This stove cost me €25 from AliExpress. So the only question that matters: is it a gamble, or an absolute bargain?
I filmed the whole review from the shed, if I’m honest, because Storm Bolo was busy trying to flatten the garden and I didn’t fancy getting blown around or soaked. But a budget canister stove that claims serious power for twenty-five quid? That was worth getting the camera out for. Here’s how the CampingMoon XD-2F got on.
First impressions: you get a case?
The first surprise arrived before I’d even lit it. For €25, I wasn’t expecting much — and I definitely wasn’t expecting a proper carry case. But there it is: a well-built canvas case with a good zip and a “CampingMoon since 2011” label on the side. It’s a genuinely nice touch at this price.
Everything packs away neatly in two parts: the stove itself, and the pot stand, which lives in its own little elastic pocket. The pot supports are on a spring, so they expand and contract and clip over the top of the burner. Tidy.
The spec that surprised me
Here’s where it stops feeling cheap. The XD-2F comes with a piezo igniter and — the bit I didn’t expect — a built-in pressure regulator. That’s what keeps the flame steady when it gets cold or when your gas canister is running low, and it’s exactly where cheap stoves usually fall apart. To find one at €25 is genuinely impressive.
It weighs around 92 grams, which puts it right up there with the big-name stoves, and it screws onto any standard thread gas canister.
Claimed specs:
- Output: 3.3 kW
- Weight: 92 g
- Built-in pressure regulator
- Piezo igniter
- Folding, detachable pot supports
- Comes with a storage case
- ⚠️ Not for use with heat-exchanger pots
Power: a monster flame
The most impressive thing about this stove is what happens when you light it. Give it a blast and it throws out a genuinely monster flame for such a cheap burner. “Immensely powerful” is the phrase that came out of my mouth on camera, and I stand by it.
The boil test
Numbers over hype — so I took it outside, poured in 500 ml of water, lid on, and started the clock.
Result: 2 minutes 47 seconds to a rolling boil. For a €25 stove, that’s genuinely good going — right in the mix with burners costing two or three times as much.
How does it compare to a Soto Amicus?
I run a Soto Amicus as my trusted stove, so it’s the obvious benchmark:
| CampingMoon XD-2F | Soto Amicus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~€25 | ~€50 |
| Weight | 92 g | 81 g |
| Output | 3.3 kW | 3.26 kW |
| Regulator | Yes | No |
| Igniter | Piezo | None (use a lighter) |
| Build | Aluminium alloy | Steel, Made in Japan |
On paper, the cheap one actually out-features the Soto — it has a regulator the Amicus doesn’t. What you’re paying extra for with the Soto is the thing you can’t measure in a week: a proven track record, Japanese build quality, and the confidence it’ll still fire up in three years. That’s the one honest unknown with any budget stove — it’s brilliant today, but only time tells if it lasts. We’ll find out on the camps to come.
Who’s it for?
If you want a capable main stove on a budget, something to leave in the car, or a light burner for moto-camping and bikepacking, this is a brilliant shout. It’s hard to argue with the value.
Verdict: gamble or bargain?
Bargain. For €25 — with a case, a regulator, a piezo and power like that — the CampingMoon XD-2F punches so far above its price it’s almost silly. It’s earned a spot in the bag, and I’ll be putting it through plenty of camps, hikes and journeys through 2027 to see how it holds up.
If you’re kitting out for your first trips, you can see the rest of my camping gear on the 2026 gear page. Fancy a tent to go with it? Here’s my Durston X-Mid 2 review, or if you want something more robust, the Nortent Vern 1 PC.
Got one, or thinking about it? Let me know in the comments — and if this was useful, the full video’s above and a subscribe on YouTube genuinely helps.
