Was wondering what everyone's opinion was regarding a two-burner stove (specifically, the Coleman Xpedition 2-burner) vs bringing two 1-burner stoves such as the WindPro or Optimus Stella?

I'm pretty set on using canister fuel. The stove or stoves would be primarily used to cook for two people. I was originally planning on just one single burner but I read a number of posts that recommend bringing a back-up. My impression is that it would be easier to pack the separate stoves but that the two-burner may be more stable for cooking.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

Steve

I have the Xpedition 2 burner and love it for even two people. Sometimes it's nice to have coffee on at the same time as something else. Even for two at breakfast, it's nice to heat up both ends of a rectangular griddle, cook all at once and be done with it! (We like our meat, taters, and eggs at least a morning or two. :) I don't think the fuel consumtion is bad either if you don't mess around too much. We bring 5 long cans of "powermax" for 6 days and always bring 1 full one back. We bring an esbit or pop can for emergency backup only. (I bring the expedition repair kit in case. Unopened so far, but less than 20 cans of fuel have gone thru it so far.

I have the Xpedition 2 burner stove you are talking about and really like it. My usual sources for Powermax are starting to dry up. This has me looking to find another Peak1 Multifuel(or newer Exponent Mutifuel) to pair up with one I already own so I have 2 identical stoves(for switching parts if needed). I like the idea of having 2 stoves that are the same. I am going back to white gas partly because you dont have the cold weather issues as you do with propne/butane stoves.
CB

We used one on a trip. It was pretty handy. Doesn't take up much room either. Unfortunately, the owner lost it in a garage fire and I'm not sure if he replaced it or not. I'd say 'go for it'

Gary

Well if your concern is having a back-up, why would a two-burner stove equal two single burners? The two-burner is still just one stove. If it goes out you still don't have a back up.

Take a nicer single burner with good stability like the Wind Pro; and then take a small back up, the kind that screws into the top of the canister.

I guess I was thinking if one of two burners failed on the Xpedition, you could still use the other burner.

Steve

The burners are adjusted independently on the Xpedition, leaving the fuel bottle connection the only part that would affect both burners IMO. I will look again tonight at ours. Like I said earlier, love the stove just getting harder to get fuel.
CB

I have the Xpedition 2 burner also, nice stove. Fortunately the local REI always has the Powermax cannisters. There is an adaptor available that allows use of the standard Lindel valve fuel cannisters. It's not the stove I take on trips, I just take a single burner white gas, been lucky so far in that it hasn't failed me.

Powermax adaptor

I did (one time) have a problem with the Powermax cannister. When I disconnected the fuel from the stove it didn't seal the cannister and fuel leaked out. I had to reconnect the fuel to the stove so that it wouldn't leak anymore, not a huge problem, but made me wonder.

Also an owner of the xpedition 2 burner. I like the stove, but on this years trip I couldn't get the canisters to seal after day 2. We ended up making it work but it was very touchy.

On the plus side, when I returned and called Coleman to get replacement parts, I found out the stove has a lifetime warranty. In 3 weeks I had a new stove sent to my door.