self {
+    fn empty() -> Self {
         Self {
-            value: UnsafeCell::new(t),
-            state: AtomicUsize::new(Self::UNINIT),
+            value: UnsafeCell::new(MaybeUninit::uninit()),
+            state: AtomicUsize::new(0),
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<T> Slot<MaybeUninit<T>> {
-    #[cfg(not(test))]
-    pub const fn uninit() -> Self {
-        Self::new(MaybeUninit::uninit())
-    }
-
-    #[cfg(test)]
-    pub fn uninit() -> Self {
-        Self::new(MaybeUninit::uninit())
-    }
-}
-
 unsafe impl<T: Sync> Sync for Slot<T> {}
diff --git a/src/loom.rs b/src/loom.rs
index c1533ac..6c7aa88 100644
--- a/src/loom.rs
+++ b/src/loom.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ mod inner {
         pub use loom::sync::atomic::*;
         pub use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
     }
-    pub(crate) use loom::{cell::UnsafeCell, hint, sync, thread};
+    pub(crate) use loom::{cell::UnsafeCell, hint, thread};
 
     pub(crate) fn model(f: impl Fn() + Sync + Send + 'static) {
         let iteration = core::sync::atomic::AtomicUsize::new(0);
diff --git a/src/static_thingbuf.rs b/src/static_thingbuf.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46afc48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/static_thingbuf.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+use crate::loom::atomic::Ordering;
+use crate::{AtCapacity, Core, Ref, Slot};
+use core::{fmt, ptr};
+
+pub struct StaticThingBuf<T, const CAP: usize> {
+    core: Core,
+    slots: [Slot<T>; CAP],
+}
+
+// === impl ThingBuf ===
+
+#[cfg(not(test))]
+impl<T, const CAP: usize> StaticThingBuf<T, CAP> {
+    const SLOT: Slot<T> = Slot::empty();
+
+    pub const fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            core: Core::new(CAP),
+            slots: [Self::SLOT; CAP],
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, const CAP: usize> StaticThingBuf<T, CAP> {
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn capacity(&self) -> usize {
+        CAP
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.core.len()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.len() == 0
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Default, const CAP: usize> StaticThingBuf<T, CAP> {
+    pub fn push_ref(&self) -> Result<Ref<'_, T>, AtCapacity> {
+        self.core.push_ref(&self.slots)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn push_with<U>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut T) -> U) -> Result<U, AtCapacity> {
+        self.push_ref().map(|mut r| r.with_mut(f))
+    }
+
+    pub fn pop_ref(&self) -> Option<Ref<'_, T>> {
+        self.core.pop_ref(&self.slots)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn pop_with<U>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut T) -> U) -> Option<U> {
+        self.pop_ref().map(|mut r| r.with_mut(f))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, const CAP: usize> Drop for StaticThingBuf<T, CAP> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let tail = self.core.tail.load(Ordering::SeqCst);
+        let (idx, gen) = self.core.idx_gen(tail);
+        let num_initialized = if gen > 0 { self.capacity() } else { idx };
+        for slot in &self.slots[..num_initialized] {
+            unsafe {
+                slot.value
+                    .with_mut(|value| ptr::drop_in_place((*value).as_mut_ptr()));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T, const CAP: usize> fmt::Debug for StaticThingBuf<T, CAP> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("ThingBuf")
+            .field("capacity", &self.capacity())
+            .field("len", &self.len())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/stringbuf.rs b/src/stringbuf.rs
index fa0b4ce..2b1c160 100644
--- a/src/stringbuf.rs
+++ b/src/stringbuf.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ use super::*;
 use alloc::string::String;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct StringBuf<S = Box<[Slot<String>]>> {
-    inner: ThingBuf<String, S>,
+pub struct StringBuf {
+    inner: ThingBuf<String>,
     max_idle_capacity: usize,
 }
 
@@ -15,22 +15,56 @@ impl StringBuf {
             max_idle_capacity: usize::MAX,
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn with_max_idle_capacity(self, max_idle_capacity: usize) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            max_idle_capacity,
+            inner: self.inner,
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn capacity(&self) -> usize {
+        self.inner.capacity()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn write(&self) -> Result<Ref<'_, String>, AtCapacity> {
+        let mut string = self.inner.push_ref()?;
+        string.with_mut(String::clear);
+        Ok(string)
+    }
+
+    pub fn pop_ref(&self) -> Option<Ref<'_, String>> {
+        let mut string = self.inner.pop_ref()?;
+        string.with_mut(|string| {
+            if string.capacity() > self.max_idle_capacity {
+                string.shrink_to_fit();
+            }
+        });
+        Some(string)
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct StaticStringBuf<const CAP: usize> {
+    inner: StaticThingBuf<String, CAP>,
+    max_idle_capacity: usize,
 }
 
