Outbound Reviewed: You'll Never Regret Buying This 2-Burner Camping Stove
Cook better, eat more, be happy.
I spent many years limiting my camp cooking setup to a little backpacking stove (like the JetBoil MightyMo) and a set of compact pots and pans (like these). These products definitely got the job done, but I was never exactly feasting nor were any of the meals particularly memorable - except for maybe the instant mashed potatoes and sausages we ate around the fire after surfing the coast in Mendocino, CA last February. But that's just because I was freezing cold and starving.
In anticipation of a group climbing trip to Joshua Tree last spring, I decided to step up my camp kitchen game and spend a few bucks on the Coleman Triton Instastart 2-Burner Stove. Not only was it worth every penny, but I can't believe how long I went without it.
The first thing I noticed and loved about this stove compared to my little backpacking stove was the stability. I always hated needing to keep a hand on my pot or be in constant worry of whatever I was heating falling off the small stove. It feels super sturdy cooking on the ground, on a couple big rocks, or on the back of my truck in El Cap Meadow.
Of course, the other major difference is the size. Two big burners are definitely better than one small one! It's amazing how much more you can do with your meal when you don't have to cook one small portion at a time. It's so nice to be able to cook multiple breakfast dishes at once while saving the JetBoil for heating water for coffee and tea.
Set-up is a breeze with this thing. It takes about three minutes to go from packed down to cooking and after over a year of use, all the components still fit in place nicely.
When it's packed down, it's about the size of your grandpa's old briefcase. Other than a few scratches on the exterior, it shows very little wear and tear after being shoved in and out of my gear rack and garage for a year and a half. The latch is heavy duty and has never failed to keep it closed, even on the roughest roads when it's banging around with all my gear in the back of the truck.
The Instastart is definitely not a necessity (if you want to save a few bucks, go with the original Triton Series) but it sure is convenient and quick. It lights the burners on the first attempt 9/10 times. The Instastart would also come in real handy if you had windy or rainy conditions.
The control for the burners is really pretty good. I can easily control the settings from high heat to simmer. The knobs do allow you to spin way past the max heat and occasionally that results in the knob wanting to pop off, but it slides right back on and is easily tightened.
I really can't endorse this product enough. There are certainly comparable and probably even better camping stoves out there, but this one has served me well and I plan to use it for years to come.
Check out this Story by Explorer Matt Eaton for more tips on building out your camp kitchen:
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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