Greatest Backpacking Stoves – SectionHiker.com

May 14, 2025

21

Backpackers and campers have a variety of stoves obtainable to them starting from all-in-one range techniques to general-purpose models 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 finest 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 most well-liked stoves utilized by backpackers.
Alcohol stoves are finest for ultralight backpacking and thru-hiking, however are sometimes non-permitted as a consequence of hearth hazard.
Liquid gasoline stoves are finest 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 gasoline or liquid gasoline for optimum flexibility and comfort.
Wooden stoves are good for wilderness backpacking however are sometimes not permitted as a consequence of hearth hazard.

Under are our picks for the perfect backpacking stoves.

Make / Mannequin	Kind	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 necessary 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 appropriate with all screw-type isobutane canisters. Compact and light-weight, it weighs 2.6 ounces and features a built-in pot stand that’s appropriate 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 simple to make use of whereas sporting gloves and offers fine-grained management from a rolling boil to a gradual 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 Assessment. The Pocket Rocket Deluxe Range can be a superb range price 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 dearer.

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 largest 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 properly, 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 may well solely boil a half liter at a time). A push-button ignition system eliminates the necessity to mild the range whereas a shade change indicator on the surface of the pot insulation cowl lets you realize when your water is boiling scorching. When not in use, the range, stand and a 100 g gasoline 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 very enclosed heating factor with an inner stress regulator that makes the range nearly impervious to exterior situations. 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 gasoline canister. When it’s time to go, the Windburner range system packs up into its cook dinner pot, with area for a 110 g gasoline canister. Learn the SectionHiker Windburner Range Assessment.

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 appropriate with all commonplace screw-top isobutane gasoline canisters. It has a really small burner head with folding arms that type a pot stand. It doesn’t have an ignition supply, so you need to use your individual, like matches or a minibic lighter. It’s flame top is managed by twisting a skinny steel 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 recognized for making finely engineered stoves. The Soto Windmaster is specifically designed to offer 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 Assessment. We’re additionally followers of the Soto Amicus Range, which has an connected pot stand that’s unattainable to lose and is offered with an built-in cookset.

6. Jetboil Stash Range System

The Jetboil Stash is a 7.1 oz totally 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 rationale it’s such a beautiful choice. When not in use, the range, stand, and a 100g oz gasoline 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 Assessment.

7. MSR Whisperlite Common

The MSR Whisperlite Common burns quite a lot of fuels together with white gasoline, kerosene, unleaded gasoline, and isobutane-propane canisters providing you with plenty of flexibility regardless of the place you end up. Simply swap the gasoline line and choose certainly one of 3 self-cleaning Shaker jets, relying on the gasoline sort required. When burning white gasoline, 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 doable to make use of a windscreen, it doesn’t matter what sort 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 Assessment.

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 appropriate 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 quite a lot of cookpots with a gasoline canister. An add-on windscreen can be obtainable 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 likely one of the finest alcohol burners obtainable. Weighing 0.7 oz (20g), this range is made with two partitions of solid titanium, one positioned inside the opposite with the tiniest hole in between. This slender area helps alcohol shortly rise between the partitions, vaporized, burning by the tiny vents within the high 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 stick with it backpacking journeys. It has a aspect port so you possibly can reload the range with gasoline whereas it’s burning. Woodstoves are an ideal 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 when you cook dinner dinner. Simply needless to say wood-burning stoves are sometimes banned in areas prone to wildfires. Be sure you test along with your native authorities to see if wooden range use is permitted. Learn the SectionHiker QiWiz FireFly Wooden Range Assessment.

Choose a Backpacking Range

When selecting a backpacking range it’s finest to think about:

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

Range and Cooking Gasoline Sorts

There are 5 most important forms of backpacking stoves:

White gasoline (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
Stable gasoline stoves

White gasoline stoves burn a refined type of unleaded gasoline. They’re good for group cooking and winter cooking as a result of they generate a considerable amount of warmth. They are often cumbersome, nonetheless, which is why most solo hikers don’t use them. Canister stoves are finest used for particular person use or {couples}. Some can simmer, however most are specialised for boiling water. Alcohol stoves are quite simple and most well-liked by thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers, partly 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 as a consequence of hearth rules. Wooden stoves could be handy if pure gasoline is definitely obtainable, however hearth bans in dry states additionally prohibit their use. Stable gasoline stoves burn prepackaged gasoline cubes and are additionally very light-weight, however the gasoline could be onerous 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 all the pieces it is advisable 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 solution 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, nonetheless, and extra geared towards boiling water shortly, relatively than simmering meals.

Winter Backpacking Stoves

Winter stoves are designed to burn gasoline at decrease temperatures, often in a liquid type. White gasoline stoves can burn right down to exterior temperatures of 40 under zero, Fahrenheit, whereas canister stoves that may burn a liquid feed (known as inverted canister stoves) can burn right down to about 10 levels, Fahrenheit. Winter stoves are designed to soften snow to create ingesting 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’ll boil water.

Backpacking Range Ignition

Many canister stoves can be found with built-in sparking models 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 generally tend to wear down in case 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 writer has obtained pattern merchandise talked about on this article over the span of a few years from MSR, Soto, and Path Designs. The remainder he’s bought along with his personal funds.

SectionHiker by no means accepts fee for gear evaluations or editorial protection. Whenever you purchase by affiliate hyperlinks on our website, we might earn a small fee at no additional value to you. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear evaluations, climbing and backpacking FAQs, and free climbing guides.