Camping stoves come in all shapes and sizes and firing one up at the end of the day can be something of a ritual. It can turn an ordinary walk into a picnic, and it’s a massive morale boost at the end of a long, possibly damp day out in the elements when you’re backpacking. At least half the appeal of sleeping out in the mountains is being in nature and enjoying a cuppa or more whilst watching the light, weather and wildlife come and go. At camp, ‘fast and light’ can wait – we should make a meal of our time outdoors!
Get to grips with cooking in the wild with our guide to Cooking in camp
This is a broad test, relatively speaking. We’ve concentrated on gas canister camping stoves, but that includes stoves for summer and winter use, base (static) camping and multi-fuel units that could be used when gas canisters cannot be found locally. We are not considering alcohol (meths) units here – these tend to be very lightweight, almost silent and slower to boil – although for warmer weather use, they remain my favourite way to heat water.
Some gas canister camping stoves prioritise fuel efficiency using heat exchanger technology integrated into the pan, or use pressure regulators to even out fuel output and burn temperature. Others are designed specifically for all-season use, with the ability to invert the fuel canister and change from vapour to liquid feed – useful at altitude or when very cold. These units are usually heavier and less compact, but more stable.
We’ve mentioned heating water – mostly, that’s all we’re doing. There’s only one unit here that really excels at simmering (and therefore ‘cooking’), and it’s not a unit anyone would want to backpack with. That said, some units are better at working at a lower output, whilst others are optimised for rapidly heating water or melting snow to pour into a dehydrated food pouch.
What camping stove you choose depends on where you plan to go with it, in what conditions, and how you use your hot water. That and your budget – there’s a wide range of prices here too. Looking for advice for maintaining a stove? Our guide on how clean a camping stove will help you there.
Our pick of the best camping stoves
Below is a selection of the best camping stoves available right now. You will find a variety of stoves and models with a range of prices to suit every budget. We’ve reviewed stoves from brands such as Primus, Alpkit, MSR and SOTO plus many others. All of the camping stoves reviewed have been thoroughly tested by our expert team.
How we tested the best camping stoves
Our team tested the stoves on walks and backpacking trips mainly in Scotland but also in Snowdonia and the Lake District. Our testing was conducted right throughout the year on trips ranging from quick summer jaunts up to a hilltop for a coffee through to multi-day excursions in winter conditions.
Related: Best hiking boots
When deciding on a purchase, it’s worth looking closely at the power output and burn times in conjunction with the boil times we’ve given, which our tester averaged over multiple uses in different conditions. There is no industry standard, and quoted figures need to be read with care and balanced with the comments in review.
Jetboil Stash – Best in test
TGO Magazine verdict
Our jury in The Great Outdoors Awards 2023 were unanimous in selecting Jetboil’s Stash (£160), one of the lightest personal cooking systems on the market, as the outright winner in the stoves category- Weight
- Compact size
- Reasonable Simmer control
- No wind resistance without a windshield (not inlcluded)
- No pressure regulator
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $127.95 | £155 (Buy now from alpinetrek.co.uk) Weight: 232g including burner, pot and canister stand (24g) Type: Unregulated pressure canister-top stove system with integrated pan and heat exchanger Fuel: Gas Dimensions: Pot 0.8 Litres, 10x12cm Burner diameter: 4cm Power: 1318W/ 4500BTU Boil time: Average 5min on test Burn time: Approx 80min from a 230g canister (quoted) |
It’s a lightweight camping stove system with a 0.8 litre pot, a solid handle, a titanium burner, and a canister stand. It has a heat exchanger to reduce hot spots and burning, and a fine degree of flame control. It is top-heavy when full, but has a canister stand to help mitigate stability concerns. It is a steady performer and requires an additional full height windshield (not inc) to protect it from the wind. Despite this, it is a simple, very light design that packs small and will allow basic cooking.
Will Renwick, who took the Stash on his 500-mile fastpacking trip taking in all 189 of the Welsh Nuttalls, said that taking the system was an “easy decision” and that he has “never been let down by it.”
