We placed the 400 ST on top of our kitchen unit, without the normal windshield, and the stove boiled water in about the same time you would expect at home. Considering this was outside, we thought that was quite good. And please do read the warning that follows. Some cheaper versions of these stoves can explode or set on fire. We’ve been getting a stream of scary stories from readers since posting Jim’s warning (see next). The side-tables take a bit of fixing into place with wing-nuts and we wouldn’t trust them with anything very heavy – certainly not a large saucepan of food. The fabric shelf needs to be fitted as it adds stability to the legs. There’s still quite a bit of wobble, though. A breeze can blow the heat away from the pan, which then takes longer to cook, and therefore uses more fuel.

The whole units folds down neatly with the sturdy integrated lid protecting the stove and forming a robust carry case for easy tranport and storage. This camping stove unit is ideal for table or kitchen top usage and features ultra stable table-top supports that also lift the stove up to avoid work surface damage. Need it in a hurry? We are also able to offer before 12 noon and Saturday delivery services. See here for information on these services Run time for the stove and grill is quoted at 7hr 30mins which is obviously dependant on the size of bottle and type of fuel you opt for (butane and propane options). Either way it should be plenty to get you through a week's camping and perhaps more. Steer clear of the double-canister Popamazing stoves – a fault on the connection could make them dangerous. Also, don’t bother with the Campingaz Bistro 300 – very low on gas power and the plastic parts melt far too easily. The Campingaz 400 ST Double Burner & Grill employs the very latest Xcelerate technology for a fast, efficient boil time, cutting gas consumption by half and saving you lots of money in the process!When it came to using the 1200w infra-red grill we were surprised to find a tiny grill pan, just big enough for one paltry slice of bread - slightly bizarre considering the width of the stove. This could prove to be a deal breaker if you really like toast or prefer to grill your food rather than fry it.

We've long been a user of just a simple single-hob gas canister stove. We do a lot of cooking over the campfire, so the stove is mainly to just boil the kettle.Our main gripe is with the windshield/lid, which is held in place by one very small catch that slips into a tiny groove. Why they didn’t put one on the other side to make the lid less wobbly, we’ve no idea. It tends to give the cooker an unstable feel. The design is tried and tested, but, as with all gas stoves when camping, suffers from one problem... Wind

Putting windshields around your stove can reduce time to boil, and save a lot on fuel. Xcelerate Technology

Campingaz® Party Grill 600 Legs (5010003838) Genuine

Campingaz make the Bistro. And there are lots of other brands that are nigh-on identical. There are also a lot of very cheap and potentially dangerous variants.