You may not feel confident in your fire-building skills during a camping trip, or maybe you just want to do some heavy-duty grilling while you're experiencing the great outdoors. Either way, a camping stove will help keep your gear load relatively light while still providing you with the stable heat source you need to cook your meals.
A good stove for your camping expedition should heat your food quickly and thoroughly, use fuel economically, and most importantly, not weigh you down too much. We fell in love with the Camp Chef's Explorer Double Burner Stove because of its sturdy, rugged build, powerful heat output, and protective wind screens. Check out our other favorite products as well as a handy buying guide below.
Alec is a backpacker, photographer, and writer who loves telling stories about the outdoors. You can usually find him outside taking photos, finding new destinations, and having a blast with friends.
With a ton of outdoor experience under his belt, we thought he would be the perfect person to ask to review our buying guide. Read on to see his insight!
We considered several factors when researching our list of camping stoves. These included:
Check out the Buying Guide section for more on these helpful tips to keep in mind as you shop for a new camping stove.
Image | ![]() Camp Chef | ![]() GSI Outdoors | ![]() Coleman | ![]() Gas One | ![]() Camp Chef | ![]() EcoZoom | ![]() Coleman | ![]() Camp Chef | ![]() Outland Living | ![]() Eureka |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Explorer Double Burner Stove | Selkirk Camp Stove | Triton Series Propane Gas Camping Stove | Portable Butane Gas Stove | Outdoor Camp Oven | Versa | PerfectFlow | Ranger III | Triple-Burner Portable Camping Stove | Ignite Plus Camping Stove |
Features | Best Powerful, Freestanding Stove With Removable Legs | Best for Powerful, Even Heat Distribution and a Sporty, Sturdy Design | Best Light Camping Stove With a Strong Flame | Best Butane Camping Stove With Safety Shut-Off Features | Best Camping Stove-Oven Combo With Two Cooking Racks | Best Quick-Heating, Fully-Insulated Combustion Chamber | Best Grill-Type Stove With Easy Cleanup Features | Best 3-Burner Camping Stove System | Best for Multiple Accessories and High-Heat Cooking | Best Lightweight Stove With Lots of Cooking Space |
Price | $124.99 | $124.95 | $76.99 | $25.99 | $355.00 | $149.95 | $115.99 | $250.00 | $299.99 | $144.95 |
Material | Steel, aluminum | Stainless steel and nickel chrome | Alloy steel | Enameled steel | Stainless steel | Enameled metal, cast iron | Steel | Cast aluminum burners | Steel | Stainless steel |
Fuel type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Wood, charcoal | Gas | Gas | Liquified petroleum gas | Gas |
Ignition type | Not specified | Automatic | Manual | Automatic | Automatic | N/A | Manual | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
BTUs | 60,000 | 20,000 (10,000 per burner) | 22,000 | 7,650 | 7,500 per burner, 3,000 for oven | Not specified | 20,000 | 51,000 | 90,000 (30,000 per burner) | 20,000 (10,000 per burner) |
Weight | 30.5 lbs. | 10 lbs. | 4.85 lbs. | 3.1 lbs. | 35 lbs. | 12 lbs. | 13.25 lbs. | 25 lbs. | 57.8 lbs. | 12 |
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We selected our 10 best camping stoves based on important specs such as their BTU output, how convenient and efficient the fuel was, and other research we did while writing the Buying Guide section. Here are our top choices for the best camping stoves this year.
*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Alec Sills-Trausch.
EX60LW
$124.99
Material | Steel, aluminum |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Not specified |
BTUs | 60,000 |
Weight | 30.5 lbs. |
540
$124.95
Material | Stainless steel and nickel chrome |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Automatic |
BTUs | 20,000 (10,000 per burner) |
Weight | 10 lbs. |
1451707
$76.99
Material | Alloy steel |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Manual |
BTUs | 22,000 |
Weight | 4.85 lbs. |
GS-1000
$25.99
Material | Enameled steel |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Automatic |
BTUs | 7,650 |
Weight | 3.1 lbs. |
COVEN
$355.00
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Automatic |
BTUs | 7,500 per burner, 3,000 for oven |
Weight | 35 lbs. |
$149.95
Material | Enameled metal, cast iron |
---|---|
Fuel type | Wood, charcoal |
Ignition type | N/A |
BTUs | Not specified |
Weight | 12 lbs. |
2000020929
$115.99
Material | Steel |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Manual |
BTUs | 20,000 |
Weight | 13.25 lbs. |
BS60C
$250.00
Material | Cast aluminum burners |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Automatic |
BTUs | 51,000 |
Weight | 25 lbs. |
202
$299.99
Material | Steel |
---|---|
Fuel type | Liquified petroleum gas |
Ignition type | Automatic |
BTUs | 90,000 (30,000 per burner) |
Weight | 57.8 lbs. |
2572195
$144.95
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Fuel type | Gas |
Ignition type | Automatic |
BTUs | 20,000 (10,000 per burner) |
Weight | 12 |
When it comes to picking the right camping stove, you have many different choices! Here are some points to keep in mind while you shop.
You’ll have to think about how many burners your stove will need and how much heat it’ll need to produce. Heat is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. A BTU is the amount of heating power needed to heat a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Most stoves for basic cooking should have an output of at least 10,000 BTUs.
This is a good baseline minimum because it usually allows you to cook as fast or faster than you can at home. Just be mindful, the more BTUs a model has, the faster fuel will burn. Still, a stronger flame says a lot about your camping stove, like how well it boils water or cooks temperature-sensitive foods like meat.
