Greatest Backpacking Stoves - SectionHiker.com

Backpackers and campers have a variety of stoves accessible to them starting from all-in-one range techniques to general-purpose items that can be utilized throughout a variety of temperatures and locales. Backpacking stoves fall into 4 common classes: canister stoves, alcohol stoves, liquid gasoline stoves, and wooden stoves which might serve double responsibility as gasoline pill stands.

Isobutane canister stoves are greatest for solo cooking, frequent resupply, and in locations the place stoves (together with fires) with out an on-off swap are prohibited due to hearth hazard. The are by far the preferred stoves utilized by backpackers.
Alcohol stoves are greatest for ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking, however are sometimes non-permitted on account of hearth hazard.
Liquid gasoline stoves are greatest for group cooking, chilly climate use, and worldwide journey the place isobutane canister gasoline could also be tough to acquire. Search for ones that may burn isobutane fuel or liquid gasoline for max flexibility and comfort.
Wooden stoves are good for wilderness backpacking however are sometimes not permitted on account of hearth hazard.

Beneath are our picks for the most effective backpacking stoves.

Make / Mannequin	Sort	Weight	Worth
MSR Pocket Rocket 2	Canister Range	2.6 oz	$50
Jetboil Flash 1.0L	Canister Range System	13.1 oz	$130
MSR Windburner	Canister Range System	15.5 oz	$200
BRS3000T	Canister Range	0.7 oz	$20
Soto Windmaster	Canister Range	3.0 oz	$70
Jetboil Stash	Canister Range System	7.1 oz	$150
MSR Whisperlite Common	Canister & White Gasoline Range	13.7 oz	$200
Snow Peak Gigapower 2.0	Canister Range	3.2 oz	$45
Toaks Siphon Range	Alcohol Range	0.7 oz	$35
Qiwiz FireFly	Wooden Range	2.9 oz	$70

Notice: When evaluating the weights of those merchandise, it’s essential to distinguish stoves from backpacking range techniques. The latter usually embrace built-in cook dinner pots, windscreens, and range stands, along with the range burner unit.

1. MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Range

The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is suitable with all screw-type isobutane canisters. Compact and light-weight, it weighs 2.6 ounces and features a built-in pot stand that’s suitable with a variety of pots. When not in use, the arms of the pot stand fold down and match right into a small protecting plastic case (which individuals usually discard.) The adjustable flame management is straightforward to make use of whereas sporting gloves and supplies fine-grained management from a rolling boil to a sluggish simmer. The great factor about shopping for a standalone range just like the Pocket Rocket 2 is that you should use it with a number of completely different best-of-breed pots and pans, as an alternative of being locked right into a single all-in-one range and pot mixture. Learn the SectionHiker Pocket Rocket 2 Overview. The Pocket Rocket Deluxe Range can be a wonderful range value contemplating with a push-start igniter and a broader burner head for higher warmth distribution and simmering. Whereas it’s solely 0.3 oz heavier, it’s considerably costlier.

2. Jetboil Flash

The 1L Jetboil Flash (newly up to date in 2025)is a completely built-in private cook dinner system that features a range with a piezo lighter, insulated pot w/lid, a range stand, and a plastic measuring cup/bowl. The most important change within the 2025 mannequin is the the outer housing of the burner which acts as a wind display screen and improves security. The Flash is designed to do one factor extremely effectively, which is to quickly boil water for drinks and to rehydrate backpacking/tenting meals. Weighing 13.1 ounces, the Flash can boil 1 liter of water in 4 minutes and 30 seconds (though it might probably solely boil a half liter at a time). A push-button ignition system eliminates the necessity to gentle the range whereas a coloration change indicator on the surface of the pot insulation cowl lets you recognize when your water is boiling sizzling. When not in use, the range, stand and a 100 g fuel canister match contained in the cookpot, making it straightforward to pack.

