Volcano 2 Collapsible Grill/Stove, Portable Camping Charcoal or Wood Cooker, Folding Outdoor Grill with Carrying Case, 13" Cooking Surface, Compact Steel Camp Cooker for Tailgating Backyard Use

I already owned a Volcano II stove before purchasing this one. This time, I purchased the Volcano II stove with the propane option (yes, I know I could have only purchased the propane option itself, but I wanted the second stove). The Volcano II stove can use wood, charcoal, or propane to heat the food. This is a well-built, sturdy stove. It is not light, so it's probably not the right choice for backpackers. However, for those who want a sturdy, well-functioning stove for emergency preparedness, or something they can pop in the car for a trip to the beach, this is the right stove for you. I read one claim where a full meal can be cooked on a Volcano II stove with only 15 briquettes. Guess what? It worked! With the oxygen control lever, you can control the heating intensity vs length of burn. I was able to cook a full 12" Dutch oven full of apple crisp with only 15 briquettes! Thanks to the retracting legs, you can set the stove on almost any surface while cooking. In my case, I set it up on one of my small folding tables you can buy at Wal-Mart or Target. I cooked the meal on the table without any problem or discoloration of the table itself. Setting up is simple - lift the unit by the handle and the legs come down. When you're done, simply wipe out the remaining ashes, then lift it by the base and the legs retract. Couldn't be easier. This is not the type of stove you want to have when you're tailgating or inviting the neighborhood over to sample your steaks. The grill is way too small for something like that. However, when your family wants a steak, use the Volcano II. You can cook a couple of steaks at a time without any problem. This is a terrific, well-built, heavy duty stove that's well worth the money.

I have looked for a small and well made grill for years. I've had several Weber's and a Lodge and some hibachis but they either fall apart or just don't work that well. My main complaint has been the inability to get the coals close enough to to the grill to get some extreme heat - the kind that works best for most everything. This little gem has blown me away with it's smart design. It collapses and expands, it has two levels for the charcoal with the upper being only inches away from the grill, it has great flow and consistent heat. My research showed it was popular with the prepper crowd and while I think of them as generally crazy they do know durable multifunctional gear. This thing rocks. The grill fits perfectly on the top so it doesn't slide - smart. It is very efficient with lump charcoal (don't use briquettes - yuck) and it's also proven to work great with wood as well. My only regret is that I didn't buy the oven cover as well although I did buy the planchet/griddle which is fantastic. It does double duty as my new pizza stone in our home oven and once the cover shows up I'm going to try my hand at pizza while camping. It's capable of some very serious heat which really opens up the doors to what you can do. Another great benefit is that it stays cool under the grill (as least while using the upper coal tray) so it can be set on a table and not worry about ruining the surface. We cook pancakes, bacon, eggs and potatoes on the griddle and steaks and burgers on the grill and I like it so much more than my Weber that I've pretty much retired it save for when we're cooking for a larger group. Perhaps the only downside is the size but I consider it a bonus. The surface is enough space to cook for four or five people which suits our family perfectly. We keep it in our RV now and use it to cook most all our meals while we travel. It's also doing the job at home when I need more heat than the Weber is capable of - unless I burn an entire bag of charcoal. I'm considering a second one just for cooking at home.

It is exactly as described-I have mostly used it with wood but I can't imagine gas would create any problems. It is small and compact so don't expect 10 sq feet of grill surface but with even basic to moderate grill skills you should be able to keep a 5-10 person gathering fed with a minimum of wait times even if you insist on only burning random branches, sticks and twigs from the vicinity. If you are serious and wish to bring some charcoal to the party you can easily extend the cooking volume and time. It is well-thought out and designed but isn't really rocket science-burn your fuel, cook your food and enjoy in a safe compact footprint that stows away easily (not recommended for backpackers-it is pretty heavy to carry more than a mile but easy-peasy for anyone with any kind of modern transportation) once it has cooled off and the coals and ashes have been safely disposed. Set up is almost non-existent-just pull and twist, drop in your wood or charcoal, place the radiator and the grill and sit back and enjoy the primal recipe of food + fire. Love the versatility- probably going to add the dutch oven &cover just because the primary product works so well.

