Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer Camping Stove Review

The Camp Chef EX60LW is a powerhouse when it comes to outdoor cooking, making it an excellent choice for river trips, tailgating, or stepping up as a trail angel. With impressive heat output and ample cooking space, it can handle everything from flipping burgers to simmering a large pot of rice—perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.

Among the camp stoves we’ve reviewed, this one ranks as one of the most powerful, producing an intense flame that delivers consistent, high-quality results. If you’re cooking for a large group, it’s hard to beat. That said, its biggest strength is also its biggest drawback—it’s heavy and bulky, making it less convenient to transport than some of its compact counterparts.

While the large frame is easy to clean, it doesn’t fold down for storage. The adjustable, removable legs and detachable windscreen help a little, but this stove still demands significant space in your vehicle. Plus, you’ll need to haul a propane tank along. If you drive a truck, that’s no problem—but for a Subaru packed with other camping gear, it might be a tight fit.

Despite its size, the Camp Chef EX60LW offers great value, especially for those who will use it beyond the campsite. Whether you need a backyard grill alternative or a tailgating companion, this stove is versatile, with plenty of Camp Chef attachments to customize your setup. It’s also a solid pick for extended camping trips, lasting a week or more.

How We Tested

We put this stove through its paces in multiple real-world scenarios. First, we packed it into our vehicle and took it to camp to evaluate portability. Then, we cooked burgers and rice to test heat control and consistency. Finally, in a controlled setting, we timed how long it took to boil a liter of water and measured fuel efficiency.

Power & Performance

When it comes to boil speed, the Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer doesn’t disappoint. It brought one liter of water to a rolling boil in just 6 minutes and 59 seconds, making it the second-fastest stove in our tests.

We were thoroughly impressed with its powerful, consistent flames. After preparing a full meal on this stove, it was clear that its high-output burners mean business. Even at medium heat, the flames wrapped around the pot, providing steady and efficient heat distribution.

If you need to boil large pots of water or cook for a big group, this stove is up to the task. Its intense heat output ensures that whether you’re making pasta, soups, or full-course camp meals, you won’t be left waiting.

Efficiency & Fuel Usage

The Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer is a powerhouse, boasting the highest BTU output of any stove on our list—a massive 30,000 BTUs per burner. But with that impressive power comes higher fuel consumption. In our tests, it took 3.2 ounces of propane to boil one liter of water, making it the least fuel-efficient stove in our camp stove guide.

During testing, we quickly realized just how intense the flames were. Using this stove for a small 10” pot or just a liter of water felt like overkill. Given its fuel demands, this stove shines in large-scale cooking—think a big pot of chili for ten rather than just boiling a quick cup of water.

If you’re cooking for a group and need a high-output stove that can handle large meals, the Camp Chef EX60LW is a solid choice. Just be sure to bring extra fuel for longer trips!

Cooking Performance

The Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer delivers a powerful, even flame that excels at cooking large portions with ease. Its fierce heat output and spacious 448-square-inch cooking surface make it an excellent choice for preparing meals for a crowd. Whether you’re simmering a pot of rice or searing burgers, this stove gets the job done.

Despite its intense flames, we were pleasantly surprised by its ability to cook rice to a soft, fluffy texture, even on lower heat settings. However, when using a boxed mix that included dried red beans, we found that while the rice cooked perfectly, the beans remained slightly underdone—something other stoves in our guide handled a bit better.

To test heat distribution, we cooked two burger patties in a pan. Thanks to the large flame wrapping around the pan, both burgers developed a nice, even sear, confirming that this stove provides consistent, reliable heat.

If you need a high-powered stove that can handle big meals with even cooking, the Camp Chef EX60LW won’t disappoint!

Portability

If you’re looking for a highly portable stove, the Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer isn’t it. With large burners, a bulky frame, and the need for a 20-pound propane tank, this stove is more of a stationary setup than a grab-and-go option.

