Jetboil Genesis Basecamp Review

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What Other Camping Stoves Should You Consider?

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. If you are hoping for something compact that performs well in the wind, the Kovea Slim Twin has a friendlier price tag and offered more consistent performance in each of our tests.