Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

another update (Dec 2018) Power outage in Nov (15 hours) due to ice storm. This was the reason I originally bought this little stove, after all. Put some water in a camp coffee pot (without the inner components), and boiled it to make tea before I left for work (gotta have my tea before I start my day!). Worked great. It came to a full, rolling boil. Was planning to make some pasta for dinner on it when I got home (checked in with the parents all thru the day, power was still out), but then power came back on about a half hour before I got home. But I know from the rolling boil I had that morning, making pasta or rice would not have been a problem. Still on that first can of fuel. ------------------------- update (Feb 2018): Have used this 3 times to do a fish fry outside (easier clean up than using the stove inside, since boiling oil tends to splatter). Still on my first can of fuel. Works great! Oil in a 10 inch cast iron skillet gets plenty hot. Fish is delish! Very pleased with this stove. ---------------------- original review: Bought this to have as a back up in case of a power outage (microwave and stove/range both work on electricity). Don't plan on using this a lot, but wanted to try it out when it arrived, just to make sure it worked, and be sure of how it works. This little thing is amazing. It lit really easy...on the first try. I'm not sure if you can use a regular Teflon skillet on a gas flame, so I used a 10 inch; cast iron skillet. It got really hot! I fried up hot dogs (first) and kielbasa after that. Took only about 20 minutes. I'm thinking you can probably fry up eggs, sausage, boil water for tea or coffee, maybe even boil water in a small pot for pasta or hot cereal. It has a dial to be able to adjust the flame, low or high. Just be sure to stay above the minimum...I went a little below that, and the flame went out. But, re-lit with no problem. In my research to find this item, it seemed like there were many brands that basically work the same way. I went with the Coleman version because I know they have been making products like this for a long time...well known name. The one thing that this one doesn't seem to do that the other ones do....others apparently come with the black burner turned down (space saver?), and when you get it, you have to flip it over. This one is already flipped, and it's secured in place. Nice and stable. My only problem with that is that you can't remove it to clean under it. I don't see any way to release or remove it. Uses butane canisters...really easy to insert. They look just like an aerosol can. I bought a pack of 4. Averaged $4 per can. If you plan on using this stove a lot (camping, tailgating, picnics, etc), then buy the large quantities available...price per can will be lower. The canister lays on its side, and goes in the compartment directly behind the dial. It has a hinged door that hides it away, and keeps it from being exposed. Unit is all-in-one, easy to move. Of all the different styles of camp stoves I researched, this one seemed to be the easiest to use, and appeared to be the safest. (There was actually one that was 'dual fuel' - one of the fuels available to be used was gasoline. I thought that was great, since fuel readily available, until I saw the tubing that carried the fuel from the tank to the input actually ran thru the flame on the burner!). This one has uses no tubing, no regulator, nothing like that. It snaps in one way, and locks in place. I didn't use the entire can, so I disconnected it, put the cap back on, and will be able to use it next time. Comes with a nice little carrying case for transport or storage. Plastic box with handle...like a mini briefcase.