That said, it does have a few features that help with transport. The legs and windscreen are removable, and the legs even come with a separate storage bag. We also appreciated that the fuel attachment stays connected to the stove, so there’s no risk of misplacing it. Still, these conveniences don’t make up for its overall size and weight.

To put it bluntly, this stove was a hassle to pack. We drive a Subaru, and like many campers, we fill every inch of available space. Since the Camp Chef doesn’t fold, we had to squeeze all 34 inches of it into the back, alongside our other gear. The propane tank only made things worse, eating up precious cargo space.

Once at camp, it took us three trips just to haul the stove, legs, windscreen, and propane out of the car. Packing up was an even bigger headache—we forgot to leave space for the propane tank, which meant unpacking and repacking everything like a frustrating game of Tetris.

If you have plenty of room in your vehicle and don’t mind a bulkier setup, this stove is still a solid option. But if portability is a priority, there are much easier-to-pack alternatives.

Ease of Use

The Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to ease of use. While assembly was straightforward, and the fuel line was easy to attach, a few design quirks made using it a little less convenient.

Setup & Assembly

Putting the stove together was relatively painless. The legs slid on smoothly, and while it’s easier with two people, it wasn’t a struggle. The windscreen also attached effortlessly, which was a nice touch.

One big plus was that the fuel line stays connected to the stove, so there’s one less part to keep track of. Hooking up the propane tank was quick and hassle-free. However, this stove lacks a built-in ignition switch, meaning you’ll need to bring a lighter. It’s not a deal-breaker, but after hauling a 20-pound propane tank into camp, the last thing we wanted was to remember yet another item just to fire it up.

Cooking Experience

The flame intensity was another factor that made this stove feel a bit high-maintenance. It cooked our meals fast and efficiently, but the fierce flames constantly licked the sides of our pans—even when set to low. With other stoves, we feel comfortable multitasking—setting up a tent, tossing a ball for the dog, or flipping through a book while food simmers. With this one, we felt like we had to stay close and keep an eye on it at all times.

Design & Convenience

One thing we loved was the stand-alone design, which freed up our camp table for prep work. Cleaning was also a breeze thanks to its open, no-fuss layout. However, that same open design meant there was nowhere to rest a spatula or utensils, which was a minor annoyance when cooking.

Overall, the Camp Chef EX60LW is simple to set up and powerful to cook with, but it requires constant attention and a bit of extra gear (like a lighter and a place to rest your cooking tools). If you’re okay with that, it’s a solid, high-output stove—just be prepared to stay close while it’s running!

Is the Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer the Right Stove for You?

The Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer is an excellent choice—but only for the right type of camper. Designed with tailgating and group cooking in mind, this stove is all about power, speed, and capacity. If you’re cooking for large groups, setting up basecamp for a week or longer, or need a reliable, high-output stove to pair with a full propane tank, this model is a solid investment.

However, this isn’t the stove for everyone. Solo campers, small groups, or those who prioritize portability will likely find it too bulky and excessive. If your car space is limited, a more compact cooking setup would be a better fit. And if you typically stick to simple, one-pot meals, this stove’s size and power will feel like overkill.

For big groups, multi-course meals, and extended camping trips, the Explorer 2 Burner delivers. But if you’re after something lightweight and packable, you might want to explore other options.

Other Camp Stoves to Consider

If the Camp Chef EX60LW Explorer isn’t quite the right fit, here are some great alternatives that cater to different camping and cooking needs:

Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Camp Stove : If versatility is what you’re after, this stove delivers. It features a burner and a slatted grill, plus the option for a flat-top griddle, giving you more cooking flexibility for whipping up a variety of camp meals.

Blackstone Original 17″ Tabletop Griddle with Hood : If you love griddle-style cooking, this compact, high-capacity griddle is a great choice. With its large cooktop surface, it’s perfect for pancakes, burgers, and stir-fry, making it a favorite for campers who want to cook big meals with ease.

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System : This is one of the most portable double-burner stoves we’ve tested. It’s powerful, efficient, and quick-cooking, making it an excellent option for campers who need a compact, high-performance stove that doesn’t take up much space.