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Primus Kinjia Review

Slim and sleek, this stove is small but beautifully built and it simmers like a dream
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primus kinjia camping stove review
Primus Kinjia
Credit: Primus
Price:  $210 List
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Manufacturer:   Primus
By Mary Witlacil and Penney Garrett  ⋅  Nov 10, 2022
58
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 13
  • Boil Time - 25% 4.0
  • Fuel Efficiency - 25% 3.0
  • Simmering Ability - 20% 8.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0
  • Portability - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Primus Kinjia is a sleek and sexy stove with an easy setup and excellent simmering ability. It has no windscreen and only two-inch-wide burners, the smallest of any stove we tested, but these apparent shortcomings do not overly hinder its performance. The compact design makes boiling water, even when it's windy, decently efficient. This isn't the best stove if you regularly cook with large groups of people or with very large cookware, but for the right situation, it's a stylish and well-performing stove that's really pleasant to use.
REASONS TO BUY
Compact
Flexible fuel hose
Easy to clean
Excellent simmer
REASONS TO AVOID
No windscreen
Fuel stand is separate and could get lost
Attachment for fuel hose is flimsy
Editor's Note: Our review for the Primus Kinjia was updated on November 10, 2022, to reflect updated testing metrics and to add info on what other stoves we would recommend for a friend.

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primus kinjia camping stove review
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Primus Kinjia
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  Best Buy Award 
Price $210 List
$180.97 at Amazon
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$140 ListCheck Price at Backcountry
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Bottom Line Great for simmering in style, this quality, small stove is built for simple meals, not for heavy-duty group cookingA high-performing stove that boils fast, resists wind, simmers well, and is easy to cleanThis sleek and low-profile stove provides stellar wind resistance, an affordable price, and great simmering abilityA decent entry-level stove featuring a piezo igniter and a compact design, but with slow boiling and moderate wind resistanceAn absolute bargain, this versatile little stove cooks any single-pan or pot meal you task it with
Rating Categories Primus Kinjia Camp Chef Everest 2X Kovea Slim Twin Coleman Cascade Cla... Gas One GS-3000
Boil Time (25%)
4.0
9.0
7.0
4.0
3.0
Fuel Efficiency (25%)
3.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
2.0
Simmering Ability (20%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
Portability (15%)
8.0
6.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
Specs Primus Kinjia Camp Chef Everest 2X Kovea Slim Twin Coleman Cascade Cla... Gas One GS-3000
Weight 8.1 lbs 13.97 lbs 9.94 lbs 9.71 lbs 4.1 lbs
BTU per Burner (from manufacturer) 10,200 20,000 10,500 10,000 9,000
Average Boil Time (1 liter of water, wind & no wind) 6 min 22 sec 3 min 21 sec 4 min 58 sec 6 min 39 sec 8 min 45 sec
Boil Time (1 liter of water, wind from a box fan) 8 min 30 sec 3 min 25 sec 5 min 20 sec 7 min 56 sec 13 min
Boil Time (1 liter of water, no wind) 4 min 15 sec 3 min 17 sec 4 min 36 sec 5 min 23 sec 4 min 30 sec
Cooktop Material Painted steel Nickel-coated steel Nickel-plated steel Aluminized steel Enamel Coated Steel
Packed Size 18.5" x 11.75" x 3.5" 27" x 15.5" x 8.25" 23.4" x 14.7" x 3.3" 21" x 13" x 3.5" 14" x 12" x 3.5"
Cooking Surface Dimensions 17.25" x 6" 21" x 9.5" 20.5" x 12.5" 20" x 12" 8.25" x 8.25"
Burner/Flame Diameter 2" 4.75" 3.25" 3.25" 2.875"
Distance Between Burners (center to center) 9" 12.25" 10.5" 11" N/A
Windscreen? No Yes Yes Yes No
Piezo Ignitor? No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Number of Burners 2 2 2 2 1
Type of Model Tabletop Tabletop Tabletop Tabletop Tabletop
Fuel Type Propane Propane Propane Propane Butane
Model Number P-350111 MS2HP 168,970 2157477 GS-3000

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Primus Kinjia is well-built and makes it easy to cook your camp meals in style. While it is not the burliest or most powerful stove in our review, if your camp kitchen needs are simple and moderately sized, this is a great, if pricey, stove to consider.

Performance Comparison


primus kinjia camping stove review - despite small burners and relatively low btus, the kinjia performed...
Despite small burners and relatively low BTUs, the Kinjia performed quite well across all our rating metrics.
Credit: Penney Garrett

Boil Time


The Kinjia ranked in the lower third for this metric because it was less efficient at boiling water in our wind and wind-less tests. To evaluate the power for each stove, we conduct two boil tests — one in the presence of a constant 2-4 mph "wind" generated by a box fan and another without any wind — then we take the average between the two scores to rank the stoves. It took this stove an average of 6 minutes 22 seconds to boil 1 liter of 58°F water over our two tests.

primus kinjia camping stove review - without a windscreen this stove did not boil water efficiently...
Without a windscreen this stove did not boil water efficiently during our windy boil test.
Credit: Mary Witlacil

In the windy test, the Kinjia performed somewhat poorly because it does not have any windscreens. It took this stove 8 minutes 30 seconds to boil water in our wind test. While this ranks low relative to other stoves, it was faster than some models that do have windscreens. This is likely due to how close the burner sits to the cooking grate, and how the burner is somewhat recessed in the stove drip pan. In the wind-less test, it took 4 minutes 15 seconds to boil 1 liter of water, which was faster than half the stoves. It is not a top performer, but it isn't terrible either, the fact that the 2-inch 7,000 BTU burners were able to do this well is a testament to good design and execution.