-impl<S> StringBuf<S>
-where
-    S: AsRef<[Slot<String>]>,
-{
-    pub fn from_array(array: S) -> Self {
+impl<const CAP: usize> StaticStringBuf<CAP> {
+    #[cfg(not(test))]
+    pub const fn new() -> Self {
         Self {
-            inner: ThingBuf::from_array(array),
+            inner: StaticThingBuf::new(),
             max_idle_capacity: usize::MAX,
         }
     }
+
     pub fn with_max_idle_capacity(self, max_idle_capacity: usize) -> Self {
         Self {
             max_idle_capacity,
-            ..self
+            inner: self.inner,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/thingbuf.rs b/src/thingbuf.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5288a25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/thingbuf.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+use crate::loom::atomic::Ordering;
+use crate::{AtCapacity, Core, Ref, Slot};
+use alloc::boxed::Box;
+use core::{fmt, ptr};
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests;
+
+pub struct ThingBuf<T: Default> {
+    core: Core,
+    slots: Box<[Slot<T>]>,
+}
+
+// === impl ThingBuf ===
+
+impl<T: Default> ThingBuf<T> {
+    pub fn new(capacity: usize) -> Self {
+        assert!(capacity > 0);
+        let slots = (0..capacity).map(|_| Slot::empty()).collect();
+        Self {
+            core: Core::new(capacity),
+            slots,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn push_ref(&self) -> Result<Ref<'_, T>, AtCapacity> {
+        self.core.push_ref(&*self.slots)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn push_with<U>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut T) -> U) -> Result<U, AtCapacity> {
+        self.push_ref().map(|mut r| r.with_mut(f))
+    }
+
+    pub fn pop_ref(&self) -> Option<Ref<'_, T>> {
+        self.core.pop_ref(&*self.slots)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn pop_with<U>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut T) -> U) -> Option<U> {
+        self.pop_ref().map(|mut r| r.with_mut(f))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn capacity(&self) -> usize {
+        self.slots.len()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.core.len()
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.len() == 0
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Default> Drop for ThingBuf<T> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let tail = self.core.tail.load(Ordering::SeqCst);
+        let (idx, gen) = self.core.idx_gen(tail);
+        let num_initialized = if gen > 0 { self.capacity() } else { idx };
+        for slot in &self.slots[..num_initialized] {
+            unsafe {
+                slot.value
+                    .with_mut(|value| ptr::drop_in_place((*value).as_mut_ptr()));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Default> fmt::Debug for ThingBuf<T> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("ThingBuf")
+            .field("capacity", &self.capacity())
+            .field("len", &self.len())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/tests.rs b/src/thingbuf/tests.rs
similarity index 84%
rename from src/tests.rs
rename to src/thingbuf/tests.rs
index 63fa1f8..b75b669 100644
--- a/src/tests.rs
+++ b/src/thingbuf/tests.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::ThingBuf;
-use crate::loom::{self, thread};
+use crate::loom::{self, alloc, thread};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 #[test]
@@ -7,12 +7,15 @@ fn push_many_mpsc() {
     const T1_VALS: &[&str] = &["alice", "bob", "charlie"];
     const T2_VALS: &[&str] = &["dave", "ellen", "francis"];
 
-    fn producer(vals: &'static [&'static str], q: &Arc<ThingBuf<String>>) -> impl FnOnce() {
+    fn producer(
+        vals: &'static [&'static str],
+        q: &Arc<ThingBuf<alloc::Track<String>>>,
+    ) -> impl FnOnce() {
         let q = q.clone();
         move || {
             for &val in vals {
                 if let Ok(mut r) = test_dbg!(q.push_ref()) {
-                    r.with_mut(|r| r.push_str(val));
+                    r.with_mut(|r| r.get_mut().push_str(val));
                 } else {
                     return;
                 }
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ fn push_many_mpsc() {
 
         while Arc::strong_count(&q) > 1 {
             if let Some(r) = q.pop_ref() {
-                r.with(|val| all_vals.push(val.to_string()));
+                r.with(|val| all_vals.push(val.get_ref().to_string()));
             }
             thread::yield_now();
         }
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ fn push_many_mpsc() {
         t2.join().unwrap();
 
         while let Some(r) = test_dbg!(q.pop_ref()) {
-            r.with(|val| all_vals.push(val.to_string()));
+            r.with(|val| all_vals.push(val.get_ref().to_string()));
         }
 
         test_dbg!(&all_vals);
diff --git a/src/util.rs b/src/util.rs
index a7f6557..1fdca44 100644
--- a/src/util.rs
+++ b/src/util.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,16 @@ pub(crate) struct Backoff(u8);
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Default, Hash, PartialEq, Eq, Debug)]
 pub(crate) struct CachePadded<T>(pub(crate) T);
 
