Best Backpacking Stoves in 2025

Did you know the modern portable stoves emerged since 1837? Alexis Soyer spearheaded many innovations including marketing his own portable stoves. Since then, backpacking stoves have evolved in many different ways.

We have now come a long way for portable stoves. You can enjoy a warm steamy cup of coffee before starting your exploration of the wilderness – especially with the best backpacking stove in your hands.

After hours and hours of testing, we have come up with a list of the best backpacking stoves and comprehensively reviewed all of them.

Best Backpacking Stoves Comparison Table

Image	Product		Price	Weight	Boil Time	Type	Rating	Benefits
	MSR Pocket Rocket 2	Check BEST Price	$$	2.6 oz.	210 seconds	Liquid Gas Stove	4.9/5.0	Ultra lightweight and compact backpacking stove that works efficiently with relatively low fuel consumption
	Jetboil Flash	Check BEST Price	$$$	13.9 oz.	100 seconds	Liquid Gas Stove	4.8/5.0	A backpacking stove that can boil your water in a flash and can cook almost any gourmet meal you desire
	MSR Windburner	Check BEST Price	$$$	20 oz.	270 seconds	Liquid Gas Stove	4.7/5.0	You basically get to cook your backpacking meals without ever needing to fiddle with a windscreen - definitely a game changer!
	Jetboil Minimo	Check BEST Price	$$$$	14.6 oz.	120 seconds	Liquid Gas Stove	4.8/5.0	If you want a backpacking stove where you can effectively control the amount of heat output and cook the finest dish, the Jetboil Minimo is up for the challenge.
	Tomshoo Camping stove	Check BEST Price	$$	16 oz.	150 seconds	Wood Stove	4.6/5.0	A greener alternative for a backpacking stove which helps you save money and burns effectively too
	Etekcity Camping stove	Check BEST Price	$	4.48 oz.	210 seconds	Liquid Gas Stove	4.7/5.0	A much cheaper alternative backpacking stove that still burns well plus its compact and lightweight too
	Jetboil Zip	Check BEST Price	$$$	12 oz.	150 seconds	Liquid Gas Stove	4.7/5.0	The cheapest Jetboil model but it still has all the perks - fast boil time and insulated Fluxring cup
	MSR Reactor	Check BEST Price	$$$$$	16.64 oz.	90 seconds	Gas stove	5.0/5.0	This is a gas stove with cutting-edge technology with fast boil time and can help you get through any adversity
	Coleman Sportster II	Check BEST Price	$$	37.6 oz.	330 seconds	Dual-Fuel stove	4.6/5.0	Choose this stove if you need a gas stove that has robust cooking power, duel-fuel technology and is extremely sturdy too
	Soto Windmaster	Check BEST Price	$$	2.3 oz.	150 seconds	Liquid Gas Stove	4.7/5.0	This stove is made to burn consistently even in windy or cold weather - doesn't need a wind- shield and wouldn't blow out easily too

Best Backpacking Stoves

1. MSR Pocket Rocket 2 – best backpacking stove for two

Company Overview – MSR has done it again by introducing the MSR Pocket Rocket 2. The price is extremely reasonable and the MSR Pocket Rocket functions extremely well too.

You’ll see why I placed the MSR Pocket Rocket on the first on my list after reading the review. You’ll also understand why the MSR Pocket Rocket has an extremely good rating by their customers too.

Also, the Pocket Rocket 2 stove is a next-generation stove that helps take everything to the next level. Besides having a design which resembles the original Pocket Rocket stove, the Pocket Rocket 2 is even smaller, lighter and performs more efficiently than its original version.

Characteristics of the MSR Pocket Rocket Backpacking Stove

Where it’s made – The MSR Pocket Rocket is designed in Seattle and made in Korea.

Size – The MSR Backpacking stove is really compact where it only has a dimension of 2 inches x 2 inches x 3 inches when you collapse the backpacking stove.

If you were to open it, it should measure 4.8 inches x 4.8 inches x 3.6 inches.

Since it’s really compact, you can just fit the backpacking stove into your mug which makes things much more convenient.

Weight – This backpacking stove only weigh 2.6 oz – extremely suitable for backpacking! 

Fast Boiling Time – You’ll be able to boil 1-liter of water in just 3.5 minutes.

Liquid-Gas Stove – Do note that you need to fuel the backpacking stove with isobutane-propane fuel canister, which is not included when you purchase the MSR PocketRocket 2. You can get the MSR IsoPro Fuel (8 oz.) here.

If you’re looking for MSR Ispro Canister Fuel (16 oz), you click on the link.

You can use other fuel tanks too as long as the thread for the fuel tank is the same.

Protective Case – When your purchase the MSR Pocket Rocket, the lightweight protective stove would be included. The stove would weigh 4.2 oz. / 119.07 grams with the case.

Features of the MSR Pocket Rocket Backpacking Stove

Ultralight and Compact – Since this backpacking stove only weighs 2.6 oz./ 73.7 grams, it’s suitable for ultralight backpacking. Also, the stove is really compact too – where it only has a dimension of 2 inches x 2 inches x 3 inches.

Simmer Control – You can easily adjust the flame from simmering to a rolling boil for this stove. This would be great if you want to open a gourmet kitchen in the outdoors.

Easy Set-Up – The MSR Pocket Rocket is really easy to set-up and use. You don’t need to do any preparations like pre-heating or pressurizing.

Serrated Pot-Support – Here, I am basically referring to the 3-legged serrated support structure on the top of the backpacking stove. The serrated pot-support is capable of accommodating a variety of pot sizes and styles.  

Furthermore, the robust pot support can bring a great amount of stability to the pot when you’re cooking.

Also, this new folding pot support design helps make the Pocket Rocket 2 really compact when packed.

