Best Overall
Coleman Triton 2-Burner
Key details
- Weight
- 5 lbs
- Ignition
- Manual
- Heat Output
- 22,000 BTUs
- Wind Guards
- Dual
At 5 pounds with integrated wind guards, the Triton delivers steady heat across two burners for family-sized meals. Setting up takes under a minute – the legs snap into place, and the regulator connects without tools. Its popularity among car campers makes sense: the stove runs on standard 16.4 oz propane cylinders, and the wind guards make a real difference on breezy sites.
The combined 22,000 BTUs handle most camping cooking: simmering pasta sauce, frying bacon, or boiling a small pot of water. For rapid large-pot boiling, a higher-output stove like the heavy Camp Chef Explorer (25 lbs) would be faster – but that trades portability for power. The Triton’s flame adjustment is smooth enough for low simmering, though the base model requires a match for ignition.
This stove suits family car campers, weekend tailgaters, and anyone who stows gear in a trunk or backseat. Beginners appreciate the no-fuss operation: no priming or pumping, just connect and light. The tradeoffs are minor: the gas line connector protrudes when stowed, so packing requires a bit of care to avoid pinching. Some owners note the metal body feels less solid than heavier stoves – for occasional use it’s fine, but heavy-duty users may prefer a thicker-gauge model.
Compared to the slimmer folding stoves that lack wind protection, the Triton adds useful guards without much bulk. Against premium-priced retro models with cast iron grates, it offers the same cooking performance at a fraction of the cost. The real competition is the Triton+ with push-button ignition – if you want matchless convenience, that version costs a little more and introduces a potential ignition failure point over time.
💡 Store the stove with the gas line connector positioned away from pressure points – a small adjustment keeps it packing neatly.
Pros
- Sets up quickly with no tools
- Weighs only 5 pounds, one of the lightest two-burner stoves available.
- Wind guards reduce flame disruption on breezy sites without adding weight.
- Good simmer control for a manual-ignition stove, handles breakfast and dinner cooking.
Cons
- Gas line connector protrudes when stored, making compact packing a bit tricky.
- Metal body may show signs of wear sooner than heavier-gauge stoves under frequent use.
For family camps and casual outdoor cooking, the Triton is the go-to stove – light enough to carry, proven in thousands of campsites, and priced well below similar options.