r/camping • u/europeanuppercut • 12d ago
Gear Question if i'm buying new... camp chef mountaineer, coleman classic, or coleman 222?
camp chef mountaineer is $293 (on sale from $470). two 20k btu burners, lightweight aluminum, 15 pounds, 24x12.5 inch cooking surface, 5-20 pound propane.
coleman classic is $75 (on sale from $98). two 10k btu burners, 11.65 pounds, 22.5x14.5 inch surface, 1 pound propane.
coleman 222 is $150 (down from $220). two 11k btu burners, 13 pounds, 22x13.2 inch surface, 1 pound propane.
classic colemans seem to be the standard, but i'd like to buy new. have heard their quality isn't what it used to be - not sure what to believe there. camp chef everest 2x is recommended everywhere, too, but... i don't like red. have considered a griddle, but a two-burner stove with a lodge cast iron griddle would probably be more flexible.
what's the move here? (cheaper is obviously enticing, but if the camp chef is higher quality, more fuel efficient, more cooking surface... i'm willing to pay more, especially with it being discounted so much on amazon right now.)
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u/tdlsso 12d ago
I’ve legitimately used a Coleman classic for over twenty years, same stove, never had an issue. Plus their warranty service is fantastic (never had to use it on the stove, but worth keeping in mind).
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u/Frantic_Pickle 12d ago
My parents have had a classic for over 30 years and still use it. They're tanks!
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u/jeswesky 12d ago
When my parents quit camping my mom gave me theirs. Still works great though I rarely use it. Tend to solo camp and not cook much when I’m solo so I just bring a single burner butane stove to save space.
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u/SleepySnoozySloth 12d ago
I just inherited my mom's old one from the 90s. Now I have mine (bought circa 2015) and hers and what a great problem to have, right?! I'm practically rich now.
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u/DuckWaffles 12d ago
I've had several Colemans over the years, while your stove from twenty years ago might be great, I agree with OP. Their quality has taken a step back the last 5+ years. I ended up selling my latest model from coleman a few years ago and buying a camp chef everest 2x. I can now fit a full sized cast iron and large boiling pot on the stove without issue and the temperature control is much more precise compared to the newer coleman I had purchased. The mountaineer would likely blow these other stoves out of the water.
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u/shadow247 12d ago
Yeah. I bought one about 5 years ago. Its OK for the price, but I'll probably upgrade to something better for longer campouts. Its fine cooking a couple quick meals on, but its awful in the wind. Took me 30 minutes to boil water for coffee once when it was 40 and windy!
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u/distrucktocon 12d ago
The new ones suck. No heat control. I used them my whole childhood in Boy Scouts. Bought one a few years back. It’s crap. The gas control valves suck. I traded mine out for a bigger camp chef.
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u/Jedi_Market_HQ 12d ago
I inherited one, no idea how old it is. Haven't ever had an issue. Love it.
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u/Occams_AK47 12d ago
They usually stamp the month 1-12 under one tab of the fuel tank, and the last 2 digits of the year under the other.
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u/Popular-Meringue 12d ago
So cool, I’ll check it out. I’m estimating ours is mid 70’s. Still a workhorse.
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u/Popular-Meringue 12d ago
We have my in-laws old school Coleman (in orange) and it’s a powerhouse. For longer trips, we bring our camp chef stand up one (Costco purchase in 2014). The camp chef has had lots of issues, especially ignition lines.
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u/sharkWrangler 12d ago
I stole my parent's Coleman classic while I was in college, we had used it all through my childhood. I still use it as the primary stove with my kids with zero issues other than a little sticking. It outlasted my dad, I have a feeling it will outlast me.
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u/tedbrogan12 12d ago
Seconded going on 11 years with mine. This is one of those cases where sometimes things are very common because they just work so damn well.
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u/JustOneMorePuff 12d ago
I inherited my step fathers Coleman classic, I think it’s at least 40 years old. I replaced the o rings and pump and it works like new. It’s great for car camping.
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u/bigsampsonite 11d ago
Same but $98 is crazy expensive and so is $70. I paid half that a few yeara ago. $50 new and im in.
