Camp stove recommendations

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Rzrbrn

Not meaning to hijack this thread but lights drive me nuts. I use a cheap headlamp because it turns on an off. It does not strobe, it does not have a super bright setting or ten other light levels, it does not have a red light...I just want a flashlight and headlamp that with one click it goes on. And one click it goes off...

Yeah, I hate the sequential click through modes where you have to turn something off and on repeatedly to get something.

my current favorite headlight for walking around and doing stuff at night is the diminutive Black Diamond Iota. This is a tiny rechargeable light that has a soft very wide field white light. normally its just off/on when you click it, but if you turn it on, then hold the button in, it gradually dims and gets brighter again, when you let go it stays that bright. uses a USB micro charging cable, but lasts for months of casual use on a single charge.

its NOT, however, quite bright enough to use as a bicycle lamp in the dark, for that I need something with a brighter beam so I can see the road 30 or 50 feet in front of me.

strobe modes are good for bicycle riding when you're wanting to be seen by traffic but otherwise generally pretty annoying.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Rzrbrn

Not meaning to hijack this thread but lights drive me nuts. I use a cheap headlamp ....

I remember waking up in my camper from a dream that I was parked on the taxi way at a busy airport. The first thing I saw seemed to confirm that my dream was in fact not a dream at all. Turns out it was some kids going to the outhouse with headlights scanning 360 degrees in three dimensions.

What does this have to do with camp stoves? Nothing.. Sorry.

But I will add that I bought not one, but two stoves based on recommendations posted on this forum. I was not happy with either. Maybe they were good for the people who posted that they liked them but they were not suited to the cooking I was doing. YMMV.. Good luck.

[Dudley]

Check out Craigslist and find a used Coleman propane stove then smile on the $ you saved. Then take that money and buy a Bemco Backpackers Oven to go with it and you will be setup. The coleman we are using now was found by the garbage bin while we were out walking. and I have some coleman white gas that go back to 1960 with the old gold tanks and I have never paid more than $15 for one at garage sales. About the only thing that goes wrong with them is they need the pump oiled!

[Derswede]

Dudley, thanks for that comment on the BEMCO oven. Had seen that one years ago while on the App Trail (folks were baking morning biscuits, swapped a bit of bacon for two...yum!). Always liked the ability to bake (I fish), but could not remember the name of it. VERY lightweight! I have a little dual burner propane stove I pack in my "travel" emergency case (Water, food, stove, flares and emerg. medical kit. I drive a lot, but now the Scamp comes with me). Won't work with the oven, but my old Coleman white gas single burner will. The two burner does great with a griddle on top, breakfast pancakes, bacon, and will cook a steak for dinner. Have one of the ovens on order now...$55 or so new.



Baked Trout to me is a treat. I have land on the New River, so trout are just a line toss away.


Derswede

[Dudley]

When you get your oven, there are a couple of mods that work well. There are 2 aluminum studs that hold the front on, I threaded them for 6-32 nuts to hold the front better. I just screwed the nuts on and they cut the threads just fine. The other mod I did was to file notches on the bottom to match the grill rods. I also added a small wooden tab to the latch. They come with 2 cooking trays and found a couple of extra 7" pizza trays at a restaurant supply store for $2 each. It does take a bit of fiddling to get the temp right but its not bad. We have had ours for about 4 years and its always in the casita and we love having fresh biscuits, cinnamon buns, pizza and of course fresh baked cookies (Pilsbury Ready to make chocolate chip are the fav) BTW we use some parchment paper when cooking and reuse it.

[Rzrbrn]

I have not seen a Bemco used, but a friend uses the Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven a lot. The Coleman Camp Oven Silver 2000016462 was used by the a number of Scoutmasters when my boys and I were in the Scouts, all worked well. I have a Volcano II in which I have done some baking.

[AdamNH]

We finally used the Camp Chef Everest and I can confirm that it is a great stove and perfect for our needs. The burners have fantastic turndown which was my big concern. Easy to adjust flame without putting the burner out unlike the older Coleman's that I've used. Nice integrated wind screens. Very rugged and solid build. Large cooking surface. Almost too large since our cast iron griddle was about 1/2" too short to fully cover. I used it with a 20lb tank which was also a nice change for us.

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by AdamNH

We finally used the Camp Chef Everest and I can confirm that it is a great stove and perfect for our needs. The burners have fantastic turndown which was my big concern. Easy to adjust flame without putting the burner out unlike the older Coleman's that I've used. Nice integrated wind screens. Very rugged and solid build. Large cooking surface. Almost too large since our cast iron griddle was about 1/2" too short to fully cover. I used it with a 20lb tank which was also a nice change for us.

Thanks for the follow-up. It's nice to hear the results of these threads, and I think this was an especially interesting one to many.

I mentioned somewhere in the thread that our Coleman Gladiator (Hyperflame / FyreKnight) doesn't simmer properly, even after I attempted to lubricate the O-rings on the burner controls.

I intend to try the silicone spray that I mentioned in post #77. If my follow-up efforts to correct the problem don't work out, I am in the market for a new stove, so I appreciate the post.

