Camp Chef Everest 2X Review

The Everest 2X is a beefier redux of the original Everest, where every aspect of the stove has been redesigned with durability and power in mind. With 20,000 BTUs and a three-sided — nearly seamless — windscreen, it performs impressively well in windy conditions. If heating ramen water on full blast isn't your scene, never fear because this stove can also accommodate low enough heat to simmer to your heart's content. It is uncommon for a car camping stove to boil water fast but also have the finesse to cook slow and low, which is why our review team was so impressed with this stove. While it is bigger, heftier, and a bit spendier than others in our review — we think it is worth these nominal drawbacks.

Performance Comparison

Boil Time

For this metric, we do two boil tests. First, we time how long it takes for each stove to boil 1 liter of water with 2-4 mph of "wind" generated by a box fan, and then we do the test again in the absence of wind. We then take the average of the two tests. The Everest 2X has an average boil time of 3 minutes and 21 seconds.

In the wind test, the Everest 2X took 3 minutes and 25 seconds, and in the wind-less test, it took 3 minutes and 17 seconds to boil one liter of water in a tea kettle, both of which are among the fastest times in our review. The windy boil time is faster than many of the stoves in our review took to boil water without a fan. We were definitely impressed with the high power output of this stove. It boasts 20,000 BTUs per burner, which is an impressive amount of power.

The design team at Camp Chef deserves some serious kudos for the impressive wind resistance of the Everest 2X. It performed well in this metric because it features a windscreen that offers nearly seamless protection from cross-winds, and the burners are slightly recessed in the stove body, affording even more protection. The stove provided flame consistency even in windy locations, ensuring that stir-fries, rice, curries, and fajitas were quickly and evenly cooked. Whether you need an ultra-quick boil to crush your morning coffee or you plan to make dinner for a large crew, this stove has the power to keep up with any demand you may have.

Fuel Efficiency

In addition to measuring wind and windless boil times, we also determine how fuel-efficient each stove is by capturing data from our boil tests. The Everest 2X burned an average of 6.06% of a green propane fuel canister per boil test or 0.97 ounces, which positions this stove square in the middle of the pack.

In the windless test, the Everest 2X burned 0.89 ounces, and in the windy test, it burned 1.05 ounces of fuel. What does this mean? Compared to the other stoves in its class, it had somewhat unimpressive performance in terms of fuel efficiency. This is likely due to the same high octane 20,000 BTU burners that enable the Everest to boil quickly. High-output burners rip through fuel quicker than lower-powered but more efficient burners. That being said, quick boil times might cancel out the decreased fuel efficiency for two reasons. For starters, it will take you less time to heat your food or boil water, and secondly, this stove boasts impressive simmer control, which means it can sustain low heat and better fuel efficiency (and cook more complex meals).

Simmering Ability

You may have thought it wasn't possible to find a stove that could boil fast and also simmer, but the Everest 2X manages to do both shockingly well.

This unicorn of a stove features snug knobs, enabling you to better modulate the burner's temperature than on other stoves. Additionally, the thick design situates the cooking grate farther from the burner to allow for some extra heat diffusion. However, given the high BTUs, the space between the burners and cooking grate did not affect water boiling time or cause any issues when heating a stove-top espresso maker. Whether you plan to cook rice or a backcountry roux, this stove has the finesse to accommodate whatever culinary delights you can dream up.

Ease of Use

Akin to other propane stoves in our review, the Everest 2X is fairly intuitive and easy to use. You simply open the stove, latch the windscreens into place, attach the fuel regulator to the stove and your propane tank, engage the Piezo igniter and start cooking.

The Piezo igniter on the Everest 2X is among the best in our lineup, igniting consistently and with minimal effort. The latches that hold the windscreen in place double as the latches to close the stove and give the windscreen more stability than other models. Over time, our review team has been disappointed with the integrity of the latches. You will want to keep pliers with you in case you need to bend these back in position to ensure you have sufficiently closed the stove.

One reason why tabletop propane stoves don't garner higher marks in this metric is that installing the fuel regulator requires more time and patience than attaching a butane fuel canister or a large propane tank to a preinstalled hose. This is because most propane stoves feature a recessed attachment point for the fuel regulator and can be easily cross-threaded (which can damage your regulator and/or stove). Our reviewers have found that if you position the regulator at the proper point and press firmly before screwing the threads in place, you will be less likely to cross-thread. That said, don't let the marginally more difficult setup process deter you; it is still quite intuitive and straightforward to affix the windscreens and install the regulator on this stove.

With a stainless steel pan and a removable nickel-coated cooking grate, cleaning the Everest 2X is easy, whether in the field or at home.The nickel-coated steel cooking grate lifts easily out of its footprint so you can wipe down the cooking surface after you are done.

Portability

Even though the Everest 2X carries well, this is a metric where it performed lower than other models in our review. At 13.97 pounds, it is one of the heavier tabletop models, and with a packed size of 27" x 15.5" x 8.25", it doesn't steal the packability show.

While we maintain that the Everest 2X is an incredibly portable car camping stove, it is bulkier and heavier than others in our review. That being said, the recessed carrying handle on the back-side of the stove is among the most comfortable, and our reviewers were unbothered by its heft. When deciding whether this stove is right for you, it might behoove you to consider how much space you have in your camping kit for stove storage. If space is a concern, you may want to check out other models in our review, as this stove commands more space than most other models in our test suite. However, if you are looking for a high-performing stove and your rig can accommodate a bulky stove, then this might be the one for you.

Should You Buy the Camp Chef Everest 2X?

Compared to the other stoves in our review, our reviewers think the Everest 2X delivers exceptional quality for the price. Many other stoves cost around the same but score less favorably across our test metrics. While there are less expensive stoves on the market — and in our review — these stoves don't hold a flame to the power, durability, and simmering ability of this one. Our review team was dazzled enough by this stove to give it our top award, and if your kitchen kit can accommodate a relatively bulky stove, we're sure you'll also be impressed by it.

What Other Camping Stoves Should You Consider?

The Kovea Slim Twin is a compact and solid option at an affordable price — it scored well in every category, and it won't break the bank. If space is a concern and you would prefer a more fuel-efficient stove, check out the JetBoil Genesis Basecamp. It is spendy, but it travels well and is one of the most fuel-efficient tabletop models. Alternatively, the Coleman Cascade Classic is similarly fuel efficient at a fraction of the price, although it only delivered average boil times.