User Review: Coleman Xtreme Powermax Stove

Coleman Xtreme Powermax Stove
Above: The current Xtreme Powermax Stove, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed August 25, 2006 by Éric G.

Rating: rated 4 of 5 stars
Price Paid: Can't remember

I'm not really a review guy.. sorry. But I felt compelled to write this.

I've had this stove for almost 7 years now and it always performed flawlessly. I'm both a backpacker and an expedition kayaker up here in Canada. The stove went from extreme marine environment to january -30° winter outings without one moment of hesitation. Simmers beautifully but requires a wind screen to be consistent at low power. Then again, all stoves require wind screens to be truly effective. There is a time lag when adjusting the flame (the control knob is at the canister, not at the burner). So, don't bring it down too fast, it could die out on you.

The fuel could be hard to come by if you're out in the regions. I'm in Montreal and have plenty of retailers that carry the powerMax fuel, so, it's a non issue for me. But it should be taken into consideration.

At 13 and some ounces, it's a bit on the heavy side. It's a trade off for a stove that has the capacity to handle big pots and quite a few hungry team mates. I do have the Snow Peak Giga Power for my easy condition, light hiking trips, but, unless you have something like the Markhill Stove base adapter which permits to turn the canister upside down and transforms it into a liquid feed stove, it's pretty much useless in cold weather (as all pressurized canister stove are). The Xtreme is a liquid feed to begin with, thus the great cold weather performance.

Do keep an eye on the little rubber "O" ring that seals the canister to the stove. Carry some extra if you plan on being out for long. It's the only part that's susceptible to loss and/or wear. Resist the temptation to leave the canister hooked up over night. It puts useless wear on that little gasket. You might also want to tie the "green key" to the bag somehow. Although it's a good idea, it's also very easy to loose (a tent stake does the job of piercing the empty canister so it can be squished flat).

So, all in all, all the advantages of a liquid fuel stove plus all the advantages of a canister stove; not a bad deal!

Éric G.

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