The Best Coleman Stoves Reviewed

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Coleman Classic
Test Winner: Coleman Classic
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When you're camping, or hiking, food seems to almost take on a magical quality. There is something so satisfying about sitting down to a hearty meal of sausage, eggs, and toast after a long, strenuous hike. If this is your goal, you’ll need a camping stove. Coleman is a company who pioneered the camping stove in 1942 when they made a stove for the US soldiers during World War II. And by the 1950s what you would recognize now as a camping stove, had entered the consumer marketplace. Now almost 70 years later Coleman is still making some of the best and most popular camping stoves. Check out the ten top-rated Coleman Stoves that will keep you fed and happy during those outdoor weekends. We have included options that are ideal for a wide range of activities from backpacking to long family outings.

Standout Picks

Coleman Classic
We can’t review Coleman stoves without mentioning the Coleman Classic. A fold-open lid and adjustable side wind guards allow you to cook with larger pans. Both of the two burners are independently adjustable, allowing a constant steady heat, whether you are boiling water or frying an omelet on low heat.
Amazon Link
$59.95
Coleman Bottle Top
Made to be easy to pack and carry along with you, this very affordable stove option can really pack a punch when you need it. You’ll love how light and how simple it is to use the Coleman Bottle Top Stove is whenever and wherever you are out camping.
Amazon Link
$29.80
Coleman Butane
If you are looking for a budget stove, this fits the bill. It's light and comes in its own carrying case. Easy to set up; all you have to do is take it out the case, lock in the butane cylinder with a simple pull down lever, turn the adjustable burner control, and it will self-ignite with its automatic ignition. The burner has wind baffles which help it to shield low winds, but you might have problems in windier areas.
Amazon Link
Coleman Sportster 2
If you want small and portable this is the one. The total weight of the stove is 2.3 pounds. It is designed to hold a 6-inch pan with 10,000 BTUs of cooking power.
Amazon Link
Coleman Powerpack Propane
The wonderful news about the Coleman Powerpack Propane Stove is that it is small, compact, but gets the job of cooking done with 7,500 BTUs of power. This grill may be small, but it can fit a 12-inch pan, and it is super useful if your goal is to keep your travels as light as possible.
Amazon Link
$54.69
Coleman Triton 2
Coleman’s Triton Stove 2 is one of the most affordable and most popular stoves on the market today. Coleman wowed us with the original version of the Triton and the newer version is no different. It is a great all-around option for those campers shopping on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice quality when investing in a stove.
Amazon Link
$132.00
Coleman Camp Propane
Not sure if you want a stove or a grill? Do you want to be able to boil some rice while grilling chicken breasts at the same time? Then this is the stove/grill for you. This is a durable steel grill and stove combination. The stove half will fit a 10-inch pan with a 130sq inch grilling area to the side.
Amazon Link
$137.99
Guide Powerhouse
The Powerhouse is a good option if you don’t like having to carry a separate gas bottle, or if you are not sure how much gas you have left since you last used it. With a liquid fuel, you can just check how much you have left in the tank. The stove comes with a filtering funnel and holds 3.5 pints of fuel, which will cook on full power for just over 2 hours.
Coleman Fold N Go™
This stove, when folded, is smaller than a briefcase. Once opened, it has a large cooking surface which easily fits two 10 inch pans. The downside, no wind guards so it will be difficult to cook in windy conditions. This Coleman Fold N Go™ stove is made from high quality and durable chrome-plated grates that can be removed for easy quick cleanups. The Coleman Fold N Go Propane Stove is known for folding up nice and small and can store and be transported easily. It has a matchless ignition button called an InstaStart that lights the stove with just a push of the button.
Amazon Link
$134.99
Coleman Triton +
This stove is folded with an easy and heavy duty locking latch and has a large carrying handle. The rounded shock-absorbing corner protectors have been designed to be able to take knocks and bangs which come with the territory of camping. This durable and customizable stovetop can speak for itself and will wow you with one use. This Coleman Triton + stove is known for being built for easy cleaning by having a chrome-plated grate and rust-resistant aluminum cooktop. Some great features for this stove include its Instastart push ignition button with the PerfectFlow heat-distribution technology and its two side wind resistant walls that help with the stove staying lit.
Amazon Link

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Use

As always it is important to know what you are going to need from the stove. Are you going to be backpacking and need small and lightweight, or are you going to be just carrying some things from the car across a field to a campground? A small backpacking stove is usually designed with weight and size as considerations as well as fuel efficiency. But don’t overlook them if you are camping close to your car, backpacking stoves are generally excellent at boiling water, and combined with a larger camp stove can be helpful if you want to be boiling water and cooking breakfast at the same time.

