10 BEST Camping Stoves – Ultimate Buyers Guide [2024]

Shopping for the best camping stove can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to look. In this post, we’ll lay out our top picks and help you understand what to look for when buying a camp stove!

Don’t leave home without a camping stove and your favourite meal on the trail! The best camping stoves on the market will have you skipping the backpacker meals in a bag and treating yourself on your next trip into the woods.

Camping is all about living with less, but that doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself.

Combining your trip with the right camping stove can bring a splash of gourmet eating to the end of a great day outside.

The stoves on our list can pump out hours of heat on a single propane tank and boil water fast, so nothing is keeping you from preparing something delicious this weekend.

And you should be able to fit any good camping stove in your backpack alongside your tent without feeling like you’re lugging around boulders.

Our camping stoves have helped us stay out longer and live better while sleeping in the woods, and we want to share that stoke today.

There are loads of camping stoves out there that will boil water. But only a few options go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the perfect cooking surface for your needs. 

Read on, leave the dehydrated camp meals at home, and don’t forget to pack the garlic and oil as we show you the best camping stoves to take your camping cuisine up a notch! 

EDITOR’S CHOICE:

Camp Chef Everest

There are very few arguments against this high-quality two-burner stove.

From weather resistance to heat output, Camp Chef Everest does it all as well as any other stove on the market to serve as the best camping stoves for most adventurers. 

If you’re willing to spend a bit of extra cash on the important details of the trip, this beast will never leave you hungry. 

CHECK THE BEST PRICE

The Best Camping Stoves

Without further adieu, let’s get down to business. We took a look at the whole industry, combing through stoves that promise the world to find the few that actually deliver. 

To qualify for our list, these stoves pumped out best in class heat output, fuel efficiency, lightweight and compact portability, all while leaving some space for special features. 

PRODUCT	WHAT WE LIKE	THINGS TO CONSIDER
Camp Chef Everest	Most powerful 2-burner stoves on the market Nickel-coated exterior for maximum durability Easy to use auto-ignition	Wind protection is a bit bulky The 2X upgrade makes the Everest one of the most expensive camping stoves	CHECK PRICE 5/5
Coleman Classic	Compacts and conveniently folds flat to fit in more trunk spaces The first thing that comes to mind when most campers think cook stoves Often can be found on sale and makes a great budget choice	No special features Lowered cooking surface makes the camp stove difficult to clean	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5
MSR Pocket Rocket	Lightest possible portable stove style Most affordable stove on our list Easily attaches to the top of any fuel canister	Not useful for much more than boiling water Fuel efficiency is heavily impacted by even light winds	CHECK PRICE 4.5/5
Eureka Ignite	The plus version stretches out your cooking area while staying slim enough to pack Auto-ignition makes cooking less complicated Plenty of simmer control	Quite expensive without many high-end weather resistance Low BTU output	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5
GSI Outdoors Selkirk 460	Weighs 2 lbs less than some of the best camp stoves with 2 burners Aerodynamic stove cover helps with wind resistance Powder-coated	Slightly smaller cooking space than other major players Hasn't been around long enough to prove its own durability and longevity	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5
Camp Chef Explorer	Freestanding design will always provide a level and stable cooking surface Detachable legs allow you to cut back on weight for quick missions You won't find a higher maximum-energy output in any portable propane stoves	All the extra legs add up to make it the heaviest stove on our list Provides excessive power unnecessary for smaller meals	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5
Kovea Slim Twin	Everything you need to cook dinner, nothing that you don't Once unfolded it churns out enough BTUs to get the job done fast Weighs less than some single-burner stoves	Saves weight by removing some cleaning features Lightweight but still not slim enough to take backpacking	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5
MSR Windburner	One of the best high alpine stoves on the market Fastest way to boil water Fits inside any gear bag	Won't do much more than boil water Slightly on the heavy side for the lightweight stove category	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5
Jetboil Genesis	Combines with the Luna Burner and other systems to create a four-burner stove Best combination of portability and performance on the market Custom-built cookware further optimizes performance	Most expensive camping stove on our list Weighs around 10 lbs	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5
Camp Chef Versatop	Takes a flat top grill and turns it portable Largest cooking surface out of any camp stove on our list Comes with loads of accessories that can have campers simulating a professional kitchen	Heaviest tabletop stove on our list Technically one large burner	CHECK PRICE 3.5/5

Camp Chef Everest

While it’s not quite light enough to haul up Mount Everest, this powerful two-burner camping stove has perfected the classic camping stove design and sets a new standard for portable cuisine. 

The main draw of this particular camping stove is the sheer power. With 20,000 BTUs per burner, you won’t find a faster cooking surface to get dinner ready without tossing it directly in the campfire.

Every inch of this two-burner stove is optimised to make cooking dinner in the dirt fun. The 2X model is the most expensive Camp Chef Everest camp stove, and it justifies its higher price with increased wind protection, durability, and a couple of fewer ounces here and there. 

Car campers may not need to splurge, as even the barebones option provides excellent simmer control and wind protection.

