REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Easy to use
Good at simmering
Piezo igniter
REASONS TO AVOID
Slower to boil and less fuel efficient than the competition
Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 Review
A lightweight but durable stove with an auto-igniter and good simmering ability
Snow Peak GigaPower Auto
Credit: snowpeak.com
RELATED: Best Backpacking Stoves of 2024
Our Verdict
A lightweight but durable, and fairly compact canister stove with a great range of features and simmering ability, the Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 Auto is a solid small canister stove at a reasonable price. The original GigaPower had been a reliable, albeit slow, performer for years. This upgrade is not only lighter but brings the surprisingly high boil times down to the same realm as much of the competition. With its piezoelectric igniter and excellent stability, it is easier to use than some of the other small canister stoves. Overall, this is a great stove at a very fair price.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | $50 List Check Price at REI | $50 List $49.95 at Amazon | $50 List $47.15 at Amazon | $30 List $29.95 at Amazon | $17.00 List $16.90 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | We are impressed by this stove's ability to do everything reasonably well | This canister stove is lightweight, compact, fuel efficient, and performs well in wind | A compact, lightweight, and easy to use stove for fair-weather backpacking | A bulky small canister stove that's good at simmering but doesn't have a piezoelectric start | A mini stove with a mini price |
| Rating Categories | Snow Peak GigaPower... | Soto Amicus | Optimus Crux Lite | Primus Essential Trail | BRS-3000T |
| Fuel Efficiency (25%) | |||||
| Weight (25%) | |||||
| Simmering Ability (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Boil Time (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Snow Peak GigaPower... | Soto Amicus | Optimus Crux Lite | Primus Essential Trail | BRS-3000T |
| Category | Small Canister | Small Canister | Small Canister | Small Canister | Small Canister |
| Essential Weight (stove or stove + integrated pot only) | 3.5 oz | 2.79 oz | 2.7 oz | 4.5 oz | 0.9 oz |
| Trail Weight (stove, fuel, pot) | 15.63 oz | 14.92 oz | 14.81 oz | 16.63 oz | 12.63 oz |
| Wind Boil Time (1 liter, 2-4mph) | >15 min | 6:30 min:sec | 7:54 min: sec | 10:10 min | 14:45 min:sec |
| Boil Time (1 liter) | 5:40 min:sec | 3:52 min: sec | 4:35 min: sec | 5:30 min:sec | 5:13 min:sec |
| Packed Weight (stove + all accessories) | 3.86 oz | 3.5 oz | 3 oz | 4.5 oz | 1 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.2" x 2.6" | 3.9" × 0.7" × 6.5" | 2.8" x 2.2" x 2.2" | 4.3" x 2.4" | 2" x 1.2" x 1.3" |
| Fuel Type | Isobutane | Isobutane | Isobutane, propane | Isobutane | Isobutane |
| Additional Included Items | Plastic case | Stuff sack | Storage bag | None | Stuff sack |
| Piezo Igniter? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Snow Peak has been making the GigaPower Auto for many years. The previous version of this unit had features that are slowly becoming standard, such as great packability, low weight, and a piezoelectric starter. Despite these great features, the older model was plagued with mediocre fuel efficiency and abysmal boil times. The GigaPower 2.0 Auto, on the other hand, has the great features of the original model with improved boil time. We think there is still room for improvement, as the burner has such high output that it still isn't very fuel-efficient, and it also doesn't perform well in the wind.
Performance Comparison
Getting dinner started with the GigaPower.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Fuel Efficiency
In our no-wind test, the GigaPower performed well, burning just 0.52 ounces of fuel. Surprisingly for our testers, it rivaled some of the integrated canister stoves in regards to fuel burned. However, as is often the case with other small canister stoves, performance in the wind suffers. Once we set it in front of the fan for the 2-4 mph test, the fuel efficiency dropped considerably. It burned 1.71 ounces of fuel in 15 minutes and could not bring 1 liter of water to a boil. Historically, this has been a problem for small canister stoves, though now a couple of models can do it, making it more disappointing when one can't. The Giga used 25.4% of the fuel in a 4-ounce canister in our fuel efficiency test, making it the worst performer in our review. If you like the high octane burner and price point of this stove, you will just want to make sure to locate natural windbreaks for your camp kitchen or use it in a well-ventilated tent vestibule.
If you're cooking near treeline on a breezy day this stove will need some protection from the wind.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Weight
At 3.5 ounces for just the stove, the GigaPower 2.0 is on the heavier end of the spectrum compared to other small canister stoves. That said, as long as a small canister stove is below 4 ounces, a half-ounce here or there is inconsequential. Especially when it offers great stability and a piezoelectric starter (Snow Peak says this adds 0.3 ounces). At this point, nearly all of our small canister stoves have an autoignition, but this stove comes with a small plastic case for storage.
This stove fits in a 1-liter pot with a 4-ounce fuel can and some room to spare.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Simmering Ability
Simmering is something this stove does well. The valve control is sensitive at the low end, and the stove can be turned way down before sputtering out. Your oatmeal will be happy.
Conducting the oatmeal test with the Gigapower.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Ease Of Use
Ease of use is another area where the GigaPower does well. As with all small canister stoves, assembly and use are only slightly more complicated than your cooktop at home. This stove has a good control valve wire with a grippy rubber coating, so there is no problem reaching under there quickly when the pot is about to boil over. The pot supports are shorter than some but still quite sturdy, and there are four of them. Additionally, the stove is fairly short, achieving the overall effect of more stability.
If you decide to take the plastic case into the field, be mindful that you will need to open the fuel valve to slide the stove into the container. When you do this, make sure to then close it again to avoid spraying yourself with isobutane.
This unit comes equipped with a piezoelectric lighter, and while it's probably a good idea to carry a lighter as a backup, you likely won't need to locate it to make your morning coffee. Our testers appreciate the piezo igniters on every stove that has them, and we wish they were a standard feature on all models.
The piezo igniter is reliable and the control wire is a decent size and coated in rubber, which is a nice touch.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Boil Time
Though manufacturers make a big fuss about boil times, this is not the most important to our testers; indeed, one reviewer prefers a slightly slower stove because it lets him multitask. The GigaPower 2.0 was slightly slower to boil 1 liter of water than the other small canister stoves clocking in at 5 minutes and 40 seconds at 5,000 feet in elevation.
As with some of the other small canister stoves in our review, the GigaPower cannot boil water in 15 minutes when subjected to a constant 2-4 mph wind generated by a box fan. In previous tests (at higher elevations), it only produced small bubbles on the bottom of the pot at the 15-minute mark. Our testers were not overly put off by this so long as they could place the stove behind a windbreak. Snow Peak also sells an aftermarket windscreen for the GigaPower that offers some protection and helps reflect heat up at the pot.
A watched pot never boils. This stove will, but it's a bit slower than similar models.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Value
The GigaPower is not a bad value, especially considering how easy it is to use and how well it simmers. That being said, it also isn't a great value. It is the least fuel-efficient stove in our review and does not perform well in the presence of a breeze without an aftermarket windscreen or windbreak. Folks who won't be camping above treeline and want to eat more than just freeze-dried food will get the most out of this stove.
Conclusion
The Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 Auto is a decent stove. There are better options for the same price point, but if you are looking for a solid stove from a trusted brand that does fairly well in most of our metrics, this is a reasonable one to consider.
Getting ready to have some coffee in bed.
Credit: Ian McEleney
—
Mary Witlacil and Ian McEleney
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