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If you are a car camper that wants to conserve space and weight, then the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp is a great model to consider. This lightweight and low-profile setup simmers beautifully, is easy to care for, and is by far the lightest and smallest way to haul around two burners that we have found thus far. The savvy design offers good heat distribution, easy assembly, and the patented Jetlink port so you can hook up your Jetboil and run it all off the same fuel source. The major drawback to this stove is the price and a subpar windscreen. But if the price isn't a deterrent and you can protect it from the wind a bit, we feel confident that you will love using this stove.
REASONS TO BUY
Low profile
Lightweight
Auto-ignition levers are easy to use
Easy portability with carrying case and handles
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Below average wind resistance
Get the Entire System
Jetboil sells the Genesis Basecamp System, which includes a 5L pot and 10-inch frying pan for some extra dough. Altogether, this creates a cooking system that packs away nicely within the carrying case, though less expensive pots and pans will obviously work just fine with this stove too.
If you're looking for a compact and foldable two-burner, this stove takes the cake on almost every front
A high-performing stove that boils fast, resists wind, simmers well, and is easy to clean
An all-rounder for outdoor cuisine, we love this stove, grill, and griddle combo and the flavorful meals cooked on cast iron
A decent entry-level stove featuring a piezo igniter and a compact design, but with slow boiling and moderate wind resistance
An absolute bargain, this versatile little stove cooks any single-pan or pot meal you task it with
Rating Categories
Jetboil Genesis Bas...
Camp Chef Everest 2X
Coleman Cascade 3-in-1
Coleman Cascade Cla...
Gas One GS-3000
Boil Time(25%)
5.0
9.0
7.0
4.0
3.0
Fuel Efficiency(25%)
7.0
5.0
5.0
7.0
2.0
Simmering Ability(20%)
9.0
9.0
8.5
8.0
7.0
Ease of Use(15%)
5.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
Portability(15%)
10.0
6.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
Specs
Jetboil Genesis Bas...
Camp Chef Everest 2X
Coleman Cascade 3-in-1
Coleman Cascade Cla...
Gas One GS-3000
Total BTUs
10,000
40,000
24,000
20,000
9,000
Number of Burners
2
2
2
2
1
Cooking Surface Dimensions
8" x 8.5" (each burner)
21" x 9.5"
22" x 13.2"
20" x 12"
8.25" x 8.25"
Piezo Ignitor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Measured Weight
7.4 lbs w/bag, 6.4 lbs stove alone
13.97 lbs
12.95 lbs
9.71 lbs
4.1 lbs
Average Boil Time (1 liter of water, wind & no wind)
6 min
3 min 21 sec
4 min 35 sec
6 min 39 sec
8 min 45 sec
Boil Time (1 liter of water, wind from a box fan)
7 min 30 sec
3 min 25 sec
4 min 23 sec
7 min 56 sec
13 min
Boil Time (1 liter of water, no wind)
4 min 30 sec
3 min 17 sec
4 min 29 sec
5 min 23 sec
4 min 30 sec
Cooktop Material
Nickel-plated steel
Nickel-coated steel
Aluminized steel
Aluminized steel
Enamel Coated Steel
Packed Size
9.75" x 4.5" (11" x 6" in carrying bag)
27" x 15.5" x 8.25"
22" x 12" x 4"
21" x 13" x 3.5"
14" x 12" x 3.5"
Burner/Flame Diameter
3.5"
4.75"
3.5"
3.25"
2.875"
Distance Between Burners (center to center)
10.5"
12.25"
7.75"
11"
N/A
Windscreen
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
BTU per Burner
5,000
20,000
12,000
10,000
9,000
Type of Model
Tabletop, foldable
Tabletop
Tabletop
Tabletop
Tabletop
Fuel Type
Propane
Propane
Propane
Propane
Butane
Model Number
GNST
MS2HP
2157356
2157477
GS-3000
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Genesis Basecamp is a folding two-burner that is surprisingly fuel efficient, in addition to being lightweight and compact. It is a feature-rich stove that works well for folks who need to be savvy with their space — whether that means the back of a car, stowed into an expedition duffel, or for use in your van. Beyond this, the Basecamp is a nimble stove that can crank out the heat, simmer like a champion, and be paired with other Jetboil stoves using the JetLink Accessory Hose.
Performance Comparison
The Basecamp is a stellar way to cook like a pro while optimizing space and keeping weight to a minimum.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Boil Time
The Basecamp ranked in the middle of the pack in our boil tests, taking an average of 6 minutes to boil 1 liter of 58°F water over our windy and wind-less boil tests. To test wind resistance, we time how long it takes each stove to boil 1 liter of water in the presence of 2-4 mph “wind” — as tested by a pocket anemometer — generated by a box fan on low. It took 7 minutes and 30 seconds for this stove to boil water in our windy test, and in the wind-less test, it took 4 minutes and 30 seconds. This stove falls right in line with other 10,000 BTU stoves — that size burner can only do so much — but we were disappointed by the wind resistance (and windscreens) for the Basecamp. That being said, when we cooked meals in breezy weather, it did just fine — much better than many others in this review. While the box fan test can be an indicator, what's most important is how the stove performs in real-life scenarios.
The minimal windscreen on this stove, meant that it did not perform well - on average - during our boil test.