Coleman Classic Stove

Coleman stoves have long been the most recognized camping stoves in the industry. And the Coleman “Classic” designation of this car camping legend is no marketing ploy.

Forest green Coleman classic camp stoves have been a campground mainstay for decades, and the efficient design hasn’t changed much over the years.

While the best camping stoves on the market may have eye-popping features that pass this option by, no other propane stove has served more camping trips than this unassuming model.

Coleman proved efficient cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. The Coleman Classic model tricks a middle ground between heat output and fuel efficiency, while still bringing plenty of cooking control for discerning camp chefs.

It smartly compacts flat for transport, features a locking lid and can cook a whole lot of dinners when combined with a 20-lb propane tank, and gets plenty of work out of smaller propane canisters.  

These lightweight Coleman Classic stoves don’t lead the way in any category. But they rank highly across the board, and a such an affordable price, you can’t ask for anything more.

MSR Pocket Rocket

The modern MSR Pocket Rocket is a perfect example of a lightweight backpacking stove.

Small enough to fit inside a backpacking pot and powerful enough to boil water in under 5 minutes, these tiny machines are the best camping stoves for backpackers heading far away from the nearest parking lots. 

You might as well keep it simple if you don’t expect much more than light cooking and weekend trips.

This sleek single burner hooks directly to fuel canisters and tackles one-pot meals efficiently. 

The pocket rocket is a full-on backpacker’s stove. Don’t expect much cooking space or any extra features attached to MSR’s backcountry specialist.

There isn’t even space for a fuel line. Simply screw it directly onto your propane bottle and get cooking!

That makes this boiling water specialist a freestanding stove equally capable of outdoor cooking no matter what’s underfoot.

Eureka Ignite

A camping stove competitor with a whole lot of heart, Eureka helps ignite camp cooking thanks to its push-button starter auto ignition.

The push-button ignition and stainless steel cooking grate immediately spiked our interests, and the overall build quality of the Eureka Ignite after testing cemented its place on our list.

We wish for slightly more BTUs per burner out of something this expensive, but Eureka’s durable construction and the stretched-out cooking surface more than made up for it. 

Most one burner stoves will be piles of rust and grease stains long before the light goes out on the high-quality Eureka Ignite.

That build quality combined with excellent simmer control and the auto-ignition makes for a great lifelong travel companion. 

GSI Outdoors Selkirk 460

GSI churns out loads of lightweight products that help camp cooking. This particular camp stove was recently released in response to the Eureka Ignite and the Camp Chef Everest 2X.

The Selkirk shaved off a few precious pounds without sacrificing control to rank as a high-class car camping stove at a relatively affordable price. 

These orange two burner stoves haven’t been out long enough to pass the test of time.  

The good news is GSI has a solid history of durable camping gear, so we have no reason to doubt these camping stoves’ longevity. 

So how does it compare to the competition? This tabletop stove is a few inches smaller than the other two-burner camp stoves out there but makes up for it with tons of fun details.

A handy carrying handle and a tilted windscreen make up one of the best camping stoves for high-altitude cooking. 

Combine these perks with everything you’d expect out of high-quality car camping stoves, and you get a new camp stove on the block that’s quickly turning heads and boiling hot dogs. 

Camp Chef Explorer

This Camp Chef is the first specialist option on our list. The freestanding stoves are perfect for large group gatherings or anyone who isn’t planning on walking too far before they start to cook food.

Four legs always promise a smooth surface for frying, sauteeing and whipping up something good.

This stove doesn’t just stand the heat, it stands out.

Two burners churn out 30,000 BTUs per burner of heat to rank as the most potent camping stove on our list. If you want better BTUs per burner you’ll have to stay at home.

All this performance comes at a slight drawback, a dramatically increased weight compared to the best camp stoves on the market. 

That’s what makes this bad boy a specialist. It’s not easy to pack down or light to carry, especially considering it works best hooked up to 20 lbs propane tanks.

But this propane stove does drastically outperform other stoves when it’s time to get busy.

Kovea Slim Twin

Kovea wasn’t kidding around calling this camping stove the slim twin. It takes the traditional two-burner camping stove style and cuts the fat, leaving an incredibly compact and lightweight powerhouse.

It is an inch shorter than the Camp Chef Mountaineer, compacts into a stainless black casing and fits in the smallest storage spaces. 

Once it’s time to hit the woods, you won’t find any sacrifice in stove performance on the slim twin.

Loads of high-quality features like an automatic ignition and high heat cooking prove that a powerful grill accessory can take a small size. 

It doesn’t pump out the British thermal units quite like some of our other stoves, but that’s not what it’s built for. Instead of power, this top-notch camp stove favours efficiency across the board.

MSR Windburner

There is one reason to travel with the MSR Windburner single burner camping stove in your gear bag: efficiency.

No matter the weather, wind, or altitude, there are not many one-burner stoves on the market that can boil water better than this beast of a backpacking stove. 

At the core of the high performance is MSR’s Radiant Burning Technology that only a few stoves on the market possess.