Wind-Resistant – The MSR Pocket Rocket comes with a WindClip wind protection which helps increase the efficient burning of the fuel even during windy conditions. Basically, the WindClip helps to keep the burner focused so that a persistent and solid flame is produced. 

Compatible with the MSR Titan Kettle – The serrated pot-support is specially designed to be compatible with the MSR Titan camping kettle.

My Thoughts

Suitable for hiking or backpacking – When you’re hiking on a trail, you don’t want what you carry to be too heavy. This backpacking stove is ultralightweight and it don’t take up much in your backpack.

Okay Fuel Consumption – If you turn the knob just right and utilize the right amount of heat, you can see that the backpacking stove efficiently consumes fuel. I wouldn’t recommend going 1 full turn because it will just let a ton of heat roll up outside the pot. Instead, if you’re using ½ turn to boil the water, you should be able to see how efficiently the water is boiled.

Based on the test done, at a ½ turn valve, for around 650 grams of water to reach 212°F or 100°C, you will generally need 9 to 10 grams of fuel.

With an 8 oz. canister of Jetboil fuel at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the stove should be able to run for around 120 minutes. If you need around 3 minutes to boil a 2.5 cup non-stop, you’ll be able to cook around 40 packets of Mountain House freeze dried meals.

This means that you’ll be able to go for several long backpacking trips with this stove. Even if you’re cooking for 4 people on a 3 days backpacking trip, you’ll still get some leftover fuel.

However, it is important to note that this level of fuel consumption is just as good as a cheaper backpacking stove at a lower price point.

Heats Up really Fast – If you’re looking for a backpacking stove that is able to heat up really fast, the MSR Pocket Rocket stove is a great if you want to boil your water in 2 to 3 minutes (depending on how much water you’re boiling).

A Great Compromise – Let’s be real… when it comes to picking the best backpacking stove, you’ll need to come to a compromise for various aspects including weight, space, fuel consumption and ease of use.

The MSR Pocket Rocket is lightweight and takes up minimal space. Plus, this stove works really efficiently too. This stove is comparably better than most liquid gas stoves.

This is an excellent compromise in terms of price, boiling efficiency, durability and weight.

2. Jetboil Flash Backpacking Stove – best backpacking stove for beginners

If you like a more comprehensive review of the Jetboil Flash backpacking stove, you should definitely check out this article on the Jetboil Minimo vs Jetboil Flash. I have comprehensive covered all important aspects about the Jetboil flash in that post and made an in-depth comparison another strong contender, the Jetboil Minimo.

Characteristics of the Jetboil Flash Backpacking Stove

Colors – The Jetboil Flash camping stove comes in 4 colors – Carbon, Camo, Matrix and Wilderness.

1-Liter FluxRing Cooking Cup – You’ll also be getting Jetboil 1-Liter FluxRing Cooking Cup with the backpacking stove.

The cooking cup is well-insulated and can keep your food warm and cozy. This means you’ll be able to keep the contents in the FluxRing Cooking Cup warm really easily.

Furthermore, you can use this cooking cup as a measuring cup or a bowl too.

Also, I would like to highlight that the increasing surface area at the bottom of the pot contains FluxRing technology which enables fast heating.

Fuel canister Stabilizer – The fuel canister stabilizer will come inclusive with the stove.

Weight – The stove only weighs 13.1 ounces. (inclusive of the cup)

Features of the Jetboil Flash Backpacking Stove

Quick Boil Time – The jetboil flash is built to boil water super-quick – in just 100 seconds. Currently, this is the fastest backpacking stove in the market.

Do note that this boil time can’t be achieved easily. This was possible because Jetboil done an awesome job modeling the combustion and selecting the right materials to enhance the burning efficiency.  

Pushbutton Ignitor – You’ll be able to heat-up your food immediately by just a simple push of a button. You don’t need to pre-heat the stove or do anything in particular.

Thermochromatic Color-change heat indicator – You’ll know whether the water reach its boiling point by referring to this heat indicator.

Suitable for use with Jetboil accessories – The Jetboil Flash Backpacking stove is suitable to be used with other Jetboil accessories such as the pot support, the skillet, the Fluxring cooking pot and other utensils.

Flexible Fuel Options – You can choose to use either a butane/ propane fuel or the isobutane/ propane fuel.

Warranty

The Jetboil Flash comes with a one year limited warranty.

My Thoughts

Great for the Backcountry Expedition – The Jetboil Flash is both compact and efficient enough for you to go on a long-term exploration. It’s capable of heating your food anywhere while being efficient enough to not consume too much fuel. 

Easy Set-Up – Besides being durable, this backpacking stove is pretty lightweight and you can have a quick set-up too.

This means you only need to put in so much effort to get the cup of liquid to boil.

Pretty Compact – The Jetboil Flash is really easy to pack too. There are no separate parts on the loose and it takes up only a small amount of space considering that we are keeping both the Fluxring cup and jetboil stove.

Cook anything on the trail – Since the Jetboil Flash has an efficient heating system, you can basically cook anything on the trail be it preparing food, coffee or a warm freeze dried meal.

You’ll be equipped with the tools to cook any level of cuisines which you want to make.

You get a Fluxring cup which is pretty durable and the stove is able to boil the water really fast plus its fuel efficient too.

Don’t require much of your attention – Since the Jetboil Flash is able to boil water really fast and it has a thermochromatic heat indicator, you don’t really need to pay much attention to when your water is boiled or when your food is cooked. It will be pretty obvious and quick too.

Great for 1 – 2 persons backpacking trips – Since the FluxRing cup is pretty compact, it will be ideal if you are either backpacking alone or with one other person.

Pretty Fuel Efficient – If you use a 230g fuel can, you should be able to boil your water twice a day for up to 20 days.

