The 12 Best Camping Stoves, According to Campers and Backpackers

Fuel type: Propane canister

BTU (British Thermal Units): 10,000 per burner (20,000 combined)

Coleman double burner gas stoves are the classic when it comes to car camping—they’re not too expensive, they’re durable, and get the job done. Fred Hoffman, professional camper and founder and chief editor of The True Wilderness, likes this stove because of its combination of performance and affordability. “I especially like the runtime,” says Hoffman. “I have used it for around 1.20 hours on full flow with a 16 oz propane cylinder.”

A few other features Hoffman appreciates with this stove are that it uses propane gas (an easy-to-find fuel source), and it has a matchless lighting system, windscreen, and adjustable knob to adjust the flame for different heat levels.

The stove puts out a combined 20,000 BTU (British Thermal Units), which isn’t the most powerful stove out there, but it’s plenty for most campers—it just means it may take a bit longer to cook food or boil water than a stove with a higher thermal output.

Fuel type: Propane canister

BTU: 20,000 per burner (40,000 combined)

Another popular camping stove option, the Camp Chef Everest 2x got top recommendations from three of our experts. “[For] car camping, my absolute favorite stove is the Camp Chef Everest,” says Outdoors Generations outdoor educator, Gaby Pilson. “I’ve used this stove for years and I’ve always found it to be one of the most efficient models on the market.”

Similar to the Coleman, this stove comes with an auto-igniter that makes it easy to get it going and has windscreens on both sides to block wind from messing with the flame or your food. Pilson notes that this double-burner “packs a punch with its 40,000 BTU combined energy output, which makes it easy to boil water in no time flat.” That’s twice the thermal power as the Coleman, but it also comes at a price — this stove is definitely on the pricier end of the spectrum at $170.

Fuel type: Propane canister

BTU: 10,000 per burner (single burner)

For a camping stove that’s stable, reliable, and affordable, this single burner bottletop camp stove is a camper favorite. Cofounder of Sēkr and Project Respect Outdoors Jess Shisler PhD and outdoors, travel, and finance blogger Lauren Keys both recommend this stove for car camping, particularly if you want something that’s quick, easy and compact that doesn’t cost a fortune.

Keys says, “It packs down into a small box, and the propane tanks it uses are both reasonably sized and readily available at most stores like Walmart and Home Depot.” The stove screws directly on the propane canister, so it’s easy to set up and light with a match or lighter while still being sturdy enough to feel like a solid stove.

The one main downside? Unlike the double burners, this stove doesn’t have any wind protection, so windy conditions may make it harder to light and reduce the efficiency of the flame.

Fuel type: Liquid

BTU: Depends on fuel type

Wilder notes that a double burner can often be the way to go for purely car camping because you can have more things cooking at a time. However, she also likes to use this “beefier backpacking stove” to work double-duty for both her car camping and longer backpacking trips.

This stove is ideal for colder temperatures, high-altitude adventures, or rural areas that may not have fuel canisters because it can use any type of liquid fuel. The stove is very adjustable and sturdy to hold different types of pots or pans. Considering price and number of burners, this may not be the ideal go-to car camping stove for beginners, but if you’re looking to reduce how much gear you have and you plan to do some longer or colder backpacking trips, this would be a solid option to bring along for car camping as well.

Fuel type: Propane canister

BTU: 10,000 per burner (20,000 combined)

For larger camping groups, Shisler likes the two-burner Camp Chef Teton. With a three sided windscreen, auto-ignition, and adjustable temperature controls, it covers all the bases for what you want in a double burner stove. The heat output is the same as the Coleman double burner at 10,000 per burner, but this stove does cost significantly more.

Fuel type: Propane canister

BTU: 10,000 per burner (20,000 combined)

Founder of outdoor blog Bearfoot Theory, Kristen Bor recommends the Eureka Ignite Plus stove for car camping or road tripping. “It’s fuel-efficient, has auto-ignition so you don’t need a lighter to start, and it’s easy to fine-tune the flame so you don’t scorch your dinner,” says Bor.

“It runs off propane fuel, and for those who want to score some sustainability points, you can get an adapter at Home Depot that will allow you to hook up this stove to a 10-gallon refillable propane tank.”

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Fuel type: Liquid

BTU: Depends on fuel type

MSR is a brand that has the backpacking stove niche dialed in for just about any occasion. This one is specifically for when you want to use a variety of fuels but still pack light. At 10.9 ounces, it’s not as light as some of the basic canister screw-on stoves (see below), but it has the added versatility of using any liquid fuel.

Founder of Fitpacking, Steve Silberberg outfits his entire backpacking business with this stove because he likes them that much. “What I really like about the Whisperlite is that it is field serviceable,” says Silberberg. “The backcountry can throw any number of environmental challenges at your stove and to be able to repair it in the wilderness several days from civilization is invaluable.”

