Camp Cooking Without the Chaos

Let me start by saying: I’ve never been a glamorous camper. My version of “outdoor cuisine” usually involves tearing into a granola bar with cold hands and pretending it’s rustic. I’ve burned things in pans, boiled pasta with twigs in it, and once made coffee that somehow tasted like hot dogs. So expectations were low when I packed the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp Stove for a weekend getaway.

Spoiler: I actually cooked real food. No one got food poisoning. I’m just as shocked as you are.

Day 1: The Setup (AKA “Wait, It Folds?”)

We were car camping—because let’s be real, I don’t backpack anything that weighs more than my sense of self-doubt. When I pulled out the stove, I had that brief IKEA-style panic moment… but then it literally unfolded like a little kitchen Transformer. No tools, no cursing. Just click, twist, boom—done.

It even nested into its own pot like some sort of camping Russian doll. I felt organized. I felt powerful. I felt like Gordon Ramsay in hiking boots.

The First Meal: Stir-Fry, but Make It Outdoors

The real test came at dinner. I attempted a vegetable stir-fry with rice. Ambitious, I know. Normally, I’d be frantically flipping mushrooms on a tiny burner while the rice turns into either mush or concrete.

But this thing has two burners. Two. It’s like the stove knew I was bad at multitasking and gave me a second chance at life.

One burner for rice, one for veggies, both with actual flame control—not just “off” or “volcano.” I was cooking. I wasn’t even swearing. I even had time to sip a beer while it simmered. It felt… civilized.

Pros, Cons, and Some Very Honest Thoughts

👍 What I Loved:

• It didn’t tip over (low bar, but still).

• I didn’t burn anything (miracle).

• The nonstick pan actually worked, even when I forgot to oil it.

• Fast boil time = fast coffee, which = less morning grumpiness.

• It looks cool. I don’t care if that’s shallow.

👎 What I Noticed:

• It’s not light. If you’re backpacking, maybe just eat trail mix and sadness.

• It’s… not cheap. But hey, neither is takeout—and this one doesn’t go cold on the drive.

• You have to pack it back into its nesting puzzle just right or it won’t zip. Like camping Tetris.

Final Verdict: Am I a Camp Chef Now?

Listen, I’m not saying I’m ready for a Food Network series called “Burnt on the Trail,” but I am saying this stove made me feel like I could feed people without fear. It was easy to use, fun to cook on, and made me feel slightly less like a feral woodland creature and more like a competent adult in a flannel.

So if you like good food, hate struggling with half-melted stoves, and enjoy the smug satisfaction of cooking eggs and toast at the same time outdoors—maybe give it a try.

Worst case, you can at least boil water with style.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve personally used and believe in.