How to Buy a Backpacking Stove For Your Next Camping Adventure

Who needs a heavy camp stove weighing you down on your backpacking adventure? (Um, no one!) Luckily, we’ve got recs on the latest compact cooking systems that will keep you eating well no matter how far you are from civilization.

These lightweight stoves fit easily into your backpack and use canister gas or liquid fuel. So you can quickly cook up a meal without impacting the environment by creating a campfire ring. But there’s a lot to consider, so first consider this: A perfect stove for all occasions doesn’t exist. Buy one that best meets your needs most of the time.

BEFORE YOU BUY…

• Are you just boiling water or actually cooking? A canister stove will be the lightest and most efficient for boiling water for drinks and dehydrated food. If you plan to sauté, simmer or fry your meals, get a canister or liquid fuel stove that lets you control the heat.

• Where are you going and when? For winter camping, a liquid fuel stove or an inverted canister stove that preheats fuel works best. If you’re cooking at a high altitude, try a pressurized liquid fuel or pressure-regulated canister stove.

• How many people are you cooking for? For a group, choose a stove with a larger cooking surface or support arms to hold a pot in place. (Some stoves use a pot specifically designed for the stove that can’t be swapped out.)

• What’s your budget? A stove that excels in wind protection, flame control and pressure regulation is usually more expensive, but it will be lighter and won’t need as much fuel, saving precious ounces on a big hike. Canister stoves are typically cheaper than liquid fuel stoves. But liquid fuel stoves can be repaired, so they might last longer.

PROPER CARE OF YOUR CAMPING STOVE

Keep your stove clean and dry. Store it inside a bag in your pack to protect it and so you don’t get soot in your backpack. It’s a good idea to keep a lighter, sponge and long-handled spoon with your stove system.

“Check your stove before you leave home to make sure your pot is clean and you have fuel in your canister,” says Lauren Guevel, a stoves design
engineer for MSR, a company that produces camping and mountaineering gear.

To make cooking cleaner, easier and safer, use your stove only on a stable, level surface that’s clear of flammable materials and can’t easily tip over.

“Stoves are gear,” says Alex Szela, senior director of product development for Cascade Designs, which specializes in outdoor recreation equipment. “Treat them with care and they’ll last a long time.”

SAFETY FIRST

Shop for stoves that use chemical fuels recommended by Scouting America. You can find a list of those, as well as proper storing and handling tips, at go.scoutlife.org/fuel.

Before using a stove, read the manufacturer’s instructions to learn about proper use, its fuel type and how to safely light it.

“And practice using your stove before you hit the trail so you understand how it works,” Szela says.

And of course: “Do not use your stove inside a tent,” Guevel says.

Youth should use backpacking stoves only under qualified adult supervision and after receiving instruction in their safe operation. And always operate stoves in areas with proper ventilation to avoid risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

STOVES WE LOVE

For beginners: GSI’S GLACIER CAMP STOVE ($39.95) is an affordable first backpacking stove. This stainless-steel burner weighs about 6 ounces and has a cooking surface large enough for a small frying pan. It sets up instantly but doesn’t fold flat.

For bells and whistles: At around 3 ounces, GSI’S GLACIER CANISTER-TOP ($64.95) offers a built-in ignitor and a powerful heat output in a lightweight package. It also folds flat to take up less space in your pack.

For year-round camping: The lightweight OPTIMUS VEGA ($119.95) features dual-mode operation that delivers fuel-efficient performance in normal conditions and reliable high-output cooking in cold weather. Its low-profile remote canister design provides excellent stability, while an integrated preheat system supports efficient cold-weather operation.

For quick boiling: JETBOIL’S FLASH 1.0L FAST BOIL SYSTEM ($144.99) can boil half a liter of water in 2 minutes. The compact stove’s pot locks to the surface, and the pot’s silicone lid transforms the pot into a cup that won’t burn your lips.

For cold-weather cooking: MSR’S WHISPERLITE INTERNATIONAL STOVE ($159.95) runs on white gas, a better choice in colder climates. It can boil a liter of water in 3.5 minutes and comes with a windscreen and heat reflector. And you can completely disassemble it in case you need to fix or clean it while you’re camping.

For group cooking: JETBOIL’S MIGHTYMO GROUP COOK BUNDLE ($159.99) comes with a stove and easy-to-clean cook pot, skillet and utensils. The kit weighs a little over 1½ pounds and boils a liter of water in 3 minutes.

For all-around good cooking: The MSR SWITCH STOVE SYSTEM ($144.95) has a high-efficiency pot that can be swapped out for regular pots and pans. Plus, a pressure regulator helps it perform in cold temperatures and at higher altitudes while providing great simmering control. All the parts and pieces nest inside the pot, including a 4-ounce fuel canister.