Jetboil Genesis Camp Stove

Field Notes: No camp stove was as clear a winner as the Jetboil Genesis. It scalds the competition, and made us reconsider our preconceived notions about what a car camping stove should be or how it can operate.  Before we thought enormous bulky, the exact opposite of sleek.  No longer thanks to the foldable practicality of Jetboil stove’s award-winning innovation.

Pros: For a road trip, a journey into the backcountry with packhorses or snowmobiles, an extended foray into the wilderness, this is your camp kitchen. In a luggable zippered bag, the Jetboil is coiled in wait like a fire-spraying cobra in a woven basket. 

It’s quick to set up as you unleash a few fasteners, unfold the contraption, screw on the fuel intake piping, spin a bottle of propane onto the metal teeth.  Voila, a camp kitchen Bobby Flay would admire. The dual burners are paired with easy-to-use controls that foster fast ignition and intuitive simmering.

An aftermarket attachment allows you to add a third smaller burner, compatible with your Jetboil pot, to facilitate faster boiling. In addition, the Genesis Base Camp system comes complete with a quality pot and pan.  Now you’re prepared to stir up dishes for as many as 6-8 hungry campers. 

Cons: The only con here is price. While the Jetboil beats out cheaper competitors in nearly every category imaginable, asking 4x the price is a pill that’s tough to swallow for many campers. 

Favorite Feature: The collapsible design, which makes it the easiest-to-lug car camping stove Active Junky has tested. Plus, that bag easily fits the included pot and pan, another enormous point of triumph for this Jetboil stove. 

Tester Commentary: “This is revolutionary. I’m picking this over all of the competition. Phenomenal. And I don’t say that lightly. From boiling water to simmering a dinner for six, I thought this stove did an excellent job. Two burners – three if you add the attachment – plus the sleek design and the inclusion of the pot and pan— unbeatable. Truly. I’m blown away.”

Bottom Line: If you can justify the steep price tag, this basecamp stove will definitely change the game. Whether you plan on hauling it into the backcountry on a sled or setting it up in the trunk of your van, this beast is a winner for a reason. 

Best for: Car camping, fast gourmet cooking for groups of 2-8