Best Camp Stoves For Backpacking | Ultimate Guide

There is nothing better than a hot meal after a long day of hiking to your backpacking destination. And with advanced technology, there are many great backpacking camp stoves that are lightweight and compact to carry along in your pack. There are a few different styles to choose from, therefore, we created the ultimate guide for the best camp stoves for backpacking. Let’s dive in.

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MSR Pocket Rocket 2

Most Compact Backpacking Camp Stove

The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is one of the best camp stoves for backpacking and one of the most popular options. It’s just about the smallest and lightest backpacking stove available. It is extremely popular among the ultralight backpacking community because it packs down small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. But the compromise is durability and price. And you also have to carry along an IsoPro canister which weighs an additional 13 ounces.

The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 has an adjustable flame so you can cook on simmer or crank it up to a rapid boil. Most camp stoves on the market, don’t have this feature, so if you need a camp stove that has different flame outputs, this is the best option.

Fuel Type: IsoPro Canister (propane & isobutane)

Dimensions: 1.7 x 1.3 x 3.1 inches

Weight: 2.6 ounces

Pros of the MSR Pocket Rocket 2

Inexpensive
Lightweight
Compact
Adjustable flame

Cons of the MSR Pocket Rocket 2

Needs proper ventilation when cooking
Requires match/lighter to be lit
Cooking pot not included

Check Price: MSRgear.com | Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com | Backcountry.com

Jetboil Flash Cooking System

Quickest Boiling Backpacking Camp Stove

One of the other best camp stoves for backpacking is the Jetboil Flash Cooking System. It comes with its own pot and insulated sleeve. It boils water faster than anything else in the average time of 3 minutes and 20 seconds. The Jetboil starts via push button, making it easy to get water boiling quickly. But if you want to use other pots and pans with it, you need an extra attachment.

The one negative is it is designed for boiling water only, so it doesn’t have an adjustable flame for simmer capabilities. Making it a bit expensive for only boiling water. Another unique feature of the Jetboil is the color-changing boil indicator to notify you when the water is at a full boil and you can turn it off to save fuel.

Also, the Jetboil fuel canisters weigh an additional 7 ounces.

Fuel Type: isobutane – propane

Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.1 inches

Weight: 13.1 ounces

Pros of the Jetboil Flash Cooking System

Matchless ignition
Small/ Easy to store
Comes with boiling pot
Color-changing boil indicator
Cooking pot included

Cons of the Jetboil Flash Cooking System

Expensive
Flame isn’t adjustable
Needs proper ventilation when cooking

Check Price: Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com | Backcountry.com

Redcamp Mini Alcohol Stove

Our Top Choice For Backpacking Camp Stove

Alcohol stoves are personally Jake and my favorite backpacking camp stove because of their price and minimal weight. You also don’t have to carry along a bulky canister and you can pack just enough alcohol fuel to get you through your backpacking trip. But do note, they do usually need a windscreen or they often don’t work.

Also, there is really only one flame output (high) so it’s really only good for boiling water or cooking things on high heat. We use heet as our fuel, which has worked great in all our experiences.

If you’re crafty, you can make your own DIY Alcohol camp stove.

Fuel Type: alcohol

Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 1.8 inches

Weight: 5 ounces

Pros of the Redcamp Mini Alcohol Stove

Lightweight
Inexpensive
Compact
Only need to pack the fuel you need

Cons of the Redcamp Mini Alcohol Stove

Might need additional windscreen
Requires match/lighter to be lit
Flame isn’t adjustable
Cooking pot not included

Check Price: Amazon.com | Walmart.com

Solo Stove Lite

Most Eco-friendly Backpacking Camp Stove

The Solo Stove Lite is a lightweight camp stove that uses wood as its fuel. It is a double-wall convection camp stove that is designed to bring oxygen through from the bottom to create a roaring flame to cook food. There is an ash pan in the middle to collect the ash for easy disposal after use.

This is one of the best camp stoves for backpacking if you aren’t looking to carry fuel in your pack. But this camp stove option does require a little extra work when you arrive at camp. You will need to be backpacking where there are trees and twigs are easy to find around camp unless you plan to pack twigs along.

