The Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) is our best hot tent camping stove pick, and it scored 87 out of 100 in our testing.
A heavy duty steel workhorse that puts out serious heat and shrugs off years of hard camp use.
A thick gauge steel cylinder stove with a roughly 46 liter firebox, built to heat a wall tent and last, with parts that nest inside for transport.
Here's the deal:
We tested it head to head against the other top tent stoves, and below we break down how it did on Value, Heat Output, Durability, Ease of Use, Versatility, where it falls short, and whether it is worth your money.
Best Hot Tent Camping Stove
Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium)
- Material: 10 and 12 gauge steel
- Reinforcement: 1 x 1 in angle iron
- Firebox: about 46 liters
- Air control: Door damper
- Storage: Pipe, legs, rack nest inside
- Door: Reinforced, tight fit
- Best tent size: Wall tent
Bottom Line : A heavy duty steel workhorse that puts out serious heat and shrugs off years of hard camp use.
Pros
- Strong even heat
- 10 and 12 gauge steel will not warp
- Parts nest inside for transport
- Proven multi year longevity
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy base camp only
- Overkill for small tents
Our Verdict: Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium)
A heavy duty steel workhorse that puts out serious heat and shrugs off years of hard camp use.
A thick gauge steel cylinder stove with a roughly 46 liter firebox, built to heat a wall tent and last, with parts that nest inside for transport.
So, is it any good?
The roughly 46 liter firebox and heavy steel body throw strong, even heat for a large tent.
A door damper controls temperature and burn rate, and reviewers praise the intake airflow when cranking heat.
This thing is a furnace and the steel has not moved after a lot of hot fires. It is a beast to lift though, so it never leaves the truck to camp distance.
James, Top-Notch field tester
Reasons to buy:
- Strong even heat
- 10 and 12 gauge steel will not warp
- Parts nest inside for transport
- Proven multi year longevity
Reasons to avoid:
- Expensive
- Heavy base camp only
- Overkill for small tents
Our Analysis, Comparisons, and Test Results
The Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) scored 87 out of 100 overall.
It is strongest on heat output and weakest on value.
Here is how it did on every metric we tested, with exactly how each score compares to the rest of the field.
Value
It is a premium priced stove, closer to the Winnerwell tier than the budget units.
Owners report units still going strong after well over a decade, which spreads the cost thin.
One buyer said the Medium Spruce build quality beat anything else at the price and they would buy again.
| Value | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) | 6/10 |
| Category average | 7.3/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Heat Output
The roughly 46 liter firebox and heavy steel body throw strong, even heat for a large tent.
A door damper controls temperature and burn rate, and reviewers praise the intake airflow when cranking heat.
You might be wondering:
A better door fit lets you close it down effectively at night to stretch a load.
| Heat Output | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) | 9/10 |
| Category average | 7.2/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Durability
It is built from 10 gauge and 12 gauge steel reinforced with 1 by 1 inch angle iron so it will not warp.
A reinforced top and door further guard against warping under repeated high heat.
Long term owners report units from as far back as 2009 still in service.
It is heavier than most rivals here, the trade for that toughness.
| Durability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) | 9/10 |
| Category average | 7.1/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Ease of Use
The pipe, legs and rack store inside the cylinder for transport, so it packs into itself.
A superior opening handle and door system make loading and adjusting simple.
Its weight makes it a base camp stove rather than something you pack far.
| Ease of Use | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 9/10 |
| Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) | 7/10 |
| Category average | 7.1/10 |
| Worst in test | 5/10 |
Versatility
The flat cylinder top and included rack handle serious camp cooking.
It is aimed squarely at wall tents and hunting base camps rather than lightweight travel.
It runs long overnight capable burns for a warm morning, within safe attended use.
| Versatility | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best in test | 8/10 |
| Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) | 7/10 |
| Category average | 7.2/10 |
| Worst in test | 6/10 |
Should You Buy the Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium)?
A heavy duty steel workhorse that puts out serious heat and shrugs off years of hard camp use.
It is best suited to wall tent hunters who want maximum heat and a stove that outlives the tent.
Bottom line?
The big win: Strong even heat.
The main compromise: Expensive.
We scored it 87 out of 100.
What Other Tent Stoves Should You Consider?
Not sold on this one? A few others from our testing are worth a look.
The Winnerwell Nomad Medium Tent Stove is our overall best wall tent stove. The stove to buy if you want one that lasts a decade of hard use and you can stomach the price.
The VEVOR Stainless Steel Camping Wood Stove is our best camping tent stove. The best value pick, a stainless stove with a big kit for a fraction of the premium brands.
The Guide Gear Large Outdoor Wood Burning Stove is our best military tent stove. A big cheap stove that can heat a large tent, but poor sealing and airflow make it a project out of the box.
Specifications
| Material | 10 and 12 gauge steel |
| Reinforcement | 1 x 1 in angle iron |
| Firebox | about 46 liters |
| Air control | Door damper |
| Storage | Pipe, legs, rack nest inside |
| Door | Reinforced, tight fit |
| Best tent size | Wall tent |
Conclusion: Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium)
After testing it against the other top tent stoves, the Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) earns its place as our best hot tent camping stove pick.
Its standout strength: Strong even heat.
Still deciding?
The main thing to weigh before you buy: Expensive.
If you want wall tent hunters who want maximum heat and a stove that outlives the tent, it belongs at the top of your shortlist.
Still comparing? See exactly where the Colorado Cylinder Stove (Medium) ranks against the full field in our 10 Best Tent Stoves guide.