3. MSR Windburner Stove – best backpacking stove for cooking in the wind

The MSR Windburner stove is one of the best backpacking stove in the market which deserves its own individual product review. If you would like to read a comprehensive MSR Windburner Review, click on the link to find out more!

Company Overview – Mountain Safety Research has many years of experience building outdoor products which you can trust. They have manufactured various hiking and camping equipment including backpacking stoves, water filters and tents.

Characteristics of the MSR Backpacking Stove

Color – The MSR windburner comes either in red or black.

Dimension – This backpacking stove has a dimension of 4.5 inches x 8.3 inches x 4.5 inches.

Weight – The MSR windburner weighs 1.25 lbs.

Features of the MSR Backpacking Stove

All-in-one stove – You will be getting an integrated system where you’ll get an efficient stove and a secure-locking pot that is able to act a personal eat and drink mug as well.  

Burns Efficiently – The heat exchanger is really efficient where the stove has a fast boil time of 4 minutes 30 seconds.

Windproof – The MSR Windburner comes with an enclosed design coupled with an internal pressure regulator that works together to make the stove unperturbed by external conditions.

Fuel Efficient – Compared to stoves that only use convective heat, the MSR Windburner is more fuel efficient.  

Compact Design – You will be able to conveniently pack the stove burner, a 4-ounce IsoPro fuel canister and a folding canister stand all inside the 1-liter pot. This makes it really convenient to bring around and it helps save space in your backpack too.

Warning

Watch out for safe amount of water to boil – I would recommend that you boil 0.5 Liter of water at a time especially if you use it aggressively.

Doesn’t work with propane – Do take note that this backpacking stove only works with isobutane fuel. You can’t use propane fuel to make it burn.

My Thoughts

Great for camping trips – The MSR Windburner stove has a compact design making it really easy to bring around. Plus, this backpacking stove is great for cooking all kinds of backpacking food including freeze dried meals with a great deal of efficiency.

Since the windburner is windproof, you can bring it to hike to high elevations without worrying about getting only a small flame.

Reliable in windy conditions – Even if we take the best backpacking stove such as the Jetboil Reactor and compare it head to head with the MSR windburner, this backpacking stove is much more reliable in a windy condition.

The other stoves require a windscreen to perform in windy conditions, but the MSR windburner already performs really well in windy conditions.  

Even in windy conditions, you can expect the water to reach rolling boil in 270 seconds.

To be honest, this is a game changer. You don’t have to fiddle with windscreen anymore when you are cooking your backpacking meals.

Great for one-person camping trips – If you usually go on camping or hiking trips alone, the MSR windburner can effectively fulfil your needs.

Since it’s designed to be compact and it only weighs 15.5 oz (440g), it’s ideal for a backpacking trip. Of course, this weight include the burner, a handle, the tripod stabilizer, a protective cloth and the pot.

If we compare this with even the lightest backpacking stove we have which is the MSR pocket rocket 2 which weighs 2.6 oz. you’ll need to also include a windscreen which generally weighs 6 oz., a durable pot a bowl and a stabilizer which adds up and would usually be more than 15 oz. I would even recommend using the MSR windburner skillet which goes really well with the MSR Windburner too.

Great for camping in sub-zero temperature – Even in cold environment, the MSR windburner is still able to perform efficiently. 1-Liter of water will be able to reach full boil in less than 3 minutes.

This means you can easefully prepare a freeze dried meal and a cup of hot coffee for two without much problems.

4. Jetboil Minimo Backpacking Stove – best for real cooking

Here’s another Jetboil stove because they’re just that good. The Jetboil Minimo however is much better for cooking a greater variety of meals, especially since its better equipped with the Proprietary Regulator Technology. You can read more about the comparison between the Jetboil Minomo vs Jetboil Flash too.

Characteristics of the Jetboil Minimo Backpacking Stove

Styles – There are a total of 5 styles you can choose for the Fluxring cup – Adventure, Camo, Carbon, Jetcam and Sunset.

Weight – The Jetboil Minimo weighs 14.6 pounds.

Fuel Canister Stabilizer – The backpacking stove comes with a fuel canister stabilizer – which effectively does what its name says.

Insulated Metal handles – The Fluxring cup comes with an insulated metal handle to help make things much easier for both cooking and eating too.

Features of the Jetboil Minimo Backpacking Stove

Quick Boiling Time – A cup of 0.5 Liter of water will be able to reach a rolling boil in 120 seconds.

FluxRing Technology – The Jetboil Minimo is similarly powered by the FluxRing technology which helps this backpacking stove to reach a rolling boil in 120 seconds with half the fuel consumption of what the traditional stoves use.

This technology increases the surface area at the bottom of the pot making it possible to heat up more efficiently.

Jetboil’s Proprietary Regulator Technology – This feature is what makes the Jetboil Minimo stand out. With this technology, you can have incremental heat adjustments – tweaking the heat from light simmer to full boil.

This makes the Jetboil Minimo really effective for cooking vegetables or sauces, where you won’t tend to overcook them.

Redesigned Fluxring cooking cup – The redesigned cup is optimized for low spoon angle, making it suitable for you to eat out of it and it has metal handles making it easier for you to hold it even when it’s hot.

Pushbutton ignitor – You don’t have to worry about using a matchstick. With just a push of a button, the backpacking stove will be up and running.

Save storage space – With the sideways burner storage design, you’ll be able to save up a lot of storage space. However, do note that you’ll only be able to pack them up as one small unit with a small fuel canister.

Works well in cold temperature – The Jetboil Minimo is able to perform consistently even when the surrounding temperature goes down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.667°C).

