The Ultimate Guide to Stoves

Key factors

Cool zippers, new waterproofing, etc... sometimes it's easy to get lost in all the hype (over-spending happens on features). Our guide focuses on the fundamental factors you should always keep in mind (thus, this short list is similar across all items). Then only at the end do we have some questions to get you thinking about other minor features.

• Type or Style
• Price
• Capacity (size)
• Weight & size (for backpacking)

We highly recommend reviewing Type or Style first, where we review what you can use to address the Core function--a regular item you have at home may work! The other factors are secondary & depend strongly on the Type or Style you've picked.

While we encourage you to use regular items wherever possible, as an outdoor gear shop, we only carry outdoor-specific products

Type or Style

We've organized the most commonly used items people use to address the Core function below, with example images, characteristics, features, etc.

Cooking technique		Using hot coals or a campfire	Using a grill (standalone only)*	Using a portable stove
				Regular stove (like a portable kitchen stove)	Wood burning stove	Solar stove	Liquid fuel stove	Canister stove	Alcohol stove	Tablet stove
Example images
Can you use multiple pieces of cookware at once? How many burners do you get?			N/A	Maybe Could have a layout that allows multiple cookware to be used (e.g., double burner)
Do you have to bring it yourself?			Some campsites have a grill
General fuel sources Check manufacturer's instructions for your model, important consideration that affects total price, weight & size, and availability		Wood or coals	Coals or gas (propane)	Gas**	Wood	Sunlight (may work when overcast)	White gas (actually a liquid), kerosene	Gas**	Alcohol	Solid fuel tablets (hexamine)
Will this need specific cookware? And why?		Ideal cookware has to tolerate directly sitting on hot coals or in a flame	N/A		Cookware is integrated with the stove		Cookware needs to be smaller since the stove top surface is smaller (a heavy, hot pot can tip over!). Some models may have integrated cookware
Is this primarily used for individuals or small parties?		Cookware is available at standard kitchen capacities. Have a cookout!			Depends Depends on integrated cookware capacity
Is there a steep learning curve to use?		Somewhat Need to light & maintain fire	Somewhat Need to light & maintain coals		Somewhat Some fire starting & maintenance still needed	Somewhat May require you to follow the sun's angles	Stove needs 'priming'
Can you control the temperature? With wood or coal, you could just let the fire die down, but here we're referring to an actual knob			If gas-powered
Is this best used to boil water?		With the right cookware, you can do a lot!							The flame can go out quite readily in wind & isn't very powerful
Once lit, does it heat quickly? Including average time to boil water		10+ min		1-2 min	5 min	20-30 min	1-2 min		6-8 min, in good conditions, see above
Any other considerations?		May not be permissible; check fire regulations	N/A	Butane (if that's what the model requires) doesn't work in cold temperatures	May not be permissible; check fire regulations	Cooks more like an oven (put it in & leave it)	Best performer at high altitudes***	N/A	N/A	Leaves residue on cookware & creates noxious fumes so you should cook with a lid
Effect on secondary factors Excludes fuel	Price	N/A	$50-200		$80-200			$10-50
	Weight & Size Large variation; data from models without integrated cookware & also excluded fuel weight		10-40lbs (5-18kg)	5-12lbs (2.3-5.4kg)	~2lbs (~0.9kg)	2-7lbs (0.9-3.2kg)	10-12oz (283-340g)	0.9-3.2oz (26-91g)	0.7-3.5oz (20-99g)	3.3oz (92g)
			Portable one likely won't fit in a backpack, but may have carry handle	Depending on number of burners, could fit in a regular or hiking backpack	Could fit in a regular backpack		Could fit in backpack side pockets	Could literally fit in pants pocket
	Rationale		More material				Less material
Why we do/don't carry it = we rent = we sell		N/A	Not as versatile for multiple use cases	Standard for most outdoor uses for car camping On our Catalog, this is indicated with "Portable stove"	Not as versatile for multiple use cases		For sale because some consider it a "classic". Not for rent because it requires more set-up & is heavier compared to the stoves at right	Versatile for most outdoor uses, therefore more worth the money On our Catalog, this is indicated with "Pocket stove"	Not as versatile for multiple use cases

*We're not referring to grill attachments, which may be available for the other stove options (e.g., kitchen stove, wood burning stove, or solar stove)

**Gas varies depending on stove. For example, Regular stoves usually take propane or butane, while Canister stoves usually take an isobutane-propane mix

***Since cooking at altitude isn't a concern for many, we have only highlighted the best performer, rather than going into detail about all the stoves (i.e., it doesn't mean that only liquid fuel stoves work at altitude)

Capacity (size)

The quantity of food you're able to cook at any one time is a function of form factor (see Type or Style section) or the stove that you choose, since that impacts the size of cookware you're able to use. We recommend careful planning, especially if you have a large number of people. For example, if you can only cook for 2 at once, everyone's eating time will be staggered.

Weight & Size (Compactness) for Backpacking

If you're thru-hiking 20+ miles (32+km) per day, every advantage counts! In this case, size refers to compactness. You can carry more gear in the same size backpack if all of it is very compact, or for more weight savings, you can get a smaller size pack.

