Top 10 Best Backpacking Camping Stoves in 2024
It is difficult to find someone that genuinely dislikes camping. Camping is a popular activity especially for the ones that are looking to get away from the rush and noise of the city. As long as the company is great, and all the necessary essentials are packed, it is difficult to not have a great time. Packing sandwiches can work but nothing beats a hot meal prepared while camping in the middle of nature.
Since there are so many different camping stoves to choose from, we had to trim down the list and pick just 10 models. Practicality and a compact form factor have been the most important aspects that rendered some camping stoves more appealing than others. Most of them are quite inexpensive and they usually run on propane. With these things said, let us have a quick look at our list of the top 10 best backpacking camping stoves.
Best Backpacking Camping Stoves in 2024
Table of Contents
10. Housweety Lightweight Camping and Backpacking Stove
Housweety is a small brand that makes several practical products. Their backpacking stove is a great choice for the ones that like spending time out in nature. It is a compact stove that was designed to be very easy to pack.
The model has a small burner with supporting arms that can be folded so that the stove takes even less storage space. It is large enough for regular frying pans and pots and has threading so that nothing slips off the stove.
To use the burner, a regular butane or propane tank can be used. It is just screwed on top. It might not seem all that stable with a pot on, but it can be secured with rocks. The stove includes a small carrying pouch for easier transportation.
We recommend this because:
- Very small and compact
- Works with all regular propane and butane tanks
- Includes a carrying pouch
- Inexpensive but sturdy
9. Terra Hiker Camping Gas stove
Terra Hiker camping gas stove is a great companion for the ones that love spending time out and away from the city. It is a very compact stove that is very easy to pack and just as easy to use. According to the manufacturers, it can boil 1 liter of water in just 2 minutes.
The stove has folding arms so that it takes as little storage space as possible. It is mostly made from aluminum and steel making it quite durable and resistant to corrosion. Despite being so small and just 9.8 oz. in weight, it can support large cookware as large as 18 liters.
To improve practicality, the stands are serrated thus preventing a pan or pot from slipping. The stove comes with a short hose and works with most propane and butane tanks.
We recommend this because:
- Folding design becomes very compact
- Serrated stands for improved stability
- Short hose with a flame adjusting knob
- Lightweight but sturdy
8. OUTAD Windproof Foldable Camping Stove
OUTAD folding camping stove is quite similar to the rest of the models that were picked for our list but it has one extra feature that simply adds even more utility to it. The stove comes with a special design that protects the burner from the wind.
As expected, the stove has folding stands and legs which reduce its size so that it is easier to pack. The stand is serrated which prevents a pot or pan from slipping. The legs provide decent stability and can handle even large pots.
As far as practicality goes, the stove is very small and compact. It has a small reinforced hose that can be connected to a propane tank and a small know to adjust the burner. It can withstand high temperatures and can bring to a boil 1 liter of water in less than 3 minutes.
We recommend this because:
- High-quality lindal valve tank connection
- Folding design for easy transportation
- Includes a carrying case
- 360-degree wind deflector
7. Lixada Pocket Camping Stove
Lixada pocket camping stove is exactly what the name of the product states. It is a small stove that can even fit inside a pocket. Because of its folding design, the stove becomes extremely small and is extremely lightweight.
The stove has folding supports. When folded it becomes so small that it can fit inside a small pocket. The stand is serrated which prevents the pots and pans from slipping. They are also large enough to work with regular cookware.
To use the stove, a regular butane gas tank can be used. It offers about 2700 watts of cooking power and can boil a liter of water in less than 3 minutes. The stove is also quite inexpensive and fairly well built.
We recommend this because:
- Very compact and lightweight
- Serrated stand to prevent the cookware from slipping
- 2700 watts of cooking power, heat 1 liter of water in less than 3 minutes
- Works with regular butane and propane gas
6. MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Camping Stove
MSR PocketRocket 2 camping stove is one of the more expensive stoves in our list but despite this aspect, it is well worth the money. It can be classified as a pocket stove because of itits compact size and how easy it is to use.The stove has a folding design. Its stands that hold the pan are serrated so that it keeps the pan securely in place. It also has a small metal wall placed on the burner which protects it from the wind so that it does not extinguish.
In terms of construction, the burner is made entirely out of metal and feels quite sturdy. It needs to be screwed on directly onto the propane tank and has a small knob that can be used to control the burner.
We recommend this because:
- Very compact and lightweight
- Burner protected against wind
- Easy to install onto a propane or butane tank
- Serrated stand for large pots and pans
5. MSR WhisperLite Portable Camping and Backpacking Stove
The MSR WhisperLite is one of the larger stoves that were picked for our list. It has a different design that makes it a bit larger even when disassembled. However, because it is a bit larger, it feels more stable especially when used directly on the ground.
To improve its practicality, MSR made the stove with a short flexible hose that can be connected to most propane or butane gas tanks. It also has a small nozzle to control the burner and make it easier to prepare any kind of meal.