Warning

All items don’t fit into the cup – Since the Cup isn’t tall, youx won’t be able to fit all the necessary items into the cup and carry it around. This means that the backpacking stove isn’t that compact at all.  

Warranty

The Jetboil Minimo, similar with the Jetboil Flash, comes with the 1-year limited warranty too.

My Thoughts

Suitable for precision cooking – With Jetboil Proprietor technology, you’ll have even more control over the flame which makes it much easier when it comes to cooking food.

Basically, you’ll get to have a precision cooking system in a totally portable form. Plus, you can be sure that the Jetboil Minimo deliver consistent performance down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Efficient Simmer Control – The industry standard is to go from zero to full throttle by a quarter of a turn.

However, the Jetboil Minimo allows you to have 4 FULL TURNS which gives you effective control over the flame.

This is a must-have function if you’re looking to sauté some veggies with your camping meals.

Versatile Backpacking Stove – The Jetboil Minimo is extremely versatile where you’ll be able to use it with the 1.5-Liter Fluxring pot when you want to cook more food or you can use the Summit Skillet when you want to heat your food evenly.

Filters Out Wind Well – With the guard around the flame, the stove is able to filter out the wind really well. This helps ensure that the stove works efficiently even in windy conditions.

Easy to eat out from the cup – Since the Jetboil Minimo is not so deep and a little bit wider, this makes it much easier to eat out from the cup using utensils. The only downside is that you can’t conveniently pack all the items into the cup – which means this stove isn’t as compact as the Jetboil Micromo, which is able to do just that because it has a taller cup.

If you’re interested in a comparison between Jetboil vs MSR, where I compare 2 really similar backpacking stoves from both brands i.e. the Jetboil Minomo and the MSR Windburner, I would encourage you to check out the post.

5. TOMSHOO Camping Stove – Best Wood burning stove

Company Overview – TOMSHOO is a company that focuses on manufacturing sports and outdoor products. Their motto is about spirit and health, basically coming up products which promote this motto.

If you love the outdoors or you are a fitness fanatic, you’ll definitely want to see what Tomshoo have to offer.

Characteristics of TOMSHOO Camping Stove

Material – The camping stove is made from pretty solid stainless steel. This means this stove is capable of lasting long since it’s capable of withstanding heavy weight and really strong heat.  

Compact Size – This camping stove is easily collapsible into a really compact size, which is 5.4 inches (D) x 2.8 inches (H).

When it’s assembled, it has a dimension of 5.4 inches (D) x 6.9 inches (H)  

Weight – This backpacking stove is pretty lightweight, only weighing 1 pound/ 470 grams.

What the package contain – Besides getting the Tomshoo camping stove, you’ll also get 1 alcohol tray, 1 BBQ Grill net and 1 mesh storage sack.

Features of TOMSHOO Camping Stove

Windproof Serrated Cross stand – The Tomshoo camping stove comes with a serrated cross stand which is a stable platform for you to put your cookware and this helps increase the heat exposure too.

Burns Efficiently – This camping stove has a double wall inside which makes the cold air contained in the stove to heat up really fast – which also means the stove burns really efficiently too. This double wall structure helps create stronger gasification and secondary combustion, which contributes to efficient burning too.

Use surrounding twigs as fuel – Besides using solid alcohol fuel, you can also get access to unlimited amount of fuel by using twigs, leaves, branches or dry wood to fuel the fire.

This would mean you have easy access to fuel if you’re outdoors camping in tropical weather especially in heavily wooded places.

Convenient to bring around – Since this stove has a compact size and you can pack it into the mesh carrying sack that comes with it for convenient storage, you can bet that you are able to easily carry this stove around.

Comes with a Grill – The Tomshoo camping stove comes with a grill attached where you can start your barbeque anywhere you set-up this backpacking stove.

Has a Feeding area – Unlike the older wooden stove, this stove has a feeding area which is vital if you want your fire to burn continuously. You get to conveniently add dry wood or leaves without taking off the pot or the pan.

Warranty

Similar to jetboil stoves, you will be getting a 12-month warranty where you can get all the defects fixed.

Warning

Can’t Easily control the flame – For most wooden stove, the problem that arises is that you can’t easily control the fire. This means you can’t be cooking solid items or other delicacies.

Pack up Dry Pellets – If you are in an area with a lot of wet wood, you may want to keep dry pellets as fuel and use them. This will save you a huge amount of time in setting up the fire. After getting the wooden stove burning for around 10 minutes, you can continuously use wet wood to fuel the stove.

My Thoughts

Great for going green – If you don’t want those dry leaves and twigs around the forest ground to go to waste, why not turn them into fuel for your campfire?  

Since you don’t use gas canisters, this help reduce the amount of chemical emissions too.

Easy Set-up – This stove is considered to be pretty easy to set-up for a wooden burning stove.

First, just place the stove chamber on top of the bottom vent while inserting the stove base plate.

Next, you just have to add dry twigs or leaves in the pot rack.

Finally, just fire up the wood and put the cooking pot on top of the burner.

Now, your outdoor cooking fire has been set-up.

Helps you save money – Instead of spending money purchasing fuel canisters, you can use dry leaves or twigs as fuel for you to cook your meals.

If you are looking for a cost-effective and green option for cooking your food outdoors, the Tomshoo camping stove is a winner.

Burns Wood Efficiently – Besides being able to burn dry wood fast, the fire emitted from the stove is able to last long.

Less Ashes Left behind – As compared to most wood burning camping stove, this stove leaves much less ashes.

A stove you need for bugging out – Unlike most backpacking stoves that requires fuel, this stove is able to burn surrounding dried leaves and twigs effectively. This means if you bug out with this stove, you’ll be able to get fire as long as you find dried leaves or twigs. You don’t have to carry around extra canisters too which means your bag will be much lighter.

