diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 51a66ba..1917449 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "grounded"
-version = "0.1.1"
+version = "0.2.0"
 authors = ["James Munns <james@onevariable.com>"]
 edition = "2021"
 readme = "README.md"
@@ -9,5 +9,17 @@ description = "A toolkit for managing unsafe statics"
 license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
 documentation = "https://docs.rs/grounded/"
 
+[dependencies.portable-atomic]
+version = "1.3"
+default-features = false
 
-[dependencies]
+[features]
+default = []
+# components that require compare-and-swap operations
+cas = ["portable-atomic/require-cas"]
+# Allow for use on non-atomic systems by use of critical-sections
+critical-section = ["portable-atomic/critical-section"]
+
+[package.metadata.docs.rs]
+features = ["cas"]
+rustdoc-args = ["--cfg", "doc_cfg"]
diff --git a/src/alloc_single.rs b/src/alloc_single.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9c690b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/alloc_single.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+//! Utilities for allocating a single item, using a box-like smart pointer
+
+use core::{
+    ops::{Deref, DerefMut},
+    sync::atomic::Ordering,
+};
+use portable_atomic::AtomicBool;
+
+use crate::{const_init::ConstInit, uninit::GroundedCell};
+
+/// AllocSingle is our one-element allocator pool
+///
+/// If your type implements [ConstInit], consider using
+/// [AllocSingle::alloc_const_val] instead of [AllocSingle::alloc]
+/// to avoid unnecessary stack usage.
+///
+/// This does require use of CAS atomics. You must enable the `cas`
+/// feature, and if your target does not have native atomic CAS, you
+/// must also enable the `critical-section` feature.
+///
+/// ```rust
+/// use grounded::alloc_single::AllocSingle;
+///
+/// static SINGLE: AllocSingle<[u8; 256]> = AllocSingle::new();
+///
+/// // alloc a single item
+/// let mut s1 = SINGLE.alloc([4; 256]).unwrap();
+/// s1.iter().for_each(|b| assert_eq!(*b, 4));
+///
+/// // we can't alloc while `s1` is still live
+/// assert!(SINGLE.alloc([5; 256]).is_none());
+///
+/// // now drop it
+/// drop(s1);
+///
+/// // and we can alloc again
+/// let mut s2 = SINGLE.alloc([7; 256]).unwrap();
+/// s2.iter().for_each(|b| assert_eq!(*b, 7));
+/// ```
+pub struct AllocSingle<T> {
+    taken: AtomicBool,
+    storage: GroundedCell<T>,
+}
+
+impl<T> AllocSingle<T> {
+    /// Create a new, uninitalized, single-element allocation pool
+    pub const fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            taken: AtomicBool::new(false),
+            storage: GroundedCell::uninit(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Attempts to allocate a single item. Returns None and
+    /// discards `t` if an allocation is already live.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn alloc(&self, t: T) -> Option<SingleBox<'_, T>> {
+        // Set taken, and if it was already taken before, we can't
+        // allocate
+        if self.taken.swap(true, Ordering::AcqRel) {
+            // already taken
+            return None;
+        }
+        let new = SingleBox { single: self };
+        // Initialize by moving t into the storage
+        unsafe {
+            new.as_ptr().write(t);
+        }
+        Some(new)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: ConstInit> AllocSingle<T> {
+    /// Attempts to allocate a single item, using `ConstInit::VAL` as
+    /// the initializer. Returns None if the item is already allocated
+    pub fn alloc_const_val(&self) -> Option<SingleBox<'_, T>> {
+        // Set taken, and if it was already taken before, we can't
+        // allocate
+        if self.taken.swap(true, Ordering::AcqRel) {
+            // already taken
+            return None;
+        }
+        let new = SingleBox { single: self };
+        // Initialize by writing t into the storage
+        unsafe {
+            new.as_ptr().write(T::VAL);
+        }
+        Some(new)
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct SingleBox<'a, T> {
+    single: &'a AllocSingle<T>,
+}
+
+impl<'a, T> SingleBox<'a, T> {
+    fn as_ptr(&self) -> *mut T {
+        self.single.storage.get()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, T> Drop for SingleBox<'a, T> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        // When we drop the SingleBox, mark the AllocSingle as available again
+        unsafe { self.as_ptr().drop_in_place() }
+        self.single.taken.store(false, Ordering::Release);
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, T> Deref for SingleBox<'a, T> {
+    type Target = T;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        unsafe { &*self.as_ptr() }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a, T> DerefMut for SingleBox<'a, T> {
+    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
+        unsafe { &mut *self.as_ptr() }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+pub mod test {
+    use super::AllocSingle;
+    use crate::const_init::ConstInit;
+    use core::ops::Deref;
+
+    #[derive(Debug)]
+    struct Demo([u8; 512]);
+
+    impl ConstInit for Demo {
+        const VAL: Self = Demo([44u8; 512]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn smoke() {
+        static SINGLE: AllocSingle<[u8; 1024]> = AllocSingle::new();
+        static SINGLE_DEMO: AllocSingle<Demo> = AllocSingle::new();
+
+        {
+            let buf = [0xAF; 1024];
+            let mut bx = SINGLE.alloc(buf).unwrap();
+            println!("{:?}", bx.as_slice());
+            bx.iter_mut().for_each(|b| *b = 123);
+            println!("{:?}", bx.as_slice());
+
+            // Second alloc fails
+            let buf2 = [0x01; 1024];
+            assert!(SINGLE.alloc(buf2).is_none());
+        }
+
+        // bx is dropped because we left scope, which means we can
+        // alloc again
+        let buf3 = [0x42; 1024];
+        let mut bx2 = SINGLE.alloc(buf3).unwrap();
+        println!("{:?}", bx2.as_slice());
+        bx2.iter_mut().for_each(|b| *b = 231);
+        println!("{:?}", bx2.as_slice());
+
+        // look ma no stack
+        let bx3 = SINGLE_DEMO.alloc_const_val().unwrap();
+        println!("{:?}", bx3.deref());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/const_init.rs b/src/const_init.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d8a2f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/const_init.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+//! Const Init
+//!
+//! A trait that is like `Default`, but const
+
+/// A trait that is like `Default`, but const
+pub trait ConstInit {
+    /// The constant default value
+    const VAL: Self;
+}
+
+// Here's some impls that roughly match the default
+// value of these types
+
+macro_rules! impl_const_init_for {
+    ($(($tyname:ty, $val:expr),)+) => {
+        $(
+            impl ConstInit for $tyname {
+                const VAL: Self = $val;
+            }
+        )+
+    };
+}
+
+impl_const_init_for! {
+    (u8, 0),
+    (u16, 0),
+    (u32, 0),
+    (u64, 0),
+    (u128, 0),
+    (i8, 0),
+    (i16, 0),
+    (i32, 0),
+    (i64, 0),
+    (i128, 0),
+    (f32, 0.0),
+    (f64, 0.0),
+    (bool, false),
+    ((), ()),
+}
+
+impl<T, const N: usize> ConstInit for [T; N]
+where
+    T: ConstInit,
+{
+    const VAL: Self = [T::VAL; N];
+}
+
+impl<T> ConstInit for Option<T> {
+    const VAL: Self = None;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 23105ee..1ced464 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-#![no_std]
+#![cfg_attr(not(test), no_std)]
 #![doc = include_str!("../README.md")]
 