Weather Resistance

It is important once you get the stove started to make sure the Coleman stove is windproof to help the flame last. How annoying is it when you have to spend more time than necessary for cooking your food, simply because you have to keep lighting the stove due to the wind repeatedly blowing out the flame. This is especially annoying when all you want is something warm to eat after a long day on the trails. The best options will have well thought out windshields, to protect the flame from strong winds. You shouldn’t have to go hungry on the trail, just because it’s a windy day.

Size

Once you have decided that you need a camping stove, what size do you need? In the review, the largest stove reviewed were two burner stoves, but larger 3 and 4 burner stoves are available. If you are camping with a group of fewer than 4 people a two burner stove is great for most cooking needs. If your group is more than 5, then you might consider adding another burner, either two stoves, a two burner, and a single burner stove, or invest in a large three burner stove.

Capacity

You also need to consider the overall cooking area. What are the largest size pans you can cook with? And what size pans do you intend to use or have? When cooking at home if like me you probably haven’t noticed the size of pans you cook with, I checked my kitchen at home and I have very few pans larger than 10 inches and most of the time I am cooking with 10 inches or smaller at home.

If you have larger 12-inch pans you should check that the wind guards will accommodate pans of this size, maybe you will need to remove the wind guards, can the wind guards be removed? Do you want to have a stove without wind guards? Is wind going to be an issue? Believe me, there is nothing more frustrating than trying to make a cup of coffee and having to relight the burner every minute because the wind has blown it out.

Top Ten Coleman Stoves

1. Coleman Classic

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$59.95
Coleman Classic
Amazon Link

We can’t review Coleman stoves without mentioning the Coleman Classic. A fold-open lid and adjustable side wind guards allow you to cook with larger pans. Both of the two burners are independently adjustable, allowing a constant steady heat, whether you are boiling water or frying an omelet on low heat.

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Use
No ignition system is present, meaning it must be lit with a match. The stove lacks a real carrying handle and the latch is small and can easily be knocked open in transportation. The chrome plated grate is removable for easy cleaning, and the cooking top is aluminized steel to resist rust. You’ll be able to easily clean this stove.

Weather Resistance
One of the only minor drawbacks is that this stove’s legs are part of the metal body of the stove and on some surfaces, they might not give a secure footing. This does mean that wind could knock the stove over.

Capacity
A 16.4oz propane cylinder will last a full hour with on burners on high. In turn, you’ll get a decent amount of fuel consumption with this stove.

Size
This Coleman Classic stove measures in at 4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7 inches.

Amazon Link
$59.95

2. Coleman Bottle Top

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$29.80
Coleman Bottle Top
Amazon Link

Made to be easy to pack and carry along with you, this very affordable stove option can really pack a punch when you need it. You’ll love how light and how simple it is to use the Coleman Bottle Top Stove is whenever and wherever you are out camping.

Read more

Use
The Bottle Top Stove is very easy to use, and all you need to do is light it, heat it up, and you are ready to go. An easy-to-use striker is included with the product. This stove can boil a quart of water in just four minutes. It’s an affordable option that doesn’t offer many bells and whistles but is ideal for a minimalist camper. Made as a single burner cooking stove, the burner is easy to remove and clean. You’ll be happy with how simple and easy it is to clean up after cooking. Another great feature is that the burner and base can be separated from the propane tank.

Weather Resistance
This stove features wind baffles to help shield your flame from the wind. While this does work, it isn’t always effective with wind resistance, so sometimes you might wind up burning more fuel.

