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.
We also discovered after a rainstorm that the external pocket isn’t waterproof, though this is a small gripe. All in all, this big cooler bag is our favorite thanks to excellent insulation and great features like rounded handles and a removable bottle opener. If you’re not into all the bells and whistles, the AO Coolers is another excellent option that won’t cost a fortune. However, if you can shell out the cash, we think you’ll be impressed with the Roadie 60.
The RTIC models have visually similar rubber latches that are much more flexible. As such, they are easy to use, lacking the stiff stubbornness of many other latches. Still, more flexible rubber might have a shorter lifespan than denser rubber, though we haven’t had an issue after using these products. The Igloo BMX also has T-grip latches with slightly different shapes and thicknesses that both get the job done just fine. The IGBC specifically states that this does not mean the product in question can’t be opened or destroyed by a bear, nor does it mean the product is leakproof. That said, even the minimum construction standards required to deter a hungry 10 foot long, 900 lb grizzly lend a lot of credibility to the durability of a product.
This time around, Camp Chef upped the ante, making a beefier cousin to the original model. It has a larger cook surface, a nearly seamless windscreen, and excellent simmer ability, despite having an impressive 20,000 BTUs per burner. With a fast boil time and functional Piezo auto-igniter, this stove is sure to impress even the most discerning camp chefs. The wide world of camping kitchen equipment can be challenging to navigate on your own. Thankfully we’ve poured tons of energy into rigorously testing camping gear over the past 10+ years, so you don’t have to go it alone. Check out our comprehensive and in-depth reviews on the best camping cookware, top-notch camping tables, and even the best portable grills.
The lid can also be converted to open from the left or right side, when standing upright. Sometimes, a bulky plastic or metal cooler just requires too much storage space. That’s not the case with the Koolatron Thermoelectric Iceless Cooler Bag, which easily collapses to fit a smaller space for storage. The bag is also easier coleman canopy to carry, with shoulder and hand-carry straps, a built-in cord storage pocket, and plenty of outer pockets for additional items. Many of the other tabletop stoves earned similar ratings in our review, but the Everest 2X was among our favorites — easy to use out of the box, and it delivered high performance every time.
Despite these complaints, the RTIC is our top option to throw on our backs for a day out in the sun. If you like the idea of a backpack and you frequent the rivers or lakes, a dry bag might be the right choice for you. The Orca 58 is one of the most impressive coolers we’ve come across to date. It outlasts all the other coolers in our insulation tests, with the next best a few hours behind. The rotomolded cooler is extremely durable and gave us no concerns when we jumped, sat, and yanked on it. Its lid opens up beyond a 90-degree angle, so you won’t need to worry about it closing on your hands while loading it up with goodies.
Some are designed to fit comfortably between the front seats of a car to keep cold food and drinks at hand, while others are large enough to hold enough food for a family for a week-long trip. Electric coolers stay cold more efficiently when full, so try to select a size that won’t leave you with a lot of space in the unit. The included power cord is a generous 8 feet long, and the 40-quart capacity holds about 44 cans, which is plenty of space for a couple of days’ worth of cold drinks and snacks. Portability won’t matter for some, but for folks with smaller cars or space constraints in a built-out van or truck, this is a critical element to consider. Storage space is an important factor, but you also want to keep in mind usable burner space, which will ensure you have enough space to use your favorite pots, skillets, or other accessories. Even if you don’t plan to cook fancy detail-oriented meals, simmering is a crucial metric to consider.
These windscreens are inexpensive, lightweight, flexible, and are a great way to improve your stove’s performance on windy days. If you use a DIY windscreen, just make sure not to fully enclose your fuel canister, as this could dangerously overheat it. We also considered the overall shape and size of each competitor as part of its usability score. Models featuring a compact, packable shape and handles that hide away easily are easier to pack into a vehicle for your next adventure.
We ran and re-ran insulation tests under controlled but harsh laboratory conditions. We dragged our test subjects through the gravel, sand, mud, and grass while road-tripping, tailgating, camping, and hanging out on the beach. We asked our friends and family, who span three generations, to help us dive into these coolers (sometimes literally) and identify the top performers. From being thrown into vehicles, coleman canopy dropped from waist height, jumped on by a 200 lb tester, dragged across hot surfaces, yanked on, jerked around, and otherwise abused, these chests have seen it all. A portable electric cooler is a smaller appliance that keeps food and drinks cold (and sometimes warm). They can be plugged into a 120-volt AC wall outlet, the 12-volt cigarette lighter outlet in your car, and/or to a portable power source.