This is definitely not your dad’s Coleman stove! I know this because I inherited my dad’s hand-pumped, white gas-fueled, dark green Coleman two-burner when I was in college. When I grew tired of its “vintage” charm and soot deposits on my camp kitchen, I moved up to a classic Coleman propane two-burner, also in dark green. The Coleman Gladiator Series FyreKnight Propane Stove doesn’t have much in common with these old standbys, aside from the trusted Coleman brand name. It’s rugged, sleek, and silver high-powered with precise burners that shake off the wind and cold. It’s a gladiator, after all.
When I’m ready to cook, all I have to do is connect a propane tank or canister to the Coleman Gladiator Series FyreKnight Propane Stove, and I’m ready for blastoff. The built-in ignitor works like a charm, foregoing the need for lighters up against the burner (and that moment when you wonder if you’re going to lose some arm hair). Once lit, both 12,000 BTU burners give off a steady, blue-and-red, clean-burning flame that reminds me of a cross between a commercial kitchen gas burner and my MSR Reactor stove.
The Coleman Gladiator Series FyreKnight Propane Stove had room for the biggest pot in my camp kitchen and a 12-inch cast iron skillet to fit side-by-side with a few spare inches. So, if I get inspired to do a crawfish boil in the backyard next summer, it’s great to know that this will be big enough for two large stockpots. It’s also nice and sturdy for holding heavy pots, with burly non-skid feet and steel construction. The burners themselves are similarly tough and hi-tech, each with a 360-degree integrated wind shield that cuts boiling times in half, steady and evenly distributed fuel supply and flames, and independent operation so adjusting one side doesn’t affect the other. It handled boiling pasta water and simmering sauce like a pro, and really did a fantastically quick job on the pasta water even in the cold, late fall conditions.
With a secure latch and heavy-duty handle, the Coleman Gladiator Series FyreKnight Propane Stove is easy to transport and load into vehicles. At 26.8 x 6.6 x 14.9 inches it’s definitely taller and wider than standard-sized camping two-burners, but when I’m car camping space isn’t really an issue. The stove fits inside my raft’s drybox, so I’m looking forward to taking it down the river for multiday trips or evening dinner floats.
The Coleman Gladiator Series FyreKnight Propane Stove is available in silver in one size. Several interchangeable attachments are available, including grill grates and griddle tops, for the ultimate outdoor cooking machine.
Bottom Line: A metamorphosis from the Coleman two-burners of the past, this gladiator of a stove is a pro-grade centerpiece for camp kitchens and backyard cookouts.
Manufacturer’s Site: www.coleman.com
