Camping Panda
Whether you love hiking or car camping, a portable stove is an indispensable item to have when exploring the outdoors. Its importance goes way beyond cooking food. You can use it to boil unclean water before drinking it or melt snow in survival situations.
When it comes to choosing, the market truly spoils with choices. If you don’t know which to pick, check out our selection below to find the best portable stove for you.
Cooking Power
Is it powerful enough?
Lifespan
Is it build for years to come?
Portability
Is it easy to carry?
Usability
Is it easy to use?
Durability
Is it sturdy enough?
Time to Boil
Is it quick to boil water?
Cooking Surface
Is it wide enough for your pan?
Wind Resistance
Is it efficient in windy conditions?
14
Hours Researched
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Products Evaluated
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Reviews Considered
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Sources Researched
The Coleman Portable Butane Stove doesn’t wow with its heat output, but comes with an array of features that made it our top pick. It’s very easy to use, more or less like a regular kitchen stove. The butane tank fits seamlessly in its compartment and is very easy to hook.
A locking mechanism ensures safe gas cylinder change, while the Instastart igniter helps you light the burner without matches. Although the heat output is not that high, it can still boil a quart of water in about 6 minutes. It’s also compact and light. Just what you need for car camping with your better half.
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The GasONE GS-1000 is similar to the Coleman, but smaller and lighter. It also comes at a lower price tag, but the quality of the steel is a bit lower, too. In other words, it’s easier to dent and scratch if you don’t pay attention.
That said, you’ll still be impressed with its performance if you’re looking for a reliable yet affordable stove. It has similar heat output and works in a similar fashion. A great choice for up to 2 people, and more than perfect for fishing, hunting, and car camping.
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The Coleman Fold N Go knows how to conquer hearts. It’s one of the most versatile camp stoves out there, impressing with an innovative, truly portable design. It may not be as light as out top choice, but it’s still super-easy to carry.
A folding design with carry handle eliminates the need of a carrying bag. Then, you’ll also be impressed with its performance. Unfolded, the unit reveals two burners, each outputting up to 10,000 BTU. Ideal for up to 4 people, it works with two 10-inch pans at the same time. Furthermore, separate burner controls also make it possible to cook at different temperatures.
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Survivalists and adventurers who want a stove that can be used in all conditions might like hte Ohuhu wood camping stove. Like its name suggests, it runs on wood, twigs, sticks, and even dead leaves. On those moments when you don’t feel like gathering vegetal material, you can even use it with solidified alcohol.
The stove is built with solo camping in mind, but could be a good fit for two people, too. It comes with a stable grate that holds pans and pots of up to 6 inches. The stainless steel construction is attractive, durable, and easy to clean. Super light and compact when packed, it also fits seamlessly in a rucksack.
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The Gas ONE GS-3000 is a great choice for those who want a butane stove but need higher heat output. With 9,000 BTU, this stove boils water faster and provides adequate heat for searing meats.
Runtime is lower than the GS-1000, but apart from that, the two stoves are pretty similar. They both have the same safety features and matchless ignition. So, if you need a more powerful yet affordable stove, this one might be it.
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This upgraded version from Gas ONE comes as an alternative to the GS-3000, outputting even more heat. It’s perfect for searing meat, cooking burgers and breakfasts, as well as fast water boiling.
Adjusting the flame for simmering could be challenging, though. Apart from that, the stove is quite similar to the GS-3000, and is a great choice for car camping if you don’t mind a slightly higher price tag.
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Etekcity is one of those brands that demonstrates that portable stove actually means pocket size. This compact unit is very lightweight and fits seamlessly in a backpack. It’s perfect for hiking and solo camping, working with smaller pans of up to 7 inches.
Durable, bottletop construction enhances versatility. The stove outputs decent heat for what it is, and even boasts matchless ignition. No doubt, a solid option for minimalist camping.
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This model from Coleman could be the best portable stove for low-key campers. It’s an excellent choice for backpacking and car camping alike, as long as you don’t have to cook for more than two people.
