Camping Panda
Single-burner propane camp stoves are versatile camping assets. Suitable for 2-3 people, they are lightweight, easy to carry, and output more heat than their butane peers. Models vary from pocket-sized stoves ideal for backpacking to larger ones suitable for car camping.Â
But which are the best single burner propane camp stoves around? Find it out in our rundown.
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?
15
Hours Researched
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Products Evaluated
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Sources Researched
The Coleman PowerPack might not be the smallest one burner propane camp stove out there, but it’s perfect for car camping. A larger-than-average cooking surface allows you to use it with 12-inch pots and skillets, for seamless cooking for up to 3 people.
In terms of size, it’s still compact and light enough to carry everywhere. Smaller BTU compared to our top picks boosts runtime, allowing you to cook for 3 hours or more on a single gas cylinder. We also like the wide base at the side of the propane tank, that enhances stability on less even terrains. Powerful for most tasks and affordable, this is a great camp stove for most car campers.
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Campers on a budget may be surprised by Coleman’s portable bottletop stove. Consisting of a burner sitting on top of a propane cylinder, this camping stove is all about portability. The burner is detachable, allowing you to conveniently slip it in a backpack pocket.Â
Needless to say that it’s incredibly lightweight too. As for the performance, you can expect up to 10,000 BTU and an adjustable flame that allows you to boil or simmer. The burner is larger than Sportster’s burner, providing stability to pans up to 8 inches. All in all, a reliable camp stove that won’t break the bank.Â
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If you love innovation and don’t mind dropping some cash to have it, the Jetboil Zip could be the best one burner camp stove for you. Like the Coleman Bottletop, it has a bottletop design with the burner sitting on top of the gas cylinder. Impressive heat output allows you to boil half-liter of water in just 2.5 minutes.
True value is added by the 0.8-liter cup you can use to brew coffee or cook some soup. You’ll also get a detachable bottom cover that doubles as bowl or measuring cup. Furthermore, the burner is wide enough to use with 6-inch pots and pans, for versatile outdoor cooking.
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Truly compact yet extremely capable, the Coleman Sportster II is undeniably one of the best camping stoves out there. It has dual fuel capabilities, running on either Coleman Liquid Fuel or unleaded gasoline, and outputs a whopping 10,000 BTU.Â
This camp stove is designed for adventurers and survivalists in search of heavy-duty gear. Its one-piece design with zero set up make it super-easy to use straight out of the box. Despite its advertised 6-inch pan capacity, you can also use it with pans and pots up to 10 inches. Furthermore, maintenance is also quick and easy. No doubt, an excellent choice for most campers.
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Impressing with a bottletop design, the Stansport stove is another excellent choice for campers who love minimal gear. The unit outputs up to 10,000 BTU, bringing water to a boil in under 10 minutes.
The burner is larger than average, suitable for pans up to 8 inches. Furthermore, we also like the tip-resistane base that improves stability when cooking. As you can expect, the burner and fuel cylinder can be transported and stored separately.
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If you like dual fuel versatility, then the SHINESTAR portable stove could suit your needs. It runs on both propane and butane, and it even comes butane-ready – all you have to do is place a gas cylinder in the dedicated compartment and attach it to the burner.
A propane hose is also included in the box. You need no other accessories to hook it to a propane tank, a feature that allows you to seamlessly switch from one fuel to another. Perfect for car camping and tailgating, this portable stove also impresses with a more than attractive price point.
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The Gas ONE GS-3900P is one of the most sought-after single burner propane camp stoves. Its main highlight is the high, 15,000 BTU output that brings water to a boil in almost the blink of an eye. Indeed, it can boil a liter of water in under 10 minutes, and low and high settings also make it possible to simmer.
Design-wise, this stove is very similar to the SHINESTAR above. The gas cylinder compartment is more attractive, though, but overall, this unit is heavier. While the bigger burner reduces fuel efficiency, it surely distributes heat more evenly. No doubt, a portable stove the aspiring camp chefs will love.