Capacity
This stove runs on a propane cylinder and as long as it doesn’t get too breezy, you should get plenty of use out of your fuel. It can last on high for 2.5 hours with a 16.4-ounce propane cylinder or up to 9 hours on low. This isn’t a large stove, so its overall fuel consumption is fairly low.

Size
This Coleman Bottle Top stove measures in at 6.62" H x 7.81" W x 7.75" L.

Amazon Link
$29.80

3. Coleman Butane

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Coleman Butane
Amazon Link

If you are looking for a budget stove, this fits the bill. It's light and comes in its own carrying case. Easy to set up; all you have to do is take it out the case, lock in the butane cylinder with a simple pull down lever, turn the adjustable burner control, and it will self-ignite with its automatic ignition. The burner has wind baffles which help it to shield low winds, but you might have problems in windier areas.

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Use
The stove only has one burner but is very light and easy to transport. So, if you just want something simple and easy-to-use, you may appreciate the simplicity of this stove. The aluminum burner is rust proof and the grate is porcelain coated for easy cleaning. That means you’ll get all the simplicity you want each time you clean this stove.

Weather Resistance
The wind guard is not very good in anything above a slight breeze and if the temperature drops below 10 Celsius, which it can easily during a spring or autumn evening, the butane fuel becomes very inefficient and cooking times will increase. However, this is a very low-cost stove and if you stick to the simple camping foods, it is great.

Capacity
One 8.8oz butane cylinder lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes on high. Don’t expect the greatest cooking experience, you get what you pay for and this is one of our cheaper options. If all you want is to boil water for a coffee or noodles, or maybe fry an egg or two this will be fine.

Size
This Coleman Butane stove measures in at 20 x 12 x 4 inches and weighs 4.59 pounds making it very easy to store and transport.

Amazon Link

4. Coleman Sportster 2

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Coleman Sportster 2
Amazon Link

If you want small and portable this is the one. The total weight of the stove is 2.3 pounds. It is designed to hold a 6-inch pan with 10,000 BTUs of cooking power.

Read more

Use
This stove has only one burner and will only take a maximum 6-inch pan. So, if you plan on cooking a lot more, or need more burners, this stove might not be for you. But if you're looking for something simple and reliable, it’s a great option.

Weather Resistance
This stove has no wind guards, but it does have wind baffles to help keep a small gust from putting out your flame.

Capacity
This stove lasts for 2 hours on the high setting, using only 1.1 pints of gasoline. You won’t be able to cook more than one pan at a time, but if you are backpacking its minimal design.

Size
Since this stove has only one burner on it, it is very small and easy to clean. This stove measures in at 6.6 x 7.4 x 7.4 inches and weighs 2.35 pounds which makes it very easy to transport.

Amazon Link

5. Coleman Powerpack Propane

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$54.69
Coleman Powerpack Propane
Amazon Link

The wonderful news about the Coleman Powerpack Propane Stove is that it is small, compact, but gets the job of cooking done with 7,500 BTUs of power. This grill may be small, but it can fit a 12-inch pan, and it is super useful if your goal is to keep your travels as light as possible.

Read more

Use
While this simple design doesn't offer a ton of bells and whistles, it does do exactly what it's intended. It delivers consistent heat powered through propane for a single pot or pan. Along with the PerfectFlow technology that offers consistent heat flow, the PerfectHeat stops the stove from wasting any fuel, so that your cooking experience stays efficient. If you are a single person or in a small group that doesn't mind sharing one stove-top, this is an ideal option.

Weather Resistance
This stove offers no wind resistance. Some reviewers suggest setting up the stove on the side of the car, or in an area where you can block the wind as well as possible.

Capacity
This tiny stove, with 7,500 BTUs, perseveres on high for up to 3 hours with a 16.4-ounce propane tank.

Size
Being a small, one burner stove, clean up is easy. This is made even easier by the chrome plated grate. The wire supports are also easily removable for a deeper clean.

Amazon Link
$54.69

6. Coleman Triton 2

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$132.00
Coleman Triton 2
Amazon Link

Coleman’s Triton Stove 2 is one of the most affordable and most popular stoves on the market today. Coleman wowed us with the original version of the Triton and the newer version is no different. It is a great all-around option for those campers shopping on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice quality when investing in a stove.

