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Camping stove - or Blackstone?

6,948 Views | 29 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by normaleagle05
Naveronski
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AG
I've camped with an old Coleman dual burner stove for the last 25+ years and it's fine - but I'm seeing a lot of much neater stoves and griddles on the market now.

What has my eye is the dual cooker/burner setup from Blackstone.
https://www.amazon.com/Blackstone-1860-Rangetop-Handles-Griddle/dp/B08G1RB7DW?th=1

Looks like I could easily cook on the griddle, but also have a burner for pots/coffee/etc. I've tried making coffee in a percolator on a buddy's Blackstone and it just didn't work. Need to have a burner for it.

Cooking wise, unless we're doing a soup or rice, it seems like a griddle would be more useful. I end up digging out the cast iron for most of our meals anyway, so this would skip a step.

Current comparison it against the Camp Chef Mountaineer with its 20k BTU burners and good reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PNKJ1KP
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/camping-stove/camp-chef-mountaineer-2xj

We're car/trailer camping 99% of the time, so size isn't really a concern, but don't need something absolutely massive. I don't want to juggle 3 different stoves, griddles, etc.

What does the OB think? What have y'all used?
cupofjoe04
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AG
I have a 19" Blackstone that we have used for travel/camping for about 6 years now. It was my only griddle until I got a 36" earlier this year for the house. Room enough to cook for 5 people, but it was tight at times with things like hibachi/stirfry. That said, we just cooked pancakes & sausage for 15 people on the 19" griddle 2 weeks ago, and it did great. Having a little burner on the side would be amazing.

I would go with the Blackstone. We have LOVED ours, especially for camping. You can really do a TON more on it than just a regular camp stove.
RCR06
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AG
I recently thought about this same thing. When using the Colman stove while camping we were usually using a pan of some sort on the burner so it made me wonder if one of the portable Blackstone wouldn't be more useful. I guess it depends on what you're cooking. To me a single propane burner would be a good combo to have with the blackstone griddle.
Moscin
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I have a Camp Chef system with the flat top/griddle accessory and pizza oven accessory. I also like that I can just use the burners for frying fish, or cooking in pots such as beans, boiling shrimp etc.
tmaggies
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AG
Small griddle is great but cold wind makes it a little ineffective. I would stick to a stove or have for backup.
Bird78
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My wife bought me a butane stove, like the ones they use in restaurants, 20 years ago. They use cans of butane fuel, and are light, portable, easy to light, and cheap. Amazon has a butane stove with four cans of fuel for $25. Instant heat is always welcome when you are waiting on the percolator on a cold morning. Might want to consider one if you are detrmined to switch. Happy New Year! Bird78
CS78
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Seems like it would be a pain to keep clean enough that oil and food residue wouldn't attract dirt and sand.
Naveronski
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Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/GS-3400P-Portable-Backpacking-Emergency-Preparedness/dp/B01HQRD8EO/

I think I'd prefer an "all in one" solution, but if I end up getting a dedicated griddle, that seems like a handy single burner option.
JeremiahJohnson
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Blackstone is hard to beat if you have room for it. We used one for 2 weeks in Idaho. Didn't use a single dish or pot for cooking. Just a couple spatulas. Can cook everything on it.

I rarely use my camp chef. When you use the blackstone and don't have to clean pots and pans, it's hard to go back.
Furlock Bones
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AG
at our hunting lease, we get less and less use out of the stove in the camper. we cook almost all of the breakfasts on the Blackstone.
pnut02
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AG
Blackstone Adventure Ready 22"
Walmart has been known to sell these at times for <$120 in stores. You can use cast iron on top of the griddle surface to cook as well.

If wind is an issue, Blackstone or third-party sellers have wind guards (some can be doubled up as scraper/spatulas as well).
Bird Poo
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You won't regret the Blackstone. One of the dads in our boy scout troop brings his every campout and the rest of us steal food from it all the time.
lp01
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We have used the Coleman stoves for years. This summer we did a cross-country trip and got the same Blackstone. It was awesome. Pretty much retired the Coleman for about 99% of what we used it for.
pnut02
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I've been a big fan since I got it about 2 years ago. It's portable and easy to breakdown, and I like that you can use a propane tank or smaller portable propane bottles. Generates plenty of heat to cook what I've thrown at it. Lots of videos for meal ideas too.
lp01
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Same. We're able to hook it up directly to our RV propane supply. It helps out.
Naveronski
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Thanks everyone!