There isn't a separate comparison table, because weight & size are functions of form factor (see Type or Style section) & within each form factor, the industry doesn't then offer 'Superlight' or 'Ultralight' models. Generally the rightmost 4 stoves in the table above are best suited for backpacking in terms of being lightweight & small.

Minor features that may be important

Here, we give you a list of questions to start thinking about minor features. We hope our approach of savings these features for last gets you to more critically think about what you need & not get caught up in the hype of what's cool and over-spend your budget.

• How does it turn on? (Do you need a match or does it include a spark?)
• Does it have a wind shield?
• How easy is it to clean?

General Notes

• We choose what we carry based on extensive research on what's the best value to our customers (e.g., price given performance & durability features) across all the top brands. We specifically do not carry every brand & model; for details on why we do/don't carry certain items in the How To Choose section
• Buy prices are MSRP with tax, i.e., what you see is what you pay. Prices may differ in-store due to change in models or discounts, but this is rare. If we don't sell what we rent, we list MSRP value with tax
• Rent prices are the starting pricess; enter trip dates on our Catalog to get exact prices (based on total trip length, not per day!). We also don't charge sales tax, an automatic savings of almost 10%!

Stoves

Type or Style		Regular, kitchen-like stove	Canister stove	Liquid fuel stove
S T O V E S	Model
		CampChef Summit	MSR Pocket Rocket	MSR WhisperLite Universal
	Buy MSRP with tax	$174	$50	$110
	Rent	$10+	$6+
	Online rental Catalog name	Portable stove Portable stove propane	Pocket stove Pocket stove propane
	Weight	12lbs 5.4kg	2.6oz 70g	14.9oz 420g
	Carry size & notes	Hiking backpacks at least 50L (also has built-in handle)	Fits in a pocket	Fits in a fanny pack or purse
F U E L	Model
		Little Kampers brand propane	MSR brand isobutane-propane mix		MSR brand bottle Fuel bottle only, we don't sell fuel
	Pricing & weight	$4* + $10 deposit for 16oz/ 473mL Return to get your deposit back	$5 for 4oz/ 118mL* $6 for 8oz/ 237mL* You can keep or return		$22 for 20oz/ 591mL Fuel bottle only, we don't sell fuel
	How it attaches	Via a regulator arm or hose into the stove	Stove screws directly on top	Via a hose into the stove
	How long does 1 fuel last	It depends on elevation, how high the flame is turned up, and whether or not you're using both burners (for regular stoves). Below are guidelines only!
		1lb size = ~1 hour For 2-3 day camping trip making 1 easy breakfast (boil water for oatmeal or coffee) & 1 dinner per day	8oz size ~40-60min Mostly used to boil water for drinks or backpacking meals. Roughly good for 2 people for 4 days (20-25 boils of water)	8oz size = ~60-75min	20oz size = ~100-150min Depends on fuel type: white gas on lower end, kerosene on higher end

*We also offer a 50% discount or refund if you decide to take partially used cans (when available). You can write-in this request on the Options page when you order, or contact us afterwards or during pick-up. For example:

• For Portable stove propane, you can rent a regular 1lb canister for the $4+$10 price above, OR you can take 2-3 bottles that are each partially filled but have at least 1lb gas in total (usually we give you a little more) for only $2+$10.
• For Pocket stove propane, you can buy a regular 8oz canister for $6, OR you can take 2 bottles that are each partially filled but have at least 8oz gas in total (usually we give a little bit more), for only $3

When you rent online, we will pick a model for you. You can change the model if you pick-up in-store, subject to availability. On the Options page of our online order process, you can also select options or write-in any preferences. This section describes the majority of our models & options, but sometimes we carry others. We will only pick something else if it doesn't conflict with your choices indicated on the Options page; moreover, if there's a major functional difference (e.g., capacity), we will attempt to contact you first

Stoves

• Bring a firestarter. Even if your stove has a sparker included, as a back-up
• Ensure gas control is turned off before you connect the gas. For safety reasons & to not waste gas
• Ensure all connections are tight before turning on the gas. For safety reasons
• Never use if you hear or smell a gas leak. Disconnect immediately
• Always use in a ventilated area. For example, never inside a tent

Fires

Always check fire regulations for where you are going. Sometimes campfires or stoves that use organic biofuel (e.g., wood), alcohol, or tablets may be restricted. As well there may be restrictions on gathering wood. If you are able to make wood-based fires, be sure to brush up on your firestarting skills!

Repairing

This is wholly dependent on what kind of stove you are using. Of course, generally anything that feels loose should probably be tightened (e.g., the arm of a stove that supports the pot!). Some parts may be sold separately by the manufacturer (e.g., knobs).

Storing

Wait for the stove to cool, and always ensure any control knobs are completely turned off before putting away.

We have a general protip on how to store & maintain gear that we highly recommend reviewing as well. If you send us video or a good photo series, we may be able to help you evaluate your repair needs.