Choosing the best camping stove comes down to how you camp. Maybe you are a solo camper that will need to boil water or reheat a mixture of beans for lunch.
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Perhaps you are group camping and you will have to cook game hen or just enough food for everyone. Are you camping for a day, two, a whole week? All these will determine the right kind of camping stove for you.
It’s clear that choosing the best camping stove depends on your needs. We hope the ton of information above has helped you learn how to buy the right stove for you.
Luckily, camping stoves are quite inexpensive and they come in different styles to suit various demands. This detailed guide will enlighten you enough so you can make an informed purchasing decision.
Let’s dive into the meat.
1. MSR WindBurner Stove System for Fast Boiling Fuel-Efficient Cooking
- Fuel: Propane
- Burners: 1 WindBurner
- Weight: 1.3 lbs.
- Best for: Backpacking, Solo Travelers, Camping and Minimalist Trips
- Fuel: Propane
- Burners: 1 WindBurner
- Weight: 1.2 lbs.
- Best for: Backpacking, Solo Travelers, Camping and any Adventure
- Fuel: IsoPropane
- Burners: 2, @ 22,000 BTUs
- Weight: 12 lbs.
- Best for: Backpacking, Camping and any Adventure
4. Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove
- Fuel: Propane
- Burners: 2 @ 60,000 BTUs
- Weight: 36 lbs.
- Fuel: Propane
- Burners: 2 @ 25,000 BTUs; 1 @ 10,000 BTUs
- Weight: 16 lbs
6. Camp Chef Tahoe Deluxe 3 Burner Grill
- Fuel: Propane
- Burners: 3 @ 30,000 BTUs
- Weight: 43 lbs
7. Jetboil Genesis Base Camp 2 Burner System
- Fuel: Propane
- Burners: 2 @ 20,000 BTUs
- Weight: 9.1 lbs
What stove type do you need?
There are four major camping stove types; tabletop single burner, compact double burner, freestanding single burner, and freestanding multi-burner. They all have different capabilities, which we explore next.
Tabletop Single Burner Stove
This is the most basic camping stove with only one burner and it sits on a table, like the suggests. It usually has a sizeable burner head with grate or grill where a pan or pot can rest easily.
The stove typically uses butane for heating applications. It can cook for 1 – 2 persons in one go.
This stove is ideal for simple camping setups and it makes a great choice for occasional campers – those who camp once or twice a year.
The type also makes a decent supplement to a larger stove in situations where you want to cook large meals in one go. It becomes a wise approach to increasing burner capacity for a couple of bucks.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight to move around with ease.
- Easy to set up and clean because they have no moving of folding parts.
- Fits almost all camping pots and pans since they have no windscreens.
- Relatively cheap.
Cons
- No windscreen, thus most of the heat is blown away. A DIY windscreen may help solve the problem.
- Comes with just one burner, so you can’t cook two things at once.
- Butane is hard to find.
Compact Double Burner Stove
This is the classic camping stove with two burners, two control knobs, and three-sided windshield. They also close and open like a suitcase.
This is designed to cook multiple meals simultaneously and can be used to make pasta sauces and omelets. The stove can comfortably cook for 1 – 4 individuals. Any excess persons will need another stove.
Pros
- Quite long so as to allow pots to fit side by side.
- Feature piezo ignition for automatic on/off.
- Have a lock mechanism, which ensures the interior is protected against damage-causing elements.
- Come with a removable drip tray, which catches excess cooking scraps as well as allows easy cleaning.
- Cooks multiple meals at once and that’s something every camper wants.
Cons
- A bit bulky and heavy.
Freestanding Single Burner
This type is less popular than the tabletop stove. These stoves have a vertical dimension with four legs that allow them to stand almost anywhere.
The freestanding single burner cooks for 1 – 2 campers but three is also possible with a large pot. It can also a range of fuel types including Propane, Isobutane, and Wood.
This flexibility makes finding fuel a breeze. If using a wood camping stove, then you will need to carry your own wood since most campsites restrict firewood gathering.
Pros
- Flexible in terms of fuel and the different kinds of fuel are readily accessible.
- Can be used almost anywhere be it on the ground or tabletop.