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u/jrw16 11d ago
I have two stoves: a Coleman Classic that I got from my parents (it’s older than me), and another Coleman Classic I bought when I forgot the old one at home. Both are still going strong and work great. I can’t possibly imagine a $300 stove being that much better for the average person unless you’re using it 3-4 times a month or more
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u/Jealous_Ad_1283 10d ago
Coleman used to be the go to. In recent years, many improvements have been made by other manufacturers.
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u/Zhenchok 12d ago edited 12d ago
Look around for deals, if you are not in a rush you can score a deal. Last year, Costco sold the Coleman and at the end of the season they were on clearance for $30. I think any one you buy will be good. I’ve been using my Coleman classic over 20 years already. My father in law has been using a Walmart branded one for over 30, here is a link to a similar one he has. I think they used to sell them for $20 Ozark Trail 2 Burner Propane Camping Stove https://www.walmart.com/ip/161565242?sid=5cca41db-8f51-46e2-8602-e8c10f077177
Here is a deal on a classic Coleman
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u/Used_Meet_2233 12d ago
Same Coleman Classic here for ~25 years. Stained, dented, gnarly looking. But I hook propane to it and it fires up and cooks my food. Incidentally, my old Coleman works with the Ignik Growler Deluxe, which makes the 1 lb. propane a thing of my past.
The Camp Chef looks nice, and reviews proclaim its ruggedness. The recessed knobs on the Camp Chef are a good design feature. However, I find the cost to effectiveness ratio too top heavy. At my age, if I had to purchase another Coleman today it would likely outlive me and I would still only be out half the money for a new Camp Chef.
Good luck with whichever you choose. Any one you choose will ultimately give you what you’re after — a way to cook up and enjoy a meal outdoors.
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u/sharkWrangler 12d ago
Same, man, same. 30+ years of faithful cooking. It's not pretty but it literally always works.
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u/Used_Meet_2233 12d ago
Plus, when I consider the service my Coleman has given me during power outages from hurricanes and the multiple times I’ve made boiled peanuts, well, I’ve kinda grown attached to the ol’ thing. 🙂
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u/ExLibris_1 12d ago
Camp chef looks sick but go cheaper for the amount of time you’ll use it. My stove is a Coleman white gas pump from the 90s I found on FB marketplace.
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u/furious_Dee 12d ago edited 12d ago
love the ritual of lighting the coleman white gas stoves.
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u/ExLibris_1 11d ago
100%, for me it’s especially the Coleman Dual Fuel lanterns. If I may share a tip, I really like the Trangia fuel bottles for the white gas. I use one for denatured alcohol too.
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u/Particular-Dog3652 12d ago
Switched to a Blackstone with griddle and burner. Biggest POS love the griddle but it doesn't fit the way it should and the sparker doesn't work in the cold weather. Going back to tried and true Coleman
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u/BloodHappy4665 12d ago
That sucks. Honestly sounds like the perfect set up. We got a blackstone when we bought our teardrop. We like it so much I just put away the Coleman classic I’ve had for 10 years. We bought a single burner for boiling water; everything else goes on the griddle.
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u/Particular-Dog3652 12d ago
Well that's good to know. Maybe I received a detective unit. I think I'll contact Blackstone and see about a replacement. Good to know you are happy with yours. Thank you
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u/Super_Jay 12d ago
IMO the Mountaineer is way overkill unless you specifically go camping to cook outdoors, or if you're cooking for a lot of people regularly. Otherwise the expense and the weight (even for car camping) is crazy.
A lot of people still swear by Coleman but I've had my share of problems with their current-day products, so I tend to stay away from them. Obviously YMMV, but a Triton or 222 or similar 'mid-level' Coleman is probably in the good enough column. I personally wouldn't go for a new "Classic" stove; they're cheap because they're cheap.
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12d ago
Old school Coleman is bulletproof. I feel like the newer stuff is just junk. Just my humble opinion.
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u/Bingo_9991 12d ago
Propane is a bad idea if you regularly camp where it can get below 40. Frozed propane is not fuckin fun when you're cold trying to make coffee
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u/BB-56_Washington 12d ago
I never had an issue with that. Propane works fine in the cold unless you're going well below zero.
