How to Choose a Backpacking Stove

How to Choose a Backpacking Stove

When you’re putting in work on the trail, you’re going to need to refuel yourself with some hearty meals. While there are plenty of meals you can bring along that don’t require any cooking, there is something comforting and filling about having a warm meal. It’s good to know how to choose a backpacking stove so you can prep something delicious in the backcountry.

Learning how to choose a good backpacking stove can be tricky. There are a lot of qualities in a stove that you should consider. Unfortunately, there is no one stove that is perfect for every situation. You’ll need to choose the stove that best suits the type of hiking you take on most frequently.

Below, we’ll go over some of the key qualities of backpacking stoves that you’ll want to evaluate when shopping for one. If you’d like to see a list of our favorite stoves, check them out here!

Fuel Types

One of the first things to consider when trying to choose a backpacking camp stove is what type of fuel you would like the stove to use.  Each different fuel type comes with it’s pros and it’s cons, so you’ll need to determine what qualities will suit your needs best.

The 3 main categories of backpacking stoves you can choose from are canister, liquid fuel, and alternative fuel stoves. Below, we’ll go into further detail of each of these.

Canister Stoves

The most common and easiest to use of the camp stove varieties is the canister stove. These stoves screw onto the top of a fuel canister that contains propane and isobutane, either as an integrated stove system or a non-integrated system.

What makes canister stoves so easy and convenient is their ability to self-seal. Once you unscrew the canister from the stove, it seals itself. This means you don’t have to worry about the fuel spilling or leaking inside your pack.

These are also great because you are able to easily adjust the flame on a canister stove. This can really come in handy if you want to do more complex cooking in the woods. These types of stoves are also very easy to light, so you won’t find yourself hangerly fighting with a flame at dinner time.

As far as performance, canister stoves are great for ideal conditions but aren’t always dependable in extremes. Canister stoves may perform just fine at high elevations and low temperatures so long as they have a pressure regulator. However, regardless of whether they have a regulator, they aren’t the best option for extremely cold conditions.

There are some qualities of canister stoves that keep them from outshining the other fuel types. For one, these stoves can produce a lot of waste. Once you use all the fuel, you need to dispose of the empty canister. These also aren’t ideal for international hiking trips because you might not find the right canisters abroad.

Our favorite integrated canister stove:

Jetboil Flash Cooking System

Liquid Fuel Stoves

Liquid fuel stoves use refillable bottles of fuel to light the stove. Typically, these utilize white gas, which is a clean-burning fuel that is easy to find across the globe.

If you ‘re a winter backpacker, liquid fuel stoves are arguably the best option for you. These stoves perform well in freezing temperatures and high elevations. It is also easy to keep track of how much fuel you have remaining. You never risk starting a trip without enough fuel, because you can easily see how full your bottle is.

What is also great about liquid fuel is that it is cheaper to refill than a canister. This makes it a great fit for the backpacker on a budget.

As with any other fuel type, there are a few downsides to using a liquid fuel stove. Risking spills and leaks is a major one. If your fuel bottle spills on the trail, you not only make a big mess but you are also left without fuel for cooking your meals. That’s a bad day!

In addition, these stoves are often a bit heavier and bulkier than other stove types. These are also more difficult to use and require more maintenance. You’ll need to clean the stove regularly to maintain performance.

Our Favorite Liquid Fuel Stove:

MSR Whisperlite International Stove

Alternative Fuel Stoves

If neither a canister nor liquid fuel stove sound like a fit for you, you can choose an alternative fuel stove. These use fuel pellets or wood pieces to keep the flame burning.

The great thing about alternative fuel stoves is that they can be incredibly lightweight. For a wood burning stove, you don’t even need to carry fuel with you. The twigs and sticks you find on the ground will act as your fuel. This also makes them incredibly budget friendly. All the fuel you need is generously supplied by the forest. How neat!

There are some qualities of alternative fuel stoves that keep them from being a good fit for everyone. For instance, if you’re hiking in an area with a fire ban, they may be prohibited. Rainy days or damp mornings can also pose an issue.  Using fuel pellets instead of twigs is one way to get around this concern.

However, regardless of if you use pellets or twigs, you may still struggle with these stove’s inability to control and regulate temperature for cooking. In fact, you may have trouble cooking at all if you don’t have a windscreen to protect the flame with. 

