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After a long day, nothing feels more important than a hot meal cooked up on a camping stove. Whether you’re in the market for a camping stove that can cook for the whole family or a solo night in the woods, a great camping stove is an essential for long weekends in the great outdoors. To determine which models deliver the flawless cooking experience you need, and which ones are overpriced and underwhelming, Outdoor Life staff put seven of the best camping stoves from five different brands to the test.
| Best Overall | Best Value | Best for Wind | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Chef Everest 2X | Bass Pro Shops 2-Burner | JetBoil Genesis Basecamp System Camp Stove | GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro 2 | Camp Chef Kodiak | Camp Chef Mountaineer | Coleman 1900 Collection 3-in-1 |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Boiled 1L in 2:31 | Boiled 1L in 4:10 | Boiled 1L in 2:40 | Boiled 1L in 5:55 | Boiled 1L in 5:05 | Boiled 1L in 3:24 | Boiled 1L in 3:56 |
| Read the Review | Read the Review | Read the Review | Read the Review | Read the Review | Read the Review | Read the Review |
During our testing, we ran controlled trials of boil time, wind resistance, and simmer control, and had family and friends cook multiple meals over a long camping weekend.
↓ Jump to Full Testing Protocol and Results
Best Camping Stoves: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Camp Chef Everest 2X
Pros
- Fast boil time
- Straightforward to use
Cons
- Limited warranty
Key Specs
- Price: $230
- Warranty: 1 year
- Fuel: Propane
Testing Results
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water: 2:31
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water in 8mph Wind: Not tested
- Simmer Control: Great
The Camp Chef Everest had one of the fastest boil times of any camping stove we looked at, in large part due to its high BTU (British Thermal Unit) output and straightforward design. It also nails the details of a great camping stove, with a secure, easy-to-use cooking platform and windscreen.
Contributor Samantha Silverman tested this one near her home in Denver, and came away impressed with its performance in tough conditions. “At 5,000 feet with no wind, I clocked the Everest’s boil at 3 minutes, 12 seconds,” she reported. “While this is extremely impressive in its own right, 7,000 feet of elevation and 15 mph winds were no match for these 20,000 BTU burners. I had my pot at a rolling boil in 9 minutes, 27 seconds.”
If I have any gripes about the Camp Chef Everest 2X is that it has a surprisingly limited warranty: only 1 year. That being said, I have a 10-year-old first gen Camp Chef Everset in my own gear closet that has had zero issues (barring a sometimes fault ignition) after dozens of camping trips.
Best Value: Bass Pro Shops 2-Burner Camping Stove
Pros
- Affordably priced
- A totally solid camping stove
Cons
- Mediocre simmer control
- Limited warranty
Key Specs
- Price: $75
- Warranty: 1 year
- Fuel: Propane
Testing Results
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water: 4:10
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water in 8mph Wind: 8:05
- Simmer Control: Fair
Given its sub $100 price point, I had limited expectations for the Bass Pro Shops camping stove. It more than exceeded them. It boiled a liter of water in about four minutes, and held its own in the wind test, where I blew an 8-mph fan at the back corner of each camping stove. It didn’t have the best simmer control of the camping stoves I tested, but it’s workable for all but the most serious gourmets.
If you’re looking for a basic camping stove that will get the job done without too much fuss, this is the one.
Best for Wind: Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Camping Stove
Pros
- Fast boil time
- Very effective in windy conditions
- Packs up inside of the included pots
Cons
- Expensive
- Not intuitive
- Shouldn’t use metal utensils
- Annoying windscreen
Key Specs
- Price: $400
- Warranty: 1 year
- Fuel: Propane
Testing Results
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water: 2:40
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water in 8mph Wind: 5:25
- Simmer Control: Great
The JetBoil Genesis is a camping stove that thinks outside the box. Unlike the others on this list, the camping stove clamshells shut and fits inside the larger cooking pot that it comes with, creating a somewhat more space efficient profile than other options, assuming you stick with the provided pots and pans. I also liked how fast it was to boil water — really, really fast, boiling a liter of water in under three minutes, the fastest time seen in any of the testing done. This difference was even more stark in the wind test. The JetBoil Genesis boiled a liter of water faster during the wind test than some of the other camping stoves did with no wind at all. That is beyond impressive.
