Best Backpacking Stoves

Are you looking to trade the hustle and bustle of the daily grind for the great outdoors but don’t want to leave behind all the comforts of home? A backpacking stove ensures that you don’t. You can eat a hot meal at night and drink coffee in the morning while conveniently being unreachable by phone or email. A backpacking stove is lightweight and compact enough that you may not even notice it in your pack. If you want to keep your pack weight down, lightweight options are important. If cooking bacon and eggs to perfection is high on your priority list, make sure your backpacking stove comes equipped with an adjustable flame. Maybe you’ve had one too many spilled beans on the trail due to a non-windproof stove and you want to pack something a little sturdier next time. Whether weight, versatility, or sturdiness is your biggest concern, there is something on the market for you. We’ve rounded up a list of the top backpacking stoves for your convenience, so you can have more time to plan your next backpacking adventure.

Best Overall

MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Backpacking, Camping, and Travel Stove

Check Latest Price

Best Wood Burning

Ohuhu Camping Stove Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove

Check Latest Price

Most Versatile

REEHUT Ultralight Portable Camping Stoves Backpacking Stove

Check Latest Price

Honorable Mention

Jetboil Flash Camping and Backpacking Stove Cooking System

Check Latest Price

Best Backpacking Stoves Buying Guide & FAQs

In this section, we will go over common questions, challenges, and issues faced by those looking to purchase a backpacking stove. This includes the benefits of buying one, what different types there are, and general FAQs that other buyers have had.

Coming in a range of prices and styles, it can be hard to choose a specific backpacking stove without really knowing your needs. If you are a light camper, then your needs will be different than a long-distance backpacker. If you tend to camp by yourself, you may also have different needs than someone camping with a spouse or friends. Use this section to help narrow down your needs, and to address some issues you might face when using your new backpacking stove.

Why You Need a Backpacking Stove

While truly roughing it and creating your own fire plus your own support for cooking could be fun, after a long day of hiking sometimes all you want is a quick, hot meal. That is where a backpacking stove truly shines. They are designed to supply you with a quick, instant fire to cook your meals or make your coffee, saving you time and frustration.

They are also made to support pots and pans atop them, which makes it easier to cook a variety of meals. They typically have solid supports to keep them upright, even against heavy wind. When it comes to backpacking, every pound adds up when you carry it all day long. Backpacking stoves are designed to be light, compact, and even folded up to fit easily into your backpack.

They are made to support a pot or pan.
They are lightweight and compact for ease of carrying.
They cook meals and heat drinks quickly and easily.

The Most Common Types of Backpacking Stoves

There are three main kinds of backpacking stoves: canister stoves, liquid fuel stoves, and alternative stoves. Each comes with their own pros and cons, so be mindful of what type of camping experience you have in mind when choosing which is best for you.

Canister Stoves

Canister stoves are easy to use and typically very low-maintenance. They screw onto the threaded tops of self-sealing fuel canisters. These are typically very small and lightweight, folding in on themselves for storage. They operate off of two types of pressurized gases: isobutane and propane. These also tend to be more affordable than other types of backpacking stoves.

How do you know if you need these? If you are looking to spend less and have a smaller backpack, then a canister stove is your best bet. They also are easy to find with fuel that is easy to come by, making these hassle-free and good time-savers.

Liquid Fuel Stoves

Liquid fuel stoves do what you would assume based upon the name. They run off of liquid fuel as opposed to gas, or natural elements like twigs and pinecones. This liquid fuel comes in fuel bottles that are refillable. White gas is a common liquid fuel for these backpacking stoves, but there are a myriad of options.

Is this the best type of backpacking stove for you? For starters, you need to ensure you know how to keep the liquid fuel safe. The liquid container cannot have any spills, and when you fill your stove with the liquid you must use a funnel to stay safe. You also cannot overflow as you need airspace on top. Overall, these require more maintenance and are more dangerous. With the metal container and funnel needed, it will take up more space in your backpack. That also equates to more weight to carry on the trails.