Our Favorite Alternative Fuel Stove:

Solo Stove Lite Portable Camping Stove

Group Size

When figuring out how to choose a backpacking stove, something you should consider is how large of a group you typically backpack with.

Your set up and priorities can be different if you typically backpack or camp by yourself versus if you go with a group. The ideal size,  accessories, weight, and fuel type can differ based on the amount of people you will be boiling water for.

For example, a stove that boils a lot of water, but uses a lot of fuel is not great for a lone hiker. However, for small groups or pairs who can share the load of extra fuel, having a lot of water ready in one batch can come in handy.

On the other hand, a tiny, non-integrated stove system may be perfect for the lone ultralight backpacker. A group of backpackers with varying experience levels may prefer to share a setup that is simple enough for everyone to use.

Speed/Boil Time

A common spec you’ll see while shopping for backpacking stoves is the boiling time. This indicates how long it takes for the stove to boil a liter of water.

This spec should certainly be taken with a grain of salt. The conditions that they test these stoves in are typically ideal conditions that you won’t always have on the trail. Brining wind, moisture, and varying temperatures into the equation can alter the actual boil times you experience.

These specs do, however, work well for comparing similar stoves. If getting your water up to temperature fast is important to you, you can choose the stove with the shorter boil time if all else is equal.

Weight

As with all things backpacking, when figuring out how to choose a backpacking stove, weight will be a key factor. For most backpackers, the goal is to keep your backpack weight as light as possible. The challenge comes from trying to find gear that is both lightweight and suitable for your needs.

When it comes to stoves, there are a wide range of options to choose from. From bare minimum, non-integrated stoves to an integrated system that includes several pot attachments. The fewer add-ons your stove has, the lighter weight it will be.

However, if you choose to go with an ultralight option such as the BRS-3000T, keep in mind that you’ll need to bring your own lightweight pot to heat your water and food in.

Also consider the weight of fuel when selecting a stove. Certain fuel types are more lightweight than others. If you use a canister stove, you’ll likely bring along a small, 8 oz fuel canister. These tend to weigh around 13 ounces.

On the other hand, if you use an alternative fuel stove you can use the twigs and leaves you find at camp to light your stove. Going this route would save you those 13 ounces.

Destinations

When figuring out how to choose a backpacking stove, it is important to consider where you plan on doing most of your traveling.

If you do a lot of backpacking outside of the country, it’s important to consider the type of fuel your stove uses. There are some pieces of gear that you can’t pack with you when you bring your backpack on an airplane. Fuel canisters are one of them.

When you travel domestically, it is safe to bet that you can pick up the proper fuel for your stove at your destination. However, some countries might not carry the type of fuel you need.

If you do a lot of international backpacking, you’re better off using a liquid or alternative fuel stove so you can have a bit more flexibility.

In addition to domestic vs. international travel, you should also think about the climate and altitudes you most frequently travel to. Some fuels such as the isobutane found in canister stoves don’t work well (or at all) in very cold conditions.

Canisters may also depressurize at high altitudes. If you are a winter backpacker or mountaineer, a liquid fuel stove may be more dependable.

Integrated Pot and Accessories

If you choose to go with a canister stove, which many backpackers do, you’ll have the option to select a stove with or without an integrated pot. 

An integrated stove is a system that consists of a burner, a heat exchanger, and a pot. All these pieces are designed to fit together neatly. Non-integrated stoves, on the other hand, include just the stove. Any pans and pots will need to be purchased separately and set on top of the burner.

Integrated stove systems work great for backpackers who primarily eat dehydrated backpacking meals and need to boil water. The system is easy to use and can be a bit sturdier than a non integrated system. The tight design of these stoves also reduce the impact of wind and allow them to be more efficient with fuel. The downside to these is that they are bulkier, heavier, and come with a steeper price tag.

Non-integrated stoves are a better fit for the backcountry chefs who want more versatility in their cooking system. You can pair these with any pots and pans, so you’re not limited to a boiling pot. These also provide better flame and heat control in calm conditions. However, they don’t perform as well in high winds. These are also cheaper, more lightweight, and compact.

Now that you know how to choose a backpacking stove, you can confidently go off and find the right stove for you. To see our picks for the best backpacking camp stoves, check out our article here!

Photo by Kelly L