Versatile – Because of the modular design, you’ll be able to use this stove in a number of ways – where it functions as a wood burner or you can use solid alcohol as a fuel source too.

Great for bikers – As bikers, you’ll have minimal pack space. This backpacking stove don’t require you to carry any fuel and its extremely lightweight – plus it doesn’t take up much space in your pack.

6. Etekcity Camping Stove – best for casual backpackers

Company Overview – Etekcity Corporation is an e-commerce retailer that focuses in manufacturing products in the home improvement niche, consumer electronics and outdoor equipment. The company was founded since 2011 and they have grown pretty fast since then.

Characteristics of the Etekcity Backpacking Stove

Material – This backpacking stove is made from both aluminum alloy and stainless steel, which means it’s able to withstand high temperature or heavy weight.

With the gas furnace being made of stainless steel, it means there shouldn’t be any rust or corrosion. Also, you can use this stove outdoors without worrying about water corroding the stove too.

Compact Size – The Etekcity backpacking stove has a collapsible portable design with a dimension of only 1.81 inches x 2.36 inches x 3.15 inches. This basically helps save up around 50% of the space in your backpack.

If you’re into lightweight camping, this stove is a great option.

Portable – Besides having a compact size, the stove comes with a carrying case to make it more portable.

Weight – The Etekcity ultralight camping stove weighs 4.4 ounces.

What does it include – The package includes the Eteckcity backpacking stove, a carry case and one user-guide.

Features of the Etekcity Backpacking Stove

Versatile – You can easily use this backpacking stove for any pots or pans with a diameter up to 7 inches.

Also, this stove is compatible with any 7/16 thread single butane/butane-propane mixed fuel canisters (EN 417).

Effective Flame Control – This backpacking stove comes with an adjustable control valve where you’ll be able to decide whether to have maximum heat output or have just a simmer.

This means you’ll be able to use this backpacking stove for gourmet cooking too.

Burns without leaving a trace – If you don’t want to leave any trace wherever you set up a campfire, this backpacking stove is great for that where it burns really clean without leaving any debris behind.

Quick Ignition – As long as you have a strong valve connection, you should be able to ignite the stove really quickly and the flame should be able to stay on consistently. This is because the stove is equipped with a built-in electric-spark ignition system.

Warning

Be careful with the valve – Remember to switch off the valve before screwing on the canister to avoid any gas from leaking.

If you want to ignite the flame, remember to turn on the valve first too.

Doesn’t last too long – Since this backpacking stove is pretty cheap, I think it would be good to expect that it should last around 5 years. If you want something for the long-term, it’s better to invest in higher-end stoves like the Jetboil Minimo or MSR Windburner.

My Thoughts

Stable and has a good bearing capacity – The stove can be firmly fixed on the ground because it has a 4-angle solid support.

Furthermore, there is a serrated tray holder that helps to fixate pots and pans effectively too.  

Burns efficiently – Since the stove is honeycomb-shaped and the alloys can withstand high temperature, the fire should be able to burn effectively. The windproof screen also helps in condensing the flame by increasing the amount of oxygen circulating.

Furthermore, this stove is able to get things heat up quickly like the more expensive alternatives.

Burns even at high altitude – This is a must-have feature for hikers. The Etekcity backpacking stove is able to produce a powerful flame even in colder surroundings or higher altitudes.

Great for beginners – Unlike wooden stoves, this stove is super-easy to set up. You just have to fix the stove on a compatible fuel canister and you’re good to go.

Great bang for the buck – If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative for a liquid gas stove, the Etekcity backpacking stove is one of the best options you can choose.

Instead of the usual Jetboil, you can get this cheaper option which is also simple, compact and works effectively too.

Works well in windy and rainy conditions – Even when there’s a heavy downpour or it’s windy, the etekcity backpacking stove should work without issue if you have a windscreen equipped.  

Excellent for lightweight backpacking – Since this stove is lightweight, compact and durable enough, it’s a great candidate to bring around for long hikes or a lightweight camping trip.

7. Jetboil Zip Camping Stove – best for one preson

Here comes another Jetboil Stove. If you’re looking for the cheapest alternative to own a Jetboil stove, you’re in luck.

Characteristics of the Jetboil Zip Camping Stove

Size – The Jetboil Zip has a dimension of 6.5 inches x 4.09 inches x 4.09 inches.

Weight – The stoves weighs 12 ounces / 340 grams.

Compact – Since there are no loose parts, you can save pack space and carry this camping stove around easily. Also, the fuel canister fits inside the cup which helps save some space too provided that you use a small enough fuel canister.

What it comes with – Besides the Jetboil Zip camping stove, it comes with a gas canister stabilizer, the stove piece, the cap and protection cover for the cup.

Features of the Jetboil Zip Camping Stove

Fluxring Technology – This backpacking stove is powered by the FLuxRing technology, helping the stove heat up more efficiently.

Efficiently Fuel Consumption – The jetboil zip is capable of boiling water in just 2 minutes with half the fuel consumption as compared to the traditional stoves.

0.8 Liter Fluxring cooking cup – When you purchase the Jetboil Zip Stove, it will come with Jetboil’s 0.8-Lieter FluxRing cup which helps keep the contents warm.

Furthermore, the bottom of the cover can act as a measuring cup or a bowl too. This means you don’t have to add other unnecessary items into your backpack increasing unnecessary weight.

Drink-Through Lid – The cup has a lid which you can drink through where there’s a pour spout and a strainer.

Compatible with Jetboil Accessories –  Similar to other Jetboil stoves, it’s compatible with Jetboil accessories such as the pot support, Jetboi’s skillet or Fluxring cooking pot.

Fuel Canister Stabilizer – The stove comes with a fuel canister stabilizer which makes things much safer.