primus kinjia camping stove review - despite the low btus and tiny burners, this stove still performed...
Despite the low BTUs and tiny burners, this stove still performed well across the board.
Credit: Penney Garrett

Fuel Efficiency


The Kinjia proved to be one of the least fuel-efficient stoves in our review. To determine fuel efficiency, we calculate the amount of fuel used in each boil test, and rank stoves based on the average between the two scores. It used 1.15 ounces of fuel or 7.30% of a fuel canister per boil test, proving to be one of the least fuel-efficient stoves in our review. In the windy test, it used 1.6 ounces or 10.16% of the fuel in a canister. In the wind-less test it burned 0.7 ounces or 4% of a fuel canister to boil 1 liter of water. If you love the design of this stove, but want to avoid adding dozens of fuel canisters to the landfill every year (or taking them to your recycling center if you live somewhere that recycles them), we suggest using it with a refillable propane tank and making a windscreen to shield the burners from the wind while you cook.

primus kinjia camping stove review - this stove was one of the top winners for packed size, but it still...
This stove was one of the top winners for packed size, but it still accommodates full size cookware.
Credit: Penney Garrett

Simmering Ability


The Kinjia has very user-friendly knobs and relatively low BTUs, thus it simmers with ease. The flame is hard to see when it's turned down low, but the ability to fine-tune and feel confident with accurate flame control is excellent. The small two-inch burners do create a bit of a hot spot in the center of cookware, particularly with thinner pans, but for most meals, this isn't a problem. You will need to keep a lighter handy for this stove, as it does not have an auto-ignition system.

primus kinjia camping stove review - this stove has a unique fuel setup with a flexible hose and a...
This stove has a unique fuel setup with a flexible hose and a separate fuel canister stand to keep it at the correct angle.
Credit: Penney Garrett

Ease of Use


Of all the models we tested, the Kinjia ranks among the easier stoves to use. There is a minor learning curve with opening this stove, as it has a unique closure system. However, once you get the hang of it, it is fairly simple: the sturdy wooden handle rotates up to unlock and open the lid. Fuel setup is a breeze. The flexible regulator comes pre-attached, and it stows neatly underneath the stove when not in use. The stove comes with a simple stand to elevate the neck of your fuel canister and keep it at the proper angle. The combination of the flexible regulator and stand allows you more flexibility with where you place your fuel bottle.

The fuel regulator is permanently connected to the stove and stashes...
The fuel regulator is permanently connected to the stove and stashes away in this handy slot on the bottom of the stove.
To remove the regulator, lift the spring-loaded housing to release...
To remove the regulator, lift the spring-loaded housing to release the regulator from its home.

There are a few noteworthy design features that distinguish this stove from others in our review, some are a bonus while others might be an annoyance. First, the head of the fuel adaptor fits into a small recess and is held in place with a spring-loaded aluminum brace. Previous iterations of this stove had a less durable housing mechanism (an elastic band), so we were impressed to see this upgrade. Second, the stand for the fuel bottle is a separate piece of aluminum. As a rule, our reviewers are not big fans of products that have lots of little parts. The fuel stand could be easily lost or forgotten. Realistically, this isn't the end of the world. While it might mean more trash in the backcountry, most stoves don't come stock with a stand to hold your propane canister at the proper angle, and they still work fine.

The Kinjia performed well in this category because it is among the easiest stoves to clean. In the field, it is easy to lift off the cooking grate to scrub down the almost fully sealed drip tray. For a more thorough cleaning, the drip tray can be fully removed. This is one of the only stoves we tested with a removable drip tray. This means you can make it look sparkly clean and new, no matter how much spaghetti sauce you boil over or how many food bits get dropped below the burner.

Portability


The Kinjia is one of our top picks for packed size with measurements of 18.5 x 11.75 x 3.5 inches. It has a thin and sleek design that's both attractive and functional, and we love the incorporated handle for carrying. A fair question to ask yourself, though, is how important it is to save a little bit of space when you're car camping? Is five inches more space in the back of your car worth the sacrifice of not being able to use two large skillets? Only you can answer that question for yourself. A 10-inch skillet on one burner of this stove leaves the other side feeling quite constricted. Our testers were pretty unanimous in feeling that the extra 3-5 inches of width on many of the other compact models we tested is worth it when you consider how much more power, space, and versatility you get.

primus kinjia camping stove review - the kinjia has a nice handle that doubles as the locking lever for...
The Kinjia has a nice handle that doubles as the locking lever for the lid of the stove.
Credit: Penney Garrett

Should You Buy the Primus Kinjia?


If you value form just as much as function, then the high price tag of this stove won't deter you. There is no doubt about it, the Kinjia is a sexy stove. It is lightweight, compact, and with the black steel body and wooden handle, it is beautiful to look at. You might want to ask yourself whether these design features are worth extra money to you. Other models in our review are less expensive, but more fuel-efficient and more powerful. Most stoves in our review have built-in windscreens, a wider cooking area, and bigger burners. Value is subjective, so there's no shame if this stove is worth the extra money to you, and we think it might be a wonderful gift for a stylish camper. But for serious foodies and anyone on a budget, it probably doesn't make sense.

What Other Camping Stoves Should You Consider?


We recommend checking out the Camp Chef Mountaineer and JetBoil Genesis Basecamp — both are spendy, but they deliver solid performance across almost every metric, and, depending on your style, they have a certain aesthetic appeal. If you would prefer a trim stove that gets the job done well for a fraction of the price, the Kovea Slim Twin is an excellent option to consider.

Mary Witlacil and Penney Garrett