When it comes to cooking during camping activities, most of us turn to those butane canister stoves. These are definitely small in size and are quite portable, no doubt. However, they aren’t powerful enough, and if you are planning on cooking a larger meal, they tend to be pretty useless.
The next best thing is carrying a tabletop stove, but people do not often tend to associate them with outdoor adventure cooking. It is either used in the kitchen or the backyard. Nonetheless, every single person might agree on the fact that these are significantly more powerful in comparison to butane canister stoves. What if we confirm that you can actually carry these tabletop stoves when you go camping?
If we have just caught your interest and you are about to purchase a tabletop stove, then you might want to consider reading this article first. That is because we have chosen to review one a product that is said to work well even at camps. So, let’s talk in detail about this product.
Camp Chef Ranger II Tabletop Stove
The dimensions of the Camp Chef Ranger II Tabletop Stove are just 5.5 (H) by 20.5 (W) by 14.5 inches, and it weighs around 17 pounds. It has an 8×8 inches burner gate, with a distance of 9.5 inches between the two of them. Their total heat output is 34,000 BTU per hour.
The black frame on it and the four legs below are made out of an iron cast, while the silver sides as well as the front and back, are all made out of a strong aluminum which also doubles as a windscreen. We were highly impressed with the burners because we often tend to believe that aluminum does not last very long. In addition, it comes with a self-ignition system, which is always great. Unlike kitchen stoves where you can turn the knob, and it endlessly keeps sparking until you release the knob, this stove will fire with only a single spark.
Self-ignition is also perfect because very often we tend to forget to carry lighters, and when the stove doesn’t have that, it proves to be a big problem. In terms of setting it all up, it is a piece of cake. Right from the moment you receive this in a box, it is well organized and packed, and there are clear step-by-step instructions on how to set it all up.
On another note, you will get a five-foot hose along with it that you can use with a bulk propane tank. However, the tank is sold separately. This product also comes with a regulator as well as an attached open-end wrench to fix it on to the stove. Also, in case any issues occur with the stove, you won’t need to worry because the manufacturer offers a year-long warranty.
Pros:
- High BTU output
- Offers intense heat for cooking
- Only made out of quality materials
- Lightweight
- Easy to assemble, use, set up, ignite, and carry around
- Comes with the necessary tools and accessories
- Risk-free purchase
- Can fit small spaces
- Can accommodate all sizes of pans and pots
- Can cook multiple dishes at the same time
- Affordable
Cons:
- The one-time spark mechanism could be a hassle at times.
- Flame is too strong which could potentially burn the food
- Distance between the two burners is not enough
Summary
The Camp Chef Ranger II Tabletop Stove is a piece of equipment that will not cause a hole in your pocket. It has fantastic dimensions and the fact that it is so light in weight make it easy to carry around, especially when you go camping. Surprisingly, with such a compact size, it is still very powerful when it comes to flame temperature. Thus, when cooking, you must be careful as you might end up with burnt food.
In addition, although you can use small, medium, and large cooking ware, it is advisable not to go for large ones as this might refrain you from using the other burner. Assembling this upon receipt and setting it up in the campsite will not be much of a hassle. That is simply because it comes with the necessary accessories and a tool.
This can also be ignited easily, but at times, the process is a little bit tricky. The thing is you must turn the knob very slowly so that just a little of the gas can seep through before the sparks get lit. Nonetheless, for any problems, there is a warranty that comes with it.
Comparison
We compared the Camp Chef Ranger II Stove with the 1st Web Double Burner Portable Propane Camping Gas Stove. Essentially both these products serve the same purpose. They’re both tabletop stoves with two burners. However, the latter does lack a couple of features. Let’s shed some light on it.
The 1st Web Double Burner is smaller in size than its counterpart. However, in this case, it is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Sure, you can carry it around easily but cooking anything on it proves to be a hassle as there is barely any space between the two burners. So, unless you have tiny pots, you are likely going to end up using just one burner at a time. The other downside to this product is that it is not sturdy enough, and if not handled properly, the stove is likely to bend and even break.
Final Verdict
If you are in need of a stove that is not only small, sturdy, lightweight, and affordable but is also perfect for patio, camping, tailgating, and other outdoor adventure cooking, then the Camp Chef Ranger II Tabletop Stove is a brilliant choice. When you compare this with other tabletop stoves of the same price, it is quite clear that this stove is significantly better. That is because it packs a significant amount of heat, yet if you are in need of a low simmer, that will not be an issue with this product.
Whether you are camping in groups of five or ten, this product will help you make a sufficient amount of food for each one in no time!