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+pub(crate) fn panicking() -> bool {
+    std::thread::panicking()
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(feature = "std"))]
+pub(crate) fn panicking() -> bool {
+    false
+}
+
 // === impl Backoff ===
 
 impl Backoff {
diff --git a/tests/static_storage.rs b/tests/static_storage.rs
index 11817ad..ae461c5 100644
--- a/tests/static_storage.rs
+++ b/tests/static_storage.rs
@@ -1,40 +1,34 @@
-use std::{fmt::Write, sync::Arc, thread};
-use thingbuf::{Slot, StringBuf, ThingBuf};
+use std::{
+    fmt::Write,
+    sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering},
+    thread,
+};
+use thingbuf::{StaticStringBuf, StaticThingBuf};
 
 #[test]
 fn static_storage_thingbuf() {
-    let thingbuf = Arc::new(ThingBuf::from_array([
-        Slot::new(0),
-        Slot::new(0),
-        Slot::new(0),
-        Slot::new(0),
-        Slot::new(0),
-        Slot::new(0),
-        Slot::new(0),
-        Slot::new(0),
-    ]));
-
-    let producer = {
-        let thingbuf = thingbuf.clone();
-        thread::spawn(move || {
-            for i in 0..32 {
-                let mut thing = 'write: loop {
-                    match thingbuf.push_ref() {
-                        Ok(thing) => break 'write thing,
-                        _ => thread::yield_now(),
-                    }
-                };
-                thing.with_mut(|thing| *thing = i);
-            }
-        })
-    };
+    static BUF: StaticThingBuf<i32, 16> = StaticThingBuf::new();
+    static PRODUCER_LIVE: AtomicBool = AtomicBool::new(true);
+
+    let producer = thread::spawn(move || {
+        for i in 0..32 {
+            let mut thing = 'write: loop {
+                match BUF.push_ref() {
+                    Ok(thing) => break 'write thing,
+                    _ => thread::yield_now(),
+                }
+            };
+            thing.with_mut(|thing| *thing = i);
+        }
+        PRODUCER_LIVE.store(false, Ordering::Release);
+    });
 
     let mut i = 0;
 
     // While the producer is writing to the queue, push each entry to the
     // results string.
-    while Arc::strong_count(&thingbuf) > 1 {
-        match thingbuf.pop_ref() {
+    while PRODUCER_LIVE.load(Ordering::Acquire) {
+        match BUF.pop_ref() {
             Some(thing) => thing.with(|thing| {
                 assert_eq!(*thing, i);
                 i += 1;
@@ -46,7 +40,7 @@ fn static_storage_thingbuf() {
     producer.join().unwrap();
 
     // drain the queue.
-    while let Some(thing) = thingbuf.pop_ref() {
+    while let Some(thing) = BUF.pop_ref() {
         thing.with(|thing| {
             assert_eq!(*thing, i);
             i += 1;
@@ -56,52 +50,45 @@ fn static_storage_thingbuf() {
 
 #[test]
 fn static_storage_stringbuf() {
-    let stringbuf = Arc::new(StringBuf::from_array([
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-        Slot::new(String::new()),
-    ]));
-
-    let producer = {
-        let stringbuf = stringbuf.clone();
-        thread::spawn(move || {
-            for i in 0..16 {
-                let mut string = 'write: loop {
-                    match stringbuf.write() {
-                        Ok(string) => break 'write string,
-                        _ => thread::yield_now(),
-                    }
-                };
-
-                write!(&mut string, "{:?}", i).unwrap();
-            }
-        })
-    };
+    static BUF: StaticStringBuf<8> = StaticStringBuf::new();
+    static PRODUCER_LIVE: AtomicBool = AtomicBool::new(true);
+
+    let producer = thread::spawn(move || {
+        for i in 0..16 {
+            let mut string = 'write: loop {
+                match BUF.write() {
+                    Ok(string) => break 'write string,
+                    _ => thread::yield_now(),
+                }
+            };
+
+            write!(&mut string, "{:?}", i).unwrap();
+        }
+
+        PRODUCER_LIVE.store(false, Ordering::Release);
+        println!("producer done");
+    });
 
     let mut results = String::new();
 
     // While the producer is writing to the queue, push each entry to the
     // results string.
-    while Arc::strong_count(&stringbuf) > 1 {
-        if let Some(string) = stringbuf.pop_ref() {
+    while PRODUCER_LIVE.load(Ordering::Acquire) {
+        if let Some(string) = BUF.pop_ref() {
             writeln!(results, "{}", string).unwrap();
         }
         thread::yield_now();
     }
 
     producer.join().unwrap();
+    println!("producer done...");
 
     // drain the queue.
-    while let Some(string) = stringbuf.pop_ref() {
+    while let Some(string) = BUF.pop_ref() {
         writeln!(results, "{}", string).unwrap();
     }
 
-    let results = dbg!(results);
+    println!("results:\n{}", results);
 
     for (n, ln) in results.lines().enumerate() {
         assert_eq!(ln.parse::<usize>(), Ok(n));