The Perfect Camp Stove

  • HTML tutorial

North40overland

Rank VII

Influencer I

5,443
Sugar Hill, GA, USA
First Name
Mike
Last Name
Nelson
Member #

27195

Ham/GMRS Callsign
GMRS - WRME413
I am on a mission to find the perfect camp stove. I have 4 so far but I have been using the below two over the past 3 months trying to decide which to keep, and which to sell off. I have put some of my feedback below but I am interested if anyone have any thoughts on what is the perfect overlanding camp stove (size, build quality, performance). Me personally, I like the self standing type because it provides more table space but I am open to any thoughts or suggestions. Side note: One of my 4 is a cook partners and while the build quality is amazing, I think I am going to sell it because it is just too small for it's weight in my opinion (don't hate me). All in all I think I am getting close but my wife is starting to get annoyed with the amount of them accumulating in the garage. I am putting it out there for you guys to help dial me in.

The Camp Chef Explorer 2-burner
Size - Way too big and hard to pack up
Build Quality - Really good. Strong frame, very stable. Not too heavy but the optional flat irons weigh a ton. (I bought 2 but you only need 1) Works great with Camp Oven.
Performance - Really good. Simmer control is amazing but can blow out. No built in ignition
Overall - 4 stars
20210403_221310823_iOS (2).jpg20210416_204222176_iOS (2).jpg


The Coleman Fyre Captain
Size - not too bad for a free standing stove. Almost exactly the same size as a Camp Chef Everest. Definitely packs much better in the truck than the Camp Chef Explorer
Build Quality - not terrible. Better by far than the basic Coleman 2 burner. A bit flimsy and a bit wobbly on it's legs. Definitely lighter than the Explorer. Basically the same weight as the Everest but with legs.
Performance - The "wind guards" they have on the burners work surprisingly well. Better actually than the Camp Chef Explorer in wind. The simmer is not perfect but after lubing the regulators I got it working close to perfect. A bit sketchy with the camp oven. A literal flame thrower this thing will boil a coffee pot in like 2 min above 3500 feet but it does run hot when trying to cook.
20210516_114822963_iOS (2).jpg20210522_104424571_iOS (2).jpg
 

MMc

Rank V

Influencer II

1,749
San Dimas, Ca.
First Name
Mike
Last Name
McMullen
Member #

18647

It's all about what fits your needs. I love my cook partner, my camp chef broke the 5th time I used it, I didn't like the burner control much ether. I have a table that holds my stove and other cooking stuff. Weight isn't a issue for me, I tend to make sauces and need a fine flame control so I don't break them. We all have our things.
 
Last edited:

Ragman

Rank V
Member
Investor

Pathfinder III

1,652
Geneva, IL, USA
First Name
Richard
Last Name
Gearhart
Member #

15373

The best camp stove...that is a loaded question! As @MMc said above it depends on your needs. It looks like you have space and can carry the weight for sure. Personally I use Coleman fueled stoves, the fire, and small wood burning stoves such as the Firebox or Solo and that is enough for me. Others swear by the skottle disk type cookers. So I would say decide on what you cook and for how many then go from there. As far as legs I think it is more useful to purchase a table of some sort that can be cooked on but also used for other things at camp.
 

Road

Not into ranks, titles or points.
Launch Member

Advocate III

3,379
On the road in North America
First Name
Road
Last Name
Dude
Member #

6589

.
For my money, and long experience using single and two-burner stoves for adventuring since the 1970's, the Cook Partner 22 hits all the targets for me. Indestructible; designed by river-runners for rough and varied environments; easy to light, care for, and clean, and all around more rugged and dependable than any other stove I have ever owned or used.

partnergriddle_8600-900.jpg
Shown here with their equally impressive griddle.

You can get their stand for it, too, which makes it free-standing, though I choose to use it in my kitchen box, which I move from trailer to van or backyard, etc. I'm not a fan of having an additional, separate, stand.

The Cook Partner 22" will easily handle two 10" skillets (or a 12" and an 8"), and the built-in adjustable wind-screen is rugged and performs better than others I've used.

partner-straight_6360.jpeg
.

Packs up nice in my kitchen box with my most-used sauté pans and dishes right on top and under the lid:

partner-straight_6267.jpeg
.

I put my propane hose and other stuff under the easily-removable grill for transport so it's out of the way and always right where I need it:

PartnerSteelStove_6643.jpeg
.

Crazy pricing now. With shortages of materials and labor, and historic increase in interest in outdoor recreation, the price has gone up substantially. I paid $275 four years ago. It pays to shop around, as the asking price can vary widely.

.

 

TroutRunner

Rank V
Launch Member

Advocate III

1,653
Durango, Colorado
First Name
David
Last Name
@
Member #

19806

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KY0TEQ
.
For my money, and long experience using single and two-burner stoves for adventuring since the 1970's, the Cook Partner 22 hits all the targets for me. Indestructible; designed by river-runners for rough and varied environments; easy to light, care for, and clean, and all around more rugged and dependable than any other stove I have ever owned or used.

View attachment 207951
Shown here with their equally impressive griddle.