I cannot say enough about this stove. I have used it with propane and charcoal fuels and it performs perfectly. I will add that a much needed accessory is the Kevlar Hood, with this added feature you can bake like a pro. I do a lot of Dutch oven cooking and this stove has given me a no fail experience with less fuel and less time. I would suggest that you purchase the propane adapter for large and small canisters because it adds to the versatility but practice first because you really to be conscious of how little heat is needed to cook. I give it a four star because after using several times the legs will jam causing the stove to fold incorrect, a little nudge sets it right. I purchased this stove for family camping and emergency situations and have since bought a second one for baking more than one cake.

I purchased one of these about a month ago. Wow! It has completely changed the way I view outdoor cooking. So far I have made stir fry, baked bread and brownies(in a Dutch oven), fried, sauteed, seared, you name it. It certainly was convenient for car camping. I'll find out next week if it is too bulky to take canoe camping. I don't think it will be. The thing that surprised me is that I think I use it at home as much as I do camping. We've had a fairly hot summer (for us) in Wisconsin. Who wants to heat up the kitchen and then pay to cool the house back down? The stove will probably pay for itself by the end of the summer in saved utility costs. I ended up adding the cover, which does make baking in a Dutch oven more consistent. I'm intrigued by using the cover to make a mini-smoker; but, haven't tried it. I also added an adapter (not from Volcano, there's is too pricey) to be able to run 1 lb. propane tanks for camping. I was surprised how long one small tank lasted. I also have plans to use this, instead of my turkey fryer, for heating my hot water bath canner. Again, I do this to prevent heating up my kitchen as much as possible. The Volcano certainly seems like it will put out enough BTU's (using a 20 lb. tank) to work well for canning. So far, the only thing I found that it won't work well for is if you are grilling for a large party. But if were any larger, it wouldn't be as portable. So it's a trade-off.

I am very pleased with this product. It is very sturdy and comes in a rugged carry case. I spent a lot of time reviewing product videos before making this purchase. Unlike the videos, my grill doesn't pop out easily during setup by simply lifting up on the carry handle. However, if I use a little finese, I can accomplish easy setup with gentle shakes. It works well and doesn't need much charcoal. I haven't used the propoane adapter yet, or tried wood, but I'm sure that will be fine as well. Some people complained that the cooking surface is too small. I find it adequate when cooking for three people.

Highly recommend this grill. Unzip the bag, grab the handle bail and pop its ready, one more minute if you are using gas. I recommend buying the Volcano cookbook and technical manual as it explains the different ways to cook on the grill. I use this grill with my dutch ovens and it is real easy to regulate the heat. A 12" dutch oven fits inside perfectly. The stove collapses just as easy and makes a small package when packed inside the bag. This isn't some crap from Coleman company this is a serious piece of cooking machine. Another advantage to this grill is that you can cook on a plastic camp table, the bottom doesn't get hot at all. Bottom line, if you have a need: Its portable, lightweight, flexible and very well built. Would buy it again in an instant and have recommended it to friends. Buy the book and the mid level grill and you are all set

Marvelous product! American made quality we used to expect. 15 briquets cooked our pork chops to a T. Collapsibility is a very useful feature. Buy the oven cover as an adjunct for more flexibility. The carry case is a nice touch as this stove is quite heavy, and a little cumbersome without it. It is very easy to set up and cook on. Clean up is a breeze. I've seen this advertised at $189.00 at other stores. At $139.00(including the propane set-up) it was a bargain through Amazon. This is one of the best preparedness I have found to allow cooking with little fuel in the event of an emergency. Wood, propane, and briquets. This is truly a fine product. I highly reccomend you also buy the operation, and cook book manual.