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Camp Chef Outdoor Oven vs. Coleman Camp Oven: Which Should You Choose?

We’re not sure who was the first to think of creating a gas-powered camping oven, but we wholeheartedly salute their genius. Partly because we appreciate “it’s just crazy enough to work” ideas, and partly because that concept ultimately led to the incredible products we’re comparing today: the Camp Chef Outdoor Oven and the Coleman Camp Oven. Whether you live to pursue the call of the open wilderness or simply want to enhance your backyard camping experience, these are a few of the most popular outdoor ovens on the market.

Today, our goal is to help you choose which camping oven best fits your outdoor living needs. (Full disclosure, though: Camp Chef’s model is available at BBQGuys, while the Coleman oven isn’t.) Our Camp Chef oven vs. Coleman oven comparison will walk you through all the major factors at play in this decision, from size and portability to cooking versatility and durability in the elements. By laying out all the facts for you, with our 20-plus years of industry expertise adding context where needed, it’s our hope that the question of the Camp Chef oven or the Coleman oven will become clearer than a wide-open horizon.

Brand Overview & History

Camp Chef Oven vs. Coleman Oven: Key Differences

You’re familiar with both brands; now let’s get to the camp ovens at hand. It’s worth noting upfront that the Camp Chef oven and Coleman oven have extremely different designs despite performing the same main function. These contrasting approaches to the modern camp oven are apparent in virtually every aspect of their quality, performance, and features, not to mention the ultra-important factor of portability. Let’s run down the most important differences between the Coleman oven and Camp Chef oven so you can shop — and camp — with greater confidence.

• Fuel Source

  Like many outdoor cooking appliances, the Camp Chef Outdoor Oven operates using 1-lb. propane canisters that don’t add much heft to your camp packs. The Coleman Camp Oven, on the other hand, doesn’t directly accept propane fuel and can function only if placed flatly (there isn’t an opening to worry about) on an existing propane camp stove or burner. Its dependent design has major implications for this entire comparison, from the need to pack and transport additional appliances to how efficiently the oven cooks. The main takeaway here, though, is that the Camp Chef oven can be used on its own, whereas the Coleman oven needs to be paired with another outdoor cooker.

• Size & Portability

  Camp Chef’s oven weighs 32 lbs. while measuring 25” in depth, 15” in width, and 18” in height; the Coleman oven registers 7 lbs. on the scale and comes in at 12” deep, wide, and tall. Coleman also uses a collapsible design so the unit can be stored and packed flatly, making the oven more compact in addition to its lightweight frame. That being said, this isn’t a totally fair comparison because you’ll have to tote a separate burner or stove to even use the Coleman Camp Oven. And while the stand-alone Camp Chef model has a larger footprint, it includes convenient carrying handles and is far more versatile — not to mention durable — than its Coleman counterpart.

• Cooking Versatility

  The Coleman oven sacrifices cooking flexibility by nature of its design: it works only when placed on another burner, meaning you have to choose between the oven and the stove every time you cook. Camp Chef’s stand-alone oven not only spares you that decision, but also offers both options in a single cooker, meaning you have less gear to store, pack, and transport! Above the 3,000-BTU oven sits a pair of 7,500-BTU brass range burners, while the oven has 2 racks — allowing you to cook 4 items at once between the oven and stove burners. As for the Coleman oven, it features only 1 rack that can be set to any of 3 heights as needed, and we can’t compare BTUs because it’s an accessory that can’t be used on its own.

• Ease of Use

  Cooking shouldn’t be a headache after a long day on the trail, so the Camp Chef comes ready for effortless use. It features matchless ignition for simple startup, 3 fully adjustable knobs (1 for the oven and each top burner) to easily control temperatures, and a built-in oven thermometer so you can track cooks. More importantly, though, the Camp Chef oven is easy to use because it’s independently controlled. Contrast this with the Coleman, which is designed to absorb heat from a separate cooker. That means inconsistent performance, longer response times to temperature changes, and greater difficulty dialing in desired heat. Even with an easy-to-read door thermometer, the Coleman oven can be challenging to use.

• Build Quality

  As someone who thrives in the elements, it’s important that your camp cooker has that same strength. Outdoor longevity comes down to quality of materials, and the Camp Chef Outdoor Oven has a clear leg up with durable stainless steel construction. Coleman, meanwhile, opts for collapsible aluminized steel, which is more lightweight but also more vulnerable to wear and tear over repeated use. Its cooking rack is made of steel, while the Camp Chef model uses stainless steel for its baking racks and durable cast enamel for its top burner grates. Finally, both brands offer a 1-year limited warranty on their camping ovens.

• Extra Features

  Not that most campers want to navigate a suite of bells and whistles after an active day, but the right quality-of-life features can make you feel like you’re cooking in your home kitchen. The Camp Chef oven sees to that with a folding lid that serves as a 3-sided windscreen for the stove burners, plus a glass oven door so you can monitor cooks without releasing precious heat. All the Coleman oven offers is a locking knob to help with heat retention, and it notably lacks a glass door for checking food at a glance — remember, heat lost from opening the oven takes longer to recover because it uses an external heat source.

A Closer Look at the Camp Chef Oven

Final Considerations

We’ve finally reached the end of the trail, giving you plenty to consider during our journey together. Before we part ways, though, we should leave you with a few main takeaways if you’re still not sure which camp oven appeals more to you.

The biggest consideration by far is that the Camp Chef Outdoor Oven is a self-sufficient, multi-purpose cooker that allows campers to use an oven as well as range burners, while the Coleman Camp Oven is more or less an accessory to be paired with another stove burner. Their respective designs, not to mention the materials used in construction, explain the differences in portability and cost; with either model, you’re truly getting what you pay for. None of this is to belittle the Coleman oven, which was state-of-the-art at the time of its design. The Camp Chef model simply takes advantage of newer material, technology, and usability features.

Now that we mention it, there’s really no need for us to part just yet. We have a team of experts ready and willing to field any questions you have about the products discussed here, as well as others found across our site. Give them a call at 1-866-919-1917 if you need something cleared up — or if you’re ready to make the leap into a new outdoor adventure.

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