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u/Bingo_9991 11d ago
I did a bit of reading. Google full of conflicting answers. Looks like odds are the regulator got condensation in it that froze, or the small tanks don't vaporize as efficiently and burn worse at colder temps, with one source citing possibly having butane in the tanks.( Unrelated to camping, but I regularly use a propane torch for bbq and heating car parts up in winter, I do definitely notice it does not have the balls it would in the summer.) All I remember was being 15F and unable to light any of the three propane stoves with a couple different fuel canisters. Was not fun waking up in early September to absolutely rediculous temps that nobody was completely prepared for, and not able to get a stove lit. Ever since that trip everyone switched over to white gas. Don't wanna argue that propane is incapable of working, because it sounds like it is, but between my current experience with to torch and my old experience of the stoves, it's not something I want to gamble going wrong again
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u/miclee15 12d ago
I think it’s butane that has the problem in cold weather.
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u/BB-56_Washington 12d ago
It is. Iso butane has the same issue to a lesser degree since its boiling point is lower than regular butane.
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u/Administration_Key 12d ago
This is why I also keep a flat-pack small wood stove as a backup. I've been stuck like this before.
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u/BB-56_Washington 11d ago
I'm lucky that I live in the PNW, and don't usually deal with temperatures much below 30°.
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u/markbroncco 12d ago
If you can swing the price, I’d honestly go for the Mountaineer, especially at that discount. I’ve used both Colemans and a Camp Chef, and the build quality plus burner power on the Camp Chef is so much better. One thing I noticed is the evenness of the heat, way fewer hot spots than my buddies’ Colemans.
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u/Electrical-Pea-4491 12d ago
You didn't say if you are space or weight limited, whether you have a 5-20 lb propane source, or how often you'll be using it. I've car camped for 50 years with the classic Coleman. It light weigh with the gas cylinder and packs small. My son has the Coleman 222 and I like its features better and would recommend it if you are tight on space and won't be burning through a lot of gas. But if you have the space and will be out for many weeks and weekends, I'd go for the Camp Chef.
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u/Tomas-Tequila-99 12d ago
Coleman classic. We got one for our wedding 43 years ago and it’s been great having been used on at least 8 trips a year since!
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u/BloodHappy4665 12d ago
This is the only review you need. Damn. 43 years and 8 trips a year? I’m living my life all wrong.
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u/Tomas-Tequila-99 12d ago
We were very active when younger going windsurfing, River running, desert exploring, hunting and the Coleman was always on duty. In fact we used it so much that I got an adapter hose for 20 lb propane tanks so we quit buying the little green throwaways. We’re probably down to 2 camps per year now and have a camp trailer but if it’s not cold out I make coffee outside using the good old Coleman classic.
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u/Longjumping_Pop_7303 12d ago
I have an actively use all three stoves that you have pictured. The camp chef is my favorite by a long shot for the cold weather. It keeps my cast iron super hot on them cold days. In half the time that the Coleman takes to cook something. And I’ve had zero issues with it
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u/sprinkletoes5678 12d ago
Love my camp chef… highly recommend!!! You have much more control over the temperature compared to Coleman.
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u/Wolfica95 12d ago
I’ve got a camp chef Everest 2. After camping with multiple large groups with lots of things that make fire. I found this was one of the best/reliable. It’s easy to use, starts easy, puts out lots of heat. My cousin collects old Coleman stoves and has several 2/3 burner that are 30-50 years old and still work, not as plug and play and can take some trouble shooting to get things started in the cold. but can use multiple sources for fuel.
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u/Sneezer 12d ago
The CampChef Mountaineer is a copy/competitor to the Partner Steel stoves. These have been used by outfitters and river guides for decades. Bomb proof stoves. The Mountaineer bests the Partner in he flame department - 20k burners vs 10k on the Partner, and supposedly better flame control. They do have a good sized cooking surface, which is great if you have two larger skillets. You can save some coin by just getting the Everest instead. Same burners and flame control, cheaper chassis.
Personally I hate all the new Coleman stuff. Their flame control is atrocious. Most of the standard stoves are either rocket hot or off. Usually there is 1/8 of a turn or less between off and high. Seems when they do come up with a decent flame control they kneecap it with non existent wind protection, or make it 10k burners or less.