- Fits sizeable pots and pans.
Cons
- Some may be unstable depending on the ground they rest upon.
- Limited options in the market with the few available going for expensive prices.
Freestanding Multi-Burner Stove
This camping stove is for serious camp chefs who want a dedicated station to cook from. It has powerful burners and can haul large meals without a big deal.
These stoves are known as multi-burners because they can have two or more burners. This makes it easy for camp chefs to choose precisely what suits their needs best.
The freestanding multi-burners are less popular among campers, but if you want to regularly head out with friends for week-long trips, they are the best options. This can cook for up to 8 people at once.
Pros
- Gastronome status – everyone in the campsite will know what kind of cook you are.
- Utilizes large, refillable propane tanks that are affordable and won’t run out more often.
- Offer a separate cook area especially for prepping small foods.
- Come with super powerful burners with excellent simmer control.
Cons
- Heavy and bulky because they have large bodies and metal legs.
- Require plenty of storage space to transport them to and from the camp.
- Some lack of wind protection fixtures.
What type of fuel does the stove use?
You will need to consider the ideal fuel for the stove, whether it’s accessible or not, and how much it costs.
Propane
This is the main fuel type for most camping stoves. It is readily available in camping stores and hardware stores or even roadside stops. Propane comes in either 16-ounce green canisters or propane tanks.
16-ounce green canisters easily screw into single burners and compact two-burner stoves and typically hold enough fuel for a few days.
These can be purchased at local gas stations or general stores around campsites. One costs around $3 and you can get a pretty discount if you buy them in bulk.
Propane tanks are good choices for frequent campers and backyard BBQs. They have the advantage of being refilled, which also reduces the overall running costs.
They do need enough room in the car to haul them to the campsite. A five-gallon propane tank will exclusively serve a freestanding multi-burner. They are usually supplied with a hose connector so that the tank can rest on the ground while the cooker sits on a table.
Worthington 303955 20-Pound Steel Propane Cylinder With Type 1 With Overflow Prevention Device Valve
You can find propane tanks in large stores like Walmart, Big 5, Amazon and major outdoor stores such as REI.
Butane
This comes in mini 8-ounce tube-shaped canisters, which fits directly to a tabletop single stove. They take up little space but they are hard to find. Butane performs poorly at high altitudes and doesn’t work in chilly conditions.
They can be bought from outdoor stores such as Big 5. The price ranges anywhere from $1.50 to $3 depending on the location.
Isobutane
This is the most common fuel for backpacking stoves but less popular with camping stoves. They are available in four, eight, and sixteen-ounce canisters. They are probably the most expensive fuel type for camping.
Isobutane canisters can be sourced from outdoor stores like REI and Big 5. The 16-ounce Isobutane canister can set you back by $10 – more than twice the cost of the 16-ounce propane equivalent.
Stove efficiency
The major factors impacting stove efficiency are BTU’s, burn time and wind resistance.
In a Leyman’s language, BTU’s (British Thermal Unit (1)) is the amount of heat required to raise increase the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Basically, the higher the BTU’s, the more powerful the stove is and the faster the boiling times. Every stove has a specific BTU, so compare them wisely when shopping.
Boil time is not much important for campers though it’s critical for backpackers. You also want to make sure that your stove has a wind-blocking mechanism for efficient burning. Otherwise, a strong gust can snuff out flames or take away heat.
Important features to look out for
- Simmering option – great for cooking meals such as risotto, pasta, and Mac n’ Cheese at moderate power. The simmer also allows precise flame control.
- Piezo ignition – this function allows you to light and turn off the stove with a simple click. However, this feature has an impact on the overall cost of the stove.
- Grills and griddles – grills will let you cook meat, fish, and veggies, whilst griddles are great for pancakes, eggs, crepes, and other flat foods. Make sure these accessories are large enough, have handles and are made from cast iron.
- Propane adaptor hose – important for connecting the fuel tank to the stove. Go for at least feet hose, which can go from a stove sitting on a table to the ground where the tank should be placed.
Final Words
In the end, all you want is to drink and eat comfortably while having a good time outdoors. Keep your stove closer and enjoy your adventure.
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