Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Camp Chef Everest 2-Burner Stove
Best High-PerformanceColeman Classic Propane Camping Stove
Best OverallPrice
$130-$160
$50-$70
Summary
At 20,000 BTUs per burner — double most competitors — this is the stove for campers who actually want to cook, not just boil water. Reddit's power-user community consistently recommends it over everything else.
Five years of Wirecutter testing and near-universal Reddit endorsement make this the default answer for car camping. Reliable, affordable, and widely available — it just works.
Pros
- 20,000 BTUs per burner vs. ~10,000 on most competitors
- Good low-temperature control for simmering, not just high heat
- Feels like cooking on a kitchen gas range according to Wirecutter
- All-metal construction makes cleanup easy
- Proven reliability — Reddit users report units lasting 30+ years
- Widely available and easy to find replacement parts
- Can run off 1lb propane cylinders or larger tanks with adapter
- Cooked soft scrambled eggs from raw in 4 minutes in Wirecutter testing
Cons
- Higher price than Coleman Classic
- Defaults to hose for larger propane tank — not ideal for minimalist setups
- Heavier and bulkier than budget two-burner options
- Consumes propane quickly at high heat settings
- Lower BTU output than premium options like Camp Chef Everest
- Less precise temperature control compared to higher-end stoves
Our take
If you care about real cooking at camp — searing, sautéing, precise simmering — the Everest is the move. The BTU difference over a Coleman is immediately noticeable.
If you're asking 'what camping stove should I buy?', the answer is the Coleman Classic unless you have a specific reason to go otherwise. Decades of proven reliability and a price that doesn't hurt.
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