What is your use case? Do you have to keep it small for transport? Or do you have plenty of room for gear in your vehicle?
Jetboil Genesis is a pretty cool 2 burner that takes up minimal room when folded. Wind protection is sort of a joke though, and it is expensive unless you can snag it on deep discount. However, Jetboil is part of Johnson Outdoors, who recently killed the Eureka brand.
Got room for a big cooker? Camp Chef Pro60x, Pro90x, Tundra, etc are all excellent stoves if you have the room. I use mine for group cooking on scout campouts, where it excels. Add a griddle and a BBQ box and it covers just about everything. Check your local FB - I got mine for a song some years ago, and Camp Chef is pretty good at stocking parts for these things. I put a new igniter, knobs and leg release push buttons on mine to replace the sun damaged or missing ones when I got it.
Don’t need something that big, but have room for an old Coleman suitcase stove? Surf FB and pick up a classic liquid fuel one. Might need to freshen some seals, but they will literally run forever, and can be fun to tinker with.
Not interested in liquid fuel? Again surf FB for the long discontinued Coleman guide series 5428 3 burner propane stove. This is a suitcase stove in the same case as the old liquid fule 3 burners, but has a single 15k btu burner on the left, and two 10k btu regular burners. Flame control is excellent, very easy to regulate from simmer to full blast. I have a two burner Nordicware backsplash griddle that nests inside under the stove grate for transport. This has been my primary stove for years, and I have yet to find another that can equal or surpass its capability in this form factor. If you do some searching on ebay or FB you might also find a decent deal on the old Coleman chef trays. I have some and they increase the utility of the stove tremendously when cooking. Paired with a simple high stand and you have freed up space on your table.
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u/AdTime994 12d ago
We have a Coleman classic that's going on 20 years without issue. Does what it's meant to do
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u/inorebez 12d ago
I have the camp chef. Great power and sturdy cooking surface for clanking around with big fill size pans. Cons are mostly power modulation (the burners dont like to simmer), and have some nooks that are hard to clean
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u/Seventhson77 12d ago
That Coleman technology hasn’t improved much in the past 50 years. Mine has two settings: Off and full blast. You can use it but it’s a light touch to get it manageable.
Accordingly that camo chef looks pretty nice.
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u/FiRE-CPA 12d ago
I have the Costco rebrand of the Coleman and the gas valves are frustrating and hard to control.
It works fine for boiling but I wish it had more control.
I'd have a hard time paying that much for the camp chef but it is the nicest.
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u/Plus_Comb187 11d ago
Camp Chef hands down! I’ve owned the Coleman basic and it is fine/affordable and nostalgic however I upgraded to a camp chef explorer and the added BTU’s have been awesome. Boils water better, flame doesn’t blow out from the wind. Difference between 10k BTUs and 11k on those Coleman’s is negligible, but you would definitely appreciate the difference between 10 and 20k BTU’s.
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u/Winston3455 12d ago
Coleman classic here - no complaints. I'm not doing much gourmet cooking on it though!
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u/Simple_Philosopher86 12d ago
I usually camp at the beach and I’ve had the Coleman classic one and it just took forever to cook things because of the wind so I got the camp chef and it works amazingly but it’s huge if anything camp chef makes similar stoves that are a bit smaller
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u/eazypeazy303 12d ago
I've never used a camp chef because that Coleman warranty has me for life! I've been using a classic for decades.
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u/hhudson0 12d ago
I think the best is the Coleman single burner grill combo. And then bring a tiny jet boil for your 2nd burner if you need one.
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u/mylesols 12d ago
I bought a colman classic 2 burner 20,000 btu stove on ebay for cheap bucks and I love it
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u/tuenthe463 12d ago
The Coleman classic is SO easy to find used online for $25-40.and does everything you need it to do
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u/t8hkey13 12d ago
HOw often are you going to use it? I use 2x classics when I camp and hunt, never steered me wrong.
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u/thegreatfartrocket 12d ago
In my experience, I've never been disappointed to have my camp stove kick out more power than I need, but I sure have been frustrated when I haven't been able to get the heat that I've wanted.
