Backpackers, car campers, and every outdoorsy person in between will know that the best memories happen around the campfire for dinner at the campsite. The most important thing for a memorable meal, away from the comfort of your kitchen, is to conveniently and efficiently dish up a delicious hot meal. From space-saving camping stoves that use fuel from the forest to the best car camping stove with plenty of power (find the best portable jump starters in case your battery ever dies on your trip), we round up the best camping stoves for your next adventure, wherever the road or trail takes you.
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How We Chose the Best Camping Stoves
Thanks to years of road trips and camping experience, we know the importance of selecting the right camping stove. During our selection process, we factored in things that affect cooking outside. Factors include BTUs (a measurement that quantifies the heat a gas stove produces), ease of setup, wind resistance, weight, durability, and functionality. Then, we checked out which stoves offer the best value for money and what verified customer and expert reviews had to say about them before whittling the pool down to the best camping stove in each respective category.
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Our 5 Picks for the Best Camping Stoves
- Best Car Camping Stove: Jetboil Genesis Base Camp System
- Best Backpacking Camping Stove: überleben Stöker Stove
- Best Budget Camping Stove: Coleman Cascade™ Classic Camping Stove
- Best Family Camping Stove: Camp Chef Explorer 14
- Best Luxury Camping Stove: Solo Stove Bonfire Cast Iron Grill Cooking Bundle 2.0
Best Car Camping Stove: Jetboil Genesis Base Camp System
Pros:
- Foldable for space saving
- Easy to use
- Durable
Cons:
- Customers report issues with regulator
- Expensive
Photo Credit: Amazon
About Jetboil Genesis Base Camp System
Described as “the ultimate all-in-one backcountry cooking system,” the Jetboil Genesis Base Camp System is a colorful camping stove that folds in half to save space in your trunk. This camping stove features a dual-burner with a 10,000 BTU heating system, which can boil water in just over three minutes. It also has an attachable windscreen to fend off the elements while you prepare a delicious meal for your camp crew. The Jetboil Genesis Base Camp System, which includes the Jetboil FluxPot (5 liters) and ceramic-coated nonstick fry pan, costs $399.99 normally. If you already have reliable camp cooking equipment, buy the Genesis Base Camp Stove separately or save more space in a compact vehicle with the HalfGen single burner.
Why We Chose It
One element we loved about this camping stove is that it folds away and tucks neatly into a carrying bag along with the additional attachments and components, so you know where everything is when it comes time to use it. With the system’s matching 5-liter Jetboil FluxPot and 10-inch ceramic-coated nonstick fry pan, you won’t need to worry about cheap pans burning your food or wobbling off an unstable burner.
Best Backpacking Camping Stove: überleben Stöker Stove
Pros:
- Fueled by organic matter
- Stainless steel
- Lightweight and compact
Cons:
- Slower cooking time than gas
- Sharp edges
Photo Credit: Amazon
About überleben Stöker Stove
Any camping equipment that makes the cut and snags a coveted spot in your backpack needs to be lightweight, compact, durable, and super functional. The überleben Stöker Stove, “the ultra-minimalist, flatpack twig stove,” checks all these boxes and more. This stainless steel stove is perfect for backpacking, and features an anti-corrosive layer to ensure it lasts over many months of morning coffees and evening meals. The interlocking panel design has a low-profile packability but remains strong when assembled. Gather organic matter like twigs and moss from your surroundings at dinnertime, place the stainless steel wire on top, and flame grill to your heart’s content. The überleben Stöker Stove isn’t as cheap as a simple gas stove, but its space-saving attributes make it worth its typical $78 price tag.
Why We Chose It
Going minimalist is a must when you’re going for a multi-day (or week or month) backpacking trip. We think the überleben Stöker Stove is an excellent fit for backpackers. Not only will you save space by not carrying a hefty gas or liquid fuel canister, but this innovative stove folds neatly down into flat pieces that will slot nicely behind the rest of your camping essentials. Outdoor enthusiasts who value getting in touch with Mother Nature will fall in love with this minimalist marvel that will fuel your adventure with fuel from nature.
Best Budget Camping Stove: Coleman Cascade™ Classic Camping Stove
Pros:
- Super affordable
- Reliable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Slow boil times
- Not the best for wind resistance
Photo Credit: DICK’S Sporting Goods
About Cascade™ Classic Camping Stove
Even casual campers will recognize the iconic green Cascade™ Classic Camping Stove from campsites nationwide. It’s the ideal budget camping companion, featuring two adjustable burners, two wind guards, a handle to make it easier to transport, and a chrome-plated grate and cooktop. It’s not the most powerful camping stove out there, but it’ll still give you up to an hour of cooking at high temperatures from one 16-oz propane cylinder. Nobody looks forward to washing up at the campsite. Unfortunately, you won’t be getting any help with scrubbing that severely burnt frying pan. However, the removable chrome-plated grate and aluminized steel cooktop make cleaning this camping stove a cinch. The Cascade™ Classic Camping Stove is the most cost-effective duel-burning camping stove at normally $99.99.
Why We Chose It
If you’re looking to save money without compromising functionality, the Cascade™ Classic Camping Stove might be your standout camping stove. It packs a lot into a simple design that even an amateur camp chef should be able to master in minutes. Not only is it compact and has a carrying handle to bring with you on adventures, but it’s also easy to use with matchless lighting and improved knob rotation to cook things just the way you want them.
