Bottom Line
Folded up, the double-burner ONTOMYO BRS-32 is more compact than most of the single burners in our camping stoves gear guide. It stashes in a zippered carrying case, packing down small enough to bring on a plane. At 2 pounds, 9.6 ounces, this is also the lightest stove we reviewed – one-burner models included.
Though it doesn’t have the best cooking ability, it’s easy to whip up a variety of simple camp meals with this functional stove. With two burners, we boiled water for pasta while sautéing veggies and heating sauce at the same time.
The BRS-32 lacks windscreens and an auto-ignitor. The flame control dials are also a little confusing to use – they’re located at the end of the fuel line instead of directly beneath the burners. We turned off the wrong burner more than once, although it does get more intuitive with time. Overall, we think it’s a great choice for space- and price-conscious campers and travelers.
How We Tested
We tested this stove throughout six weeks of car camping in the Desert Southwest. We boiled pasta and sautéed veggies, attempted to cook pancakes, and measured its boiling speed. During our testing period, we encountered a range of weather conditions, including wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour in Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas.
Quick Specs
ONTOMYO BRS-32
Most Packable Camping Stove
CleverHiker Rating: 4.4/5.0
Price: $60
Weight: 2 lb. 9.6 oz.
Boil Time: 5:53
Fuel Efficiency: 0.6 oz.
Number of Burners: 2
BTUs (per burner): 6,000
Fuel Type: Butane
Pros
- Extremely packable
- Affordable
- Convenient carrying case
Cons
- Uneven cooking due to small burners
- No wind guards
- No auto-ignitor
Power
The ONTOMYO BRS-32 stove is small but mighty. Even though its power output is on the lower end, it still managed to boil a liter of water quite fast. We conducted our boil test in a wind-protected area on a calm day, and the BRS-32 managed to boil water in just under 6 minutes. When we attempted to use this stove on a windy night, however, a gust actually extinguished the burners within 30 seconds.
Efficiency
The ONTOMYO BRS-32 landed among our top performers for efficiency during our water boil test. It only used about 0.6 ounces of butane to boil a liter of water. For comparison, one other stove in our testing matched the BRS-32, while one (the Snow Peak Home & Camp Burner) slightly outperformed it, using 0.4 ounces of fuel to boil 1 liter of water.
Again, however, the BRS-32’s efficiency decreases significantly in wind. This minimalist stove has essentially no wind protection and is vulnerable to gusts. Also, since this stove uses butane, it would boil less efficiently than a propane stove as temperatures drop below freezing.
Cooking Ability
The BRS-32’s cooking ability is impressive when you consider how light and packable it is. Having two burners makes it easier to cook more complex meals with multiple components, and this stove is lighter than all of the single-burner stoves on our list.
Compared with some of the more traditional double-burner stoves, however, the BRS-32’s cooking ability lags behind. Though we were able to successfully simmer rice, it was a tiny bit crunchier than the fluffy grains produced by the Camp Chef Everest 2X.
The small burners also made pancakes more difficult to cook. When we attempted to make two pancakes at the same time, the insides of the pancakes that were closer to the flame burned, while the outsides remained raw. Despite these drawbacks, simple meals like pasta with sauce and veggies or mac and cheese are totally doable.
Portability
This collapsible stove is one of the only options on our list that we’d opt to take on an airplane. When it’s folded up and zipped into its carrying case, this double burner packs down to an impressive 2.6 inches by 11.8 inches by 3.7 inches. This is just as small as – and even lighter than – the most compact single-burner stoves we tested.
As far as weight goes, the BRS-32 was the lightest option we tested at 2 pounds, 9.6 ounces. Next in line was the one-burner Snow Peak Home & Camp Burner at 3 pounds. Overall, this extremely light and compact stove could be a good option for an international roadtrip. It may even work well for an expedition basecamp, especially for a group using a wind-protected cook tent.
Ease of Use
Even with its unique design, the ONTOMYO BRS-32 is pretty easy to use. The burners unfold and snap easily into place, and the fuel line screws on to connect to a bottle of butane.
One thing we found tricky was remembering which flame-control dial belonged to which burner. The dials are located at the end of the fuel line and sit on top of the fuel bottle, rather than being intuitively located beneath the burners. We ended up accidentally turning off the wrong burner more than once, though this is probably something you get used to. There is also no auto-ignitor, so you have to use a lighter or matches to get the burners going.
Should You Buy the ONTOMYO BRS-32 ?
The ONTOMYO BRS-32 is impressively packable, especially for a stove with two burners. For those looking for decent cooking ability on an international trip or car campers with limited storage space, this collapsible double burner packs a surprising punch.
Camp chefs who love to plan elaborate menus should consider one of the higher-performing double burners on our list. The ONTOMYO BRS-32’s cooking ability is adequate, but classic tabletop designs with windscreens and larger burners are better for precise simmering and maintaining even heat.
What Other Camp Stoves Should You Consider?
If the BRS-32 isn’t quite what you’re looking for, check out the three alternatives below, or head to our camping stoves gear guide for more options.
Snow Peak Home & Camp Burner Review: Though it sacrifices a burner, this Snow Peak stove more than makes up for it in performance. It’s about as compact and light as the BRS-32, but its cooking ability is superior despite the reduced space.
Gas One GS-3400P Review: This is another compact option that’s slightly heavier than the BRS-32. Using either propane or butane, the GS-3400P is reliable and easy to use. Beginners and experienced camp chefs alike will appreciate its intuitive design.
Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Review: This complete cook system from Jetboil is a tad bigger than the ONTOMYO stove, but it includes a pot and pan that the stove nests inside. It also has an attachable windscreen and is compatible with propane.
