Would you really put gasoline in a Camp Stove?

Review of the Coleman Exponent Multi-Fuel camp stove. Tool Dude Tony, demonstrates how to set up and use the stove and then does a quick review.

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[mikemorgan]

You'll love that stove. I've had the Peak 1 version since 1990, a year into my 21+ year active duty Army career. I thought the plastic feet and leveling ring wouldn't make it past my first field exercise. They are still intact today. In fact, I cooked on it last night.

They'll burn pump gas just fine, but don't store it with that crap in there. Run it dry, or drain it with a syringe and hose and rinse it with a little white gas, drain that, and run some white gas through it for a few minute before storing it. I never intentionally abused it, but Soldiers can break a cannon ball in a sand pile. Over the years it got stepped on, dropped from about 10 feet onto concrete, left in the rain, kicked, dented, dinged, smashed, and run on diesel fuel. The diesel ruined the generator, temporarily, but everything else was easily straightened out with a pair of pliers. In that time, I put 2 generators, a fuel cap gasket, and an o-ring kit. Total actual repair time was about 45 to 60 minutes in 33 in years.

It simmers great, starts just like yours did here and has good, not great power. But it's pretty fuel efficient. All in all, one of the best purchases I've ever made. It's made literally thousands of gallons of coffee and countless meals/boils. One of the best stoves EVER produced. You'll want a wind screen for it to maximize it's efficiency and keep cook times low. HE pots work well with these too. Enjoy your new toy.

[guidingmike]

That is a big stove. Reminds me of the old 500 series single burner stoves.

The Exponent series used to be smaller versions, but I think that people complained about the need for frequent pumping and instability, so they must have gone bigger.

Still, these are good, reliable, space and weight efficient stoves.

[TheDD]

You're going to really enjoy that stove . Mine with the STEEL feet has served me well for several years . Remember this is one of the best BTU/ ounce of fuel rated stoves you can buy and with a range of flame settings you can simmer . While other stoves are struggling to boil water this one has YOUR water already boiled and it's now heating the cleanup water

[OwlOnTheGo]

Good review. Pretty large and heavy stove, but might be good for car camping or cooking for the whole family.

[PingoCE]

Thanks for the reply, I'll be looking for one of these next summer.

[tooldudetony]

Yes. They come with the stuff sack. Thanks

[CraigArndt]

30 pump times is usually all you need to get it going, good stuff.

[kgreen]

2) Th stove has about the best range of flame control of any stove - you can actually simmer with this stove, unlike many others. Not important if all you do is boil water, but if you actually like preparing food a little more creatively, it's great. You can actually make a decent ragout...

3) Those legs are adjustable - you can set it up to provide a flat, stable cooking surface even on a sloping surface.

4) Durable. Mine is still going strong after over 15 years.

[proclaimliberty]

The one that I bought had no stuff sack. Where did you buy yours? Thanks Tony!

[kgreen]

The one negative is that the aluminum cylinder that supports the burner above the tank and provides airflow is a little weak - it can crush down a little if too much downward pressure is applied to the burner assembly. It still works fine, though, if that happens - the only effect seems to be that the burner is a bit less level. I ended up cutting out and riveting three small aluminum tabs onto the cylinder as supports, when it happened to my stove, to keep it from happening again.

[rollingstopp]

these are on the smaller side and are primarily used for backpacking in the bush. as far as the single burners go the the ones that are a little bigger are better/duel f 533/ for the family campsites

[tooldudetony]

It will burn at least 15 min on 40 to 50 pumps. You're likely to be watching it while you're cooking and can always pump it some more. Thanks

[TheDD]

The smaller pot is a lid but you need to put it on the larger pot properly " upside down " on the larger pot

[tooldudetony]

Hi Alvin, the Coleman multi fuel stove is not capable of burning gaseous fuel like in a canister. There are no adapters to convert it either. This model wants liquid fuel like Coleman white gas, kerosene or unleaded gasoline.

[proclaimliberty]

When you bought this did it come with the stuff sack? Thanks!

[fourfortyroadrunner]

Where's the part about multi fuel? I'll keep my post WWII/ Korean USAF aircraft survival stove---which looks almost exactly like this one. I even have the original box.

[peza]

That's nice, but where/ how do I get one of these REPAIRED ? Have an older PEAK 1 550B499, similar to the Exponent, but the pumping mechanism doesn't work any more ..

[janefroese]

My Coleman Exponent is ~10 years old and I have to pump it up too often. (I have to pump it once every 3 minute, or so, otherwise there's an orange flame.)  This is undoubtedly my fault as I have never cleaned it.  Can you suggest where might I find some clear instructions on how to clean it?

[kgreen]

You left out a few things in your review...

1) This is one of the most efficient (BTU output per oz of fuel) stoves out there. When you consider the total weight - the smaller amount of fuel needed for an outing, plus the lack of a separate fuel bottle, plus the weight of the empty unit, compared to other stoves, this actually ends up being one of the lighter stove/fuel/container combinations available.

[johnsarangel]

i have this stove and an msr brand one. i like this coleman stove better because you don't have to prime it. i wonder why the others have to be primed...