Unfortunately, JetBoil has not yet nailed down the details on this one like they have for their backpacking stoves. The biggest issue I saw during testing was that the windscreen, a pliable piece of plastic, is very difficult to notch into the camping stove itself. I also struggled with the ignition switch, which is shaped differently from other camping stoves.
Worse, while trying to figure it out, I inadvertently touched a hot part of the stove and burned my finger. This is easier to do with the JetBoil Genesis than with other camping stoves simply because there is very little here that is not a burner. Finally, like with other JetBoil stoves, you’ll get the best result if you use the provided pot. However, these pots are made from more delicate materials, and JetBoil recommends avoiding metal utensils. Finally, the price point for this one is extremely high, even considering it comes packaged with a pot and frying pan.
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro 2 Camping Stove
Pros
- Thin profile
- Gas canister can stand up behind the camping stove
- Great warranty
Cons
- Takes a long time to boil water
- Regulator can’t pack down inside the stove
- Looks dirty faster than other camping stoves
Key Specs
- Price: $250
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
- Fuel: Propane
Testing Results
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water: 5:55
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water in 8mph Wind: 14:55
- Simmer Control: Good
This is the thinnest camping stove I have ever tested, which is great for anyone with limited space in their adventure vehicle. It’s only 1.4-inches high, and is easily a third the packed height of the top picks on this list. To boot, it was the only camping stove I looked at with a limited lifetime warranty.
I also liked that the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro 2 has a flexible regulator positioned at the back (rather than the side) of the stove, which means you can set up your gas canister vertically behind the camping stove. Having the real estate next to the camping stove freed up for cooking utensils and lighters really did make cooking a lot easier.
The biggest issue with the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle is that it takes a long time to heat things up. I first noticed this while waiting for a pot of pasta water to boil over Memorial Day weekend. It took so long that I nearly took it off the stove and tried a different one.
Looking closely at the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro 2, my sense is that the grates simply set the pots too high up above the stove, decreasing the effectiveness of the burners. Another issue is that the flexible regular can’t fit inside the stove and doesn’t attach to it for storage in any way. This is just asking to lose it. If you opt for this camping stove, be sure to double-check that you have the regulator before rolling out for the long weekend.
Finally and this is a bit of a nitpick, but that sleek stainless steel finish sure got dirty fast compared to the camping stoves with more matte finishes.
Camp Chef Kodiak Camping Stove
Pros
- Lower price point
- Looks nice
Cons
- Didn’t boil water especially quickly
- Fared poorly on the wind test
Key Specs
- Price: $130
- Warranty: 1 year
- Fuel: Propane
Test Results
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water: 5:05
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water in 8mph Wind: 17:30
- Simmer Control: Good
The Camp Chef Kodiak is a great camping stove if you don’t need top-notch performance. It didn’t boil water as quickly as the Everest or other top picks, but it got the job done in a reasonable amount of time. (It struggled more during the wind portion of the test, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you expect inclement conditions.)
While I appreciated the overall aesthetic of this camping stove, one feature that eventually turned me off was the divot next to the burners that holds the regulator during travel.
The problem was that this divot collects everything from overflowing pasta water to grease as it comes off your pans and just starts to get gross. I don’t love regulators clanking around inside of camp stoves any more than the next camper, but this is not fixing the problem.
Camp Chef Mountaineer Camping Stove
Pros
- Powerful
- Versatile
- Durable and reliable
Cons
- Price
- Bulkier and heavier than you may need
Key Specs
- Price: $470
- Warranty: 1 year
- Fuel: Propane
Test Results
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water: 3:24
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water in 8mph Wind: Not tested
- Simmer Control: Great
The aluminum Camp Chef Mountaineer is a beast. It can fit multiple cast irons, large pots, or even a baking tray and has the same firepower as the Everest, along with other core details. Contributor Samantha Silverman clocked its boil time at 5,000 feet as 4 minutes, 10 seconds.
Read Next: The Best Camping Cookware
Coleman 1900 Collection 3-in-1 Camping Stove
Pros
- Classic design
- Heavy-duty latch
- Cast iron elements are sturdy and versatile
Cons
- Lower windscreens
- Cast-iron features make stove very heavy
Key Specs
- Price: $300
- Warranty: 1 year
- Fuel: Propane
Test Results
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water: 3:56
- Time to Boil 1 Liter of Water in 8mph Wind: Not tested
- Simmer Control: Great
The Coleman 1900 Collection 3-in-1 is equipped with a cast iron grate and comes with two cast iron griddle and grill accessories. In her testing, contributor Sam Silverman found these cast iron accessories “cooked evenly, did not spill grease into the stove, and are very easy to clean.”