Read David Lintern’s full review of the Jetboil Stash
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
TGO Magazine verdict
MSR have a reputation for making camping stoves with versatility and performance, and this is no exception.- Pressure regulator
- Efficiency
- Boil time
- Simmer control
- Build Quality
- Nothing
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $85 | £70 Weight: 82g + 17g case Dimensions: 180mm/ 65mm Burner Diameter: 47mm Power: 10,400/ 3200 W Boil time: 1min 35 secs Gas used: 9g |
MSR have a reputation for making camping stoves with versatility and performance, and this is no exception. The Pocket Rocket Deluxe is lightweight and compact, has a very fast boil time yet is efficient and easy to control with a lower flame. The built-in Piezo is positive, firing with a single click, and close to the canister so distant from the flame. The pressure regulator works extremely well, even with low gas levels and in cold conditions and the combination of price, weight, performance and MSR attention to detail on every aspect of the design and function makes this a top choice.
Read Judy’s full review on the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
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SOTO Fusion Trek
TGO Magazine verdict
The Fusion Trek camping stove is a Best Buy due to its versatility, stability, all season-capability and affordability.- All Season remote canister design
- Fuel-efficient
- Good Price
- Slightly bulkier than other options
- Pan and windshield not included
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price $95 | £90 (Buy now from amazon.co.uk) Weight: 186g Type: Pressure regulated remote-canister Stove Fuel: Gas Dimensions: 11x6x10cm Burner Diameter: 6cm Power: 3260W/11000BTU Boil time: average 4 min on tes Burn time: approx 90min from a 230g canister (quoted) |
The Fusion Trek was chosen as David Lintern’s Best Buy in his 2022 comparative review of the latest camping stoves. It’s a remote-canister version of the Windmaster camping stove, wit a wide burner with 300 burn holes, three legs that extend securely, and pot supports that are integral to the legs. The canister attachment is well-designed and has a wired hoop control for fine flame control. The stove is fast and powerful, but can also be turned down for a more effective simmer. The canister can be inverted for cold-weather use, and fuel efficiency is excellent. The Fusion Trek camping stove is a Best Buy due to its versatility, stability, all-season-capability, and affordability.
Read David’s full review on the SOTO Fusion Trek
Primus Tupike
TGO Magazine verdict
The Tupike is a two burner camping stove desgined for basecamps and backpacking, it is large and heavy but beautifully finished and is a bit of a gas guzzler.- Genuine simmer-capable cooking stove
- Made to last
- Thirsty on fuel
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $260 | £240 (Buy now from alpinetrek.co.uk) Weight: 4.3kg Type: Pressure-regulated dual burner base camp stove Fuel: Gas Dimensions: 8x48x30cm Burner diameter: 4.6cm Power: 3000W / 1023BTU Boil time: average 5min on test Burn time: approx 47min from a 230g canister (quoted) |
The Tupike is a two-burner camping stove designed for basecamps and backpacking. It has two independent burners, two piezo igniters and two flame controls, and a griddle. It is large and heavy, but is also beautifully finished in brass, oak and brushed aluminium. It sits on two locking and folding legs and has adjustable windshields and a splashback. However, its fuel efficiency is a bit of a gas guzzler, so it should be used with larger canisters and boil/rest cycles to conserve fuel.
Read David Lintern’s full review on the Primus Tupike
MSR Reactor 1L
TGO Magazine verdict
It is a one-trick pony and expensive, but it is perfect for short, sharp missions to the mountains, especially in winter.- Rapid boil
- Excellent wind resistance
- Compact
- No simmer capability
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $270 | £295 (Buy now from alpinetrek.co.uk) Weight: 432g Type: pressure-regulated, radiant burner stove system with integrated pan and heat exchanger Fuel: gas Dimensions: 12×14.5cm Burner diameter: 10cm Power: 9000W / 3070BTU Burn time: approx 80min from a 230g canister (quoted) |
The Reactor is a high-performance camping stove designed to melt snow and boil water quickly. It is wind-resistant and uses both convective heat and radiant light energy. It has a solid, all-metal handle that stays cool to the touch and folds away securely over a pot lid with a strainer and steam release. The pressure regulator gives an even burn and it was the only stove on test to beat its quoted boil times. It is a one-trick pony and expensive, but it is perfect for short, sharp missions to the mountains, especially in winter.