Since it is going to be used outdoors, the stove also has raised side walls which protect the burner from the wind. Cleaning the stove is very easy and comes with a lifetime warranty offered by the manufacturers.
We recommend this because:
- Lifetime warranty included
- Raised side walls around the burner to protect it from wind
- Flexible Hose
- Very easy to clean
4. Coleman Powerpack Propane Stove
Coleman Powerpack propane stove is quite large for a camping model but it is still usable. It can be packed in a large backpack but what recommends it the most is how easy it is to cook on. Being large makes it usable with pans as large as 12 inches in diameter.
The stove has a cooking power of 7,500 BTU which makes it just as good as a regular stove. The burner is very easy to adjust and offers very precise temperature control. Cleaning the stove is fairly simple since it has a chrome-plated grate.
Because of how it is designed, the burner uses less fuel while cooking when compared to other stoves. It is quite sturdy and durable and it works even in the most extreme conditions.
We recommend this because:
- Easy to clean
- Powerful, 7,500 BTU cooking power
- Precise temperature control
- Works even with large 12-inch pans
3. Coleman Sportster II Dual Fuel Burner Stove
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Coleman offers several high-quality products and their Sportster II burner stove is one of the most appreciated ones especially for camping. It is a compact stove that was made to be very easy to use and practical.The stove works with regular propane tanks and all it takes it to just screw it on. It does not have any kind of folding mechanism to make it smaller but it is small as is. The stove works with 6-inch pans and pots which is more than suitable for camping.
To make it work in all weather conditions, the stove has 4 cross-shaped walls that work as stands for the pan and block wind thus protecting the burner. Cooking power is about 10,000 BTUs and the temperature can be controlled using a small knob mounted at the base.
We recommend this because:
- 10,000 BTU cooking power
- Works in all weather conditions
- Quite compact and practical
- Wind baffles to protect the burner
2. Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove
The Coleman Bottle Top propane stove is a great choice for the ones that go camping often and like to pack light. Its reduced size and simple design make it work in all weather conditions even on a windy day.What makes it stand out when compared to other stoves is the wind baffles on the burner. They block the wind and prevent the burner from going out. Also, the stands are large enough to hold pans that are 8 inches wide.
In terms of power, the burner offers about 10,000 BTU. That is more than enough to cook any type of food. The temperature control will help cook food better while the stove itself is quite easy to clean.
We recommend this because:
- High efficiency, burns less fuel
- Wind baffles to protect the burner
- 10,000 BTU cooking power
- High-precision temperature control knob
1. Etekcity Ultralight Portable Outdoor Backpacking Camping Stove
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Etekcity portable camping stove is the ideal choice for campers. It is extremely compact and very practical. It folds in such a way that it can even fit inside a pocket. Also, it is quite inexpensive and well builds.The stove has a very minimalistic design and needs to be screwed on directly onto a butane or propane tank. It has serrated stands to prevent the pan from slipping and a small knob at the base that can be used to adjust the temperature.
As far as construction goes, the stove is made mostly out of stainless steel and aluminum. Because of its compact size, the stove is also lightweight. The manufacturers also included a small carrying pouch to make it easier to pack.
We recommend this because:
- Very compact fits inside a pocket
- Comes with a carrying pouch
- Serrated stand to prevent the pan from slipping
- High precision control valve
Things to keep in mind when looking for the best backpacking camping stoves
Camping stoves come in many different shapes and sizes. There are a lot of models to choose from and it can be a bit confusing especially when comparing several of them. Also, there are a lot of brands that offer the exact same camping stove but with different branding.
In order to spend money on something practical that will actually prove useful on a camping trip, it is important to have a few things in mind. If one camping stove may prove to be ideal for someone, others may find it unsuitable for them. Here are the main things to take into account.
- Folding design. The vast majority of backpacking camping stoves have a folding design. This type of stove is made to be as compact as possible so that they fit even inside a pocket. Larger models may be a bit more difficult to pack but they offer a higher cooking power and work with larger pots and pans.
- Wind baffles. Not all stoves have wind baffles and not everyone may need them. Their main utility is to protect the burner against the wind. The design of the wind protectors may be different from one model to another.
- Cooking power. The cooking power of a stove can vary a bit depending on its size and how it is designed. Not all manufacturers state how powerful the burner is but as a general rule, at least 7,500 BTUs is required in order to be able to cook food properly.
Conclusion
There are a lot of camping stoves available to choose from. The main idea that gave birth to these compact stoves is practicality. They need to be easy to pack, lightweight and provide a reliable means of cooking food.
Backpacking camping stoves are essential especially when spending time in nature and away from the city. Packing some sandwiches may seem a bit more practical but it is difficult to replace a hot, freshly cooked meal. It is the proper way to enjoy camping and without a stove, it might as well be called a picnic.