+pub mod const_init;
 pub mod uninit;
+
+#[cfg(feature = "cas")]
+pub mod alloc_single;
diff --git a/src/uninit.rs b/src/uninit.rs
index 9482b13..68965bf 100644
--- a/src/uninit.rs
+++ b/src/uninit.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 use core::{cell::UnsafeCell, mem::MaybeUninit};
 
+use crate::const_init::ConstInit;
+
 /// ## GroundedCell
 ///
 /// [GroundedCell] is a type that contains a single `T`. The contained T is wrapped
@@ -27,6 +29,22 @@ pub struct GroundedCell<T> {
 
 unsafe impl<T: Sync> Sync for GroundedCell<T> {}
 
+impl<T: ConstInit> GroundedCell<T> {
+    /// Create a new GroundedCell with the cell initialized with
+    /// the value of [ConstInit::VAL].
+    ///
+    /// ```rust
+    /// use grounded::uninit::GroundedCell;
+    ///
+    /// static EXAMPLE: GroundedCell<[u8; 1024]> = GroundedCell::const_init();
+    /// ```
+    pub const fn const_init() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: UnsafeCell::new(MaybeUninit::new(T::VAL)),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl<T> GroundedCell<T> {
     /// Create an uninitialized `GroundedCell`.
     ///
@@ -55,7 +73,7 @@ impl<T> GroundedCell<T> {
     /// let ptr: *mut u32 = EXAMPLE.get();
     /// assert_ne!(core::ptr::null_mut(), ptr);
     /// ```
-    pub fn get(&'static self) -> *mut T {
+    pub fn get(&self) -> *mut T {
         let mu_ptr: *mut MaybeUninit<T> = self.inner.get();
         let t_ptr: *mut T = mu_ptr.cast::<T>();
         t_ptr
@@ -86,6 +104,26 @@ pub struct GroundedArrayCell<T, const N: usize> {
 
 unsafe impl<T: Sync, const N: usize> Sync for GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {}
 