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u/NegotiationLow2783 12d ago
My white gas Coleman is 35 years old. Minor maintenance, but that thing is a beast.
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u/BigAgates 12d ago
Partner Steel.
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u/guzbikes 12d ago
Came here to say this . Partner stoves are simple and bomb proof. Every river company and outfitter uses Partner stoves for a reason. They will outlast every other piece of gear you own, and then some. Pass your stove into your kids and they will pass it on to theirs.
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u/Occams_AK47 12d ago
White gas coleman for me.
I know I can make it work even if I have to use unleaded.
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u/camping_scientist 12d ago
222 for 95% of cooking. Get a jetboil or similar for all water boiling activities.
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u/TicoTacoTio 12d ago
I just got the Coleman cascade 328 for that third burner. It'll be my trial run this weekend
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u/ERTBen 12d ago
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u/tweedchemtrailblazer 12d ago
I think a single burner propane piece of crap from Amazon is more versatile, heats better, and takes up less space. It doesn’t come with a lid, but who needs it? And it doesn’t come with a wind baffle, but I’ve camped on the top of a mountain and figured out how to make it work.
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u/DarthTempi 12d ago
I can't understand why anyone would spend that on a car camping stove...
Also a colman can use a larger propane tank, you just need to buy it with the adapter.
I use a colman triton and our friends that we camp with the most have a camp chef everest... They are functionally the same.
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u/Nowhereman50 12d ago
I have a Colemam Classic. Thing's great. Was the perfect size for my cast iron griddle as well.
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u/Odd-Secretary-8690 12d ago
I use an ozark trail coleman knockoff that I got for 15 bucks on sale. Been working great. Tbh these things arent complex.
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u/Oak510land 12d ago
You can find vintage Coleman's in near new condition for cheap. Like every American family bought one and many only used them once or never. I just fired up a mint 60's one that looks like it was never used and I only paid $40.
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u/Important-Band9846 12d ago
If your not arsed about it being on the back plinth, have a look at a cadac, we've got the big one but they do a small compact one thats perfect, they even do a pizza stone for it.
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u/No_Rucks_Given 12d ago
This looks impressive. I bought one of the packable black stones. Trash compared to my real one. The pack ones have teflon coated thin tin feeling griddle.
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u/Aedeagus1 12d ago
Like many I only have experience with the Coleman classic. As a kid we had one and it was great. I then bought my own that was the newer model you have pictured. I haven't had a problem with it in the 15 years I've had it, they're simple things. My only complaint is the heat control is tricky. If you're boiling water it's great, if you need to lightly simmer it takes a little bit of a delicate touch to get it right. I seem to remember the older version has an easier temperature control. Hard to beat the price to quality ratio of them though.
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u/cacarson7 12d ago
I bought a Eureka Ignite camp stove a few years ago as an update to the classic Coleman I've been using for 25 or 30 years (still works fine except the ignitor, which hasn't worked in many years), and I think it's a great stove! Definitely a major improvement in temperature control, ignitor works great, and it's a very pleasing blue color I like a lot. Otw it's just a standard, classic camp stove design.
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u/HoLyGhOsT_to_Fuk 12d ago
My eye sight kind of sucks I was like wow that is a cool looking outdoor turntable 🤣 and then I saw more clearly and became disappointed that it was a stove 😑
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u/IDriveAnAgeraR 12d ago
I have the Coleman 2-in-1 stove and grill and I absolutely LOVE that. I was camping with my uncle and he couldn’t get the gentle heat from the leftover charcoal we had burning in a stand up pit. I suggested using his pan over the grill grate and using low heat, it was the perfect gentle heat to bake the corn bread over the frypan on that grill side. We love using the mushroom burner for boiling water or cooking a larger pot or pan. It takes some finesse to get the right control of your flame for what your personal preference is, but it is perfect for camping.
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u/antherx2 12d ago edited 12d ago
Can't beat the coleman classic on price point or weight. I've had mine for 15 years and it has held up great. I've done fish frys, bratwurst, boiled water, and made more breakfasts than I can remember on one can of propane.