“I anticipated this stove’s boil time to take longer than it did, because cast iron takes longer to heat than aluminized steel. However, I clocked the stove’s 5,000 feet boil at a respectable 4 minutes, 51 seconds. The boil at 7,000 feet and 15mph winds took up to 14 minutes … I do credit the low windscreen for at least a portion of my struggles in the stove’s windy boil.” She further noted that the Coleman windscreen was held in place only by slim metal wires, which wasn’t as secure as she would have liked.
Read Next: The Best Cast Iron Skillets for Camping
Full Testing Protocol and Results for the Best Camping Stoves
The Camp Chef Everest 2X, Camp Chef Mountaineer, and JetBoil Genesis were originally tested by Samantha Silverman at 5,000 feet of elevation. I tested the Bass Pro Shops, Camp Chef Kodiak, JetBoil Genesis, and GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro 2 in May of 2025, at only 350 feet. Water boils more quickly at elevation (because it boils at a lower temperature); however, in testing, my liter of water boiled over a half minute faster than Silverman’s. This is a reminder that many factors affect how long it takes to boil water, including wind, ambient temperature, and the starting temperature of the water. We both tested the JetBoil Genesis, which provides a useful comparison for boil times. As such, I adjusted the times for Camp Chef Everest 2X and the Camp Chef Mountaineer.
In addition to a boil test, I tested how long it took each stove to boil a liter of water when subjected to an 8 mile per hour wind in a controlled environment. I also looked at how much control I had in determining the lowest possible temperature of the stove, slowly turning the knob to see how long it took to flicker out. Finally, I checked that I was able to fit both a 10-inch frying pan and large cooking pot on the burners at the same time. Additional testing was conducted in the field with friends and family using the camping stoves over a Memorial Day weekend camping trip. Price and warranty were considered in the final selections.
| Camping Stove | Price | Warranty | Boil Time | Wind Test | Simmer Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bass Pro Shops 2-Burner | $75 | 1 year | 4:10 | 8:05 | Fair |
| Camp Chef Everest 2X | $230 | 1 year | 2:31 | Not tested | Great |
| Camp Chef Kodiak | $130 | 1 year | 5:05 | 17:30 | Good |
| Camp Chef Mountaineer | $470 | 1 year | 3:24 | Not tested | Not tested |
| Coleman 1900 Collection 3-in-1 | $300 | 3 years | 3:56 | Not tested | Great |
| GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro 2 | $250 | Limited lifetime | 5:55 | 14:55 | Good |
| JetBoil Genesis Basecamp System | $400 | 1 year | 2:40 | 5:25 | Great |
How to Choose One of the Best Camping Stoves
Boil Time of the Best Camping Stoves
After testing the best camping stoves, it’s clear that claimed BTUs (British Thermal Units, or a measurement of how much power a stove can put out) is not the most important factor in determining how quickly a camping stove can bring a pot of water to a boil. Just as important (probably more important) is the design of the stove itself, including the distance between the flames and the pot, and the relative effectiveness of the windscreen.
Price of the Best Camping Stoves
The highest priced camping stove I looked at was over five times the price of the lowest priced camping stove I tested. And yet, there was no difference in the provided warranty and not a substantial difference in the overall performance. There are plenty of categories where shelling out extra results in a better camping or outdoors experience; this is not one of them.
Wind Screen of the Best Camping Stoves
I tested the windscreens for the camping stoves by angling one of the best camping fans at a 45-degree angle. I then checked that it was directing an 8mph wind at the back corner of each camping stove before attempting to boil another liter of water. There was an over 10 minute difference in boil time between the worst camping stove and the best camping stove for that test.
Final Thoughts on the Best Camping Stoves
After testing camping stoves from many of the top brands, including Camp Chef, Bass Pro Shops, GSI, and JetBoil, one thing is clear: A camping stove is a camping stove is a camping stove. We’ll be continuing to subject camping stoves to our testing protocol (and likely engineering new ones along the way), but you don’t need to overthink this to make a sound decision before your next camping trip. Grab either our best overall or best value pick and get camping.
- Best Overall: Camp Chef Everest 2X
- Best Value: Bass Pro Shops 2-Burner