Genesis Basecamp–sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, right?
When it’s folded up, this camping stove actually reminds me of a droid from a Star Wars film.
This is my independent review of the Genesis Basecamp by Jetboil, the cooking system we use when we’re overlanding.
When my wife and I were initially looking for a cooking solution, this system came highly recommended by several friends. After extensive research and going over it in person, we decided to give Genesis Basecamp a shot.
Note: This article includes affiliate links. If you get excited about any of the products featured here, I’d love it if you’d shop via my links. This encourages me to continue investing time in creating useful reviews and content.
Genesis Basecamp Stove: Overview

First thing you’ll notice about this stove is the clam shell design, which gives the unit a tiny footprint compared to many backcountry two-burner stove systems.
The unit folds up onto itself, eliminating the bulk of metal most camping stoves must have in order to function. For those carefully considering the space available in their overlanding vehicle, the size benefit sets Genesis Basecamp apart from most competitors.
The weight of the unit varies between 6 lbs 1 oz and 9 lbs 14 oz, depending on how many parts of the system you have.
One of the most interesting features of Genesis Basecamp is that it’s designed to expand into a full backcountry cooking system when paired with other JetLink compatible products, like the JetBoil Luna Satellite Burner. You can even daisy chain another stove off one fuel source.
The entire system stores inside a rugged travel bag. The nesting storage system design was definitely well thought out.

The travel bag pictured above holds the Genesis Basecamp, 5-liter FluxPot, strainer lid for the pot, 10″ ceramic coated frying pan, windscreen, and regulator. Even with all this inside, the travel bag is only 8.5″ tall and 10.75″ wide.
Compare that to your current two-burner camping stove!
Genesis Basecamp: Set Up

This stove is designed for off-grid use. It’s ready to go in less than 60 seconds! To go from travel bag to cooking up a meal in less than a minute is a super nice feature.
It’s so ridiculously easy to set up, you could do it in the dark. Simply pull it out of the bag, release two rubber straps, unfold it, attach the regulator and your propane bottle, open the valve, and flick the lever.
Now you’re cooking.
Lighting of the stove is simple, with two built-in igniters that light each burner individually with the flick of a reliable lever.

This is not an electronic switch that will break down on you. Rather, the levers are an integrated mechanical part of the system that will hold up to years of off-grid use.
The entire Genesis Basecamp system is compatible with a standard 16.4 oz propane bottle. An optional hose can be purchased to make it compatible with larger propane tanks.
Genesis Basecamp: Performance

Genesis Basecamp features dual 10,000 BTU burners that can boil 32 ounces of water in 3 minutes and 15 seconds at high altitude. Now that is some performance!
The unit is also quiet in operation, which is appreciated when you’re out enjoying your surroundings. Just note that it can be difficult to tell when the unit is on during the day. Use extra caution. After lighting, we’ll typically hold our hand about 10″ above the burner to feel the heat.
Another special note is the simmer control on the Genesis Basecamp. Simply unmatched in the industry and comparable, if not better, than many home gas stoves.
The simmer on this unit is so fine-tuned that you can dial in the temperature in exacting measure, for perfectly cooked meals every time. JetBoil engineers really outdid themselves with this level of control.
➡️ Head over to Amazon to read Genesis Basecamp reviews or purchase.
Alright, so the performance is great and the meal is done. Time to clean up….
Genesis Basecamp: Cleaning

Honestly, the footprint of the design underneath the pot and frying pan is so minimal that any spillage won’t really impact the Genesis Basecamp much at all.
However, if you do find yourself in need of cleaning the unit, it’s a breeze. All of the components are easily detached without tools. The materials used in the design of the Genesis Basecamp are all smooth surfaces, easily wiped down.
Cleaning of the frying pan and pot is a bit different. When cleaning the frying pan or pot, don’t use any abrasive cleaners or utensils, as you’ll end up scraping the non-stick surface of the items.
Genesis Basecamp: Things We Don’t Like

There are a few things we don’t like about Genesis Basecamp. This wouldn’t be a transparent review if we didn’t share those things. But let me preface this section by saying we love our unit and are glad we got it over the competitors.
Price
This unit is not cheap. But then again, you get what you pay for. The price tag on the Genesis Basecamp with all of the trimmings comes in at around $350. This includes the travel bag, Genesis Basecamp, 5L Flux Pot, strainer lid, 10″ frying pan, windscreen, and regulator.
We didn’t go for the full kit, since we didn’t see an immediate need for a 5L pot. So we opted for the standard Genesis Basecamp which only comes with the travel bag, Genesis Basecamp, windscreen, and regulator. This kit costs around $240. We added the 10″ frying pan separately.
No matter which kit you’re looking at, the cost will probably make you second guess the purchase.
Don’t second guess if it fits your needs. This purchase is worth it.
Windscreen
The windscreen is the most disappointing item in the package. It almost seems like an afterthought from JetBoil. After the amount of work that went into the Genesis Basecamp itself, we were bummed with the flimsiness of the windscreen. We might even toss it. It doesn’t do much.
Regulator
The proprietary regulators have had reported issues. It happened to us after about 4 uses with our original regulator. It just stopped allowing gas to flow through. The good news is JetBoil has historically stood behind the product, shipping out a new regulator to replace the defective one. JetBoil is aware of this issue. We contacted JetBoil and let them know. They sent us out a new regulator no questions asked and we haven’t had any further issues as of yet.
Of course, this won’t help if you’re already off the grid. So consider testing your unit beforehand and even ordering a backup regulator prior to your departure.
Genesis Basecamp: Summary

Overall, we’re happy with our purchase and recommend this unit to any backcountry explorer. If you’re interested in purchasing the Genesis Basecamp, you can do so through my Amazon link here.
We also purchased the Luna Satellite burner to take with us on our Mexico trip in January. My wife loves her coffee, and boiling water in a separate pan to then dump into a cup is a pain.
The bottom line is the Genesis Basecamp is lightweight, compact, high-quality, incredibly well-performing, durable, quick to set up, and easy to clean. Price is the only major negative in my opinion. But like I said above, you get what you pay for.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this independent review of the Genesis Basecamp. Look for other overlanding gear reviews in the future.
Until next time, keep it dirty and wheels side down.
~ Eric
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