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Recently our old stove died, and we bought a Coleman Fold n Go propane stove half price at an LL Bean outlet. My mom then bought us a traditional Coleman propane stove from Walmart. Nothing fancy, just a traditional, green, matchlight stove. I was so torn...I had a spiffy new stove we'd bought, but Mom knows I love camping and thought it was time for us to have a real Coleman stove, since our old generic one had failed. I previously tried the Fold n Go, but decided to put it head-to-head with the traditional stove outdoors in the back yard. It was a cool evening, around 60 degrees, with a very, very slight breeze. My previous attempt with the Fold n Go was in the garage.
I used my Revereware saucepan (2 quart size, I believe) with a lid and 4 cups of water (1 quart). I tried it on the traditional stove first. The water boiled in 6 minutes with a medium flame. I was impressed. Next I used the same pot with fresh cold water on the Fold n Go. The Fold n Go has no windscreen, and I used it just as designed. It took 17 minutes to boil the quart of water with a medium flame. I was not impressed at all! Finally, I tried the Fold n Go again with a windscreen made from aluminum foil, since I always have foil in my camping gear. Due to the shape (similar to the number 8, sideways) it was tough to get the foil to stay and the regulator was kind of in the way. It took 10 minutes with a medium flame to boil the water that time.
In all, I feel the traditional stove outperforms the Fold n Go. The Fold n Go is a clever design, but with no windscreen and the pot rack so high above the flame, it will take much longer to cook things or you'll have to have the flame full blast, which will use more propane. The traditional stove will keep the water boiling at a fairly low flame and even on the lowest flame before it goes out the water was merrily simmering.
If space is truly an issue, the Fold n Go might be the right choice. While I like that it's so compact, I dislike that I have to jury rig a windscreen for it to function somewhat efficiently. So, the Fold n Go will be returned or sold, and the green Coleman stove will take its place of honor in my camping box!
I used my Revereware saucepan (2 quart size, I believe) with a lid and 4 cups of water (1 quart). I tried it on the traditional stove first. The water boiled in 6 minutes with a medium flame. I was impressed. Next I used the same pot with fresh cold water on the Fold n Go. The Fold n Go has no windscreen, and I used it just as designed. It took 17 minutes to boil the quart of water with a medium flame. I was not impressed at all! Finally, I tried the Fold n Go again with a windscreen made from aluminum foil, since I always have foil in my camping gear. Due to the shape (similar to the number 8, sideways) it was tough to get the foil to stay and the regulator was kind of in the way. It took 10 minutes with a medium flame to boil the water that time.
In all, I feel the traditional stove outperforms the Fold n Go. The Fold n Go is a clever design, but with no windscreen and the pot rack so high above the flame, it will take much longer to cook things or you'll have to have the flame full blast, which will use more propane. The traditional stove will keep the water boiling at a fairly low flame and even on the lowest flame before it goes out the water was merrily simmering.
If space is truly an issue, the Fold n Go might be the right choice. While I like that it's so compact, I dislike that I have to jury rig a windscreen for it to function somewhat efficiently. So, the Fold n Go will be returned or sold, and the green Coleman stove will take its place of honor in my camping box!
A canvas campateer
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