February 17, 2001


What do you think of Powermax stoves?

I was wondering about the new Powermax stoves by Peak 1—specifically the Xpert. They are supposed to address the cold weather performance of traditional canister stoves, but I have not been able to find a review of them anywhere and was wondering if they performed as advertised. Thanks!

— Eric Rohrbacher Barrington, New Hampshire

Actually, the X stoves (now part of the Coleman Xponent brand -— Peak 1 has gone to that big campground in the sky) aren't all that new — they've been around for four years now. And they're still among the best canister-fuel stoves on the market. A little heavy and bulky, compared to some of the new, ultralight models such as the Snow Peak Gigapower ($64), but very stable, easy to use, and hot burning. And they work well in cold weather, due to a propane/butane mix that is a little heavier on the propane than some competing fuels, plus a pre-heating coil that warms the gas before it hits the burner.

I've used several X stoves for years — the one-burner Xtreme ($75), and the two-burner Xpedition ($90). Overall, I think they perform exactly as advertised. The Xpedition in particular is brilliant, like having a foldable Viking range in the backcountry. It's perfect if you want to show a little backcountry cooking prowess, as you can simmer the sauce while boiling the pasta, or scramble the eggs while frying up the bacon (yum!). But it's probably too heavy (1 pound, 12 ounces) for most backpacking trips. Better to get the lighter Xtreme, or the slightly more stable but not-as-hot Xpert ($60).

One of the selling points of the X stoves, of course, is their recyclable cartridge. It's a fine idea, but marred slightly by the fact it results in a proprietary connection between the stove and canister, and the relatively high cost of the canisters. But if you can live with that, the stoves are great.