If you’re the type of camper who thinks mountainside gastronomy is pouring hot water into a Chilli Beef Pot Noodle, don’t bother reading on. But, if you’re a Gordon Ramsay of the fells who prefers gourmet al-fresco cooking to instant noodles, this new bit of gear might just be a game-changer. The Optimus Gemini is a dual burner camping stove weighing only 790g – that’s light enough to carry anywhere, but functional enough to unleash your elaborate culinary skills.
Don’t take our word for it, though. Outdoor cooking aficionado Harrison Ward, better known as Instagrammer Fell Foodie, loves a spot of summit-top stewing and fellside frying – and he’s impressed with the look of the new Optimus Gemini. “Double burners provide a much faster, more efficient cook”, he tells Outdoors Magic. “And this one looks perfect for a more complex dish or when cooking for a hungry group, all whilst not sacrificing too much backpack space or precious weight.”
Harrison adds: “With two burners, you can have two pots on the go simultaneously – pasta in one, sauce in the other, for example – and won’t ever risk dishes going cold. You’re freed from the limitations of single pot cooking. The way the Gemini is powered by a single gas canister is another big appeal for me. Other setups often require two canisters, which adds unnecessary weight.”
Swedish brand Optimus claim the Gemini has a “trailblazing, lightweight design”, with “infinitely variable flame control for precise cooking” and a “small footprint to fit in any pack”. This innovative, ultralight approach caught the eyes of the judges at the prestigious ISPO 2020 awards, who named it a winner in the camping equipment category. Their comments? It’s a compact, foldable and lightweight gas stove with a “special design” enabling backpackers to “cook like a chef…anywhere and in almost any weather”.
