Kovea Slim Twin Review

We were impressed with how the Kovea Slim performed in nearly every metric. With well-designed windscreens and burners situated close to the cooktop, this compact stove produces a consistent flame whether you need to simmer or boil.

Performance Comparison

Boil Time

For this metric, we timed how long each stove took to boil 1 liter of water when subjected to "wind" from a box fan at 2-4 mph. We then rerun this test without wind and take the average between the two scores. With an average boil time of 4 minutes 58 seconds, the Slim Twin boasted the second fastest average boil time of the tabletop stoves in our review.

In our windy boil test, the Slim Twin had an impressive performance, boiling 1 liter of 58°F water in 5 minutes 20 seconds. It then boiled our water in 4 minutes and 36 seconds without wind. There was a scant 40 extra seconds to boil water in the windy test than without. We credit the tight design of the stove for this excellent wind resistance. The rectangular windscreens provide an excellent seal on three sides of the stove, and the burners sit close enough to the cooktop to maximize the heating potential of the flames. These design advantages coalesce to give this stove above-average wind resistance. Our wind test tends to separate the well-designed stoves from the mediocre ones.

The Slim Twin had a relatively sluggish boil time in the wind-less test. This is likely because this stove features burners with 10,500 BTUs when our highest-scoring models have 20,000 or more. That said, the lower BTUs and slower boil time should not deter you from choosing this stove. When we used the Slim Twin in the "real world," it quickly boiled water for coffee and cooked two-pot meals as efficiently as the stove in our home kitchen.

Fuel Efficiency

To help you save money and produce less canister waste, we evaluate each stove for its fuel efficiency. In the wind test, the Slim was among the more fuel-efficient tabletop models.

To measure fuel efficiency, we begin our boil tests by weighing a new propane fuel canister. Following the wind and windless tests, we weigh the canister again. The Slim Twin burned, on average, 0.83 ounces or 5.25% of a green Coleman propane can. For the windy test, it consumed 0.91 ounces or 5.8% of the fuel to boil 1 liter of water. In the windless test, it burned 0.74 ounces or 4.69% of a fuel canister.

Simmering Ability

This is another metric where the Slim Twin shines. Tests for this metric included cooking more delicate foods, such as rice, where maintaining an even and low flame is essential for a quality finished dish.

This stove made nearly perfect rice, impressing even our most discerning camp foodie. Here again, the design lent to excellent performance. The tight control knobs enable you to turn the burners down low, and the well-sealed windscreens protect the flames from inconsistently heating your cookware.

Ease of Use

Like many other two-burner stoves in our review, the Slim Twin is straightforward and easy to use.

To fire it up, simply push the open button, secure the windscreens, connect the regulator to the fuel source, turn on the cooking knob, and use the Piezo ignition to light the stove. Among other design features that lent to an easy setup, our review team was impressed by how easily the regulator threaded onto the stove and how well the Piezo igniters worked for lighting the burners. Initially, the windscreens were a little fickle to secure, but once we learned how to properly seat the windscreen tabs into the slots on the stove, even this proved straightforward. Owing to a quirk of the testing process, we tested two of these stoves. The first one had a tight overall seal and tight hinge; however, we had to bend one of the hinges to ensure a tight seal on the second stove. This was not a big deal, but something to be aware of if you find your stove doesn't open and close properly.

One design feature that we love with the Slim Twin and wish was a standard across all the stoves is that the lid has two tabs for securing the windscreens flush against the lid. This makes it easy to close the stove without the windscreens getting in the way or worrying that you will deform the windscreens. A real bonus in our eyes.

Keeping the Slim Twin clean is an easy affair as well. Simply remove the cooking grate to scrub the drip pan. There aren't any sneaky holes in the drip pan for food to fall into, which makes it a breeze to clean the stove after each use (or on the rare occasion when you want to give your camp cooking kit a deep clean.)

Portability

The slim design and plastic carrying handle on the Slim make this stove an exceptionally portable option.

With a scant weight of 9.94 pounds and packed dimensions of 23.4" x 14.7" x 3.3", the Slim is compact and easy to carry. Despite boasting a premium level of portability, we didn't give it a perfect score in this category for two reasons. The first is that the regulator does not fit inside the stove for storage. There is a plastic clip to hold it on the bottom of the stove, but using this clip increases the volume, negating the stove's slim stowability. If you decide to go with this stove, we recommend stashing the regulator in your camp kitchen bin to avoid losing it. Additionally, there are two rubber feet on the bottom that unnecessarily increase the stove's vertical volume when you store it. These two concerns aside, this stove is compact, decently lightweight, and easy to carry.

Should You Buy the Kovea Slim Twin?

While the Slim Twin is not the cheapest model in our review, it certainly packs a punch for the price. It performed well in nearly every metric — especially when compared to other tabletop models — proving to be a competent stove with a slim footprint and excellent wind resistance. If you are looking for something with a high value-to-performance ratio, you will not be disappointed with this stove.

What Other Camping Stoves Should You Consider?

If you crave a higher-powered, more fuel-efficient stove and aren't concerned about price, the Camp Chef Mountaineer is a fantastic (albeit spendy) option. If boil time and fuel efficiency don't matter as much as affordability, then the Coleman Classic is a great budget-minded option. And if portability is king and you only need one burner, check out the Gas One GS-3000 for the least expensive option in our review.