Radiant burners produce both convection and radiant heating and really speed up the process. This tech allows the Windburner to heat up in a hurry regardless of the weather around you.

MSR designed this backpacking specialist for high alpine heating and rounds out the single burner with a protective housing that screws right onto a small propane tank. 

The Windburner is a niche pick lightweight stove perfect for travelers who need their stove to fire up in a hurry.

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp

Take home base with you almost anywhere with the most technically advanced camp stove on the market.

The Jetboil Genesis Basecamp compacts down to a 9.8 inch X 4.5 container and unfurls into a two-burner, high output stove that has no equals. 

The only reason this high-tech stove doesn’t top our list is the crazy high price point. But some adventurers will find it more than worth the hefty investment. 

The system is compact and has incredibly high performance. Pair it up with Jetboil’s cooking gear custom built to fit on the slightly reduced burner sizes, and you can bring the high life to the backcountry.

You can even hook up two different stoves and have a four-burner cooktop wherever the journey takes you.

Camp Chef Versatop

This Camp Chef Versatop offering is a car camping specialist on the opposite end of the spectrum as the Jetboil.

If you don’t plan on walking too far to the campsite or are cooking meals for large groups, there is no closer camp stove to the real deal than the Versatop. 

This unit is a bonafide flat top stove perfect for flipping burgers, frying bacon, and grilling Haloumi.

If you’ve never tried a flat top before, all you need to know is the Versatop may be more efficient than your stove at home. 

There is a certain charm a flat-top surface gets out of your food that is unmatched. Camping doesn’t have to be about living without. Take things up a notch with this heavy and powerful flat-top camping stove.

Choosing the Best Camping Stove

While there is clearly one specific design that has brought success to many different camping stoves, there is still no such thing as the best camping stove for every single adventure. 

To choose what’s best for your lifestyle, take a look at a few key factors that make up the best camping stove options in the business. 

Fuel Type

Most camping stoves on our list use propane in some form or another. Propane fuel comes in two main styles: small single-use metal canisters anywhere from 4-16 ounces, and 20 lb refillable tanks. 

Any car campers who already have a propane source can find a camping stove that hooks up directly to their existing fuel source. Anyone walking far should leave the 20 lb tanks at home.

The little green bottles are more than enough to get you through a weekend, and car campers are the only ones who can realistically travel with the larger tanks.

There are a few sneaky benefits to the 20 lb option if you are travelling by car. The choice is yours, and it will primarily rely on how much weight you’re willing to carry.

In this day and age where lightweight travel rules all, it may seem like a no-brainer to stick to smaller fuel sources, but it’s not always that simple. 

Larger tanks will burn more efficiently and last longer than any single-use canister and can be re-used much more sustainably than smaller containers.  

How Many Burners?

While a few intrepid camp stoves have squeezed in 3 and 4 burners, most campers will choose between one or two-burner camp stoves. 

One burner camp stoves often fit rugged backpacking checklists and minimalist gear bags. These burners aren’t usually great at doing much more than boiling water and frying cornbread. Still, they can undoubtedly get light cooking done without a fuss. 

Two burner stoves provide double the cook space and stability as one burner, with the added bonus of cooking rice and sauteeing broccoli at the same time. Ideally, you’ll have one of each. 

Your best bet is investing in a cheap one-burner stove for morning coffee and nighttime teas while also packing a larger camp stove in your trunk. If you camp out long enough, eventually, the convenience of a two-burner stove can’t be beaten.

Anyone who doesn’t plan on doing much cooking can save serious space on shorter expeditions with a one-burner. 

Freestanding or Tabletop?

Camp stoves will either stand on their own four legs or rely on a flat surface to set up shop. Tabletop camp stoves save serious weight compared to their leggy cousins, but it’s not always easy to find level ground at the campsite. 

Any spot with a picnic table will have more than enough stability to support a tabletop stove. The slim stoves are much more portable than a freestanding cooker, making them the more popular of the two options. 

Freestanding stoves sacrifice carry ability in favour of more firepower. These stoves are perfect for large groups or anyone planning on doing some serious grilling while they’re out in the woods. 

A high-quality freestanding stove will include removable legs so you can have the best of both worlds, but don’t expect the world. Even with the legs removed, they won’t be as light as a tabletop. 

Final Thoughts 

No matter which way you look at it, the best camping stoves on the market are more than capable of having you thrive during your time outside. These cookers bring high heat output to compact, portable and durable outer shells to outperform the competition in all sorts of different scenarios. 

Our editor’s choice, the Camp Chef Everest 2X, does it all without adding too much weight to be a no-brainer pick for high-quality camp cooking. 

EDITOR’S CHOICE:

Camp Chef Everest

There are very few arguments against this high-quality two-burner stove.

From weather resistance to heat output, Camp Chef Everest does it all as well as any other stove on the market to serve as the best camping stoves for most adventurers. 

If you’re willing to spend a bit of extra cash on the important details of the trip, this beast will never leave you hungry. 

CHECK THE BEST PRICE

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