Warning

Match Ignition – Unlike most of the backpacking stove from Jetboil, this stove needs to be ignited from a burning match.

Suitable for 1 – 2 person – Similar to most stoves as introduced before, it’s only suitable for 1 to 2-person cooking. If you are interested to cook for more people, I would recommend you to check out the MSR Reactor.

No Regulator – Since there isn’t a regulator, I would recommend this stove only if you’re looking to boil some water or prepare some freeze-dried meals.

My Thoughts

Great for expeditions – No matter which place you go for your backpacking trip, this backpacking stove got your back. This stove will be able to burn efficiently in varying conditions, provided that the environment isn’t too extreme of course.

This stove is designed to burn reliably and fulfill all your needs.

Quick set up – This backpacking stove similarly is really easy to set-up and can boil water in just 2 minutes.

Affordable Alternative for Jetboil – The Jetboil Zip is the most affordable alternative especially if you want to own a Jetboil stove. Although it’s a cheaper option, the stove still functions just as well and it’s pretty solid too.

Being the lowest priced Jetboil stove, you may have some doubts towards this stove. But fret not, because I can assure you the quality of the stove is just as good as the other Jetboil stoves.

Great if you just need a hot drink – The Jetboil Zip is a great alternative if you’re looking for a stove that can help you make a hot cup of coffee, have some oatmeal or cook some dehydrated foot. It wouldn’t be suitable for slow-cooking meals. Definitely a great option for high intensity heating.

8. MSR Reactor Stove System – best backpacking stove for cold weather

The MSR Reactor is made with cutting-edge technology and boils even faster than the MSR Windburner.

Characteristics of the MSR Reactor

Where is it made – The MSR Reactor is made in the United States.

Product Dimension – The MSR Reactor has a dimension of 6.5 inches x 5.5 inches x 5.5 inches.

Size – You can choose to purchase either the 1.0 Liter Reactor stove, 1.7 Liter Reactor Stove or the 2.5 Liter reactor stove.

Weight – The MSR Reactor weighs 16.64 oz./ 1.04 pounds.

Compact Design (with 4 oz. canister) – All of the backpacking stove system should be able to fit in the MSR Reactor. However, do note that for the 1.0 Liter Reactor system, only smaller diameter canisters such as those with 4 oz. can fit.

Features of the MSR Reactor

High-Tech Stove and Efficient Cookware – The MSR Reactor stove is an integrated system consisting of the high-tech stove and efficient cookware. These 2 systems are combined into a user-friendly system – the MSR Reactor.

Fast Boil Time – The MSR Reactive has a pretty fast boil time of 90 seconds, being ahead of all the competition, including the Jetboil Flash which has a boil time of 100 seconds. This means you can still easily boil liquid despite in really cold condition too.

Excellent Wind Protection – The heat exchange encloses the burner head, which helps reduce the influence of external wind. This helps in decreasing the boil time and it helps save fuel too.

Furthermore, this also means that the MSR Reactor delivers excellent performance in both cold surroundings and windy conditions.

Warning

Doesn’t Pack Compact – The heating element does not fit into the pot. Also, if you get a canister that is 8 oz., it won’t fit into the stove.

No Temperature Control – The stove either gets hot or turns off. There isn’t any way to control the temperature.

My Thoughts

Cutting-edge technology – The MSR Reactor is equipped with a cutting-edge radiant burner, novel heat exchanger and internal pressure regulator, which are all patent-pending technology.

These technologies are made to ensure the MSR Reactor burns efficiently while ensuring that the stove efficiently consumes fuel.

Fuel Efficient Stove – Comparing to most gas stoves, the MSR Reactor is one of the fastest and most fuel-efficient stove to date.

Get through any Adversity – You’ll be able to face any adversity with this stove. Even when it’s really cold or super windy, you can count on the MSR Reactor Backpacking stove to pull you through those hard times.

Suitable for Mountaineering – If you’re going to climb a mountain and be more than 10,000 feet above sea, you’ll need the MSR Reactor stove.

This stove has no issues working in that altitude. At most, the cold temperature may lengthen the boil time. Once you reach an environment that is less than 20 Fahrenheit, the Isobutane can’t evaporate that fast and the burner can’t let out as much heat as you want to. I would recommend putting the fuel cylinder into a bowl with warm water so that the stove can burn efficiently.

Boils Ice – If you’re planning to bring the stove up the snow mountain and boil ice cold water, you’re in luck. This stove is able to boil ice cold water in around 2 minutes.

Great for Family Camping Trips – You can choose either the 1.0 Liter, 1.7 Liter or 2.5 Liter cup which means you can cook for 3 to 4 people at a much quicker pace.

No Cleaning Required – Since there are no moving parts, there’s nothing for you to clean.

Great for Cooking Meat – This backpacking stove does so much more than just boil water – you can cook fish or meat. Of course, you need to keep your eyes on the pan because this stove heats up really fast.

Best Portable Stove in the Market – This stove can quickly boil water, is really lightweight, easy to light up and it’s obviously made from high-quality materials.

MSR Reactor vs MSR Windburner – I thought it would be helpful to highlight some difference. The MSR Windburner is more similar to the Jetboil Flash/ Minimo where the pot can be locked on the stove with a twist. You can even hold the pot directly without getting burnt since it’s covered with neoprene.

However, the MSR Reactor stove looks more like a conventional stove where the pot sits on top. Since there’s no neoprene cover, you have to use the handle when handling with the cooked food or else you may get burnt.

Furthermore, the MSR Reactor is more versatile than the MSR Windburner. If you want to cook a wider variety of food, the MSR reactor would be a better option.