Fuel Type: wood

Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.25 inches

Weight: 9 ounces

Pros of the Solo Stove Lite

Lightweight
Inexpensive
Fuel is twigs (no alcohol or gas needed)
Adjustable flame (dependent on how many twigs you add)

Cons of the Solo Stove Lite

You have to collect fuel (twigs) once you arrive at camp
Harder to start vs gas camp stoves
Might not be allowed during fire bans (check regulations of the area)
Requires match/lighter to be lit
Cooking pot not included

Check Price: Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com

Esbit Pocket Stove

Sleekest Backpacking Camp Stove

The Esbit Pocket Stove is a great camp stove option if you are looking for something sleek and lightweight. The tablets are the fuel and generally burn for 12 minutes. There are two different setups, one for direct flame with high heat for boiling water and the other with a low flame for slower cooking. And you don’t have to worry about ash residue from the flame, but there might be a sticky residue instead. The fuel is environmentally safe and odorless.

One huge drawback is it typically takes 16 minutes to fully boil water, therefore it takes more than one tablet. And that is a much longer boil time than other camp stove options on this list. But the major selling point is the lightweight and compact features.

Fuel Type: tablet

Dimensions: 4 x 3 x 1 inches

Weight: 6.3 ounces

Pros of the Esbit Pocket Stove

Inexpensive
Lightweight
Compact
Adjustable flame
Super great in case of emergencies

Cons of the Esbit Pocket Stove

Requires match/lighter to be lit
Cooking pot not included
Takes 16 minutes to bring water up to a boil

Check Price: Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com

BioLite Camp Stove

Best Backpacking Camp Stove For Charging Electronics

The BioLite is the ultimate package if you need to stay charged up out in the backcountry. This camp stove uses the energy from the wood and turns it into electricity so you can charge up your devices. The BioLite is one of the more advanced camp stoves on the market, but it does come with a hefty price tag and heavier weight than the other camp stove options. But ultimately it only requires twigs to boil water in just 4.5 minutes and keep you fueled and charged up in the backcountry.

The best part of the BioLite camp stove is that your fuel is in the backcountry, so no need to pack any canister of fuel or portion out the alcohol needed like other camp stoves. Plus the Patented combustion technology creates a smokeless flame. And the thermoelectric generator has a built-in fan with four different speeds so the fire always has oxygen creating efficient heat.

The battery pack is 3,200 mAh, so it can charge all your small electronic devices and can even run the Flex light provided in case you are cooking after dark. And if you don’t want the hassle of collecting twigs once you get to camp, BioLite also sells pellets.

Fuel Type: wood

Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 8.27 inches

Weight: 2 lbs

Pros of the BioLite Camp Stove

Fuel is twigs (no alcohol or gas needed)
Comes with USB charging port
Adjustable flame (dependent on how many twigs you add & level of fan)
Comes with a flex light

Cons of the BioLite Camp Stove

Expensive
Heavy
You have to collect fuel (twigs) once you arrive at camp
Might not be allowed during fire bans (check regulations of the area)
Requires match/lighter to be lit
Bulkiest camp stove option
Cooking pot not included
Harder to start vs gas camp stoves

Check Price: Amazon.com | REI.com | Walmart.com | Backcountry.com

Additional Items To Go With the Best Camp Stoves For Backpacking

And don’t forget to pair the best camp stoves for backpacking with a non-stick pot. We love our 2.5 Liters MSR Ceramic Pot for a lightweight, non-stick pan out in the backcountry. The handle folds down for easy storage in your hiking pack.

Backpacker's Pantry - Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans with Chicken

Of course, you can’t forget to back some tasty backpacking meals. Most backpacking meals are dehydrated so all you have to add is water making cooking seamless as soon as you get to your destination.

Takeaway | Best Camp Stoves For Backpacking | Ultimate Guide

Overall, these are all great camp stove options. Everyone has different preferences when out in the backcountry. If you are looking for an adjustable flame, the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is your best option. But if you are looking for an easy ultralight option, we suggest an alcohol stove. And if you want the most eco-friendly camp stove option, choose between the Solo Stove Lite or the BioLite.

And if you are in a hurry to get some hot food in your belly as soon as you arrive at camp, then the Jetboil Flash will get you boiling water in just over 3 minutes. And of course, if you are going ultralight or just looking for an emergency option, the Esbit Pocket Stove is for you. We hope this helps you choose the best option for you when it comes to best camp stoves for backpacking.