GEAR REVIEW – Cook Partner 22″ Camp Stove

Over the years I have tried several different cook stoves.  Throughout the build of the FJ, I have had many different kinds of stoves and brands ranging from GCI, Amazon specials, Primus, Camp Chef and even went through a phase of using vintage Colemans.   They all seem to serve the same function.  You hook them to a propane cylinder of some type, light them and cook.  They are all made a little different, some more high quality than the others, and some don’t feel as if they would last a couple weeks for what we do in the Overlanding World.

But the one thing you never want to happen is for your stove to fail.  If you are out in the “Wild Blue Yonder”, a thousand miles from nowhere, and you get up after a cozy night, ready to have some black delicious coffee and breakfast, you do not want to have to deal with issue or failure when it comes to your camping stove.  That is one reason I moved back away from the Vintage Coleman’s.  That little red tank and pump got to me one too many times.

I had always said, for several years, when I got to the point where I could afford it, I would gladly spend the money and splurge on a Cook Partner Stove from Partner Steel.  Among my long time camping and Overlanding friends, we all agreed they were the bee’s knees when it came to stoves.  And for those of us who love to spend a lot of our time in the kitchen, they are the pinnacle of cooking devices.

Well, that time finally came and I purchased mine, the 22” to put in the FJ.  I had never had anything quite like it and I really didn’t know what to expect.  I had watched my buddies cook on theirs, but to experience one all to myself was a whole new world.  Was it worth the money?  Let’s find out.

The Website (www.partnersteel.com) states, “We have incorporated some important features requested by users. This stove has the burners spaced 12″ apart to more easily accommodate 10″ pans.”

It was easy to make the decision on the 22” instead of the smaller ones.  One thing you definitely want to do is to make sure a couple pans will fit on the stove at the same time.  I mean the whole reason you get a 2-burner stove is to be able to use both burners at the same time.  The smaller stove was not able to fit both of my skillets, or a skillet and the coffee maker at the same time.  The 22” was perfect.

“Additionally, the grill spacing has been reduced over the burner plates so that a small coffee cup can be warmed.”

One thing you do have to watch on these stoves is the large area between the spacing on the grill.  The one I have (not sure if it is the updated version), has a large space between the squares.  It is not easy to sit the coffee maker I have on there.  I have to be very careful as not to spill it (it has happened).

The windscreen is a standard feature with this stove.

Some of the Partner Steel Stoves do not come with the wind screens on the side.  Make sure you know what you are looking at, or buying, before you hit that BUY button.  If you plan on being outside a lot, or if you do not have an alternative way to block the wind, you will need a windscreen for sure.

Griddle and stand are available.

I have never used the stand, as I built a place specific for mine, but they look as durable as the stoves are.  I have never even seen one at any of our campouts.  The griddle on the other hand is really nice.  I will definitely be looking into purchasing one of these.

12 x 22 x 3 1/2, 17lbs.

The dimensions are a big deal to pay attention to if you are not physically able to see these in person.  They will determine whether or not the stove can fit into the area where you plan to use or store it.  The weight is something to also pay attention to.  Compared to the other stoves that are out there, they are very heavy.  This is due to the materials they are constructed with and the level of construction that they use.  This is not a stove that you will have to replace in a few years after use. This is one you will be able to pass down for generations.  They are built like tanks.

All stoves come with a hose + regulator set. 

This is one thing that sets these stoves apart.  The regulator they provide with their stoves are amazingly accurate. You are able to turn the amount of heat up to blazing or turn it down to so little so that your coffee percolator will not boil over.

 

Positives

• Regulator – the regulator is much higher quality than any of the others I have tried.
• Quality – You get what you pay for. These are made by hand with care and you can see first hand they are built to last.
• Cleaning – the other stoves do not have removable burners and are hard to clean. The design on these stoves makes it where you can take all of the insides out (all of it comes out together in one piece), in order to keep this stove clean.
• Many different options for size. You can figure out what size would be best for you and what you use to cook with, where you use it or store it.
• Great Customer Service – always reply and always willing to solve any issue.
• Offer replacement parts – On the website, you will find an Emergency Stove Repair Kit. You can have everything you need to fix your stove if for some reason you have issues.  I have never had issues even once in several years, but I may grab one of these just in case when the stove gets a little age on it.

Negatives

• Price – These stoves are quite a bit higher in price than you will find among the other camp stoves. It goes back to the saying, “You get what you pay for.”  That is true here.  Compared to the cheap, foreign made, flimsy stoves you will find at more big box stores, these are made with care, in the USA, and made to last.
• Weight – These stoves could weigh more than 10 lbs more than the other stoves you will find.
• Cannot attach to 1lb propane bottle. You will have to get a larger tank to tote around in order to use these, or purchase the adaptor to be able to use one.
• Will not work without their regulator and hose. If you damage this, you will have to spend the $100 plus to get another in order to keep using the stove.

Conclusion

This stove has truly been worth every penny.  I have enjoyed cooking with this on hundreds of occasions for myself and groups.  It has never failed me, cooks efficiently, and I don’t have to worry about bending it, dinging it or tearing it up.  I use it and use it hard.  It has stepped up to every event I have ever needed it to.  I believe I have reached the pinnacle of Camping Stoves with this one and don’t think I will ever have to look around to find something better.  This is it.