It stores well in flat or upright areas, has a nice under handle and latch, and it can fit larger pans with the adjustable side wind guards. I don't recall it weighing close to 12lbs though, when I weighed mine for travel W&B it was 9lbs.
The original model is much better, the real classic. It is a white fuel and much easier to maintain. Cheaper fuel for longevity as well. It was lighter and more square, not as rectangular or flat. Those are the real jems, it all fit together well, and was much easier to clean the interior.
Good luck on your purchase!
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u/WCCChris 12d ago edited 12d ago
Get a Partner Steel 22″ WIDE 2-BURNER Stove! It was original designed and built for River Outfitters and is so easy to clean! Just lift up the cooking grates and voila!
It’s made in Idaho and Cascade sells also a fitting bag. It makes sense to pay a bit more. Trust me, a quality stove that you will enjoy until the rest of your life!
https://cascaderivergear.com/shop/22-wide-2-burner-wwindscreen-attached/
Those Coleman things are a pain to clean and while attaching a hose connected to a 5lbs bottle, I’ve over twisted by accident the internal thin copper pipe feeding to the burners and then I had to throw the whole thing away.
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u/Vs_Prem_Challenger 12d ago
Glad I ran into this post. My Coleman is from 2002. Works great. I was thinking of upgrading but after reading about the quality issues I won’t. OP how often will you use it? A week or two out of the year may not be worth the Camp Chef. Unless you are buying the Camp Chef to pass down. Then it’s worth it.
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u/FlyGuidePatagonia 12d ago
Hey we use the classic one for 20 years and for work on the wilds with our clients. Never a single problem. Is just the best no doubt.
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u/BlackFish42c 12d ago
Depends on how much you like to cook and how many people you often cook for. I have the Camp Chef PRO 90 X Deluxe 3 Burner Stove Cooking System I’ve got two side tables a skillet and a open burner. I love my Camp Chef but only take it when the entire family is going camping. Just me or my wife and I, I will just bring my 2 burner Coleman stove.
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u/RufousMorph 12d ago
I have the mountaineer and use it at least three times a week. I absolutely love it. The 20k burners are key. At home I use it on the balcony for cooking meats. At the cabin, I can use it to cook a ton of food for guests in a short period of time. And it’s still small enough for car camping.
Check Marketplace, I saw a used one in good shape for under $50.
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u/committedlikethepig 12d ago
Bought my parents a Eureka double burner stove and they ended up having to use it during a longer-than-expected kitchen remodel. It had great control over lower settings and is less expensive than the Everest.
Would highly recommend!
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u/Flannelcommand 12d ago
Our Coleman classic is super reliable, gets the job done, very happy with it.
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u/OldMcTaylor 12d ago
I have a version of the Coleman 222. It's a great stove, step up from the standard Coleman. Easier to clean, better control of the heat, sturdier and works with 5-20 pound tanks perfectly well. Mine came with two cast iron half griddles (one ridged and one flat)
As for griddles, they're nice but I switched to the Coleman from a griddle because I wanted more flexibility in how I can cook. You can always buy a griddle to go on top of the stove.
Edit: The Cascade 3-in-1 Camping Stove is pretty much what I have.
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u/wengla02 12d ago
Having used new, and vintage Coleman, I bought a new Camp Chef. The new Colemans aren't up to cooking for more than simple things, while the Camp Chef just works. Simmer, boil, more heat. You aren't going to go wrong with either Camp Chef model. (forget which one I bought - but it is red)
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u/Candid_Tension7958 12d ago
Maybe consider a skottle? No pots and pans to mess with for the most part and works well for cooking.
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u/WhereTheCarp 12d ago
I’ve had the Coleman classic since I was a 10 I’m 23 now and I use it on all my camping trips
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u/SleepySnoozySloth 12d ago
You really can't go wrong with the Coleman Classic. I've got one I've been using for the last 10 years and when my mom passed a few years ago I inherited hers from the 90s that we used on my Girl Scout camping trips and it still works like a champ. It gets the job done. Sure the Camp Chef is bigger and more powerful but it doesn't come with an actual camp chef so your food will taste the same. I personally like the slimmer design of the Coleman as it's will take up less space whilst packing. If you are concerned with needing a bigger tank you can get a hose and connect the Coleman to a bigger propane tank and skip the 1lb tanks altogether. I think there are other areas where it pays off to spend more for the higher quality product but for car camping I don't see the benefit of spending an extra $200 for the same result.
