Backcountry Cooking with the Best Camp Stoves
1. Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System - Editor's Pick
Jetboil is one of the leading names in portable camp stoves and for good reason. Their compact stoves and integrated product lineup offer some of the most convenient and high quality cooking gear that any backpacker can appreciate. The MiniMo stove has a simmer-control feature giving you precise control of temperature for your backcountry cooking sessions.
The MiniMo comes complete with a push-button igniter, wide cup design for easy spoon eating, an insulated drink lid as well as a fuel canister stabilizer for making the most of uneven cooking surfaces. The Jetboil MiniMo is available for $149.99 and replacement fuel canisters cost right around $5 each.
2. Solo Stove Lite Stove - Budget Pick
If you don’t like the idea of having to carry along extra fuel canisters around then the Solo Stove light is going to be your best option. The Solo Stove Lite is a stainless steel standalone camp stove that can use alternative fuel sources like sticks, twigs, pine cones or other biomass you’ll find out in the wilderness and can boil water in just under 10 minutes.
The stove is small enough to be portable yet large enough to make good use of a cooking pan so that you can cook for about 2 people without problems. The design of the vent holes near the bottom of the canister mean that the fire will draw in fresh air on its own and give the flame a bit of extra oomph for cooking. The Solo Stove Lite cooking stove is available for $70.00.
3. Eureka Gonzo Grill Camp Stove - Best Large Group Stove
This one is great for large groups of people who like to integrate and distribute gear throughout the group. While not as compact or portable as some of the other options on this list, the Gonzo Grill has the most features and versatility meaning you can prepare almost anything up to and including freshly hunted meat with ease.
The Gonzo Grill features several cast iron cooking surfaces that can transform the stove from a grill to a griddle depending on if you’re searing up some elk steaks or prepping some morning pancakes for the crew. The wide surface area of the cook top also means you can cook multiple things at one time to prepare multiple hot meals at once. Another great feature is that the Gonzo grill can use a standard propane tank and distribute its fuel reserves to multiple Eureka grills or stoves running from the single tank. The Eureka Gonzo grill is available for $189.95.
4. MSR WhisperLite International Stove - Multi-Fuel Pick
MSR offers a wide variety of different camp stoves but one that sticks out in my mind is the WhisperLite International stove. The WhisperLite international is a hybrid design that can run off of white gas, unleaded fuel right from your car or ATV and even kerosene. Simply add fuel to the canister and pressurize it and you’re good to go.
The Cook area is a decent size too and a good method I’ve seen for keeping everything together and ready to go for cooking is to store the entire assembly inside of a camping pot and stuffing it right into your backpack. The cook surface and legs are made from a single piece of stainless steel which makes it very durable and likely to last a lifetime. The MSR WhisperLite International is available for $109.95.
5. BioLite Campstove 2 + - Multi-Use Pick
Charge your electronics while you cook
This last entry is a bit of a hybrid design as well with the BioLite Campstove 2 being equal parts camp stove and equal parts USB charger. If you like the idea of keeping your phone and other USB powered gadgets charged, then the BioLite can do just that while heating up your favorite camp side drink as well. The BioLite system runs off of any sort of biomatter or fuel pellets you can find and only requires some initial manual ignition to get started.
The onboard battery stores up to 3,200 mAh of power and can boil 1 liter of water in just under 5minutes. Best of all, the system only weighs 2lbs and can be packed down to the size of a wide mouth 32oz water bottle for easy storage and transport. If you’re worried about smoke contaminating your food or beverage water, you’ll be happy to know that the BioLite stove’s design creates a strong vortex to produce a smokeless flame. The BioLite Campstove 2+ is available for $149.95.
Best camp stove fuels
Most camp stoves will either run off of propane or butane. Butane will generally last longer but propane will cook better during lower temperatures. Your other alternatives are to stick with a campfire which is great because you don’t have to haul around your fuel but has the downside that it is harder to get started and will produce carbon buildup on your cook utensils. To figure out what is best for you you’ll have to try a few different methods out and see what suits your style best.
I tend to gravitate toward multi-fuel type stoves, just so I have options in case the situation changes beyond my control while I’m out and about.
Cooking in camp or indoors
If you’re talking about using a camp stove inside your tent you’ll have to carefully consider what type of fuel you’re using. Propane and Gasoline stoves pose the biggest danger aside from the presence of fire indoors. You definitely shouldn’t use a charcoal or kerosene stove indoors either, as the rapid buildup of smoke and CO2 can pose a serious safety and health threat to you and your companions.
The best case scenario for use of a camp stove indoors is White Gas, denatured alcohol or propane stoves which are safe to use provided you have good ventilation. The best ventilation when using a cook stove in a tent is to have a vent toward the top of your tent, which is often built in to the tent design. I’d also recommend having a low vert, which can be as simple as unzipping the bottom edge of the door. If you have a CO2 issue, it will settle in the bottom of the tent, as CO2 is heavier than air. Having a low vert helps keep you safe, regardless of the type of fuel you use.
Camp stoves, fires and national parks
Generally speaking you are allowed to make fires on national park grounds. Open fires are usually only encouraged in designated areas and the use of camp stoves is probably also fine in these areas. I’m sure no park ranger would mind if you were simply heating up a cup of joe next to a lake or in a safer area but you should always first check with the local regulations as they can change from park to park – it’s also a good idea to know the fire conditions for that day so you can choose an appropriate cook site to avoid a wildfire.
Remember, you are 100% responsible for your fire source, no matter what that is. Fire safety should be very high on your list. I know it is for me.
Can I fly with a camp stove?
Camp stove by themselves should not pose any issue toward flying. The fuel sources, however, very well would. The airlines generally are not going to allow any fuel source in checked or carry on baggage, simply because of the fire and explosion dangers. If you need to fly with your stove, make prior arrangements to have the fuel sources available when you land at your final destination. If there is ever a question, consult the TSA for the final word.
How do I use a camp stove?
Camp stove use is different for every stove. Fuel-sources usually have to be on and there is either an ignition switch to light it, or you light it with an external fire source, like a lighter or match. Always do a dry run at your home before you go afield with your stove, so that you are 100% sure of operation and are comfortable with its use.
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