Read David Lintern’s full review on the MSR Reactor 1L
Alpkit Koro
TGO Magazine verdict
It’s powerful, but there are faster units in this round up. It is simple, light, packs down small and is inexpensive.- Price
- Inverted canister
- All season use
- Suits a variety of pots
- Marginally less effficent than other comparable stoves on test
- Pan and windshield not included
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $75 | £55 Weight: 126g Type: pressure-regulated remote-canister stove with preheat tube Fuel: gas Dimensions: 8x8x9cm Burner diameter: 8cm Power: 2800W / 9553BTU Boil time: average 5min on test Burn time: approx 70min from a 230g canister (quoted) |
The Koro is a remote canister camping stove made from titanium to keep the weight low and has a brass preheat tube to help vaporise gas at lower temperatures. It has three legs and three pot supports that fold securely and have no friction resistance. The hose is armoured but has some flexibility and a small flame control/regulator unit sits at the canister end. It is powerful, but there are faster units in this round up. It is simple, light, packs down small and is inexpensive.
Read David’s full review on the Alpkit Koro
Primus Express
TGO Magazine verdict
The Express isn’t as powerful as some other gas stoves but it still boiled water fast enough, even on frosty mornings.- Light
- Compact
- Robust
- Fast boil time
- Narrow flame
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $45 | £35 (Buy now from Primus) Weight: 82g Type: canister-top stove Fuel: gas (canister) Dimensions: 115 x 90mm Burner diameter: 35mm Power: 2600W Boil time: approx 2.30 min (quoted) Fuel consumption by hour: 185 g/h. |
The Express stove is a simple gas burner that’s very light and compact. It folds flat and takes up little room in the pack. Primus says the narrow flame is good for wind resistance but, in our tests, we found that in more than a gentle breeze the windscreen is needed.
The Express doesn’t have a piezo igniter, though one is available as a standalone extra. The thing about piezos is that they can tend to break, so the fact this can be purchased without one is a good thing. The pot supports lock into place firmly and, in our tests, were capable of holding big pots. However, the flame is narrow and concentrated and, as such, the stove was better with smaller pots.The Express isn’t as powerful as some other gas stoves but it still boiled water fast enough, even on frosty mornings.
Optimus Polaris Optifuel
TGO Magazine verdict
A remote-canister gas fuel camping stove that can run on a wide range of other fuel, but overall noisy and simmering is unpractical.- Mutli-use unit
- All seasons and worldwide compatible
- Windshield and pump included
- Weight
- Noise
- Intermittent burn with gas canister
- Pan not included
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $190 | £255 (Buy now from alpinetrek.co.uk) Weight: 330g burner only, windshield 50g, liquid fuel pump 148g Type: remote canister and multifuel stove 5 Fuel: gas (canister), white gas, kerosene, unleaded fuel, diesel, jet fuel Dimensions: 14x10x9cm (burner only) Burner diameter: 4.8cm Power: 5300W/18000BTU (gas canister), 4200W/ 14340BTU (liquid fuel) Boil time: approx 5min (gas canister), 4min (liquid fuel) on test Burn time: approx 105min from a 230g gas canister, or 100min from 400ml of liquid fuel (quoted) |
The second wild card in this test is a remote-canister gas fuel camping stove that can run on a wide range of other fuels. It has a circular burner unit with three foldaway legs that support the pot, and is very stable with the legs extended. It performs best with white petroleum, but is noisy and fussier in canister gas mode. A fold-down wire hoop offers fine flame control, but simmering is not a practical option.
Read David’s full review on the Optimus Polaris Optifuel
Primus FireStick
TGO Magazine verdict
The Firestick certainly stands out from the crowd when it comes to camping stoves. Strong and compact but lacks stability on rough ground.- Compact
- Wool pouch
- Seperate piezo
- Reasonable in wind
- Small pan support area
- Lack of stability
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: $90 | £80 Weight: 105g + 29g case/piezo Dimensions: 180cm / 50cm Burner diameter: 30mm Power: 8530 BTU / 2500 W Boil time: 3min 30 sec Gas used: 12g |
The Firestick certainly stands out from the crowd when it comes to camping stoves. It is supplied in a wool storage pouch which acts as a pan holder: this is novel lateral thinking by Primus, and is genuinely useful. Also in the pouch is a cigarette-sized Piezo ignition stick, which works by clicking the end, like a biro.
What’s particularly handy about the design is that it’s compact and pretty strong when folded up, at least compared to many other stove models on the market. This means can store it in a pocket or in your backpack and not have to worry too much about one of the arms breaking.