[Markz]

We use a portable Induction unit and love it. The unit we use can also be counter flush mounted. We also love having a microwave oven. But we also have a portable butane/LP single burner on hand.

Originally Posted by Tideline77

Does anyone use an portable induction cooktop?

[Markz]

Some of our cooking apparatus.

[Pyrate]

Originally Posted by Al and Cindy K

Great recommendation on the Rocky Mountain Range stoves Dave. We have two as well - a Cimmaron (one of the early models and rock solid) and a Sea of Cortez purchased when they were closing everything out. The newer version has also been good after I replaced all the poorly done pop rivets. Both simmer well and turn out a great pork loin with their barbecue accessory. Agree about the weight.
.

I was able to pick up a stove but its missing the legs. Would you have any pictures of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE OUTDOOR STOVE- CIMMARON that you can share?

[Iowa Dave]

I have a single burner Rocky Mountain that I got first. Then later a two burner that’s a Yellowstone model I think. They are down in my hoarding shed, errr I mean my shop and storage garage. When it warms up tomorrow I’ll go down and get them out because I have to get some traps and fur stretchers out I’m going to sell at a trappers get together (read that eat pork, drink beer thing) in a couple weeks. I’ll take some pictures and take some measurements the best I can.
It was 72 degrees with no wind here yesterday about 2 PM, a front came through and it was 4 degrees F this morning with a 28 mph wind gusting to 40 mph. -17 windchill. I suffered some economic loss from the damage to my brass monkey that I forgot to bring in. Stand by.
Iowa Dave

[Pyrate]

It seems that their stoves have varied leg options. I’ve seen some pictures where the legs are vertical and others are at an angle.







I might look for a foldable table to sit it on if it gets to crazy trying to find the legs.

[Mike Magee]

Here's a couple of camp stove solutions...

[Gerry]

After seeing prices of NEW Coleman Camp stove, I will continue to do and use what I have for the past 30 years, buy an old one at a yard sale for almost nothing, and use it, repair it, and use it again and again. Don't think I have paid more then $5 for one yet and usually all I do to them is clean the gas lines on them.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Gerry

After seeing prices of NEW Coleman Camp stove, I will continue to do and use what I have for the past 30 years, buy an old one at a yard sale for almost nothing, and use it, repair it, and use it again and again. Don't think I have paid more then $5 for one yet and usually all I do to them is clean the gas lines on them.

I know, it's insane! My trusty 35 year old Coleman propane stove was stolen a couple of years ago (along with a lot of old and valuable backpacking equipment). I settled for a basic new one without some of the features my old one had. Everything about it shows a cheapening of build quality, but it cost dearly.

I prefer propane to white gas for car camping for its simplicity. One of the other things I lost in the break-in was an old MSR Whisperlite white gas backpacking stove. I won't be replacing that, as my backpacking days are mostly over.

[Gerry]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

I know, it's insane! My trusty 35 year old Coleman propane stove was stolen a couple of years ago (along with a lot of old and valuable backpacking equipment). I settled for a basic new one without some of the features my old one had. Everything about it shows a cheapening of build quality, but it cost dearly.

I prefer propane to white gas for car camping for its simplicity. One of the other things I lost in the break-in was an old MSR Whisperlite white gas backpacking stove. I won't be replacing that, as my backpacking days are mostly over.

I still have my fathers white gas Coleman, single mantel, lantern, from the mid 1960's. This was the first item my dad had bought to really say we had come up in the camping world. That and the 9X15 foot canvas tent and all us 5 kids sleeping on the ground! Such memories ... I use to be able to buy all the parts to repair that lantern at Cabela's but now they don't sell them anymore.

[Burroman]

Those simple propane stoves that connect to a refillable propane bottle are hard to beat, as a back up to your trailer stove.
I like my svea 123, with the tourist kit. It’s a blazer! Cooked 4 crabs in a big pot on it. Had it for 60 years and never failed.
Butane is hot, but fails at low temps and those containers are not cheap.
An old Coleman, white gas 2 burner is great too.
Depends on how much you use it that pertains to cost.
Refillable small propane bottles , or a connection to the bigger bulk tank makes a lot of sense.
White gas stoves, cheapest to operate come with some challenges: carrying liquid fuel, trickier to operate etc. after awhile you develop a personal relationship ,kinda like an old grumpy friend. They will serve you well!

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Burroman

White gas stoves, cheapest to operate come with some challenges: carrying liquid fuel, trickier to operate etc. after awhile you develop a personal relationship ,kinda like an old grumpy friend. They will serve you well!

That describes perfectly my relationship with that MSR white gas backpacking stove. It just knew when I was distracted, uncomfortable, or in a hurry. As long as I was relaxed and fully engaged with the lighting process, it worked flawlessly. But jump the gun or hesitate a second too long- nothing doing! Wait a bit and try again.

[Burroman]

They certainly require a presence of mind.
Not a bad thing. The old adage “ Be Here Now” certainly applies.