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u/SleepySnoozySloth 12d ago
I lucked out and found a Coleman Fold & Go at a thrift store and that is another nice and compact option if you'd consider something in between. It's slightly larger than an old school lunch box if size is something you are factoring into your decision.
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u/degoba 12d ago
I would buy the mountaineer only because I hate the little one pound bottles. Expensive and a pita to dispose of.
I use an old white gas Coleman suitcase style for car camping. Its from the 70s and its used at least 10 times a year since I picked it up. The limiting factor is its not good for larger group cooking. Anything over 4 people is tough. If I had the $$ I would upgrade to a camp chef that took a larger propane tank.
Camp chef also has lots of nice accessories.
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u/weezinNkoffin 12d ago
Coleman classic. As long as walmart sells them, you can do the infinite return glitch if they ever break.
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u/Jerrypitts15 12d ago
I have the $40 Coleman from Walmart. It's worked fine for me. I'm also not terribly picky about my stove.
I'd like to clarify though that you can use any propane tank with any stove. You just need a hose. I bought the Ignik gas growler and use that. It's so much cheaper to use than buying 1lb bottles all the time.
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u/Bslayer7111 12d ago
Coleman classic and it isn’t a question, I’ve had the same one this whole time works amazingly.
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u/bigsampsonite 11d ago
Dam crazy how expensive the Coleman classic is now. Rebounds one a few yeara ago for like $40. At almost $100 that is crazy expensive for such little gear.
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u/Silver_Philosophy507 11d ago
Camp Chef Everest! Used as a camp stove and to make steaks on a cast iron year round in my yard. Got is as a gift, and has not failed me once in about 7 years of CONSISTENT use.
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u/mjmmkerr 10d ago
I used the Coleman liquid fuel stoves in scouts and hated them. Always having to pump them up, etc. I vowed to myself propane forevermore. Looking back at it, the tanks probably just needed some TLC and an o-ring, but i didn't know that then. I bought the Coleman classic while in college. It's going strong 30+ years later. I added the hose adapter to connect to a 20-pound tank. Later, I added a splitter and lantern tree to the tank. I was able to run the camp chef water heater and the Coleman stove and the Coleman lantern and my 22" Blackstone off of one tank. It worked great. It fit all my needs. Then we bought a travel trailer. Still used the Coleman classic and Blackstone. Sold the trailer and haven't camped since we moved to Florida 3+ years ago. I'm ready to get back to it.
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u/Wise-Quarter-6443 9d ago
If you want two burners, I would buy two single burners. Each single can handle a 12 inch pan if you need. 2 burners are always crowded and if you want to use a bigger pot or pan, you might as well have a single anyway.
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u/brianbot5000 12d ago
I have a lower model Camp Chef and it's fine, but there's no way I'd pay that price for the Mountaineer. Of those three I'd go Coleman Classic. Simple, durable, and reasonably priced. It'll last you years.
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u/mountnbkr 12d ago
Coleman. One of those things that you get what you pay for.
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u/Hungry-Mycologist576 12d ago
Guessing many will be confused by your comment. Coleman's are known to be reliable if not a bit lame. But they are quite reasonably priced as well..
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u/CommunicationLast741 12d ago
Whatever you get make sure it can actually go low. A lot of stoves claim high btus but they only operate at medium to full blast. Unless of course boiling water is all you plan to do with it.
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u/goblined 12d ago
Far be it from me to get in the way of someone optimizing their gear, but this is a place where I'd say just get the cheap stove. These are very simple machines and the design hasn't changed in decades.
There's no such thing as "more fuel efficient" here, btw. It's propane, it burns, it makes things hot. That heat either goes into the pan sitting over the burner, or it flows around the sides and heats up the air. If anything, the higher max output of the Camp Chef burners makes it more likely you'll waste fuel.
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u/_the_credible_hulk_ 12d ago
I absolutely LOVE my camp chef Everest. It’s one of my favorite pieces of camp equipment I own. Boils water ridiculously fast.