I found a 17" adventure ready with side burner on FB marketplace for less than $100.

It'll need cleaning, but seems to be in great shape.
PerdidoKey2030
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If storage is not an issue, this is the best option. Picked up a 36" tundra/3/30K burners at Costco a few years back on clearance for less than $200. Comes with single griddle. Purchased scratch & dent 36" griddle and pizza oven on Amazon, bring your own pot, all in for less than $500 and the options vs. blackstone are the best hands down. Complete Camp Kitchen!
Waterski02
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We dropped our camp bbq for a blackstone a few years back. We still have the camp stove but it's used very sparingly, but nice to have around for sides and other times you need a pot, my youngest is a Mac and cheese addict. We bought a new camp stove in April, didn't use it until June, and then. It again until August.
Having a griddle has really changed what we eat at camp for the better. I've got a 17", good for our family of 4 and 1 other family if you use the stove too. We camp 30+ nights a year and would not hesitate to recommend to anyone they get a flat top if you've got the room for one.
VStarr2024
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Bump for a question: When looking at the blackstone models available, would y'all recommend the hard cover or the hood? Walmart Link Got my wife and I plus our two twin toddlers and occasional hosting, so thinking the 28" is plenty for us.
lawless89
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I've got a 28" without the hard cover and keep it in a soft bag and It's worked great for camping trips. I've also got the big air fryer/blackstone with the hard top at home and I don't ever close the top when cooking. Its only purpose to me is to protect the griddle.
GasPasser97
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Similar question for tailgating (burgers/hotdogs)…small blackstone would be the best choice?

I have a big blackstone at home.

For tailgating, was considering a small blackstone vs Weber vs PK grill

Thoughts?
Ragoo
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We have a 20" we use for camping. Can easily do 8 burgers in half. Set a couple of opened cans of beans and toast some buns on the other half.

As JJ said above. It is awesome to cook a whole mess of food for everyone, then clean up is getting the thing hot and squirting water to steam off the mess. It's a breeze.
RustyBV
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AG
The new camping version looks super convenient for the portability and hard cover: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Blackstone-Adventure-Ready-20-x14-2-Burner-Propane-Camping-Griddle-with-Latching-Hood-and-Handle/5028365010?athbdg=L1103&from=/search
Waterski02
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That new version looks slick. Might be time to upgrade
Naveronski
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Naveronski said:

Thanks everyone!

I found a 17" adventure ready with side burner on FB marketplace for less than $100.

It'll need cleaning, but seems to be in great shape.
I've used this 3-4x since buying it. Camping and just making breakfast at home when the weather is nice. Happy with it, and 17" is enough room for bacon then eggs + tortillas for 2 adults.
falconace
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Had been eyeing Blackstones for a while. I had been making due with a cast iron slab that I would set on top of my coleman stove while camping. Ended up getting a 22" Blackstone and its phenomenal. I've got a one burner stove that sits on top of a propane bottle that I'll keep for making coffee.
Nobody Knows My Name
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RustyBV said:

The new camping version looks super convenient for the portability and hard cover: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Blackstone-Adventure-Ready-20-x14-2-Burner-Propane-Camping-Griddle-with-Latching-Hood-and-Handle/5028365010?athbdg=L1103&from=/search

I have one and like it. It should be noted this does not have typical steel blackstone top. It is the non-stick coated type and so don't use metal utensils on it.
khkman22
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For those with the 22" Blackstone, what size group can it realistically cook for? I was looking at the insert for my Weber gas grill and the usable cooking surface is about 22"x13" compared to 22"x16" for the Blackstone. I have been hesitant to get the insert due to price and the thought that it wouldn't be big enough for my family of 6-7.

It's on sale right now, so wondering if I should try it or would regret it after a couple of cooks.
bam02
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I think you must be confused. There's no way Blackstone makes a griddle that you cannot use metal utensils on. That would be like a Teflon coated pan.
normaleagle05
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I regularly cook for 2 adults and 2 kids at home with a 22" and it does fine. It gets cramped if you're trying to toast buns while cooking the contents. I've cooked for up to 7 and didn't run out of room but you might have to do things in stages depending on what you're cooking.
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