Our camping stove testing team is a solid crew of experienced car campers, foodies, and folks who love to play camp chef. After spending years bike-touring and traveling, Mary traded in her bike cleats and passport for climbing gear and a pair of climbing shoes. She has spent years dialing in her backcountry cooking scene, from deluxe multi-course car-camping meals to prepping expedition meals for multi-week backpacking trips. This gal loves playing outside almost as much as she loves cooking outside.
The pump plunger fits through the hole in this pump cup, which then fits inside the pump itself. The pump cup is designed to be coated in Pump Lube so that it can effectively create a seal inside the pump, preventing air
leaks. This is the Genuine Manufacturer Sourced replacement check valve that is designed for specific Coleman Lanterns and Stoves. The check valve and air stem are both made of brass and come together when ordered.
You’ll find her romping around the Western US, climbing cracks, and perfecting her backcountry culinary skills. Like other freestanding stoves, the Outdoorsman is heavy and somewhat awkward to carry. It will command more space in your vehicle, so you’ll want to make sure you have the space to accommodate a bigger stove.
We were disappointed that a premium stove with great features and a high price did not have an auto-igniter, a feature we think should be standard on all stoves. Our review team doesn’t see this as a drawback, but we include this here because you will need to buy a 5 or 10-pound refillable tank for use with this stove.
Toward the bottom of their camping stove lineup is the Classic Propane, which is consistently on sale for around $70 or less. In hand, it’s clear the Classic is the cheaper option compared to Coleman’s more premium Triton below (as well as the pricier designs above). Neither are really solid or durable—and at this price point, they really can’t be—but the Triton is the better investment for the camper who gets out more than a couple of times a year. 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.
Bag or no bag, transportation with the Basecamp is a breeze; after folding the stove, there is a handle on the bottom that tucks away when not in use. The cherry on top is that it weighs a mere 7.4 pounds, bag and all, making it a ridiculously lightweight option for a two-burner car-camping setup. The Camp Chef Everest 2X is easy to use, set up, and clean. It is exemplary of how simple every tabletop stove should strive to be.
For the jaw-dropping price ($470) of the Snow Peak GigaPower Double Burner Stove, it should be the best camping stove you can buy, or at least the most versatile. Although it’s made from excellent materials and built to the standards that Snow Peak is famous for, this stove misses the mark. It requires two separate Isopro bottles to work; running it from a single larger tank, even with conversion valves, is difficult.