There are several basic types of camping stoves, and each services different numbers of campers and their needs. Here's a breakdown of the different camping stove models, as well as which sorts of campers they each benefit.
If you want to cook a meal that doesn't require an excessive amount of heat, a butane burner may be a good option. Butane burners, utilize a colorless, pressurized fuel called butane and are fairly compact and lightweight.
Butane stoves don't often burn as hot as other stove types on this list; most burn at between 8,000 and 10,000 BTUs, but there are a few extra-powerful models out there. This can be heavily affected by the temperature of your surroundings; butane burners aren't made for extreme cold.
Still, as they can come in one- or two-burner systems, butane burners still make for a good choice if you're camping in a moderate climate and don't need too much cooking power. Their portable nature and sturdy bases make them a great choice for RV camping as well.
Tabletop camping stoves are almost always designed without legs or a station they can be set up with. This means you'll need to prep a cooking space before you start to heat up your stove.
While this may be a bit of extra trouble, tabletop stoves are typically less likely to wobble or fall over than a stove with its own station and legs. They also often tend to be lighter and easier to transport. So long as you're careful about where you put your stove, it can be a great option for tight camping spots or if you can't transport a larger stove system.
A freestanding camping stove has its own table and a set of legs or possibly even wheels. This makes it a bulkier tool to bring along on the road, but it also means you can cook without needing a picnic table.
Freestanding stoves do tend to be heavier and may require a truck to transport. Most campers who use them are either cooking for large groups or are camping out for an extended period of time. That said, they usually offer more space for your cooking utensils and won't cause any heat damage to their surroundings.
Fuel is an important factor when you're looking for a stove. One of the most popular options is propane gas or liquid. It provides a reliable heat source and burns hot as soon as the stove is turned on. However, if you're trying to reduce your carbon footprint, you may want to choose a different option.
Wood or coal are viable options. Stoves powered by these more natural materials do require quite a bit of setting up and often require manual ignition. Still, if you want an eco-friendly, authentic camping experience and a hot flame, they may be more your style of fuel for camping stoves.
Finally, alcohol is a trending fuel due to its eco-friendly and incredibly lightweight nature. The flames created by alcohol fuel may be more susceptible to wind, and the stoves require some priming time to get going. Still, if you're patient and don't want to use fossil fuels, alcohol is a fine choice.
When picking your camping stove, you’ll have two choices for ignitions: automatic and manual. Automatic versions can be lit with the push of a button, whereas manual options require lighting the flame with a lighter or matchstick.
Automatic ignitions are safer since you don’t have to deal with an open flame, are simple to use, and you don’t have to worry about having matches or a lighter with you.
However, these stoves will require electricity or batteries, which means more maintenance and parts replacement. You'll also need to make sure you don’t get water in the ignition circuit while cleaning the stovetop of a model with automatic ignition. Still, due to the ease of use, most campers opt for automatic ignitions.
Some practical features will make your camp cookouts more fun and efficient. Try to bear in mind that you won't be cooking inside a building; the weather and environment can affect your ability to cook, so you should look for a camping stove that gives you as much control as possible over your work.
Many camping stoves come with a variety of features to make your cooking experience easier. One common feature is a wind protector. Just as the name implies, these panels protect flames from the wind while cooking. Just be sure you don't use a wind shield for canister stoves, as there are explosion hazards involved.
Many camping stoves have some form of adjustable simmer controls. These allow you to control the heat output from the burners. It's important to look into how durable and easy to use these knobs are; you don't want to end up frustrated because your knob over- or under-adjusts, and it should be sturdy enough to handle a trip across rough terrain.
If you want to cook multiple courses, you may want a camping stove with swappable cooking surfaces. That way, you can fire up your dutch oven on one side of the stove while you brew some coffee on the other. There are also camping stoves that come with foldable panels on either side, giving you more space to put your ingredients and cooking tools.
It's best to do as much research as you can before investing in a camping stove. Here are some commonly asked questions and what experts have to say!
If you're experiencing a power outage at home, or perhaps want to cook inside your RV, it's possible under certain conditions to put your camping stove to use.
You have to be sure that the fuel your stove uses won't become toxic to breathe in enclosed spaces. You shouldn't cook indoors with your camping stove if it's fueled by kerosene or charcoal, as these can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
If your stove is fueled by wood, alcohol, or clear gas such as butane, however, it may be safe to use indoors. Just be wary of fire hazards and keep your cooking space well-ventilated.
If your dream camp location is too far from home to reach by car, you may be wanting to travel to the general area by air. According to the TSA, you can indeed bring your camping stove along for the flight. However, you can't bring the fuel for your stove aboard the plane, so be prepared to buy fuel when you reach your destination.
The amount of fuel you need is dependent on how big your stove is, the type of fuel it uses, and how many people you'll be cooking for. You also need to be aware of the temperature and season, as your stove will need to expend more energy to create heat in cold weather.
It's also important to remember that any water you collect also has to be boiled for safe drinking, which means you may need even more fuel if you don't plan on bringing your own beverages. If you want a full breakdown of the different fuel types and how long they last in certain situations, check out MSR Gear's very thorough article on the topic.
So you've used your camping stove to make a delicious meal, but how will you clean up afterward? YouTubers Fresh Off the Grid break it down for you in this short, informative, and simple video. Be sure to check out their channel for camping recipes, tips, and more!
Do you enjoy taking a trip into the outdoors to clear your head and relax? Do you have an upcoming trip planned? Check out our other articles on necessary camping gear!
If you're not quite sure where to start shopping for a camping stove, here are Amazon's best-selling stoves. They include some of our favorites and a couple of other brands as well.
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