We put 500ml water in our camping kettle and timed how long it took each camping stove to boil it. We found that there wasn't much difference in most of the times we recorded. We had no issues setting up the Campingaz Camp Bistro 2 stove and had it ready to go in less than a minute. With no electricity required, you simply open the hatch, insert the gas canister and the set-up is complete. For what it's worth, even their invoice had the correct product description. I might be wrong, but I don't think that's even legal, sending a different product than what the invoice states. Will my meals require more than one burner? Even if you're camping solo, you should think through the meals you'll want to cook and how many burners you normally use at home. If you aren't keen on one-pot meals, you'll probably need a stove with at least two burners. There are exceptions, however. The Campingaz Camp Bistro 2 and the Kemper Camping Stove Xtra Smart are medium-sized but only have a single burner – so they're a compromise between the portability of the compact stove and the familiar cooking experience of a larger one.

Propane is easy to get hold of and burns well but liquid fuel performs better at low temperatures. Liquid fuel canisters are usually connected via a hose to the stove and are refillable. We like stoves that feature a Piezo-igniter (a push-button starter) as it’s useful if you forget to bring matches along. Once lit, some stoves burn with a blue light while others make a roaring noise. You are probably right, but for me the fact that a specific product is advertised, pictured online and clearly described as "X", means that when I choose to buy it, I will receive "X", not "Y" which is really close to "X". I am not paying "something which is really close to money", am I? Besides, I wasn't even given the chance to choose if I wanted that or not. Why? Could it be because the "alternative branding" product contains less gas but costs the same (so there's an immediate additional 12% profit for them paid by the stupid customer)?There’s no cover on the Camp Bistro, which is a bit of a shame, but as a single burner stove, it’s great. It does come with a hard plastic carry case, which is durable enough to last for years. Really well made, simple construction, it’ll work well on long camping trips. Weighs in at just under 2kg. Enamelled pan support offers easy cleaning, the Campingaz Camp Bistro Gas Stove is pretty light and durable. Buy more fuel refills than you think you’ll need, and if you’re heading abroad on a car camping trip it’s worth taking as much as you’ll use for the entire camping trip, as it might not be available at your destination. You can also buy hose adaptors that let you connect gas stoves to big, refillable propane tanks, which is a more eco-friendly and economical way to cook than regularly replacing smaller canisters. Now this is a stove for serious car campers cooking for a large group. Boasting three powerful burners (30,000 BTUs each) and a freestanding frame, this propane stove can accommodate all your cooking needs. The best camping stoves you can buy in 2023 1. Campingaz Party Grill 200 Stove: Best for larger groups (4-6 people)

Nevertheless, I wanted to know if the Gelert gas bottles are compatible with my Campingaz Camp Bistro Gas Cooker. When placed on flat ground, we found the stove to be strong and sturdy. Due to its rectangular size (length – 14, width – 12.3, height – 4.7 inches), the stove does not wobble or show any signs of unsteadiness, even when a pan is placed on top. Using a camping stove instead of your main gas cooker to save money isn't a good idea, as a camping stove is highly unlikely to be cheaper.We set up each stove on a table as well as on grass and looked for any wobbly legs or feet that slide around or topple easily. Though the gas lasts for a similar amount of time as the Camp Bistro 2 canisters, the fuel efficiency isn’t great, working best with larger pans to prevent heat loss. This stove is a lightweight single burner that is marked at a similar price to the Camp Bistro 2. It is an affordable option aimed at campers who don’t want the extra weight to carry. On your cooker at home, you'll usually have a selection of different-sized burners, and you'll select the one best suited to the size of your cooking pot.

Larger, heavier camping stoves with several burners and a design that's more similar to your home cooker. You can, but as you're dealing with an open gas-powered flame, you should ensure there's a good amount of ventilation before you use one to cook. Most stoves use either canisters of gas (propane, butane or a mix of the two) or liquid fuel (such as kerosene or paraffin). Gas canisters usually clip or screw onto the stove. They’re small, lightweight and don’t leak. Often, stoves are only compatible with one kind of fuel or brand, so always ensure you buy the right fuel canister for your particular stove.

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However, it is on the higher end of the price scale compared to the Camp Bistro so may not be the best for those on a budget. Tahoe Stove by Camp Chef But if you are a keen cook and have a large group of campers, it’s definitely worth considering. Conclusion Another benefit of the Camp Bistro 2 is the automatic ignition which eliminates the need for matches or a lighter to ignite the flame. This applies to camping stoves, too, although you're unlikely to find many stoves that have different-sized burners.

There was also a trend in how long it took the stoves to heat our pan to 200°C. Although there were a couple of rapid outliers that heated the pan in a minute or less, most took around two minutes to heat. 5) Burner size matters It takes plenty of twigs and you need to add more twigs every few minutes but keep the fire roaring and, if you fill the red pouch on the side with water, as it heats the built-in thermoelectric generator with USB connector can turn the heat into electricity and top up your phone as you boil your supper. We compared the brands’ published boil times with our own experiences and generally, as we suspected, the cheaper the design, the longer it took to reach temperature. The testing of stoves also happened to coincide nicely with our testing of the best camping food – we ate thousands of calories so that you don’t have to.

Do I have room for a gas canister? It can be easy to only focus on the camping stove itself and forget the fuel you'll need to burn with it. If you've got a larger stove, you'll probably need a large canister to go with it, which means even more bulk and weight in your vehicle. There were one or two slow models, but most of the stoves got the kettle whistling after around five minutes. In case there's a lot of wind on your camping trip, or if the piezo ignition simply won't play ball, it's worth having a box of matches on standby so you can light your stove manually. 4) Heating speeds are similar How many people will I be cooking for? If you're a large party and only have one cooker, you'll probably need more than one burner. This means a compact stove won't be much use as they rarely have more than one burner. Plus you might struggle to cook using big pots.