3. MSR WindBurner

The MSR Windburner is one other full canister range system that features an insulated cook dinner pot, range, stabilizer, and plastic mug/bowl. The factor that units it aside from the Jetboil Flash is its flame-less range, wind resistance, and gasoline effectivity. Referred to as a radiant burner, it makes use of a totally enclosed heating factor with an inside strain regulator that makes the range nearly impervious to outdoors circumstances. Weighing 15.5 ounces, the Windburner can boil a liter of water in 4 minutes and 30 second minutes and is almost twice as environment friendly as a Jetboil, so that you get twice as many boils per fuel canister. When it’s time to go, the Windburner range system packs up into its cook dinner pot, with area for a 110 g fuel canister. Learn the SectionHiker Windburner Range Overview.

4. BRS3000T Isobutane Range

The BRS 3000T is a really small, compact, and cheap folding canister range that weighs lower than an 1 oz and is suitable with all normal screw-top isobutane fuel canisters. It has a really small burner head with folding arms that kind a pot stand. It doesn’t have an ignition supply, so it’s important to use your individual, like matches or a minibic lighter. It’s flame top is managed by twisting a skinny metallic wire, proven above. Although small, it’s surprisingly highly effective, outputing 9200 btus on max energy. It’s best used with a cook dinner pot having a smaller diameter, just like the Toaks 750 titanium pot.

5. Soto Windmaster Range

Soto is a range firm identified for making finely engineered stoves. The Soto Windmaster is specifically designed to supply superior wind efficiency with a recessed burner head that acts like a built-in windscreen. This additionally lets pots sit nearer to the burner head, bettering gasoline effectivity. The Windmaster comes with a clip-on 4-arm clip-on pot help that may help bigger cook dinner pots. Weighing 3.0 ounces, the Windmaster is a really highly effective 11,000+BTU range, that may simmer or boil depraved quick. Learn the SectionHiker Windmaster Range Overview. We’re additionally followers of the Soto Amicus Range, which has an hooked up pot stand that’s unattainable to lose and is on the market with an built-in cookset.

6. Jetboil Stash Range System

The Jetboil Stash is a 7.1 oz absolutely built-in private cook dinner system that features a titanium range, an anodized cook dinner pot w/lid, and a stand. It’s a lot much less highly effective than the Jetboil Flash listed above but additionally a lot smaller, lighter weight, and packable which is the explanation it’s such a gorgeous choice. When not in use, the range, stand, and a 100g oz fuel canister match contained in the cookpot, making the Stash remarkably straightforward to pack. The Stash can boil a half-liter of water in 2 minutes 30 seconds and boil as much as 12L on one small gasoline canister. Learn the SectionHiker Jetboil Stash Overview.

7. MSR Whisperlite Common

The MSR Whisperlite Common burns a wide range of fuels together with white fuel, kerosene, unleaded gasoline, and isobutane-propane canisters providing you with a number of flexibility regardless of the place you end up. Simply swap the gasoline line and choose one in every of 3 self-cleaning Shaker jets, relying on the gasoline kind required. When burning white fuel, the Common can boil a liter of water in 3 minutes 30 seconds whereas it takes 3 minutes 45 seconds with an isobutane canister. Simmering is feasible with all gasoline varieties in addition to a roiling boil, whereas the distant burner makes it attainable to make use of a windscreen, it doesn’t matter what kind of gasoline is used. Along with the range, the 13.7 oz Whisperlite Common features a gasoline pump, windscreen, warmth reflector, and small elements equipment. Learn the SectionHiker Whisperlite Range Overview.

8. Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0

The Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 is a standalone isobutane canister range that may simmer or boil water. It has 4 pot helps which are suitable with all kinds of cook dinner pots, in addition to a built-in piezo ignition system for matchless ignition. A strong and dependable performer, this 10,000 BTU range weighs 3.2 ounces and takes a mean of 4 minutes 45 seconds to boil a liter of water. Whereas it comes with a protecting plastic case, it will also be saved in a wide range of cookpots with a fuel canister. An add-on windscreen can be accessible to spice up its spectacular gasoline effectivity.

9. Toaks Titanium Siphon Range

If you wish to purchase a extremely environment friendly alcohol range as an alternative of merely making one out of a cat meals can, the Toaks Titanium Siphon Range is among the greatest alcohol burners accessible. Weighing 0.7 oz (20g), this range is made with two partitions of cast titanium, one positioned inside the opposite with the tiniest hole in between. This slim area helps alcohol rapidly rise between the partitions, vaporized, burning by means of the tiny vents within the prime and reaching peak combustion in a short time with out extra priming. You’ll wish to use this range with a small wire range stand and a windscreen, however each are simply stowed with the burner in a cook dinner pot and weigh virtually nothing.

