Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

Jetboil reigns supreme when it comes to compact and efficient stoves for backpackers, but a few years ago, they decided to jump into the 2 burner stove market in a big way. The Jetboil Genesis 2 Burner Stove takes everything you know about camping stoves and flips it on its head.

Until now, camp stoves have either been ultralight single burner units that work best for boiling water and rehydrating freeze dried food, or dual burner briefcase style setups that cook like an at home gas range, but are really only useful for car camping and tailgating.

With a unique design that prioritizes low packed weight and precise heat output, the Genesis combines the portability of a backpacking stove with two full-sized burners that practically beg you to whip up something more adventurous than your usual freeze dried meals-in-a-bag. Ultralight backpackers may balk at the idea, but for some campers, this might be the perfect way to cook outdoors.

So, in the name of better backcountry dining, we took one out for a spin to see how it actually works in the wild.

Use Case

This stove is pretty unique, which also means that it’s not for everyone.

If you’re a backpacker that’s focused on base weight, this stove, plus the associated gear to complete your cooking system, will come with a significant weight penalty. So will the unprocessed food and fresh produce that you’ll be packing to enjoy the full benefits of a dual burner. Unless you can split cooking supplies across multiple people’s packs, this stove won’t make the cut.

Also, if you only ever plan to cook on your tailgate, there’s really not a compelling reason to get this over a briefcase style dual burner stove.

The Genesis shines if you want to cook real meals more than a few hundred feet from your car. Unlike a briefcase-style dual burner, the Genesis easily fits inside a pack. In that regard, the compact size is an even bigger advantage than the weight savings.

That makes this a must-have if you want to make homestyle meals in the backcountry, especially if you’re cooking for a group.

Features

Simmer Control

Offering a maximum of 10,000 BTUs per burner, each burner is metered by its own dial that gives you four full turns of adjustability. That translates into precision adjustments, from simmer to sear, and everything in between.

Clamshell Design

The folding design of the Genesis is the critical feature that truly sets it apart from other camp stoves. Packing down to just 9.5 x 4.5”, it easily fits into smaller packs. Plus, setup only takes a few seconds, and it could hardly be easier.

Jetlink Output

Since it is compatible with any JetLink system via the JetLink Accessory Hose, you can also link this stove to other compatible burners, allowing you to fuel your entire cooking system off a single fuel source. This makes it handy for camping trips with larger groups or for cooking multiple dishes.

At the Campsite

At first glance, this camp stove looks a little like something you’d expect to see in a futuristic, camp-based television series. The folding design gives it a unique look that doesn’t really register as a camp stove.

Upon first use, we loved the small size and the easy-to-setup construction which simply consisted of undoing two rubber straps that keep the clamshell closed during transport. Similarly, since it works with any standard one-pound propane bottle or with a large propane tank using the 20 LB Propane Hose (sold separately), there’s nothing special required to get set up and get cooking. That’s a huge advantage, as it means you can find fuel almost anywhere.

Once we got some veggies in the pan, we immediately appreciated the range of adjustability that this stove offers. That said, it does take a little getting used to. Since you have such a large range of adjustability, it may take some testing to figure out exactly how hot the stove is.

We were surprised that boiling two cups of water felt a little slow, even at full blast. So, we put it to the test. With four different camp stoves all clocking in at 10,000 BTUs we timed how long it took to boil two cups of water at room temperature.

Jetboil Genesis - 1 minute, 58 seconds

Eureka Spire LX - 2 minutes, 1 second

Eureka Ignite - 1 minute, 29 seconds

MSR Pocket Rocket - 1 minute, 24 seconds

All things considered, it’s only a thirty second difference between the fastest boil time with the Pocket Rocket and the Genesis, but when you consider that that’s almost 25% of the overall boil time, it is noticeable.

While that is a small setback for the Genesis, the true challenge was cooking in the wind. Wind is the constant enemy of efficient outdoor cooking, and this is doubly true for the Genesis. Although it includes an attachable windshield for the stove, it’s not especially effective at actually blocking wind, which translates into longer cook times.

All of that said, it cooked up a delicious camp meal of veggies, couscous, and sausage in about half an hour, even with the wind. That’s something we simply couldn’t do with our Jetboil MiniMo.

What We Like

• Portability: You won’t find a better 2-burner camp stove when it comes to portability and packed size. In that regard, the Genesis really is in a league of its own.
• Heat Adjustability: With plenty of fine tuning, you avoid the pitfall of many camp stoves, which only offer two heat settings, too hot and way too hot. This means you can cook delicate dishes without fear of ruining them.
• Easy To Clean: The grates are easily removed by pinching them at the base and pulling outward, leaving you with a tool-free clean up once you’re back home.

What Could Be Improved

• Overall Heat Output: The ability to simmer certain foods is great, but having to wait around for your water to boil for coffee is a real buzz-kill. It would be nice if the Genesis boiled water as fast as some of the alternatives.
• Windscreen: While the clamshell design is great for packability, it does very little to block the wind. In terms of wind-blocking abilities, the included plastic windscreen leaves a lot to be desired.
• Price: With a price tag of $259.95, this is not an inexpensive camp stove. If you don’t need the packability, there are more affordable options in the traditional briefcase style that work great. For example, Jetboil’s sister company, Eureka, sells a different 2-burner stove, the Ignite Camp Stove, which will get you the same cooking power as the Genesis, for less than half of that price.

Conclusion

There are plenty of reasons to love this stove, but that doesn’t make it right for everyone.

If you’re looking for a dedicated car camping stove, there are other great 2-burner options out there, like the Eureka Ignite and Eureka Ignite Plus, which offer the same cooking power for less.

On the other hand, if you’re sick of freeze-dried camp meals and want to cook homestyle meals miles away from the nearest trailhead, the Jetboil Genesis is second to none.

And, in case you want to customize, the Genesis also comes in a single burner design with the Jetboil Halfgen or the Genesis Basecamp System (which comes with a 5-liter Fluxpot, 10” fry pan, and a system carry bag), giving you plenty of options to match your needs.

About Campman

Campman is an outdoor retail store located in Salt Lake City, Utah, that specializes in gear and equipment for camping, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and everything in between. We understand that the difference between a bad memory and the adventure of a lifetime can come down to the gear you take with you when you head outdoors, and we want our customers to have the best experiences possible. When it comes to getting outside, we get it, and we’ll get you the gear you need to get there.

About the Author

Dan Goodman

Most of the year, Dan can be found chasing the best climbing conditions he can get his hands on, and in the dead of winter, he’ll settle for chasing powder on his snowboard. He’s constantly seeking out better gear, testing new climbing shoes, backpacks, sleeping bags, and more to make his life in the outdoors a bit more comfortable. When he’s not outside putting his gear to good use, he’s writing about the products that he knows best.