CookingOutdoorsCampingStoves

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

3

Options
Considered

7

User
Recs.

Nov 11, 2017

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

3 Options Considered

Best camping stoves around or under $100	Price	Weight	Dimensions
-- Stansport 2 Burner Propane Stove	93.74	14 lbs	6 x 13.2 x 24 inches
-- Coleman Classic Propane Stove	42.88	9.9 lbs	4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 inches
-- Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer	101.99	34 lbs.	29 x 14 x 34 inches

Stansport 2 Burner Propane Stove

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Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Specs

Dimensions:6 x 13.2 x 24 inches

Number of burners:2

Fuel type:Propane

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Coleman Classic Propane Stove

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Top 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. See More

Top Con

Imprecise flame control

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

Specs

Dimensions:4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 inches

Fuel type:Propane

Number of burners:2

Top 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. See More

Top Con

No ignition system

There’s no ignition system so you need to light it up with a match or a lighter. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer

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Top 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. See More

Top 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. See More

Specs

Dimensions:29 x 14 x 34 inches

Fuel type:Propane

Number of burners:2

Top 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 See More

Top 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. See More

Top Pro

Can be placed on uneven surfaces

The legs are adjustable to accommodate uneven surfaces and can be removed for greater mobility. See More

Top Con

No ignition system

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

Top 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. See More

Top Con

Heavy

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

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