Credit: Mary Witlacil
Fuel Efficiency
In addition to testing stove power in our boil tests, we evaluate fuel efficiency at the same time. The Basecamp is among the more fuel-efficient stoves in our review. It burned an average of 0.75 ounces of fuel or 4.67% of the fuel in a canister over each of our boil tests. For the windy test, it used 0.5-ounces of fuel or 3.12% of a fuel canister, which was the least amount of fuel consumed by any of the stoves in our review. This was pretty shocking to our review team, as it had a fairly average performance in the windy boil test. In the wind-less test, the Basecamp used 1 ounce of fuel or 6% of the fuel canister, which is slightly abnormal. In general, most stoves use less fuel in the wind-less tests; however, fuel efficiency declines as a fuel bottle empties. It is possible it was more efficient in the first test when the fuel bottle was full; then, as it emptied, even slightly, it was less efficient. That said, we aren't complaining — the Basecamp delivered rockstar performance in this metric
The barely visible plastic windscreen on this stove is sufficient enough for breezy cooking days, though with strong, direct wind (as in our box fan test), it struggles a bit.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Simmering Ability
This is another metric where the Basecamp truly shines, scoring at the top of the pack. This stove is great for those that appreciate a good simmer. It does well on low, and it is easy to get a consistently low flame and cook with finesse. Even though it isn't the most windproof model, we were never concerned about wind extinguishing the low flame due to a sudden breeze. Additionally, the dial for each burner has a wide range, so you don't have to worry about accidentally turning the burner off.
The Basecamp helped us make some delicious slow-cooked veggie curry and become camp kitchen heroes.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Ease of Use
Unlike other tabletop models, the Basecamp garnered lower marks in this category. It is a relatively straightforward stove to use, but a steeper learning curve for a few aspects makes it more challenging than other simpler stoves in our review. If you don't need a windscreen, set-up is easy. Start by releasing the rubber closure straps and unfold the stove. The hinges between the burners offer more flexibility with setting it up on an uneven surface than you would get with your standard tabletop design. From there, connect the fuel line (make sure you don't confuse the fuel line for the JetLink line), turn the burner dials, hit the auto-ignition levers, and off you go.
Here you can see one of the tabs of the Basecamp's windscreen slotted into the base of the stove. Also notice the Jetlink port which will allow you to run another stove or a Jetboil off the same fuel source, if you have the supplemental equipment to do so.
Credit: Penney Garrett
The challenging, dare we say annoying, part of setting up the Basecamp is affixing the windscreen. The flexible plastic screen has four tabs that slot into notches on the underside of the burners. The tabs do not seat easily into their receiving ends because there is not a sufficient gap for them to slot into. Perhaps the model we reviewed is an anomaly, but you would expect better quality control for a product this expensive. With this stove, you will always want to attach the windscreen before use because the notches are difficult to locate once the stove is set up. You either have to know precisely where they are or peek underneath to locate them. If the stove is already hot and running, it's easy to burn yourself.
Unlike many stoves that have the threads for the fuel adaptor sunken into a recess, the Basecamp has them fully visible. This makes for a much easier time getting everything attached, especially if you have cold fingers!
Credit: Penney Garrett
By contrast, it is as easy as it gets to clean the Basecamp — just remove the grates and wipe everything down. The grates remove from the stove body by squeezing two prongs on the side to release them from their housing. There are no odd or inaccessible recesses, as there are with some other models, so it's easy to clean almost every nook and cranny. The carrying bag also helps keep everything organized and tidy.
Just squeeze the side of the cooking grate to remove it from the stove so you can scrub away.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Portability
Out of our entire review suite, this stove is our favorite for portability, even beating out the compact single burner options. The Genesis Basecamp is the most compact and lightweight stove of all the two-burners in our review, even rivaling the single burners. Altogether, the stove, fuel adaptor, windscreen, and carrying bag only weigh 7.4 pounds and measure a mere 11 inches across and 6 inches high. The stove by itself weighs 6.4 pounds and measures just 9.75 x 4.5 inches, with a convenient collapsible handle on both sides for carrying it around. Despite these small dimensions, when unfolded, there is still a generous 10.5 inches between burners, so accommodating two large pans is no problem. We also like that the carrying bag has a pocket for the fuel adaptor, so it doesn't rattle and slide around during transport. This is also a great place to stash a cleaning rag or sponge. If you want to stay low profile without sacrificing anything other than a few BTUs, this is a stellar option.
Convenient handles on the stove body paired with a well-conceived carrying bag make this stove a top scorer for portability.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Should You Buy the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp?
To be perfectly honest, for most people, the Basecamp will be overkill. It is an impressively compact and admittedly cool two-burner stove, but all this design wizardry comes at a steep price tag. The price is far above stoves with twice the BTUs. So, why would you fork over the cash for this stove? It is an unbeatable option for intrepid gear nerds who want to have a functional self-supported base camp with delicious food on backcountry expeditions. It is compact, relatively lightweight, and, with an accessory hose, can be paired with other Jetboil stoves. It would also be a great option for car campers with small, fuel-efficient vehicles, where space is at an absolute premium. That said, you might also be willing to fork over the cash because the Basecamp is a fuel-efficient, innovatively designed stove, and you don't care that the windscreen is slightly annoying to connect. However, if this doesn't sound like you, there might be a better option in our review for you.
Small car, small table? No problem with the Basecamp.
Credit: Penney Garrett
What Other Camping Stoves Should You Consider?
If a single burner is all you need, you may be served just fine by the affordable Gas One GS-3000, though it's far less fuel efficient. We also like the Coleman Cascade Classic as an affordable dual-burner stove. If you can afford a higher-end camping stove, the Camp Chef Mountaineer is a durable, well-designed option that performs well across every metric.