+impl<T: ConstInit, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
+    /// Create a new GroundedArrayCell with all cells initialized with
+    /// the value of [ConstInit::VAL].
+    ///
+    /// If your type's implementation of [ConstInit] happens to be all zeroes, like it
+    /// is for many integer and boolean primitives, it is likely your static will end
+    /// up in `.bss`.
+    ///
+    /// ```rust
+    /// use grounded::uninit::GroundedArrayCell;
+    ///
+    /// static EXAMPLE: GroundedArrayCell<u8, 1024> = GroundedArrayCell::const_init();
+    /// ```
+    pub const fn const_init() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: UnsafeCell::new(MaybeUninit::new(<[T; N] as ConstInit>::VAL)),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     /// Create an uninitialized `GroundedArrayCell`.
     ///
@@ -107,7 +145,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     /// The caller must ensure that no other access is made to the data contained within this
     /// cell for the duration of this function
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn initialize_all_copied(&'static self, val: T)
+    pub unsafe fn initialize_all_copied(&self, val: T)
     where
         T: Copy,
     {
@@ -126,8 +164,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     /// The caller must ensure that no other access is made to the data contained within this
     /// cell for the duration of this function
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn initialize_all_with<F: FnMut() -> T>(&'static self, mut f: F)
-    {
+    pub unsafe fn initialize_all_with<F: FnMut() -> T>(&self, mut f: F) {
         let (mut ptr, len) = self.get_ptr_len();
         let end = ptr.add(len);
         while ptr != end {
@@ -151,7 +188,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     /// assert_ne!(core::ptr::null_mut(), ptr);
     /// ```
     #[inline]
-    pub fn as_mut_ptr(&'static self) -> *mut T {
+    pub fn as_mut_ptr(&self) -> *mut T {
         let mu_ptr: *mut MaybeUninit<[T; N]> = self.inner.get();
         let arr_ptr: *mut [T; N] = mu_ptr.cast::<[T; N]>();
         let t_ptr: *mut T = arr_ptr.cast::<T>();
@@ -189,7 +226,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     ///     * [Self::get_subslice_unchecked()]
     ///     * [Self::get_subslice_mut_unchecked()]
     #[inline]
-    pub fn get_ptr_len(&'static self) -> (*mut T, usize) {
+    pub fn get_ptr_len(&self) -> (*mut T, usize) {
         (self.as_mut_ptr(), N)
     }
 
@@ -209,7 +246,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     ///   while the reference is live
     /// * `offset` is < N
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn get_element_unchecked(&'static self, offset: usize) -> &'static T {
+    pub unsafe fn get_element_unchecked(&self, offset: usize) -> &'_ T {
         &*self.as_mut_ptr().add(offset)
     }
 
@@ -231,7 +268,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     /// * `offset` is < N
     #[allow(clippy::mut_from_ref)]
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn get_element_mut_unchecked(&'static self, offset: usize) -> &'static mut T {
+    pub unsafe fn get_element_mut_unchecked(&self, offset: usize) -> &mut T {
         &mut *self.as_mut_ptr().add(offset)
     }
 
@@ -252,7 +289,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     ///   while the slice is live
     /// * `offset` and `offset + len` are <= N
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn get_subslice_unchecked(&'static self, offset: usize, len: usize) -> &'static [T] {
+    pub unsafe fn get_subslice_unchecked(&self, offset: usize, len: usize) -> &'_ [T] {
         core::slice::from_raw_parts(self.as_mut_ptr().add(offset), len)
     }
 
@@ -274,7 +311,7 @@ impl<T, const N: usize> GroundedArrayCell<T, N> {
     /// * `offset` and `offset + len` are <= N
     #[allow(clippy::mut_from_ref)]
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn get_subslice_mut_unchecked(&'static self, offset: usize, len: usize) -> &'static mut [T] {
+    pub unsafe fn get_subslice_mut_unchecked(&self, offset: usize, len: usize) -> &'_ mut [T] {
         core::slice::from_raw_parts_mut(self.as_mut_ptr().add(offset), len)
     }
 }