Running on propane, it outputs higher heat than similar butane stoves. You can expect to bring water to a boil in around 6 minutes. Simmering is not really possible, despite the heat control knob. However, this is a great choice for high heat cooking as well as boiling water collected from unsafe sources.
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The Jetboil Genesis Basecamp encompasses all things versatile. Similar to the Coleman Pack N Go, it boasts a folding construction that reveals not one, but two stoves. Each burner outputs 5,000 BTU, which may seem low, but that’s still sufficient to bring water to a boil in around 5 minutes.
Stoves apart, you’ll also get cookware with this one. The stove comes with both pan and pot, so you can cook your breakfast and boil water at the same time. Lightweight and versatile, it’s a great choice for most campers, as long as you don’t mind its price point.
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Ending our list of best portable stoves, the GasONE Mini is an excellent choice for hikers, backpackers, and car campers alike. It’s made to feed one or two people, but it’s compact and truly portable.
Its greatest highlight is the dual fuel construction, that allows you to use it with both butane and propane. The stoves comes with all couplers and accessories needed to switch from one fuel to another. Small yet mighty, this is a reliable choice for your adventures.
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Picking the best camping stove could seem easy, but there are many factors to weigh in before making a decision. You must consider the number of people you have to cook for, the size and weight of the stove, as well as fuel efficiency. Below, we break down the main considerations that go into picking a camping stove to help you decide which one to go for.
Camping stoves can be divided into multiple categories based on the fuel they use, the number of burners they have, size, style, and so on. Based on the fuel they use, we can distinguish between:
The main difference between these two types of camping stoves is easy to understand, but is a multi-fuel stove worth it?
In a nutshell, a multi-fuel camping stove is worth it if you’re an adventurer ready to explore the outdoors at various altitudes and in various seasons. Indeed, multi-fuel camping stoves are usually stoves that can run on both propane and butane – some manufacturers may offer other options as well.
Propane and butane have different performances at different altitudes and different temperatures.
If you’d like to experience all types of camping, a multi-fuel stove could be your best choice. Otherwise, you could simply choose the most appropriate single-fuel stove based on your camping style.
Another thing to decide based on your camping style – and size of your gang – is whether you want a tabletop or freestanding camping stove.
All-in-one cooking systems are systems consisting of a canister stove that comes complete with a cup you can use for boiling water, brewing coffee, or cooking some food. The stove screws on top of the canister, creating a freestanding, tabletop stove ideal for one or two people.
If you like backpacking and hiking more than camping, and only have to cook food for yourself, an all-in-one system could be a lighter and more convenient alternative to a traditional camp stove. However, traditional camp stoves are more versatile, as you can use various types of cookware with them. Ultimately, both options are worth considering, and the choice is yours.
Camping stoves can range anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 BTU per burner. How many BTUs you need depends on what you want to do with the stove.
If you want to cook for smaller groups or use the stove mostly for boiling water, a camping stove with lower BTU is cheaper to buy and will live up to expectations. On the contrary, if you want to cook for larger gangs or would rather opt for fuel efficiency than a lower price, then a stove with higher BTU will boil water and cook your meals faster.
Apart from all the above, there are a few essential features you should also consider before buying:
If you’re camping alone or with a buddy, the Coleman Portable Butane Stove is undeniably your best bet. For family camping, the Coleman Fold N Go provides more cooking space and the possibility to cook several dishes in one go.
A portable stove is a camp stove that’s compact and lightweight enough to carry to your camp site. Smaller models only weigh a few ounces and are ideal for backpacking, while larger ones provide more cooking space, but are more suitable for car camping. Portable stoves also work with gas cartridges and don’t require you to hook them to a natural gas supply.
The price of a portable gas stove can vary between $25 and over $300, depending on the size, fuel, technologies used, and whether or not it comes with additional accessories.
All stoves – portable or not – come with hazards. Portable gas stoves are safe as long as you use them exactly as instructed by the manufacturer. You shouldn’t alter the stove to use it with another type of gas nor use it indoors if the manufacturers says it’s designed for outdoors.
Portable gas stoves can be used indoors in well ventilated spaces; however, it is always recommended to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, and avoid indoor use if the manufacturer says the stove is only suitable to use outdoors.
