This stove windscreen is one of those simple camping accessories that should be pretty straightforward: put it around your stove, block the wind, and cook.
The REDCAMP Folding Outdoor Stove Windscreen does accomplish that basic job, but after owning mine for around four years, I have some reservations about it. The biggest problem is that it’s simply too flimsy, especially when you’re camping somewhere windy.
Setup
I’ve used it with a single-burner propane canister stove while camping. It does help protect the flame from the wind, but keeping the windscreen itself in place can be a bigger challenge than it should be.
The windscreen consists of multiple aluminum panels connected together, allowing you to fold and shape it around different stove sizes.
Setting it up isn’t particularly difficult, but I wouldn’t call it great either. You can position the panels around the stove reasonably easily, but because the material is so lightweight and flexible, it doesn’t feel particularly stable.
Once you get it positioned correctly, it does its job — assuming the wind doesn’t decide to move it.
Does It Actually Block Wind?
Yes, it helps.
When it’s positioned properly, the windscreen does reduce the amount of wind hitting the stove flame, and I’ve noticed that it helps when cooking outdoors.
The problem is that the windscreen itself isn’t particularly good at dealing with wind.
If the wind is strong enough to knock the windscreen over, it isn’t doing much protecting of your stove anymore.
So there’s a bit of irony here: it’s designed to protect your stove from the wind, but strong wind can simply knock the windscreen down.
My Solution: Magnets
I eventually came up with a workaround that makes the windscreen considerably more useful.
I use magnets to keep it attached to the stove.
That helps prevent the panels from being pushed around or knocked over when conditions get windy. It’s not something I should have to do with a stove windscreen, but it works.
If you’re already carrying a few small magnets with your camping gear, this is an easy solution. Without something securing it, however, I wouldn’t trust it in particularly windy conditions.
Durability
The windscreen itself has been fine over the roughly four years I’ve owned it.
The aluminum panels haven’t simply fallen apart from normal use, but there is one annoying durability issue: the small metal rods used at the hinges can come out.
That’s something to keep an eye on because the rods are what hold the individual panels together and allow them to fold.
The overall construction isn’t terrible, but the lightweight design definitely contributes to the flimsy feel.
Size and Weight
This is one area where I have no complaints.
It’s lightweight and packs down small enough that it’s easy to keep with your camping equipment. The included carrying bag is also perfectly adequate for storing and transporting it.
For something that weighs very little and takes up minimal space, it’s easy enough to justify bringing along.
What I Like
The biggest positive is that it does actually help.
When I put it around my stove, it provides useful protection from the wind and makes cooking easier than having the stove completely exposed.
It’s also lightweight, compact, and inexpensive enough in terms of space that carrying it isn’t a problem.
The ability to fold the panels means it can also be shaped around different stove configurations.
What I Don’t Like
The biggest problem is the flimsy construction.
I don’t expect a lightweight aluminum windscreen to feel indestructible, but this one is light enough that strong wind can knock it over.
That’s not ideal for a product whose entire purpose is to deal with wind.
The hinge rods coming loose are another annoyance, and the fact that I’ve had to come up with a magnetic solution to keep the windscreen attached to my stove says quite a bit about the stability issue.
Would I Buy It Again?
Probably not.
It’s not useless. It works, it helps protect the stove flame, and I’ve kept mine around for roughly four years.
But if I were buying another stove windscreen today, I’d look for something sturdier and more stable.
The lightweight and compact design is nice, but I’d rather have a windscreen that stays where I put it without needing magnets to hold it down.
Final Thoughts
The REDCAMP Folding Outdoor Stove Windscreen is a lightweight and compact solution that does its basic job, but I think the lightweight construction goes a little too far.
I’ve owned mine for about four years and used it with a one-burner propane stove while camping. When it’s in position, it does help protect the flame from the wind and makes cooking easier.
The problem is keeping it there.
In strong wind, the windscreen itself can get knocked over, which somewhat defeats the purpose. I’ve solved that by using magnets to keep it attached to the stove, but that’s a workaround rather than something the product provides.
The windscreen is also susceptible to the small metal hinge rods coming out, although mine has otherwise held up reasonably well.
It’s lightweight, compact, easy enough to carry, and it does provide useful wind protection. But because it’s so flimsy, I wouldn’t buy it again.
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