Best Backpacking Camping Stoves

Backpacking food need not consist solely of energy bars and trail mix. A reliable backpacking stove allows you to enjoy hot meals in the wilderness. Much lighter and more compact than a standard camp stove, backpacking stoves are capable of anything from boiling water to cooking a full meal, all without taking up much room in your pack. The one that is best for you depends on the number of people you plan to cook for and the temperature range and part of the world in which you plan to use it.

Soto OD-1R Micro Regulator

Winner of the "Backpacker" Editors' Choice 2010 award, the Soto OD-1R Micro Regulator is a canister-style stove, a popular configuration that utilizes a nonrefillable, pressurized gas canister. Unlike most canister stoves, the Soto features a small regulator that ensures consistent gas flow even at high altitude or in cold temperatures. This allows it to boil water quickly, cutting meal preparation times and conserving fuel. It lights conveniently via a piezo igniter switch.

MSR PocketRocket

Another canister stove, the MSR PocketRocket is very lightweight and compact. Although lacking the pressure regulator of the Soto, the PocketRocket nonetheless works reasonably well in the cold, according to the editors of "Backpacker." As with the Soto, the gas canister threads onto the burner element to form the base of the stove.

Jetboil GCS

A unique interpretation of the canister stove concept, the Jetboil GCS features an integrated pot and heating element, resulting in improved heating times and reduced fuel usage. A built-in windscreen keeps gusts from blowing the flame out. A potential disadvantage is that the integrated pot design may prevent you from easily using any pots you may already own.

Primus Express Spider

One of the primary drawbacks to canister stoves is that using the canister as the stove base is inherently unstable, a problem when using a large pot or when flat ground is unavailable. The Primus Express Spider solves this problem by employing a flexible hose to connect the heating element to the canister rather than having the element thread directly onto the top of the canister. In addition to increased stability, this design allows you to turn the canister upside-down during cold weather to improve fuel delivery.

MSR XGK-EX

Unlike canister stoves, which use a disposable container to hold the fuel, liquid-fuel stoves like the MSR XGK-EX utilize a refillable bottle that attaches to the stove via a flexible hose, allowing for a separate, stable stove base. They also work much better at high altitude and in frigid conditions. Liquid fuel is also cheaper than the prepackaged butane/propane canisters. One drawback is that there is a potential for spilled fuel. Most liquid-fuel stoves sold in the United States run on white gas, but the XGK-EX can burn several types of fuel, a useful feature for international trips. Extremely durable, the XGK-EX is completely field maintainable with the included servicing tools.