Which Coleman Stoves Are The Best?

I really like the older 2 burner white gas Coleman stoves. My parents have had one for over 30 years and it has only needed minor things like a new pump or generator over the years, in short, the definition of a great stove...

Coleman started making lanterns almost 100 years ago. More recently I got one of the newer 2 burner white gas Coleman stoves and although it seems to work OK so far, it feels cheap. Although some might welcome thinner materials because it lightens the weight, I'd rather have solid gear that also happens to be lightweight. That being said, there are other campers that are happy with their Coleman stoves. So before I start to sound like some old 19th century geezer who use to walk 40 miles to school and back, uphill both ways, I'll get started... ;-)

A one gallon container of Coleman white gas fuel (also known as Naphtha or Shellite) is equivalent to 4.5 Coleman propane cylinders. One advantage to white gas is there's less waste going to the landfill, not to mention a one gallon tin is easier to carry than juggling 5 propane containers. Unless of course you're a juggler. ;-)

Another advantage of white gas is that it's more consistent, unlike canisters that fail to work if they get too cold. As the temperature drops, the pressure in a fuel canister will drop as well, whereas you can simply pump up a liquid fuel white gas stove. Butane canisters won't perform well if temperatures drop below freezing, although you can combine it with propane (isobutane) to make it perform down to around 20º F (-7º C). Propane on its own performs well down to 0º F (-18º C).

So why do they use butane at all? Because it gives off more heat. Butane releases 3,225 BTU's of heat compared to propane's 2,572 BTU's, and isobutane's 2,500 to 3,200 BTU's per cubic foot burned. Where white gas gives off about 19% more heat than even butane.

Although Coleman now offers their Powermax Fuel which works at extreme altitudes and low temperatures, and the empty canisters are recyclable. Something to consider though is Powermax isn't as widely available as propane or white gas, so if you're planning a trip outside Canada or the U.S. you probably won't be able to find it.

Something else to consider is that white gas can be messy to refuel and takes a minute to pre-heat before you can use the flame, where the canister and cylinder fuels are ready to use instantly after ignition. So white gas has advantages and disadvantages like most everything.

So which 2 burner white gas Coleman stove do I recommend? At this time I don't feel comfortable recommending new 2 burner white gas Coleman stoves. Although there's a single burner white gas stove I recommend below, if you want multiple burners I'd look for an old 2 burner and have it serviced. Although I haven't had any problems with mine, I've heard of leak and durability problems with some of the newer Coleman white gas stoves. You might want to consider propane instead...

The propane cylinder stove below is a great choice. If you've already had a look at the camping stove page, you know that the advantages of canister stoves are ease-of-use and lighter weight. Have a look if you're deciding between various stoves and fuel types.

Camp Stove

If you like the simple plug and play idea of propane, the Coleman 2-Burner Propane Stove is definitely worth your consideration. It fires off 11,000 BTU's per burner which means you can boil a quart of water in about 4.5 minutes. A 16.4 ounce cylinder will last you 1 hour and 6 minutes with both burners on high or 4.5 hours if you set them to low. (Most of us will fall somewhere in between these two times.)

This 2 burner also has enough space for a griddle or large pan. When closed it measures 14.75" x 23.25" x 5.5" and weighs in at almost 11 pounds.

This stove burns clean, is easy to use and as the name implies offers two burners. It's a great size for canoe or car camping where weight isn't a concern, but obviously it's way too heavy and bulky for backpacking. The top and foldable sides act as wind deflectors that conserve heat, make ignition easier, and help to keep the burner lit in windy conditions. The wings also protect the burner from things like leaves and plastic hot dog bun bags from being blown inadvertently into the flame, although they might melt to the stove itself... don't ask how I know this. ;-)

Separate heat controls for each burner also make cooking easier.

Pros: The side shields can be positioned vertically to help stop the wind and decrease cooking times, or horizontally to be used as a light-duty shelf. Adjustable temperature control. Propane is easier to use than white gas. A separate adapter can be added to use refillable bulk tanks.

Cons: The outer textured metal case may help with durability, but it can make it harder to clean. Small propane cylinders aren't reusable.

Pros: The base has fold-out legs to help keep it from tipping. Small compact design. Adjustable flame control.

Cons: For ultra-light backpackers it might be a few ounces too heavy.

At this time these are the only Coleman stoves I feel are of high enough quality to mention. I may add or subtract from this list if some Coleman stoves improve or drop in quality. Of the stores I recommend because of their great customer service, only one carries Coleman stoves at this time as you probably noticed. I hope this article helped make your decision easier. If there's something camping or hiking related you'd like to see added to this site please use the contact form.