CookingOutdoorsCampingStoves

What are the best camping stoves around or under $100?

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Coleman Classic Propane Stove vs Stansport 2 Burner Propane Stove vs Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer

Specs

Weight

9.9 lbs

Dimensions

4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 inches

Fuel type

Propane

Number of burners

2

Ignition

No

Total output power

20000 BTU

Wind guards

Yes/3

Weight

14 lbs

Dimensions

6 x 13.2 x 24 inches

Fuel type

Propane

Number of burners

2

Ignition

Piezo electronic

Total output power

50000 BTU

Wind guards

Yes/ 3

Weight

34 lbs.

Dimensions

29 x 14 x 34 inches

Fuel type

Propane

Number of burners

2

Ignition

No

Total output power

60000 BTU

Wind guards

Yes/ 3

Pros + Cons

Pro
 Works in extreme conditions

Because of the steady fuel pressure this stove will perform well in unusual weather conditions found when hiking on mountains. Cold temperatures, levels as high as 10 000 feet above sea level and even an almost empty gas canister will not affect the flame.
Comment

Pro
 Uses little fuel

Because of the relatively low heat output and the fuel pressure valve the stove uses little fuel. One canister of fuel will last about an hour when using the burner on maximum power and a replacement canister only costs around 12 dollars or even less when buying a bulk of them.
Comment

Con
 Imprecise flame control

The gas controls are imprecise so it’s hard to set the desired flame intensity.
Comment

Con
 No ignition system

There’s no ignition system so you need to light it up with a match or a lighter.
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Pro
 Decent cooking power

Each of the burner outputs 10000 BTUs so it can be used in most of the cases like boiling water and simmering food. However it will take almost twice as much time to fry meat compared to stoves with higher BTUs.
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Pro
 Can cook a meal for a family

The stove easily fits two pans, one up to 10 inches the second one up to 12 inches. This means you can cook simultaneously enough food to feed a family.
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Pro
 Can be used in windy conditions

Thanks to the wind guards you can safely use the stove in windy conditions without the risk that the flame will be blow out.
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Con
 No carrying handle

There’s no dedicated varying handle on the stove. While there is a recess in the side where you can grab to carry the stove, it’s better to buy a separate carrying case.
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Pro
 Steady flame control

While able to produce very high temperatures it can also produce very low ones without the risk of the flame going out, so you can melt butter or slowly cook your scrambled eggs. It works great for simmering as well.
Comment

Pro
 Very powerful burners

Each of the burner can produce 25000 BTU’s or twice as much as most of the other alternatives on the market, so it can boil liquids very fast and fry potatoes and even a steak quickly.
Comment

Pro
 Can be used in high altitudes

The stove has a built in pressure regulator to maintain a constant pressure of the gas regardless of the conditions outside and in altitudes up to 10 000 feet above sea level. This is important because in high altitudes the temperatures are lower and because of that the pressure in the gas canister drops significantly directly impacting the stoves performance.
Comment

Con
 Wide grates

The grates are very wide so it can be difficult to place a can on them without the risk of tipping over.
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Con
 Quality issues

Some owners are complaining about defective parts, faulty igniters or missing screws so it’s best to check the stove for any potential faults as soon as you receive it.
Comment

Pro
 Fast boiling times

The stove can boil 6 cups of water in less than 4 minutes while, for most of the alternatives, it will take more than 5 minutes.
Comment

Con
 Somewhat bulky

The stove is large and quite heavy for its size. Not a big deal if you are going camping with a car but can be troublesome if you need to carry it around.
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Pro
 Great wind resistance

Thanks to the design of the high BTU burners and the windscreens wind will not affect the coking by blowing the flame out.
Comment

Pro
 Versatile modular design

There are many accessories available for the stove that allows it to be used for various cooking purposes. These mix & match accessories include grill boxes, griddles, reversible cast iron grills, and even a pizza oven cover.
Comment

Con
 Not suitable for slow cooking

The flame regulator is imprecise and it’s almost impossible to set it to very low temperatures without the flame going out.
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Pro
 Very powerful

The total output of the stove is 60000 BTU or 30000 BTU for each burner. That is enough to quickly boil water, do proper grilling, frying and even canning
Comment

Con
 Awkwardly placed control knobs

The two control knobs are angled inward so they aren’t that convenient to reach and they collect a lot of heat.
Comment

Pro
 Can be placed on uneven surfaces

The legs are adjustable to accommodate uneven surfaces and can be removed for greater mobility.
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Pro
 Can cook in windy conditions

Thanks to the wind guards you can cook in windy conditions without the risk of the flame going out.
Comment

Con
 No ignition system

You have to light up the burners manually with a match or a lighter.
Comment

Con
 Heavy

Weighing 34 pounds it isn’t easy to carry around.
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