Pilson also recommends this stove for backpacking: “The Whisperlite has better heat control than nearly any other stove on the market, so you can use it to boil water, sauté vegetables, or even bake a cake.”

Fuel type: Isobutane-propane canister

BTU: Not provided

This stove was one of the most recommended burners by all our experts and with good reason. At a relatively affordable price, this little stove is crazy lightweight (2.6 oz) but still packs a punch in regards to heat and efficiency.

Outdoor athlete, registered dietician, and owner of the training facility EVOLV Flagstaff, Abby Chan likes this stove when she’s out with a friend or partner to be able to cook for two. “I have had mine for going on 15 years now and it has yet to fail me,” says Chan. She has the older iteration—the PocketRocket—but the PocketRocket 2 has all the same winning features and is even lighter. The stove comes with a hard shell protective case to keep it safe in your bag. “I also like it because it does well in windy conditions and doesn’t require a specific pot for use,” says Chan. “It is a great budget option for those who are just getting into backpacking or camping.”

Fuel type: Isobutane-propane canister

BTU: 9,000 per burner (single burner)

This stove is slightly different from the previous stoves because it’s a full system that integrates with a specific pot. Camper, RV, and van traveler Carrie Fay explains, “it’s basically a 1-liter cup that mounts onto a small stove that’s mounted on top of a canister of isobutane fuel mix.”

While these types of full-system stoves tend to be slightly heavier and pricier than a standalone stove, they have the added bonus of having everything you need in one and often allow for more efficiency. This stove is the gold standard when it comes to quickly boiling water —it can boil 16 fl. oz. water in 100 seconds.

“It’s primarily for boiling water, but it makes so many things so much easier,” says Fay. “I used to wait forever for water to boil on a traditional camping stove, which led to waiting forever for coffee or water for cooking or cleaning. Now it takes me no time and cleanup is a breeze, too.”

Fuel type: Liquid alcohol/spirit burner

BTU: 3,412 per burner (single burner)

Long-time avid camper, artist, and author, Holly McWhorter likes the Trangia Spirit burner cook set for cooking while camping. “They’re super-lightweight, durable, and the parts are multipurpose,” says McWhorter. “The detachable handle can be used for either the skillet/plate or a pot/bowl, and the set gives you enough to cook a real meal and serve two people.”

This is a slightly different type of stove than any others on this list, using alcohol or other liquid fuel that’s not in any sort of self-contained canister or attachment. Instead, you pour your fuel into the little stove pot, then use a match to light it, and voila, you’re cooking. These stoves are known for being lightweight, durable, and inexpensive.

The downside? They aren’t incredibly efficient and don’t offer as much heat as most of the other stoves on this list. They can also be slightly more challenging to use lighting with a match and can be more hazardous if you spill it (all that flammable fuel you put in the stove is now just out and spreading).

Editor’s note: Due to wildfire risk, open alcohol stoves like this are generally not allowed in California, so if you plan to camp in California, this may not be the right stove option for you.

Fuel type: Isobutane-propane canister

BTU: 11000 per burner (single burner)

This little easy-to-use canister stove is a favorite from Brady Fraser, an outdoor writer for Two Trailbirds. Fraser notes the Soto WindMaster as his “all-time personal favorite stove, and the stove that’s best for beginners and veterans alike.”

Specifically, Fraser likes how well the stove handles wind—the stove’s concave burner design essentially acts as a windbreaker in windy conditions. “It’s amazing how many canister stoves become almost completely useless in even a light breeze, so the Windmasters’ ability to not only boil water in the wind but do it reasonably fast is a huge bonus,” says Fraser.

The stove also comes with a piezoelectric igniter (meaning no need for a separate lighter) and has an easily adjustable “micro regulator” for fuel output level so you can dial in exactly how much heat you want to put out. “It’s by far the best stove that I’ve used for pairing with a frying pan, so when I plan on frying fish or making huckleberry pancakes, taking the Windmaster is a no-brainer.”

Fuel type: Isobutane-propane canister

BTU: not given

This stove is a personal favorite of mine for camping or backpacking with another person. The WindBurner Duo is another stove system similar to the JetBoil Flash, but with this one, you can also adjust the heat output for cooking other food rather than just boiling water.

On the downside, this stove is on the pricier side and weighs more than many of the other backpacking stoves on the list. That being said, with those drawbacks comes added stability, incredible protection in wind, the integrated 1.8-liter pot, a straining lid, and a 0.85-liter bowl to eat out of.

The stove isn’t as quick to boil water as some other options, but the wider flame base also makes it possible to have more control over the simmering and allows for a more stable base for the pot.