You can see how the Coleman Triton Stove compares to other stoves, and learn how to pick the right camping stove for you. All-in-all, the Coleman Cascade 2-Burner Camping Stove represents a fresh new look from Coleman, as well as a few key improvements. We’re fans of the new knobs and much improved simmer control, as well as the bomber latch and easy-clean design. The steel doesn’t have any unfinished sharp edges like many inexpensive camp stoves. Wind resistance is an important part of having good temperature control, as even a light breeze can snuff out a low flame without good windscreens.
However, the tank was too heavy to use with our smaller, more sensitive scale, so it is possible that our larger scale missed some amount of fuel consumed. This aside, our most fuel-efficient stove was the Camp Chef Mountaineer, which consumed an average of 0.64 ounces of fuel or 0.16% of the fuel in our tank. The Pro 60X burned an average of 1.12 ounces or 0.28% of fuel, and the Outdoorsman used an average of 2.24 ounces or 1 % of fuel over the two tests. The Coleman Cascade Burner Camping Stove represents a slight step up from our top pick, the Coleman Classic, in cooking control and power.
As with most camping equipment, weight and packed size aren’t necessarily specs to be overly concerned about. Compared with backpacking gear, it’s all heavy and large, but you still need to store and transport the stuff. In general, we look for an effective balance of performance and weight, which is why we rank the Eureka Ignite Plus so highly. It clocks in at a very manageable 12 pounds, folds down easily to fit into a duffel bag, and provides ample output for most car camping adventures. We’ve used MSR stoves all over the world for backpacking, but most of their light and compact designs have limited appeal for car camping. This complete set-up includes one of MSR’s highest-performing canister stoves, the WindBurner, along with a 2.5-liter pot and 8-inch skillet for groups.
We also like the coleman stovescreen setup, which involves slotting bobby pin-shaped connectors into the stove body. This allows the use of slightly larger pans because you can widen the flaps, and it creates a more perfect wind seal when you have it in the narrowest setting. Where the Cascade shines is in the finer control it allows throughout the range of temperatures. Most camping stoves, including our top pick, have a tendency to jump temperatures, from very low to very high, with barely a touch of the hand.
Attributes and features that are essential for one person may not matter to someone else. If all you care to eat while camping is canned soup or freeze-dried meals, then a lightweight single-burner is perfect. But if camping season means a big group of friends and multi-course gourmet meals, then a larger freestanding two- or three-burner stove makes sense if the cost works within your budget. Unfortunately, that old adage “buy cheap, buy twice” rings especially true with camping stoves. Less expensive stoves are often less fuel efficient, less durable, and will need to be replaced sooner than their more expensive counterparts. This isn’t always the case — some folks have been able to keep their old Coleman Classic functioning well for decades.
fuel canisters are not as widely available or common among campers as propane. Wood-burning stoves are becoming more popular, and the BioLite CampStove 2 is a unique take on the idea. The attached battery powers a small fan which controls the flame levels and recharges itself with heat from the fire. We decided to perform our tests with this stove outside, rather than in the semi-controlled shed where we did the other tests, and we found that the low flame was easily extinguished by a light breeze. We suspect that in perfectly still air it would have a fantastic low setting, but we had a hard time getting it to work in practice. While we loved the ability to cook over extremely high heat and fine tune the heat settings, this stove has a hard time maintaining a good simmer.
Non-Traditional – There are various other s of camping stoves floating around, from small wood-burning stoves to portable fire-pits and grills. For specialized cooking , these can be great options, but they’re usually less convenient and versatile for serious cooking. Tabletop – Most camping stoves are two-burner stoves designed to sit on a tabletop. These are compact, easy to use, and the go-to choice for most campers.
The average tabletop camping stove has about 10,000 BTUs per burner. That’s sufficient for most camper’s needs and provides a good balance of power to fuel efficiency. However, you may want to bump up the BTUs if you’re cooking for a large group or will be camping in cold, windy conditions.
There are so many factors that go into choosing the right camping stove. The Pinnacle is slightly more challenging to unhook and fold out the grate, but once disconnected, it is easy to clean. We love the simplicity of the Mountaineer because this stove doesn’t have a false bottom under which food scraps can get lost.
If you are looking for a well-designed camping stove that will keep up with your car camping or river adventures for years to come, this is our strong recommendation. The Gas One lacks wind protection and requires butane as its fuel source. Butane may prove more difficult to find than propane, which is widely available. The Gas One is also not as practical as a two-burner stove when cooking for large groups, but using it with another two-burner stove is an affordable way to have three flames at once. This stove is cheap but worthy and would be a great backup stove for a van-lifer or a stand-alone single-burner for the rest of us.