Read more

Use
This is a strong, durable stove that stands up well and is very easy to use. It can fit one 10-inch pan and one 12-inch pan at the same time, making cooking for a group much simpler and faster. The chrome grates on this stove are removable for easy cleaning, which make this an efficient system. You’ll be able to keep it clean with ease and simplicity.

Weather Resistance
Designed with durable steel construction and WindBlock shields that adjust to cater to different pan sizes, this camping stove does a good job of standing up against the wind. You shouldn’t have to worry about the breeze when you’re cooking with this stove.

Capacity
The Coleman Triton 2 can burn for one hour with a 16.4-ounce propane tank and 22,000 BTUs. That gives you a decent amount of time for cooking. Along with integrated PerfectHeat technology, allowing you to cook more efficiently and with less fuel.

Size
This Coleman Triton 2 measures in at 13.9 x 5.8 x 23.1 inches and weighs 11.2 pounds.

Amazon Link
$132.00

7. Coleman Camp Propane

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$137.99
Coleman Camp Propane
Amazon Link

Not sure if you want a stove or a grill? Do you want to be able to boil some rice while grilling chicken breasts at the same time? Then this is the stove/grill for you. This is a durable steel grill and stove combination. The stove half will fit a 10-inch pan with a 130sq inch grilling area to the side.

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Use
The grill plate is made with a solid plate above the burner, which means that heating a pan on top via conduction from the grill plate can take a bit longer than on the actual stove side. The wind guards are small and there is a gap between the wind guards and the side of the stove for the hinges. This is only a small disadvantage because the hinges give you the possibility to turn the wind guards into side tables. If you are sure that you will be using the grill a lot then its a great stove/grill combination. But if you will only be grilling on occasions then you might be better buying a stove that you can add a grill plate to as an accessory. Once you have finished your (what will definitely look like) gourmet meal, cleaning could not be easier, the stove grates remove easily and being chrome coated, they are easy to clean. This is a nice idea to have a permanent grill and stove together, however if you want to cook with two pans, maybe you want to warm milk for porridge and boil water for coffee, you can heat up a pan on the grill side, but the long straight burner on the grill side, next to the round burner of the stove might, in turn, heat up the handle of the pan, as well as the contents.

Weather Resistance
Both sides have fully adjustable burners, and wind guard of 10-inches ensures that you get even heat across the cooking area. The wind guard panels are excellent for blocking the wind, but if there is no wind then they can be folded down and used as side tables.

Capacity
The Coleman Camp Propane stove has a 2-in-1 design that allows you to use the grill and stove at the same time. It has a wonderful design when it comes to what you are able to cook or grill while using it. The stove has a total of 20,000 BTUs of cooking power and fits one 10 inch pan on the stove area.

Size
This Coleman Camp Propane measures at 24 x 15.4 x 6.3 inches and weighs 14 pounds. This stove has a spacious 130 sq. in. grill area for you to cook.

Amazon Link
$137.99

8. Guide Powerhouse

Where to buy
Guide Powerhouse
Amazon Link

The Powerhouse is a good option if you don’t like having to carry a separate gas bottle, or if you are not sure how much gas you have left since you last used it. With a liquid fuel, you can just check how much you have left in the tank. The stove comes with a filtering funnel and holds 3.5 pints of fuel, which will cook on full power for just over 2 hours.

Read more

Use
On the downside, it is slightly bulky with the fuel tank. It also takes a little longer to set up than other stoves. Other than that, the adjustable wind guards make it easy to cook with any sized pan. The chrome plated grate is removable on this stove for easy cleaning. So, you’ll be able to keep your stove clean quite simply.

Weather Resistance
The side wind guards are adjustable to allow larger pans. When fully erect, this stove does have some wind resistance and should be able to withstand any gusts of wind that may come your way.

