First of all, depending on how you intend to use this, consider the 15,000 BTU unit instead. This works OK and will certainly come in handy if/when I ever suffer a prolonged power outage. I should have bought this years ago since I live in Florida, but thankfully, I have not been affected by a power outage after a hurricane. One of the primary reasons I purchased this unit was to be able to do some hot water bath canning. I have a glass top stove and they are not recommended for hot water bath canning. It's very hot here right now and I really didn't want to use this outside to do a batch of jelly. After doing quite a bit of research I felt safe using it inside. I did purchase a carbon monoxide detector 'just in case.' I also opened a couple of windows to created a cross draft and had no issues at all. My daughter also told me she has seen cooking shows on TV where they use this type of stove. I realize the manufacturers have to put the recommendation to only use outside due to liability. And I certainly would not use it in a small, enclosed space like a tent or shed. I'm not recommending anyone to use it indoors, but just saying do your own research and then make an informed decision. My only issue is that even using the propane fuel it took a very long time to get the hot water up to the temp needed. I don't blame the stove for that .. it's rated for only 8,000 BTU I believe and I thought that would be sufficient to use with a hot water bath. It did get the water hot enough to boil, just took a long time to get to that point. It seems well built for a camp stove. I have always preferred gas stoves to electric so I will probably use this from time to time depending on what I'm cooking. I ordered the 15,000 BTU version of this stove after making the jelly since I intend to do more hot water bath canning. While I have never used the butane canisters, I like the flexibility and option to use butane if I so choose. The storage case is nice to have and the set up is fairly easy. I do think the instructions could be a little more clear about setting up the propane option. Watching some YouTube videos it appears they have made changes to this unit over the years and I was unable to find a recent video that matched the propane connections exactly that are on the unit I received. I think this would make a great camping stove. It's small, lightweight and can be set up in just a few minutes. It may not last as long as a Coleman, but it's not priced like a Coleman either. Read more
Easy to set up, nice little case to keep it protected and organized. Hooked up to a 20lb tank with a hose purchased seperately. Fired right up with a strong flame. Haven't tried with a butane can yet, it's connecticut and we just got buried in snow again, temps still below freezing and butane is not a winter friendly fuel. This stove is a great value, good for camping but in this case, great to have around if power outages are possible. Stove is well built and sturdy and delivery was fast. I recommend Read more
Great little stove. I used it with butane on a camping trip and it worked perfectly. It lit easily, its portable, holds a pot very well, and is inexpensive. Very versatile, its a great deal for the price. Highly recommend for outdoor camping use. Read more
I bought this to permanently keep in my overlanding vehicle, which is my daily driver. I unboxed it today and within a few minutes had hooked it up to a propane source and used it to perk coffee, which it did quickly. The coffee pot sat on the stove top OK, but I went and got a rusty old circular grill that I placed on top to make a more secure surface. Gas one should include something like this, the unit could use one. I think that in an outdoor setting you would also want wind screens. For my purpose this stove is better than bigger two burner stove, It's light, compact and comes with a cheap plastic, but very functional case. I didn't test the butane function, but it seems like a great idea. Read more
An absolute Must Have. These are an essential in a prolonged blackout or camping. Comes with a good secure plastic case and works flawlessly. I've only used it as a butane stove, but eventually I'd like to try it with propane. I was honestly a bit trepid about using it, as it's been over 40 years, since I'd used Coleman camp stoves. But, this was a breeze to use and I couldn't have asked for more. A couple cautions I might add: Butane and Propane cans have to be stored UPRIGHT. I empathize this, because I have seen camping stove cases that are made to be kept with the stove lying flat and then the butane or propane fuel canisters lie flat on top of the stove. But, this causes the canister to lie flat, instead of upright. There are 2 reasons to keep them stored upright. One is for safety reasons and the other is because you could potentially lose some of your gas. But I purchased a canister bag that holds them upright and that's how they need to be stored. The only questional step of using your stove, is when you install the butane canister into the side of the unit. You have to line up the arrow and then twist it on and flip down the littlr retainer bar. But, it seemed wobbly to me and I thought it was supposed to be tight. But, it is supposed to be a little wobbly, so all is good. I have seen people do reviews where they state it doesn't get hot enough to boil water or heat food. They may have gotten a defective unit, because mine reached a water boiling pint in just a few minues (lid on) I highly recommend this system. They are cheap enough, so that everyone should have one on hand for emergencies. With winter weather getting stronger and high winds knocking out power, you need one of these. Don't forget to have a little ventilation-like a cracked window or open the door briefly every few minutes. Yeah, I know it's cold outside, but don't forget to Ventilate a little and have a fire extinguisher and cabon monoxide detector close by. People die every year, because of carbon monoxide. An invisable and odorless gas that can be deadly. Any burning source can put you at high risk or carbon monoxide. Take just a couple extra steps and STAY SAFE. I put a small piece of masking tape on my case, so I know which side is up. I also use a magic marker to put an X on the can, so I know which one I'm using. The last thing you want (other than carbon monoxide poisoning) is that you have a bunch of partially used cans. Thank you for reading my review and I wish you a Happy and Properous NEW yEAR. Read more