One downside, however, is that it’s quite a tall burner and this makes this a little bit wobbly and risky to use on rough ground if you don’t have a decent canister stand.
Read Judy’s full review on the Primus Firestick
Vango Folding Gas Stove with Windshield and Piezo
TGO Magazine verdict
This is a reasonable example of a remote canister camping stove and worth considering on a tight budget.- Price
- Good for larger cookware
- Can tilt canister
- Weight
- Stiff hinges
- Small control knob
- Piezo under burner
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £42 (Buy now from alpinetrek.co.uk) Weight: 242g + 50g case Dimensions: 75mm / 85mm Burner diameter: 50mm Power: 8850 BTU / 2600 W Boil time: 2min 30 sec Gas used: 10g |
This is a reasonable example of a remote canister camping stove and worth considering on a tight budget. It has a large pan support area, and a low off-the-ground height, which both aid cooking stability. Each of the support arms is 55mm long; adding in the wide burner gives a massive radius of 85mm – 170mm across full width – so can safely take large cookware.
Read Judy’s full review on the Vango Folding Gas Stove with Windshield and Piezo
What to look for in camping stoves
Fuel
Gas is the most commonly used fuel – in canister form – but other fuels are available. Multifuel stoves will run on white gas, paraffin, petrol, diesel and even aviation (jet) fuel, and meths stoves can be prove incredibly lightweight, especially for trips of less than a week (when also factoring the fuel weight carried). A wood stove is lovely to use, but less reliable and more environmentally questionable in our woodland-depleted country.
Stability
Stability can be an issue with canister stoves. The simplest – a gas head that screws onto a canister – need a very stable base to counteract the effect of perching a loaded pan on top of a stove, on top of a canister. By contrast, a remote canister stove sits on the ground with its own legs and is attached to the canister by a flexible fuel hose. It has the additional advantage of allowing the canister to be inverted in cold weather or when nearly empty.
Burner diameter
Gas stoves with small-diameter burner heads can create intense burn zones, or hot spots, on cooking pans. Others are wide but work less well with taller, thinner pots. Some stoves come as complete ‘systems’, with exchangers built into the accompanying pan to distribute heat more evenly. Pan materials also matter: thin titanium is prone to hot spots; stainless steel is better; a thick aluminium pan is best at dispersing heat.
Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a trade-off between weight, speed, size, design and the conditions of use. It’s impacted by ambient temperature, altitude and wind, and is difficult to measure accurately. A heat exchanger pot or a pressure regulator can improve fuel efficiencies. In Britain the most common type of gas canister cartridge is screw-on, and most contain a mix of butane, isobutane and propane. Isobutane has better vapour pressure and offers superior performance, especially in low temperatures. Butane is the cheapest but poorest-performing fuel in the mix.
Gas
Brands will specify their stoves should only be used with their own brand gas canisters. In reality they will work with any canister with a compatible connection (in Britain, the most common type is the screw-on). Virtually all compact cartridges contain a mix of butane, isobutane and propane. Isobutane is far superior in terms of vapour pressure, and high vapour pressure translates to better performance, especially in low temperatures. Isobutane is more expensive to source than butane, so you’ll usually find it in higher-quality canisters. Normal butane is the cheapest and poorest-performing fuel in the mix. Burning efficiency is also reduced by cold temperatures, high altitude and wind.
Windshield
This increases a stove’s efficiency by shielding the flame against wind (it can double as a heat reflector). Windshields can be integrated or made from thin aluminium sheet. Either way, it’s important to keep the fuel canister away from the heat!
Pans
Camping stoves with small diameter burner heads can create intense burn zones, or hot spots, on cooking pans. Titanium pans have thin bases so are prone to this, stainless steel is better, a thick aluminium pan is best at dispersing heat.
Controls
Stoves may have compact gas control dials, or wire hoops that fold out, which can provide finer control of the flame and reduce the risk of burning fingers or sleeves. Onboard piezo igniters are a nice convenience, but it’s worth carrying a fire steel and/or a lighter in case of failure. Multifuel stoves come with a pump system to fit pressurised fuel bottles.
Many people talk about the ‘Big Three’ when it comes to hiking and camping: that’s your backpack, your backpacking tent and your sleeping bag. For backpacking, we think it’s better to think about a ‘Big Four’ with that extra digit accounting for your cooking system.