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Coleman Peak 1 joins our selection of dual fuel camp stoves. Like our other choices, it runs on both butane and propane, but impresses with a super-compact design that makes it perfect for hikers and backpackers.Â
Despite its small size, it outputs 10,000 BTU, comes with an adjustable flame, and holds 6-inch pans. Perfect for adventurers who love to explore the wilderness on their own.
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Outputting 10,000 BTU, the Outbound Portable stove appeals to hikers, anglers, hunters, and all those campers looking for a compact yet reliable stove. Braking down in three parts, it’s super-easy to transport.
Like most stoves this size, it works with 16.4-ounce gas cylinders and has a bottletop design. What we like is the wider surface of the grate, that makes this stove perfect for pans of up to 10 inches. Stable on the surfaces, easy to use, and durable, this is a great portable stove for backpacking.
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Last but not least, the REDCAMP portable stove is an excellent choice for all campers who like to travel light. Ideal to use with both butane and propane tanks, it boasts a heat output up to 15,695 BTU, and it can boil a liter of water in around 5 minutes.
The stove can hold pans up to 8 inches, and a windshield around the burner enhances efficiency in all weather conditions.
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Portable stoves can bring a new level of gourmet to your camping experience and from all, the single burner propane camp stoves are the best if you need a compact item for hiking and backpacking. The main advantage of such a stove is the fact that propane cylinders are readily available in most outdoor gear stores as well as online.
Propane is also energy efficient and burns cleaner than other fuels, including butane or gasoline. With this in mind, let’s check out the most important features to look for before buying your camp stove.
Single burner stoves come in various styles and designs, each suitable for different styles of camping and purposes.
The burner power of all camping stoves is measured in British thermal units (BTU) and, as you can expect, the more BTU your stove has, the faster it manages to bring water to a boil. However, higher BTU also means higher fuel consumption – something you must carefully consider when using 16-oz fuel cans.
Single burner propane stoves can have anywhere between 7,500 and 15,000 BTU, and while a high-power stove is ideal for shorter trips, one with fewer BTU but higher fuel efficiency is undeniably a better choice if you plan to explore the outdoors for more than a couple of days.
When it comes to ignition, you can pick from a variety of manual or automatic ignition. Stoves with manual ignition are cheaper, but if you don’t want to carry matches or a lighter with you, go for a stove with Piezo igniter.
An effective simmer control is another essential thing to consider if you want to use the stove for more than just boiling water. A good simmer control means a flame that stays strong even when set to low and that doesn’t fluctuate while cooking.
In terms of performance, you should consider the stove’s performance in windy conditions as well as its capacity to distribute heat evenly.
If you like a stove that has poor wind performance, make sure it comes with or that it can be used with wind shield. Protecting the flame from three sides, wind shields give you the possibility to cook in almost all weather conditions.
One thing that is often overlooked but particularly important if you want to cook for more than two people is the stove’s compatibility with bigger diameter cookware. While there isn’t a general rule, most pocket stoves are only compatible with 6-inch pans – the small diameter of the pot support doesn’t provide sufficient balance for larger cookware.
Tabletop stoves are usually the best if you want to cook for several people at one. Indeed, it is quite easy to find stoves to use 10-inch or even 12-inch pans in this category.
Stove accessories can go a long way in improving the efficiency of your stove even further.
If you’re looking for the best value for money, the Coleman PowePack is undeniably your best bet. This stove is lightweight and compact, yet powerful enough for all camping cooking needs.
Prices vary from $20 or less to over $80, depending on the materials used, technologies, and overall quality of the product.
Most single burner propane stoves come pre-assembled; all you have to do is to follow the instructions that come with the particular model and hook the propane tank. Then, simply ignite the burner and use it as you’d use your kitchen stove.
Propane stoves are better than butane ones if you’re looking for ultimate performance. Propane is more economical and has greater performance in cold weather. However, butane cartridges are lighter and easier to hook. Considering that you might look for performance rather than weight, though, propane is definitely a better choice.
No, unless the stove you have can run on dual fuel. Not only butane and propane are different gases, but the hooking mechanism is also different, so you won’t be able to use them interchangeably on a stove designed specifically for propane.