You can get their stand for it, too, which makes it free-standing, though I choose to use it in my kitchen box, which I move from trailer to van or backyard, etc. I'm not a fan of having an additional, separate, stand.

The Cook Partner 22" will easily handle two 10" skillets (or a 12" and an 8"), and the built-in adjustable wind-screen is rugged and performs better than others I've used.

View attachment 207953
.

Packs up nice in my kitchen box with my most-used sauté pans and dishes right on top and under the lid:

View attachment 207952
.

I put my propane hose and other stuff under the easily-removable grill for transport so it's out of the way and always right where I need it:

View attachment 207954
.

Crazy pricing now. With shortages of materials and labor, and historic increase in interest in outdoor recreation, the price has gone up substantially. I paid $275 four years ago. It pays to shop around, as the asking price can vary widely.

.

I second and echo what Road wrote about the Cook Partner 22. We have had one now for 6 years and it has worked flawless from river rafting trips to overland trips. Its really quite the centerpiece of any camp kitchen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9Mike2 and Road

M Rose

Local Expert
Mod Team
Member

Advocate III

5,584
Northeast Oregon, United States
First Name
Michael
Last Name
Rose
Member #

20990

Ham/GMRS Callsign
W7FSB
Service Branch
US ARMY Retired
As @MMc and @Ragman said, all about your needs, size, space, weight, etc. I'm at the other end of the spectrum with storage space and weight for my needs. Love my JetBoil Genesis Basecamp!View attachment 212822
I’ve been looking at the Genesis for several years.. currently I run either a Colman 2 burner, or my MSR WindBurner… it seams more and more I’m going with the MSR over the Colaman due to its multi use and small pack space… if I need bigger, I have grate to through over the fire, or Dutch Oven.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JeepingMike

velo47

Rank VII
Launch Member

Member III

6,184
Albuquerque, NM, USA
First Name
Matt
Last Name
Harland
Member #

21731

Ham/GMRS Callsign
W3TAX
We love our Genesis. Burners are very adjustable, from barely simmering to smokin' hot, and the stove is nice and compact. Kinda pricy, but worth it for us. We got it on sale about 4 years ago.
 

Noeltfg

Rank I

Enthusiast I

201
Seattle
First Name
Laurie
Last Name
Andersen
I've been using the Dweller camping wood stoves for a few years now, and I'm really impressed with it. It's a single-burner stove that's perfect for backpacking or solo camping. It's very lightweight and compact, and it boils water quickly. I also like that it has a built-in Piezo ignition system, so I can light it with one hand.
 
Last edited:

AviatorJones

Rank II

Enthusiast II

306
Georgia, USA
First Name
Chris
Last Name
Jones
Glad to see this topic pop up as I was coming here to search this exact topic. I think we're ready to retire the old Coleman two burner that might actually be as old as me. One burner is really weak and the other is a scorcher. I could probably tear it apart and refurb it, but we don't really like how the burners are pretty small and hot-spot pretty bad.

Looking for updated suggestions on something that is packable (back of truck or trailer), doesn't need legs, and the burners spread the heat out decently. Like the looks of the Cook Partner but that $500 price point is a little steep for how much we would use it now.
 

MMc

Rank V

Influencer II

1,749
San Dimas, Ca.
First Name
Mike
Last Name
McMullen
Member #

18647

Glad to see this topic pop up as I was coming here to search this exact topic. I think we're ready to retire the old Coleman two burner that might actually be as old as me. One burner is really weak and the other is a scorcher. I could probably tear it apart and refurb it, but we don't really like how the burners are pretty small and hot-spot pretty bad.

Looking for updated suggestions on something that is packable (back of truck or trailer), doesn't need legs, and the burners spread the heat out decently. Like the looks of the Cook Partner but that $500 price point is a little steep for how much we would use it now.
I would look at JetBoil Genesis Basecamp as a one burner, they have excellent flame control. If you choose a Cook Partner you kids will use it for life.
 

Ethan N

Local Expert, East Region USA
Member

Guardian II

10,785
Ocean County, NJ, USA
First Name
Ethan
Last Name
Newago
Member #

30968

Service Branch
US Army
Great options, thanks for the in depth reviews too to those who have posted. One day I'll finally ditch my secondhand Coleman with a pair of pliers where the knob should be.
 

genocache

Rank V
Launch Member

Advocate I

1,872
Boulder Creek, CA, USA
First Name
gene
Last Name
L
Member #

24181

Well, perfect is an opinion...For myself I like the white gas stoves. I have a single burner and a double burner, both Coleman. Mostly though I just use my Kelly Kettle to boil water when I am solo, coffee and backpacker meals. I did however make a solo debris burner stove I saw on an Australian video. It works great and you don't HAVE to carry fuel, much like the Kelly Kettle. Here is my blog on building it. Outback cooker

DSCF2957.JPG
 

JBear223

Rank II

Enthusiast III

473
California
First Name
John
Last Name
Behrens
I’ve been using the Camp Chef Everest 2 burner stove for years now. industry leading heat, simmer control could be better, but i’m still wind it’s not bad.
But if you need to boil water or use med/high heat it can’t be beat. less than the Genesis and Cook Partner.
Which is funny as i’d like to get another stove, and those are the only other two i’d consider.
I just like stoves.