The Everest 2X is a beefier redux of the original Everest, where every aspect of the stove has been redesigned with durability and power in mind. With 20,000 BTUs and a three-sided — nearly seamless — windscreen, it performs impressively well in windy conditions. If heating ramen water on full blast isn't your scene, never fear because this stove can also accommodate low enough heat to simmer to your heart's content. It is uncommon for a car camping stove to boil water fast but also have the finesse to cook slow and low, which is why our review team was so impressed with this stove. While it is bigger, heftier, and a bit spendier than others in our review — we think it is worth these nominal drawbacks.
Performance Comparison
The beefed-up design of the Everest 2x provides more cook space, burlier latches, and an impressive windscreen.
Credit: Jared Ross
Time to Boil
To test boil time, we used the stove in our windless garage "lab" and timed how long it took to boil one quart of cold water. The Everest 2X took 3 minutes and 17 seconds to boil one liter of water in a tea kettle, which is among the fastest times in our review.
We were definitely impressed with the high power output of this stove. It boasts 20,000 BTUs per burner, which is an impressive amount of power. Whether you need an ultra-quick boil to crush your morning coffee or you plan to make dinner for a large crew, this stove has the power to keep up with any demand you may have.
The Everest 2x features high power, slightly recessed burners, and a near-seamless wind screen, which meant that the stove could boil water fast in and out of the wind, and also make stovetop espresso without an problem.
Credit: Mary Witlacil
Wind Resistance
The design team at Camp Chef deserves some serious kudos for the impressive wind resistance of the Everest 2X. For our purposes, we test this metric by using a box fan to generate 2-4 mph of constant "wind." We ensure the rate of wind by setting the burner to low, positioning the fan 20-30" from the stove, and measuring the wind with a pocket anemometer. We then record how long the stove takes to boil 1 liter of water in a tea kettle. This stove boiled one liter in 3 minutes 25 seconds, which is faster than many of the stoves in our review took to boil water without a fan.
In addition to measuring wind and windless boil times, we also determine how fuel-efficient each stove is by capturing data from our boil tests. The Everest 2X burned an average of 6.06% of a green propane fuel canister per boil test. In the windless test, it burned 25 grams (0.88 oz), and in the windy test, it burned 30 grams (1.05 oz). What does this mean? Compared to the other stoves in its class, it was the second most fuel-efficient among the tabletop models and the fastest to boil.
As you may have noticed, our review team was impressed with how well the Everest 2X performed in our wind resistance test, let alone how well it worked in windy environs in the backcountry. It performed well in this metric because it features a windscreen that offers nearly seamless protection from cross-winds, and the burners are slightly recessed in the stove body, affording even more protection from the wind. The stove provided flame consistency even in windy locations, ensuring that stir-fries, rice, curries, and fajitas were quickly and evenly cooked.
The beefy side latches double as wind-screen and stove-closure latches - lending more security and a tighter fit to the wind screen.
Credit: Mary Witlacil
Simmering Ability
You may have thought it wasn't possible to find a stove that could boil fast and also simmer, but the Everest 2X manages to do both shockingly well.
This unicorn of a stove features snug knobs, enabling you to better modulate the burner's temperature than on other stoves. Additionally, the thick design situates the cooking grate farther from the burner to allow for some extra heat diffusion. However, given the high BTUs, the space between the burners and cooking grate did not affect water boiling time or cause any issues when heating a stove-top espresso maker. Whether you plan to cook rice or a backcountry roux, this stove has the finesse to accommodate whatever culinary delights you can dream up.
Despite massive power output, the Camp Chef Everest 2x can sustain a low enough flame to slow cook an egg scramble to perfection.
Credit: Jared Ross
Ease of Set Up
Akin to other propane stoves in our review, the Everest 2X features a fairly intuitive and easy setup. You simply open the stove, latch the windscreens into place, attach the fuel regulator to the stove and your propane tank, engage the Piezo igniter and start cooking.
The Piezo igniter on the Everest 2X is among the best in our lineup, igniting consistently and with minimal effort. The latches that hold the windscreen in place double as the latches to close the stove and give the windscreen more stability than other models. However, over time, our review team has been disappointed with the integrity of the latches. You will want to keep pliers with you in case you need to bend these back in position to ensure you have sufficiently closed the stove.
One reason why tabletop propane stoves don't garner higher marks in this metric is that installing the fuel regulator requires more time and patience than attaching a butane fuel canister or a large propane tank to a preinstalled hose. This is because most propane stoves feature a recessed attachment point for the fuel regulator and can be easily cross-threaded (which can damage your regulator and/or stove). Our reviewers have found that if you position the regulator at the proper point and press firmly before screwing the threads in place, you will be less likely to cross-thread. That said, don't let the marginally more difficult setup process deter you; it is still quite intuitive and straightforward to affix the windscreens and install the regulator on this stove.
Set up for the Everest 2x is pretty easy, simply rock the lid open, swing the windscreen wings out and latch them in place, then install the regulator and propane tank. And voila.
Credit: Jared Ross
Ease of Care
With a stainless steel pan and a removable nickel-coated cooking grate, cleaning the Everest 2X is easy, whether in the field or at home.
The nickel-coated steel cooking grate lifts easily out of its footprint so you can wipe down the cooking surface after you are done. Our reviewers always keep a scouring pad in their kitchen kit to clean their stove and cooking grate, making spot-cleaning in the field super easy. Then, with the removable grate, you can scrub it down in a sink when/if you have access to running water in a home kitchen.
Caring for the Everest 2x in the backcountry is as easy as lifting the cooking grate and wiping down the stainless steel pan. Then, when you have access to running water, you can give it a more thorough cleaning in a kitchen sink.
Credit: Jared Ross
Portability
Even though the Everest 2X carries well, this is a metric where it performed lower than other models in our review. At 13.97 pounds, it is one of the heavier tabletop models, and with a packed size of 27" x 15.5" x 8.25", it doesn't steal the packability show.
While we maintain that the Everest 2X is an incredibly portable car camping stove, it is bulkier and heavier than others in our review. That being said, the recessed carrying handle on the back-side of the stove is among the most comfortable, and our reviewers were unbothered by its heft. When deciding whether this stove is right for you, it might behoove you to consider how much space you have in your camping kit for stove storage. If space is a concern, you may want to check out other models in our review, as this stove commands more space than most other models in our test suite. However, if you are looking for a high-performing stove and your rig can accommodate a bulky stove, then this might be the one for you.
Our lead reviewer, Mary Witlacil, demonstrates how easy it is to transport the Everest 2x.
Credit: Jared Ross
Value
Compared to the other stoves in our review, our reviewers think the Everest 2X delivers exceptional quality for the price. Many other stoves cost around the same price but score less favorably across the metrics in our review. While there are less expensive stoves on the market — and in our review — these stoves don't hold a flame to the power, durability, and simmering ability of this one. If you're able to foot the bill and have the space for this stove, then we cannot recommend it highly enough.
Conclusion
Whether blasting through coffee and oatmeal or simmering a delectable feast for your crew, the Camp Chef Everest 2X has the power and finesse to keep up. It boils water fast, in and out of the wind, provides ample wind protection, and carries well despite its weight and size. Our review team was dazzled enough by this stove to give it an Editors' Choice award, and if your kitchen kit can accommodate a relatively bulky stove, we're sure you'll be impressed by it as well.
Our review team loved cooking on the Everest 2x because it boasts high power, fast boil times, nimble simmering ability, unbeatable wind protection, durable design, and all for a reasonable price.
Credit: Jared Ross