Alternative-Fuel Stoves

If neither of the types above seem like a good fit for you, there are other options. Alternative-fuel stoves rely on different means of heat to cook your meals. One popular type among environmentally-minded people is natural fuel stoves. These rely on twigs, dry leaves, and even pinecones to fuel it. You get to gather your fuel from nature itself, which is fun if you are out backpacking among all the beauty of the world. However, it does take time to gather fuel. It also does not heat as quickly as gas or liquid fuel.

There are also backpacking stoves that use fuel pellets. These small tablets can be simply set inside to get a heat source. A benefit of these is that they are very safe, lightweight, and reusable. However, there are some drawbacks. These tend to be more expensive than other fuel sources. And it’s harder to control the heat levels, so if your meals need to simmer it will be difficult to do so.

What to Look for When Buying a Backpacking Stove

Some top features to look for in your backpacking stove is its weight, how long it burns on a given amount of fuel, and how long it takes to boil. What you need depends on your style of camping, and how much time you’re willing to spend preparing food each day.

Stove Weight

Stove weight can be extremely important, depending upon what your needs are. If you typically go camping on the weekend with short hikes, then a heavier stove is not likely to bother you, particularly if it stays at your campsite instead of in your backpack. But if you go on long-distance hikes, then weight is extremely important.

Seek out backpacking stoves that are less than a pound. As you carry all you need to survive on your back, each pound adds up very quickly. And certainly if you are a beginner to backpacking, lightweight items are your friend.

Burn Time

The burn time you get off a set amount of fuel is important to consider. If you are a casual camper, this is likely not something you’ll worry too much about. It will factor into how often you need to go to the store to buy more fuel, though. So choosing a stove with a long burn time will result in more time and cost savings to you.

However, if you are a serious backpacker, burn time is extremely important. You only have a set amount of fuel with you, so using it sparingly is key to being able to cook again and again. Seeking out a stove with a long burn time, or a reusable fuel source, will ensure you don’t have to worry about running out of fuel on the trail. When shopping, compare fuel consumption rates of various types of stoves, or keep in mind what fuel they need. For example, a backpacking stove that uses nature as fuel will not run out on you.

Boil Time

After a long day on the trail, a quick and warm meal is extremely satisfying. You may have plenty of time in the evening to cook your food and relax, or you may be exhausted and coming into a campsite late. This will impact what boil time you are looking for.

Quick-boil stoves will get water boiling within minutes. This makes it perfect for quick meals and hot cups of coffee or tea. However, there is a drawback to these. It can be hard to control the heat, which increases the chances of your food burning into the bottom of the pan or scorching the outside of your pot. It is harder to keep things at a simmer or give things a slow cook.

Stoves with a longer boil time protect your food and the pot or pan from burning. For meals that require simmering, these are perfect because you can more easily control the temperature. However, they require a time investment. This is especially true if you are using fuel from nature in your stove, as that takes a while to warm up.

Best Backpacking Stoves FAQs

Here we break down the most commonly-asked questions asked by buyers of new backpacking stoves. Use these to guide your shopping and more specific questions you might have regarding the use of these products.

Q. How do I clean a backpacking stove?

You will start with cleaning the fuel line, then clearing the sheath, then cleaning the shaker jet and other parts. Dry thoroughly.

Q. Who makes the best backpacking stove?

Coleman Company, Inc, owned by Newell Brands, is a top manufacturer of outdoor recreation products.

Q. Should I get a backpacking stove?

If you want to save time and cook your meals more efficiently, then yes.

Our Top Pick

The MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Backpacking, Camping, and Travel Stove is compact and lightweight. It comes with an adjustable flame and built-in supports. With its quick boil time and ability to cook at a lower temperature, it is ideal for most needs. There is no return policy, though you will likely find you don’t need one. It can also be noisy when setting its boil to the quickest time possible. But with a time frame of three and a half minutes to boil, it’s hard to complain.