9. Coleman Sportster II Camping Stove – best for real food

Company Overview – Coleman Inc. is a brand that is focused in making camping gears. They started all the way back since World War II and continued to revolutionize camping stove technology.

Currently, Coleman is extremely popular for manufacturing high-quality outdoor products. The Coleman tents are highly popular too.

 

Characteristics of the Coleman Sportster II Camping Stove

Product Dimension – The Coleman Sportster II has a dimension of 6.6 inches x 7.4 inches x 7.4 inches.

Weight – The stove is pretty heavy, weighing 2.35 pounds.

Compact Design – The design is pretty compact and it should be able to fit really easily into your backpack.

Features of the Coleman Sportster II Camping Stove

Robust Cooking Power – The camping stove has a bond-a-blu burner that can deliver up to 10,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit) which is quite a lot of firepower. You’ll be able to get a consistent and reliable flame to cook your backpacking meals.

To put things into context, the typical stove burner at your kitchen should have at least 12,000 BTU. This stove is capable of cutting it pretty close.

Pretty Versatile – This stove can fit pans that have 6-inches in diameter.

Duel-Fuel technology – You can choose either to fuel the Coleman Camping stove either with liquid fuel or unleaded gasoline.

Wind Baffles – The stove is equipped with technology that is suitable to be used in all season and wind baffles that ensures the stove is able to perform reliably even in harsh weather.

The wind baffles should significantly help shield the flame from the wind so that all the heat are used to cook your meal.

Gives out a lot of heat – Although this stove is as large as most backpacking stove, it’s able to give out a lot of heat which is dispersed across the burner area.

Warranty

The manufacturer does provide a limited Lifetime warranty for this stove, which shows their confidence on the product too.

Warning

Pretty Heavy – Unlike most backpacking stove which is really lightweight, this stove is pretty heavy. I would recommend this for car camping trips and wouldn’t encourage bringing it around on a long-trail.

Be careful with the simmer control – Since this is a gas stove, you need toe burner to run a few minutes so that the generator is warmed up to the operating temperature. Only then, you can use the simmer temperature.

My Thoughts

Cook in any weather – This stove is solid enough for you to cook in any weather no matter how harsh the weather is.

Great for cooking large amount of food – Even if you are using a 4 or 5 Liter stove, the Coleman Sportster II is able to cook a large amount of food or liquid efficiently.

Really Sturdy Stove ­– Unlike most high-end backpacking stove where you can fid a limited amount of food at a time, you can bet that this sturdy camping stove can fit in much more than the usual capacity.

Uses Little Gas – The amount of white gas used by this stove for cooking is amazingly little.

According to the specifications, it can burn 1.75 hours on full throttle and 6.5 hours when it’s on low flame.

Great Backup Stove – If you’re looking for a backup stove just in case if your house is hit by a flood or a hurricane, this stove is an excellent choice. It doesn’t use up too much fuel and it creates a lot of heat, suitable for serious cooking.

Significant fuel capacity – This stove has a huge amount of fuel capacity – which means it’s great for long camping adventures.

10. SOTO Windmaster – best for simmering

Company Overview – Soto windmaster is manufactured by Soto outdoors, where its parent company is Shinfuji Burner, a company in Japan. The company was founded in 1978 and they are hyperfocused in creating devices that can function in cold weather and really windy conditions.  

Characteristics of the SOTO Windmaster 

Product Dimension – When the stove is in-use, it has a dimension of 5.9 inches x 5.9 inches x 3.2 inches (15cm x 15cm x 8cm).

When it’s stowed, it has a dimension of 1.34 inches x 1.8 inches x 2.5 inches (3.4cm  x 4.62cm x 6.37cm).

Weight – The stove weighs 2.3 oz. / 65.2 grams.

What does it include – When you make this purchase, the package comes with the backpacking stove, a carry bag and a 4-flex support.

Strong Fire Output – This stove has a fire output of 11000 BTU, which is around 2800 kcal/h or 3260 w.

Features of the SOTO Windmaster 

Quick Boil Time – This stove is capable of boiling 2 cups of water under 150 seconds even in harsh weather conditions when there’s strong wind or when it gets cold.

Consistent Fire Output – The fact that the stove can have consistent fire output means that the stove can still perform really well in cold temperature. Plus, it means that this stove has thermal shock resistance – where it has the ability to resist significant temperature change.

4-Flex Support – The Soto Windmaster comes with a 4-flex support that helps the stove support larger pots or other cookware. No matter what you throw at it, the Soto windmaster will be able to support it.

Do note that prior to 2018, Soto used to have a 3-arm port stabilizer.

Positions the pot near to the flame – The Soto Windmaster is designed to position the pot really close to the flame, which makes it impossible for the wind to affect the burning flame.

Has a Micro Regulator – With a micro regulator installed, the Soto Windmaster is capable of maintaining a consistent output so that the flame can keep burning consistently.

Stealth Ignitor – The stove also comes installed with a stealth igniter so that it’s much easier to ignite the flame and this ignitor prevents the flame from breaking too.

Warning

Be careful when using it in cold weather – Although this stove is suitable for extreme weather conditions, you still have to take precautions when using this stove in cold weather. Like all canister stoves, the fuel source has to be kept warm in order for the stove to burn the gas. I would recommend putting a bowl of warm water around the fuel source to help keep it warm enough.

Alternatively, you can keep the fuel source warm with your hands or stuff it inside your jacket for around 30 to 45 minutes before use.  

My Thoughts

Great for Extreme Weather – Even when the weather gets pretty rough, the Soto windmaster is able to maintain a strong flame despite having the odds against them.  

Excellent at Simmer Control – The Soto Windmaster is unreal when it comes to simmer control. If you’re planning to cook with a gas canister stove, the Soto windmaster is a great option if you want to slowly simmer your food.

