WindTAMER Camp Stove Companion Review

A camp stove and a gust of wind rarely get along. The WindTamer Camp Stove Companion is a product I'd never seen before: a covering for your camp stove that protects against the wind and rain, lets you cook, organise your kitchen, and save fuel all at the same time. Here's what I mean.

When reading this review, keep in mind that improvements to the product are already underway. I assume it will only get better and better.

The Coleman 2 Burner Campstove is the stove this review is built around, and I highly recommend it. It's a very good stove for the price. Be sure to check it out on Amazon.

What is the WindTamer Camp Stove Companion?

At first glance, the WindTamer Camp Stove Companion seems simple, a weatherproof cover for your stove. But calling this clever invention a camp stove cover or even a weather protector doesn't scratch the surface. While the WindTamer does protect your stove from the wind, rain, and snow, it's much more than that.

The primary function is indeed to protect your stove from the elements. If you're camping in a windy area or it's raining, you can still cook outside. The cover material is meant to shed water, and while I can't say exactly how waterproof the WindTamer is, it's probably good enough. And by good enough, I mean you most likely won't be cooking in a torrential downpour.

It helps to remember why this matters. A propane flame is easily pushed sideways by even a light breeze, so heat that should go into the pot ends up in the air around it. Anything that blocks moving air around the burners gives you steadier cooking, and the weather side of it is a bonus on cold or wet trips.

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Fuel savings and the Nomex fabric

The second function of the WindTamer is to save fuel. The WindTamer closes up with velcro attachments, keeping the heat inside. I have not compared fuel savings, but the manufacturer claims to save an impressive 25% on propane:

From our experience propane fuel use is 25% or less using WindTamer Camp Stove Companion

windtamercampstovecompanion.com

I wondered if the fabric could withstand high temperatures, and it turns out it's made from a material called Nomex. I'd never heard of Nomex before, but it has some really cool properties.

Nomex, which is the fabric the WindTamer is made from, is a material used among firefighters, racecar drivers, and even military pilots. It can stand up to 700F temperatures. Nomex is also resistant to many chemicals and has a higher resistance to beta and gamma radiation. So yes, this is one material you don't have to worry about. It is also machine washable.

Warming shelf and kitchen organisation

When you set up the WindTamer, you have the option of installing a warming shelf. This is really awesome. The warming shelf hangs above the stove to keep dishes and meals warm while you continue to cook. If you are cooking in multiple pans, you can leave a pan on the warming shelf. You can also keep plates warm too.

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The organisation features I was actually more excited about than the fuel savings. The stove cover comes with a lot of pockets and straps to keep your kitchen organised. One problem I have when I cook camping meals is that tongs, utensils, and spices are all over the place and I forget where I put them. With the WindTamer, you can keep your spices and utensils on the side, so they are always close and secure.

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Setting up the WindTamer

Setting up the WindTamer is fairly quick and easy. Expect it to take a bit the first time to figure out, partly because the cover can get twisted. One thing I didn't like was that the assembly instructions were online. My advice would be to know how to set up the WindTamer before you go off the grid to use it.

Before you get set up, everything is kept in the big storage bag. It's not heavy and you can even carry your stove and fuel inside the bag at the same time. Although it's wide, it's fairly thin. The shoulder strap is durable and easy to use.

There are a few parts you need to assemble when setting up the WindTamer.

First, you place the base down. One feature that I thought was genius was that the base comes with a strap to strap itself down to the table. This helps secure the cover against strong winds and prevents it from moving during assembly. When you are adding the frame and attaching buttons, the base won't move away from you.

Once the base is set up, you assemble the frames. Two parts of the frames attach into holes of the base and are later connected with a ridge pole going across. Everything snaps into place. Then, you snap the buttons to connect the cover to the base.

While you don't need to add the warming tray, it's a nice feature to have. Attach the two hangers and hang the tray from them.

Assembly is easy, but one thing I didn't like was that the metal sheets seem sharp, and it's easy to worry about cutting yourself. As the product improves, I hope this will be one issue that is fixed.

Pricing and overall thoughts

The WindTamer retails for $130. The price surprised me until I found out why. The Nomex material isn't cheap, which is the main reason for the cost. It's worth mentioning too that everything is made in the USA using 100% USA materials.

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The version covered here is an earlier model and I look forward to improvements. Some things I hope to see improved are the metal edges and the sides. If you aren't a frequent camper, it would be hard to justify such a purchase, and I'd argue $130 is steep for anyone who cooks outside only once or twice a season. But if you're the type of person who likes to camp a few times or more per year, especially in big groups, then I think the WindTamer is a great companion to have.