Best Family Camping Stove: Camp Chef Explorer 14
Pros:
- 30,000 BTU burners
- Legs are removable
- Made in the United States
Cons:
- Legs can be wobbly on uneven surfaces
- Temperature control
Photo Credit: Amazon
About Camp Chef Explorer 14
From tailgating to family camping trips, the Camp Chef Explorer 14 is a powerful cooking companion that can help you cookout for family and friends faster and easier. This camping stove packs a punch with a 30,000 BTU Two-Burner cooking system, more power than most of its similarly priced competitors. It features a 3-sided windscreen to keep the flames contained and consistent, whatever the wind is doing. The removable legs allow you to cook at your level rather than trying to find a surface to cook on or setting up on the ground. While cheaper options are available, The Camp Chef Explorer 14 won’t break the bank at a regular price of $149.99 and is suited to cooking for larger parties than other camping stoves in this price range.
Why We Chose It
The Camp Chef Explorer 14 is easy to set up thanks to its removable legs and even easier to use with a simple connection to propane and user-friendly control knobs. It’s ideal for families who want to cook faster than traditional camping stoves, want the convenience of a standing camping stove, and don’t want to spend a fortune. If you’re planning a car camping trip or a scenic family reunion, you can pair this camping stove with a griddle, BBQ grill box, or even a pizza oven to maximize its cooking potential.
Best Best Luxury Camping Stove: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
Pros:
- Smokeless fire
- Cool design
- Party vibes
Cons:
- Slower cooking time than burners
- Bulkier than traditional camping stoves
Photo Credit: Amazon
About Bonfire Cast Iron Grill Cooking Bundle 2.0
The Bonfire Cast Iron Grill Cooking Bundle 2.0 combines the company’s best-selling Bonfire 2.0 with a handy grilling attachment to evenly sear steaks and cook veggies. This funky fire pit is far too bulky to use inside a tent. Instead, it will either find a permanent home in your backyard or become the centerpiece of your campsite with smokeless fire, meaning your camping companions don’t have to move their camping chairs every five minutes to avoid smoke. The bundle includes a removable base plate and ash pan to collect excess ash, a bonfire stand, a hub to raise your Bonfire cast iron grill from the flames, and a carry case to transport it from the car to the campsite. The sleek double-walled design and high-heat ceramic coating infused with metallic flakes are great for fire but will also burn a hole in your wallet at $559.99 normally.
Why We Chose It
Boujee bonfire lovers and summertime revelers will appreciate this luxury fire pit replacement. It requires less cleanup than a regular fire and eliminates the anti-social smoke that can dampen spirits during a party. The bundle turns it into a cooking space that will allow you to get that flame-grilled taste of an open fire with even cooking from the pan underneath. While it has a heftier price tag and isn’t as convenient as most camping stoves, it’s more of a talking point. It also serves as a gathering place and a cooking space, which most camping stoves don’t. If you live life with the philosophy “go big or go home,” you can light up the whole beach party with the bigger Yukon 2.0. Or, you can downsize with the compact Ranger 2.0 instead.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Camping Stove
Ease of Use
Picking the right camping stove to suit your individual needs is essential. You couldn’t haul a state-of-the-art stove with dual burners with you on the Appalachian Trail. Also, you wouldn’t want to bring a foldable stove fueled by twigs if you’re going for an afternoon on the beach. Before you add a camping stove to your shopping cart, consider how you’ll transport it to your final destination and how easy it’ll be to use when you get there.
Functionality
Would you consider yourself an “eat to live” person or a “live to eat” person? Deciding which one you are could be the difference between finding a camping stove you love and another piece of equipment to clog up your loft. You can keep it simple with a stove with a stainless steel wire on top for old-fashioned flame-grilled dishes. Or, you could go gourmet with a camping stove with a pizza oven attachment.
Price
Camping stoves come in all shapes and sizes and at a range of prices. While stoves with a luxury price tag might turn more heads at the local campground and have features like smokeless fire and removable legs, classic camping stoves are available that will cook dinner just as well for a fraction of the price.
FAQ
What Type of Stove Is Best for Camping?
There’s a reason most of the best camping stoves are propane compatible and feature wind-resistant guards. If you choose a classic camping option like this, you won’t need to find your own fuel in the wilderness, and you’ll still be able to cook in windy conditions.
Is a Camping Stove Worth It?
When you’re away from the comforts of your home and sleeping under the stars, nothing is more comforting than a hot meal. From thru-hikers needing lots of carbohydrates to fuel a lengthy trek through the wilderness to the pitmaster needing somewhere to prepare a delicious buffet for the whole family, a camping stove is vital for campers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
What Is the Best Gas Stove for Camping?
We landed on the Jetboil Genesis Base Camp System as our favorite car camping stove. This convenient, foldable camping stove features a dual-burner with a 10,000 BTU heating system and an attachable windscreen to fend off the elements. For more power, the Camp Chef Explorer 14 features a two-burner cooking system for big meals for the whole family.
What Is the Cleanest Camp Stove Fuel?
Propane is a popular camping stove fuel because it’s portable, relatively safe, and lasts a long time between uses. It’s also a relatively clean choice for emissions and pollutants. Kerosene is another popular camping stove fuel because it’s cheap, lights easily, and is better for the environment than other fossil fuels. White gas is one of the cleanest stove fuels because it’s efficient, refillable, and has renewable alternatives.
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