Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove

Bottom Line

This Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove upholds the brand’s reputation well. It is reliable, easy to use, and cooks a good pot of rice –– even outperforming much pricier options! The drawbacks are minor and shouldn’t deter the average camp chef or beginner cook, though someone looking for more power and efficiency might want to look at some of our other favorite camp stoves. 

One of our favorite features of this stove was how easy it was to pack and carry into camp. It has smart features and a slim design that makes it easy to fit into the Tetris of a packed car. Its simple, reliable design makes it easy and dependable to operate. 

When testing three stoves side-by-side, our gear analysts enjoyed cooking on this stove more so than either of the other two, without question. 

How We Tested

We put this stove through three different tests. The first was timing how long it took to boil one liter of water as well as how much fuel this took. The second and third took place at camp: cooking pancakes and fried eggs to test the evenness of the cook; and boiling a pot of rice to test how well the stove maintains low heat over a 25-minute period. 

Power

The boil time on medium for one liter of water is 10 minutes 26 seconds. We found this to be somewhere in the middle ground compared to the rest of the nine stoves in our lineup. 

This stove has a total of 20,000 BTUs or 10,000 per burner. This power is consistent with other two-burner options. This is more power than all of the single-burner stoves we reviewed, yet this stove boiled at a much slower rate. 

What is interesting is that despite its lack of power, it was able to simmer a good pot of rice and cook very well.

Efficiency

To achieve a boil time of 10 minutes and 26 seconds, this stove used 0.8 ounces of fuel. We found this to be the mid-range for fuel use compared to all nine of our favorite camp stoves. 

The stoves with the highest fuel use are big, powerful stoves that boil quickly due to their high-energy output. The Coleman runs somewhere on the lower side of power, so it seems that its fuel use is consistent with burning for a longer time, not burning for a more intense heat output. 

Cooking Ability

Coleman equipped this stove with a pressure regulator called PerfectFlow™ that claims to provide consistent performance from the stove. We tested this on a 24-degree morning with an inconsistent yet light breeze. We found that the cold weather didn’t affect the stove’s performance at all. 

The Cascade Classic 2-Burner cooks evenly and simmered very well. We tested first how evenly the stove would cook. We put five pancakes in the pan to cover the circumference of the pan as well as the middle. The table we were cooking on was slanted and the oil was unevenly distributed to all the pancakes. Considering this, we felt that the cook was decent, though the middle pancake cooked more than those surrounding it. We next fried eggs on opposite sides of the pan and found these to have an even cook. The edges of the pan certainly heat up evenly. 

Finally, we put a pot of rice on low to simmer for 25 minutes. The Coleman significantly outperformed other similar models. The rice was cooked perfectly, and all water was absorbed.

Portability

This stove has good portability for a double-burner stove. Two features make this stove easier to carry around: the hidden handle on the bottom of the stove and the fuel attachment storage between the burners. This stove is slightly larger than its counterparts, but it is still compact (11.65 pounds) and has a slim design that fits well when packing cars. The lightweight windshield folds easily into the stove’s lid. 

When we were testing this stove, we were able to carry this to and from the car with our hands already full of other camp supplies.

Ease of Use

This stove almost – almost – got a perfect score for its ease of use, but its lack of a built-in ignition dropped its score. 

This stove is intuitive, easy to set up, and provides great stability while cooking. We were able to set it up in the dark for the first time with no issues. Food spills and crumbs were easy to wipe away, especially since the grate is removable. Its easy setup process makes this stove a great choice for beginners. 

The only downside is the lack of built-in ignition. We were so bummed to see this, especially since the two other Coleman stoves in our gear guide are self-igniting. While this isn’t a deal-breaker, it could mean foraging the bottom of your pack for snacks if you forget a lighter or matches.

Should You Buy the Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove?

This stove is a great value for the average camp chef. Its no-nonsense design is easy to set up, easy to use, and easy to transport. It is a great double-burner stove for beginners. Since it is light and easy to transport, it is also an easy choice for solo campers or couples. 

This stove is not for someone who is looking for more versatility and a powerful cook. We found that it took more time to boil than other double-burner stoves. It provides a reliable cook, especially for simmering, but doesn’t heat evenly across the pan.

What Other Camp Stoves Should You Consider?

There are other two-burner stoves to consider, including the three below, as well as some amazing single-burner stoves. Check out our full camping stoves gear guide to compare all nine recommended camp stoves side by side. 

Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove Review: This is a very similar design –– with the adjustable windshield, fuel attachment storage, and handle for easy carry –– but it also has a flat top and grill top attachments. This a more versatile stove for those wanting to pull out all the camp cooking stops.  

Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer 2 Burner Outdoor Camping Modular Cooking Stove Review: This double-burner stove has all the power, plus it is easy to clean and acts as a standalone stove. 

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.