Interested in the WindTamer? Check it out on the Official WindTamer Website.

By the way, I also wrote a review on Ozark Trail 2 Burner Camp Stove.

WindTamer pros and cons

What it does well

• Real windbreak. In side-gust conditions, the three-panel shield genuinely shortens boil times and reduces fuel use. 20–30% fuel savings in moderate wind is realistic.
• Keeps rain off the burners. The overhang means you can keep cooking through a drizzle, which is a big deal on shoulder-season trips.
• Kitchen organisation. The integrated side trays hold spatulas, pans and condiments at burner level instead of on the dirt.
• Works with standard camp stoves. Designed around Coleman 2-burner dimensions, but fits most similar-sized stoves.
• Packs reasonably flat. Folds down into a slim profile for transport, rather than adding bulky rigid furniture.

Trade-offs and things to watch

• Extra gear to carry. If you're tight on space, another kitchen item is another thing to pack and unpack.
• Setup adds 1–2 minutes. Not significant, but annoying if you're cooking quickly.
• Not a true enclosure. In heavy wind or driving rain, you still need a tarp over the kitchen.
• Size-specific. Works great with 2-burner car-camping stoves; less useful with single-burner backpacking stoves (where a foil wind shield does the same job at 2% of the weight).
• Not for backpacking. This is a car-camping accessory. Don't try to carry it in on foot.

Who the WindTamer is for, and when to skip it

Best suited to

• Car campers who cook most meals outside. Breakfast-dinner-every-meal-camp-cooking style.
• Shoulder season and wet-climate campers. Rain and wind are the standard, not the exception.
• Coastal and exposed-site campers. Beaches, alpine lakes, prairie campgrounds, anywhere wind is consistent.
• Large-group cookouts. Scout troops, family gatherings. A windbreak around the stove speeds up feeding 10+ people.
• Anyone who's had their stove blown out mid-boil. You know the frustration; the WindTamer fixes it.

When a simpler solution is better

• Backpacking / ultralight. A folded piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil weighs nothing and blocks wind on a single-burner stove.
• Occasional fair-weather car campers. If you rarely cook outside or always in shelter, the WindTamer is overkill.
• Campers with an awning. Van-life or truck-tent rigs with a built-in awning solve wind and rain at once; no extra gear needed.
• RV campers. Most RV kitchens are already indoors and wind-protected.

Alternatives and getting the most from a WindTamer

Alternatives worth comparing

• Coleman Camp Kitchen with windbreak. Stove sits on top of a full kitchen table with built-in wind panels. More expensive, much bulkier.
• Cabela's / Bass Pro camp stove windscreen. Cheaper aluminum or nylon panels that velcro onto most 2-burner stoves.
• DIY aluminum sheet windbreak. A 3-panel sheet from a hardware store, hinged with duct tape. Works, but ugly.
• Pop-up tarp over kitchen. Addresses wind + rain simultaneously. More setup, different use case.
• Stove inside vestibule. Some use a tent vestibule as a wind-protected cook space. Known carbon monoxide poisoning risk; only do this with excellent ventilation.

Using it well

• Set up facing away from wind direction. The opening should face downwind. Rotate as conditions change.
• Use both side trays. Most people under-use them. Layout: pans on the burner side, prep tools on the outside tray.
• Clean after grease cooks. Bacon and burger fat splatter. Wipe down while still warm; dried grease is much harder to remove.
• Pack it last. In the morning pack-up, the kitchen comes down last because breakfast is the last meal. The WindTamer stows on top where it's easy to grab first at the next site.
• Pair with a quality windscreen-compatible stove. Our camp fuel guide covers what fuels work reliably in windbreak setups, and what fuel you can use in a lantern or stove goes further.

WindTamer FAQ

Does the WindTamer work with propane stoves?

Yes, it was designed around propane 2-burner stoves like the Coleman Classic. Canister, dual-fuel and white-gas stoves of similar size also work.

Can it handle rain?

Light rain, yes; the overhang keeps droplets off the burners. Heavy driving rain, no. You need a proper tarp over the whole kitchen.

Does it fit in a camping bin?

Folded, yes. Most 27-gallon totes accommodate it easily. It takes up roughly the footprint of a large chopping board.

Will it survive strong wind?

Up to about 20 mph sustained. Above that, the whole unit can lift, so either weight the corners with rocks or a gear bag. Checking the National Weather Service forecast before you pick a kitchen spot is a sensible habit.

Is the fuel savings real?

Yes, in windy conditions. A 2-burner stove in 10–15 mph wind uses noticeably more fuel per boil than in still air. The WindTamer closes that gap. Whether the savings pay for the device depends on how much cooking you do in windy conditions.