Eureka Ignite Plus Review

The Ignite Plus is a straightforward stove with a few perks. It's nice and wide for campers with larger cookware, it comes with rubber feet so that you can get level on uneven ground, and it has a reliable auto-ignition system. It's a good stove at a fair price.

Performance Comparison

Boil Time

To evaluate power, design, and overall stove performance, we conduct two boil tests — one with wind, one without — and take the average between the two to rank each stove. The Ignite had an average boil time of 5 minutes 30 seconds, which was in the upper middle of the pack.

We may not be scientists, but we aim for consistent and reliable evaluations of all the products we review. To do this, we conduct our boil test "experiments" in our windless garage "lab" at 5,000 feet. In our windy test — where we subject the stoves to a constant 2-4 mph "wind" generated by a box fan — the Ignite took 6 minutes 15 seconds to boil 1 liter of 58°F water. In the wind-less test, it took 4 minutes and 45 seconds to boil. The 10,000 BTUs burners just aren't as powerful as some of the other models in our review. That said, the compact design helps it stay protected from the wind and ensures that it is relatively efficient.

Fuel Efficiency

Beyond boil tests, we also evaluate each stove for fuel efficiency. To do this, we use a new fuel canister for each stove and weigh it before and after each boil test. The Ignite Plus consumed an average of 0.8 ounces of fuel or 5.02% over the windy and wind-less boil test. This makes it one of the most fuel-efficient tabletop stoves in our review. In the windy test, it consumed 1 ounce of fuel or 6.27%, and in the wind-less test, it used 0.6 ounces or 4% of the fuel canister. We were quite impressed with this stove's performance in this regard, which makes it a great option for anyone who wants to save money on both a stove and the fuel you have to buy to keep it going.

Simmering Ability

Simmering on the Ignite is enjoyable; the knobs have clear markings and a large range, making it easy to find your perfect setting. That being said, the combination of delicate cooking in the presence of some wind can be quite a challenge for this stove. We attempted to make some finicky pancakes in a large cast iron on a windy fall morning (a difficult test indeed!), and it was just too many things at once for this otherwise adequate stove. Dialing in the right temperature was difficult, as was getting the full width of our cast iron hot enough. Our food cooked slowly and unevenly, though the job did get done. In subsequent cooking sessions, performance was fine; just be aware this stove can only handle so many variables.

Ease of Use

Easy peasy! Setting this stove up is just like any other compact tabletop model with the addition of non-slip rubber feet. These get screwed on the base before your first use. After that, they only have to be adjusted if you need to alter the level of the stove on an uneven surface.

Cleaning the stove is also a no-brainer: lift out the grate, wipe away the grime, replace the grate, close the lid. Done!

Portability

The Ignite is wider than most of the other compact tabletop stoves in our review. This means you can use larger pots and pans, but it also means you'll need to sacrifice a bit more space and carry a little extra weight. At 23 x 12.8 x 4 inches and 11.96 pounds, this is on the large size for a compact two-burner. That said, the extra size and weight are marginal and will likely go unnoticed in a car packed full of camping gear.

Should You Buy the Eureka Ignite Plus?

The Ignite might be a reasonable option for you. With no competition, the price of this stove is reasonable for what you get — it boils relatively quickly, is relatively fuel efficient, and is easy to use. That said, it lacks the features and performance of other stoves in our review. When you consider that we received equally good performance from cheaper stoves and superior performance from only slightly more expensive stoves, then this one is hard to get excited about. We mean no disrespect, and if you end up with this stove, we think you'll be quite satisfied, but if you have the luxury of picking any stove on the market, then there are better ones to choose from.

What Other Camping Stoves Should You Consider?

If you are looking for something even gentler on the bank account that doesn't sacrifice quality, the Coleman Cascade Classic is a great option that performs solidly across most metrics.