Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove Review

Bottom Line

The Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove is at the top of our camping stove list because of its smart features, intuitive design, accessories, and cooking ability. Particularly impressive is this stove’s ability to pack down and carry into camp. A hidden handle makes for easy transport, and thin (yet sturdy) windshields fold into the top. It also has storage for the fuel attachment. When folded up, this stove is compact and light. 

Another thing we love about this stove is its versatility. Two cast iron attachments allow camp chefs to pull out all the stops. We found the attachments easy to use and appreciated how much more we were able to cook with them. They do, however, require some extra care to maintain as they are cast iron. 

Finally, the stove has a built-in ignition and a wide range of flame output. We were able to set this stove to high so that we could get a nice char on our burritos from the grill attachment, but we also could set the flame low enough (and steady enough) to cook a perfect pot of rice. 

For the price, this stove delivers on value. You may never need another stove again!

How We Tested

We tested the Coleman 3-in-1 through multiple meals and by timing how long it took to boil one liter of water. We wanted to test how well the stove simmered, how well its attachments worked, and how evenly the stove cooked. To achieve this, we cooked a pot of rice, grilled burritos, then flipped some flapjacks.

Power

It took this stove 9 minutes and 24 seconds to boil one liter of water. Tested in a controlled environment under the same conditions as the other eight stoves in our 2025 Best Camp Stove gear guide [TK: LINK], we found that this stove hovers in the boil time middle ground.

We do appreciate that this Coleman model boiled water faster than the other two we reviewed: the Coleman Classic 1-Burner and Coleman Cascade Classic 2-Burner. This 3-in-1 version of the stove has greater power (12,000 BTUs) than the other two stoves (7,650 and 10,000 BTUs, respectively). This additional power did pay off, though this stove’s boil time is still over four minutes longer than the fastest boiling stove (Snow Peak Home & Camp).

Efficiency

To boil one liter of water, this stove used 0.9 ounces of fuel. This is in the middle-ground of fuel use compared to the other eight stoves that are part of our 2025 camp stove gear guide. 

The fuel used is exactly 0.1 ounce greater than this stove’s cousin, the Coleman Cascade Classic 2-Burner. This stove boiled water just about a minute faster than its lower energy compadre. Choose this Coleman to gain a bit of power. You’ll save time but inevitably use more fuel.  

We certainly wouldn’t split hairs over such a small difference on either metric, but it’s clear that the Coleman 3-in-1 has greater power but is not as fuel-efficient as its cousin stoves.

Cooking Ability

This Coleman model cooked everything perfectly, from the morning’s pancakes to the pot of rice at night. 

The stove has some features that enhance its cooking ability, such as adjustable windshields and a wide range of flame control. We couldn’t believe how low we could set this stove with a maintained flame. We tested this by cooking a pot of rice; it was perfectly fluffy and delicious. 

We tested this stove’s evenness of heat by putting both the griddle top and grill top on the stove. On the grill top, we cooked burritos that spanned nearly from corner to corner. The tortilla wasn’t as charred on the ends as it was in the middle. We found a similar situation with the griddle top. For this, we cooked pancakes and noticed that the corners of the griddle had a little less heat going to them –– resulting in some not-so-golden-brown cakes. This was still not as egregious as some of the other stoves –– like the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System –– and probably wouldn’t be too big of an issue for the average camp chef.

Portability

We found the Coleman 3-in-1 to be very portable. 

The stove has a handle on the bottom adjacent to the latch. We love that this isn’t a handle that sticks out and takes up more space. The stove is long but thin when folded up and we found it very easy to pack into our fully-loaded car. The fuel attachment can be stored between the burners, and the windshields fold up and fit into the lid. 

The stove itself is very light, but the two cast iron attachments aren’t. In fact, they were the most cumbersome part of the whole stove. The attachments do come in their own carrying case, which is nice. The case is separate from the stove, however, so we can see that in a messy or overwhelmed packing job, the stove and attachments can get separated. We did this and almost forgot about the attachments altogether.

Ease of Use

This stove is very easy to use, with an intuitive design and convenient features. However, the cast iron accessories do demand extra care than normal surfaces to keep them clean and protected. 

When we brought this stove out for the first time, it was already dark at our campsite. We were able to get this stove set up and lit with minimal help from our phone’s light. This stove has a similar design to the Coleman Cascade Classic 2-Burner –– folding windshields that pop into the side and storage for the fuel attachment between the burners. This stove is even easier to operate than its cousin because it has a built-in ignition. We found the stove to be very stable, even on a slanted picnic table. 

Like some of our other cast iron stoves –– like the Blackstone Original 17″ Tabletop Griddle with Hood –– this stove’s accessories require care. Coleman recommends: “Wipe cast iron grill and griddle accessories. Do not use abrasives.”  As they are cast iron, it is recommended to wipe accessories only using water and season as often as possible.

Blackstone recommends the following care for their griddle: wipe with a towel, add some water and scrape, wipe again, then cover with a thin coat of seasoning. Use vegetable oil for seasoning.

Should You Buy the Coleman Cascade Classic 3-in-1 Camp Stove?

The Coleman 3-in-1 is one of our gear analyst’s favorites of the bunch. Its packable design, low weight, and versatility make it a great option for those who like to jet out to camp quickly but who also enjoy making a quality meal. We loved the griddle and grill attachments and that each only takes the space of one burner so that we could grill and boil water at the same time. It simmered well, had good power to quickly boil water, and was very reliable even in challenging situations. 

This stove might not be a good fit for someone who camps solo and wants a smaller option or for someone who prefers butane to propane.

What Other Camp Stoves Should You Consider?

Browse all of our favorite camp stoves, where you can compare each side-by-side or check out these recommendations that are similar to the Cascade 3-in-1. 

Coleman Cascade Classic 2-Burner Review: This has a similar design to the Coleman Cascade, but provides simpler operations and lighter weight. We love how easily it packs down and travels. 

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Review: This double-burner stove folds into itself and then packs into a carrying case with a pot and pan. It is one of the easiest double burner stoves to pack. 

Blackstone Original 17″ Tabletop Griddle with Hood Review: This griddle top provides an excellent, even cook, great power, and fantastic tasting food. It is slightly heavier than the Coleman but provides a larger space to cook greater quantities of food.