10. QiWiz Firefly Wooden Range

The QiWiz Firefly is an ultralight titanium woodstove weighing 2.8 oz that breaks down and folds up flat, making it very straightforward to pack and keep on backpacking journeys. It has a facet port so you’ll be able to reload the range with gasoline whereas it’s burning. Woodstoves are an amazing range choice as a result of you should use biomass (sticks) as an alternative of carrying a gasoline canister or gasoline bottle. It’s additionally good to have a small hearth to relax with in camp whilst you cook dinner dinner. Simply remember the fact that wood-burning stoves are sometimes banned in areas vulnerable to wildfires. Be sure you examine along with your native authorities to see if wooden range use is permitted. Learn the SectionHiker QiWiz FireFly Wooden Range Overview.

Choose a Backpacking Range

When selecting a backpacking range it’s greatest to contemplate:

the range’s weight
the provision and value of the gasoline required to run it
whether or not it’s greatest for particular person or group use
the working temperatures during which it should carry out

Range and Cooking Gas Sorts

There are 5 predominant kinds of backpacking stoves:

White fuel (liquid gasoline, Coleman gasoline) stoves
Canister stoves that burn an isobutane/propane combine
Alcohol stoves that burn denatured alcohol
Wooden stoves that burn twigs and small sticks
Strong gasoline stoves

White fuel stoves burn a refined type of unleaded fuel. They’re good for group cooking and winter cooking as a result of they generate a considerable amount of warmth. They are often cumbersome, nevertheless, which is why most solo hikers don’t use them. Canister stoves are greatest used for particular person use or {couples}. Some can simmer, however most are specialised for boiling water. Alcohol stoves are quite simple and most popular by thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers, partially as a result of it’s so straightforward to resupply denatured alcohol on a protracted distance hike (offered in supermarkets, drug shops, and {hardware} shops.) Sadly, they’re more and more banned on account of hearth rules. Wooden stoves will be handy if pure gasoline is definitely accessible, however hearth bans in dry states additionally prohibit their use. Strong gasoline stoves burn prepackaged gasoline cubes and are additionally very light-weight, however the gasoline will be arduous to resupply on a protracted journey, and once more, they’re usually topic to fireside bans as a result of they burn with an open flame.

Backpacking Range Techniques

A range system contains the whole lot it’s essential to boil water or cook dinner meals together with a range, a cookpot, windscreen, and a range stand, making it a really handy and economical approach to purchase the range elements you want for backpacking or tenting. Whereas group range techniques can be found, most of them are designed for single customers and solo backpacking. Most range techniques are based mostly round canister stoves and are fairly windproof, which will increase their gasoline effectivity. They’re restricted of their capabilities, nevertheless, and extra geared towards boiling water rapidly, reasonably than simmering meals.

Winter Backpacking Stoves

Winter stoves are designed to burn gasoline at decrease temperatures, often in a liquid kind. White fuel stoves can burn all the way down to exterior temperatures of 40 beneath zero, Fahrenheit, whereas canister stoves that may burn a liquid feed (known as inverted canister stoves) can burn all the way down to about 10 levels, Fahrenheit. Winter stoves are designed to soften snow to create consuming water and often lack the flexibility to simmer meals since they’re glorified flame throwers.

Backpacking Range Energy

Range energy is measured in BTUs. The upper the variety of BTUs, the extra warmth the range will put out and the sooner it should boil water.

Backpacking Range Ignition

Many canister stoves can be found with built-in sparking items known as piezo igniters, so that you don’t want to hold matches or a lighter to ignite your range. Whereas they’re extremely handy, they tend to wear down when you use your range regularly. They’re often replaceable, however many individuals purchase stoves with out this function to save cash in the event that they plan on utilizing their range closely.

Disclosure: The creator has acquired pattern merchandise talked about on this article over the span of a few years from MSR, Soto, and Path Designs. The remaining he’s bought together with his personal funds.

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Greatest Backpacking Stoves – SectionHiker.com