Hard to blow the flame out – The way the Soto Windmaster is designed makes it really difficult to blow the flame out.

Most stoves have a dome shape for the flame expulsion point but the Soto Windmaster has a tiny wall that goes round the edge and a wide diameter surface area for flame expulsion, which makes it much harder for the wind to affect the flame.

Get full control over the flame – You’ll need to turn the knob several times for the flame to go from nothing to full throttle. This means you can fine-tune the flame and ensure that it burns consistently at the level you want it to.  

Say Goodbye to windscreens – For the Soto Windmaster, it’s sufficient if you use your body to block out most of the wind. You don’t really have to carry a windscreen around or meddle with it.

Windproof, Fast-boiling and Quiet – This is where the Soto Windmaster is superior to other rocket stoves. It’s windproof, boils really fast and it’s quiet too – fulfilling all 3 requirements. Unlike most rocket stoves, this fact that this stove is quiet is a huge pluspoint if you don’t want to attract unnecessary attention.

Types of Backpacking Stove

1. Canister Stove

Canister stoves are usually the easiest to use and don’t require much maintenance. Unlike wood burning stove for example, you don’t have to clean up much right after using a canister stove.

Furthermore, canister stoves are excellent for 3-season backpacking. They are commonly known for being lightweight, extremely easy to use and it gets the flame up and running almost immediately.

All you have to do is screw the backpacking stove on top of a canister and you’re in for a treat.

In fact, some canister stoves such as the MSR windburner don’t require a wind shield while you’re operating it. For these types backpacking stoves, you have an extra pluspoint because you don’t have to carry around a windshield with you.

However, you need to be very particular about the isobutane fuel canister you use with the canister stove. They won’t work with canisters which are not compatible and you may have a tough time finding the right one. I would recommend ordering one online and some spare ones too when you purchase the stove.

I would definitely recommend most backpackers to go for a canister stove because you can’t go wrong with it.

2. Liquid Fuel Stove

Liquid fuel stoves are known to be really versatile because you can connect the stove with refillable fuel bottles.

Liquid fuel stove is especially useful if you are going to do plenty of cooking. If you’re backpacking with a larger group of people and foresee that you’re going to use the stove often, you can opt for a liquid fuel stove because you’ll have much more reserves.

Another plus point is that liquid fuel stoves works much better at sub-zero temperatures as compared to other types of stove.

However, they are often heavier and it isn’t easy to purchase white gas too. Also, you will need to put in much more effort in maintaining the liquid fuel stove.

3. Alcohol Stove

Alcohol stoves were previously very popular because they are lightweight and it’s a cheaper option too.

Also, it’s really easy to find alcohol too. It’s easy to make or you can easily find it anywhere, which means you can use an alcohol stove in an international backpacking trip.

However, if you want week’s worth of fuel to go with your alcohol stove, it will add much more extra weight as compared to a canister stove.

Another negative point is that they don’t produce heat that efficiently where you’ll need to wait much longer to get your water boiled and it doesn’t work well in windy conditions too.

4. Wood burning stove

For wood burning stoves, it’s an extremely lightweight option where you can use only dry twigs or leaves as fuel for your fire. This means it’s a much cheaper than a canister stove where you have to constantly purchase the canister as well.

But, the problem with wood burning stove is the cleaning up required. You’ll need to clean up right after use because there will be many ashes left behind.

I would definitely recommend every survivalist to have a wood burning stove stashed in their bug out bag because you’ll never know when SHTF, all the stores may be closed and your only option is to use surrounding dry wood to make fire.

5. Solid Fuel Stove

Solid fuel stoves are fueled by the solid fuel tabs. They are extremely easy to set up because you just need to open the fuel tab, heat it up and then you’re set to cook your meal.

However, solid fuel stoves are not able to produce heat efficiently too. Unlike canister stoves, boiling water in 1 minute would be near impossible.

How to choose the best camp stove

1. Weight of the stove

Since you’re bringing it on a backpacking trip, the weight of the stove is significant because it’ll add up to the overall weight of your backpack.

Saving up a few pounds can mean that your body ache much less and you’ll make your backpacking trips much more enjoyable.

2. Availability of Fuel

This is more of a consideration if you’re planning to bring the backpacking stove internationally. There wouldn’t be much problems for alcohol stoves and wood burning stoves because I’m sure you’ll be able to find the fuel easily.

However, for liquid fuel stove and canister stoves, you need to put in more effort in finding the fuel.

3. Pushbutton Ignition

If you don’t want the hassle of lighting up the stove manually, I would highly recommend that you get a backpacking stove with pushbutton ignition such as the Jetboil Flash or Jetboil Minimo. However, the pushbutton ignition is notorious for spoiling pretty fast.

4. How windproof it is

Stoves like the MSR Windburner, MSR Reactor and the Soto Windmaster are built in a way where the flame don’t get affected by wind.

If you want to use your camping stove without fiddling around with the wind protector, getting a stove that’s unperturbed by the wind would be the way to go.

Furthermore, I would like to highlight that it’s generally the case that integrated canister stoves performs much better in windy conditions unlike wood burning stoves or solid fuel stoves because of how they’re built.

5. Simmer control

Lastly, if you’re planning to cook a gourmet meal on your camping trip, you need a stove that has excellent simmer control. Stoves such as the Jetboil Minimo or the Sato Windmaster are excellent at simmer control. The usual characteristic is that you need to have several turns before the flame reaches full throttle.

With excellent simmer control, you will have full control over the flame and you’ll be able to cook delicacies without any issues.

Conclusion

After going through extensively what you need to look out for to get the best backpacking stove, I hope I have made things much clearer for you. If there are any stoves you want me to cover or any points you want to highlight, do let me know through the comments!