Capacity
Using a liquid fuel stove takes some getting used to. The fuel needs to be filled into the tank and for safety, the tank should be emptied to a specific liquid fuel container before the stove is transported. The fuel tank fits 3.5 pints of gas at a time. If you are going to be cooking in cold climates it is great, but if you are a spring and summer outdoor person, then you might be better with a propane stove. This stove fits 2 pots that can be maximum 12 inches in size at one time on each burner. The burners deliver up to 17,000 total BTUs of cooking power.

Size
This Guide Powerhouse stove measures in at 17" long x 24" wide x 8" tall (closed).

9. Coleman Fold N Go™

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$134.99
Coleman Fold N Go™
Amazon Link

This stove, when folded, is smaller than a briefcase. Once opened, it has a large cooking surface which easily fits two 10 inch pans. The downside, no wind guards so it will be difficult to cook in windy conditions. This Coleman Fold N Go™ stove is made from high quality and durable chrome-plated grates that can be removed for easy quick cleanups. The Coleman Fold N Go Propane Stove is known for folding up nice and small and can store and be transported easily. It has a matchless ignition button called an InstaStart that lights the stove with just a push of the button.

Read more

Use
If space is an issue it's a clever design. This stove looks great folded and open. And the built-in carry handles do not get in the way. The instastart ignition is very convenient, but the recessed burners result in longer cook-times. This stove is designed to be easy to clean, fold, and go; you can remove the burners and clean them off easily. You’ll like the simplicity in cleaning with this stove.

Weather Resistance
This stove has no wind guard in any form. The burners are in deep recesses I assume in hopes to protect them from the wind, but this also moves the heat source further from the pan and will need more energy to heat your food.

Capacity
A 16.4oz propane cylinder will last over 1 hour with both burners on high, giving you a decent amount of fuel consumption. This stove has fits 2 pans and each pan can be up to 10 inches, it produces a total of 20,000 BTUs for cooking power. The 2 burners help when cooking at picnics or campsites so you are able to cook several different things at once.

Size
This Coleman Fold N Go™ stove measures in at 15 x 14 x 7 inches and weighs 8.5 pounds so it is very easy to store and transport.

Amazon Link
$134.99

10. Coleman Triton +

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Coleman Triton +
Amazon Link

This stove is folded with an easy and heavy duty locking latch and has a large carrying handle. The rounded shock-absorbing corner protectors have been designed to be able to take knocks and bangs which come with the territory of camping. This durable and customizable stovetop can speak for itself and will wow you with one use. This Coleman Triton + stove is known for being built for easy cleaning by having a chrome-plated grate and rust-resistant aluminum cooktop. Some great features for this stove include its Instastart push ignition button with the PerfectFlow heat-distribution technology and its two side wind resistant walls that help with the stove staying lit.

Read more

Use
This stove is has a large footprint, which enables it to hold two 12 or 10-inch pans. The stove lacks full wind guards, but the wind block pan supports rectify this. Another unique feature is having the option of interchangeable cooktops. You can change out the pan supports for a great grill or griddle. Both cooktops are sold separately but they’re a nice addition if you want to impress your fellow outdoorsmen with your on-the-go cooking skills. The large handle is good for carrying the stove but can be in the way of the heat adjustment knobs and may be a problem for someone with large or gloved hands. If you use the interchangeable cooktops you need to wait for them to cool before cleaning, and allowing any grease to congeal.

Weather Resistance
The wind blocking pan supports and protects the flames from being blown out. This means that the stove doesn’t need the traditional side wind guards and therefore you can fit larger pans on its surface.

Capacity
One of the most frustrating things with outdoor stoves is lighting them. They may have wind guards, but you still need to get a match to them. However, the FyreKnight is different. This stove has a push-button ignition. Typically, this stove uses a 1 pound tank, but you can attach a larger tank with a hose. 22,000 total BTU of cooking power over its 2 independently adjustable burners.

Size
For this Coleman gas stove, it fits 2 10-in. and 12-in. pans the stove itself is 23 x 5.9 x 14 inches and weighs 11 pounds.

Amazon Link

Sources

  1. John Ellings, Best Camping Stoves of 2017, Informational Camping Website
  2. Kit Dillon, The Best Camping Stoves, Informational Camping Website
  3. Penny Garrett, The Best Camping Stoves of 2017, Informational Camping Website