Coleman Classic Propane Stove vs Stansport Propane Stove

Two of the most popular portable propane stoves are the Stansport 2-burner propane stove and the Coleman Classic propane stove. Propane fuel is advantageous because it can be used in cold weather, is readily available and can be purchased in smaller and portable 16-ounce bottles. 

Let's get started with our review and comparison of these two camping stoves.

Coleman Classic Propane Stove

It has a total of 20,000 BTUs which is sufficient to boil water or cook meat and vegetables. The two burners,  allow you to cook most meals when you are camping.

This Coleman Gas Camping Stove is straightforward to use that will get the job done adequately in many different conditions. It is a more basic stove, but it offers what most people need when camping, tailgating, or picnicking.

This is a great stove for people looking for a budget-friendly option in a portable stove.

Although it can be used to simmer and is wind resistant, it may not simmer as well in windy conditions.

It is easy to set up and use, and makes a great tool to take with you when you want to cook a meal outdoors.

What We Like

• It has steady fuel pressure and works in difficult weather conditions
• It has decent cooking power (10,000 BTUs per burner)
• You can cook a meal for a family
• It can be used in windy conditions
• It is budget-friendly

What Makes Us Think Twice

• No carrying handle or igniter

Stansport 2-Burner Propane Stove

Overview

This lightweight and portable cooking stove puts out 20,000 BTUs spread across the two burners. It can simmer as well, which allows you to prepare a variety of stews and soups. It has back and side panels that protect the stove from gusts of wind, and is large enough to accommodate two 8" pots or pans.

Also, it is designed to be easy to clean. You lift off the grate and wash it. It is easy to store and set up, making it ideal for camping, picnicking, or anything else you want to do with it. It’s no surprise that the Stansport 2-Burner Propane Stove is a popular stove among consumers, as it is easy to use, efficient, and can cook in various settings.

What We Like

• It has steady flame control 
• It does a great job of simmering
• It has great wind resistance
• Strong grate

What Makes Us Think Twice

• No carrying handle or igniter

Stansport 2-Burner and Coleman Classic Propane Stoves Comparison

Simmering

The Stansport stove shines when it comes to simmering. It is easy to adjust the flame to have it exactly where you want it for the food you are preparing.

This stove makes slow cooking very doable when you are out camping, and it works well in windy conditions.

The Coleman Classic is also able to simmer, but it is more challenging to get to lower temperatures, especially when it is windy. You might find that the flame goes out, and you have to relight it.

This makes it less ideal if you want to slow cook your meals.

Wind Resistance

The Stansport has great wind resistance, and it can cook in most conditions.

You do not need to worry about the flame going out over and over again, as the windscreens and the design of this stove make it ideal in these conditions. It will boil and simmer well no matter how much wind you have.

The Coleman Classic can boil water as well in windy conditions as it does on a calm day, but it has more trouble when you want a low flame if there is wind.

The most impressive thing about this stove is that wind doesn’t slow its boiling time down much.

Setup

The setup of the Stansport and Coleman Classic stove is the same. All you do is open the top, lift the windscreens, secure them, and attach the propane adapter.

It is straightforward and takes very little time before you are ready to go.

Neither the Stansport or the Coleman Classic have a piezo ignitor, which you either push or twist to start the flame. Therefore, you will need to use a lighter or match to get it going.

Care

The care and cleaning are easy for both of these propane camping stoves.

The grates lift out to make it easy to clean. You can wipe it down and then put it away until you need to use it again.

Both allow easy access to the drip tray, and cleanup is fast and efficient.

You won’t have to waste a lot of time cleaning either of these stoves.

I emailed Stansport Customer Service asking whether the drip tray was stainless steel. A team member promptly replied that the drip tray is made of Powder Coated Steel. 

Size and Portability

The Stansport Stove is 18” x 11” x 4” (LxWxH), which is small enough to be portable and large enough to use larger pots and pans easily.

It is ideal to set it up on a table, but you can easily set it up on the ground, as long as it is even and stable. You can use it for groups of one to five people without much trouble. 

I emailed Stansport customer service and asked for the weight of this stove. They replied it weighs 6.7 pounds.  

The Coleman Classic is a bit larger, at 22” x 14” x 4”; although still compact and portable. It weighs just 9.8 pounds, and you can carry it with you.

You can use one 10-inch pan and one 12-inch pan so that you can cook a variety of foods, and you can set it up on a table or the ground.

It is ideal for groups of one to two people and for car camping.

There is a handle built-in to the case. However, the handle has gotten mixed reviews. Some folks find it easy to use; others not so much.

Final Thoughts

Both the Stansport 2-burner propane stove and the Coleman Classic propane stove are portable stoves that provide the versatility to cook most meals no matter where you are.

You can cook a variety of foods with each, and they offer great wind resistance and can be used as a backup stove in case the power goes out.

They are both budget-friendly models. The Coleman stove is a bit larger and has a handle built-in to the case.