An Easy Guide to Backpacking Stoves

Most hikers and backpackers want a hot meal at the end of the day, or maybe they want to boil water for a cup of coffee to get them going in the morning. Whatever the reason, a backpacking stove is essential for nearly all backpackers.

But if you are new backpacking or have been relying on someone else for your cooked meals, you may need a little insight on how to choose a backpacking stove. After all, there are so many options all with their own advantages and disadvantages. So, here are a few highlights to help you know what to look for when choosing a stove to stuff in your backpack.

What to consider in a backpacking stove

Before making a choice on a backpacking stove, let’s go over some of the things about a stove that may sway your opinion one way or the other. Some top considerations are:

• Fuel Type
• Size
• Maintenance
• Weight
• Price

All the above, in my opinion, are main driving factors when it comes to choosing a backpacking stove. Now, let’s go over each one and elaborate more on how these should affect how you go about choosing one.

Fuel Type

By far, fuel type should be the number one thing that determines what type of backpacking stove you should buy. There are various types of fuel that can be used, some being more efficient than others, but what will work best depends on how and what you plan to cook and for how many people.

A small canister stove might not be the best option if you plan to cook for half a dozen people every night on a seven-day backpacking trip. However, if you are just cooking for yourself, a small canister stove or wood burning stove might suit you perfectly.

Once you determine your cooking needs, you should know what fuel type will work well for it and when you have come to a decision, all the other considerations come into play.

Size

Size is also very important when picking out a backpacking stove. By size, I primarily mean how large of a pot it can hold, but how well the stove fits inside your backpack is also very important.

Most backpacking cookpots are not very large, but a 750ml pot on a small canister stove will likely require careful setting. A 750ml pot is usually more than enough for one person, maybe even two, but if you think you need something larger, then that should also play into your decision-making process. Whatever you choose, you have to make sure it works with your cook set.

Maintenance

While a lot of stoves require only minimal maintenance, some stoves do require extra effort to keep them working properly. Liquid stoves, for example, require periodic cleaning of the hose and replacement of O-rings. Also, stoves with removable parts may require these parts to be replaced on occasion, potentially at inopportune times, meaning you may need to keep tools and replacement parts handy in your backpack.

Weight

Many long-distance hikers will make weight their top priority when it comes to choosing a backpacking stove. Weight should definitely be considered, but most types of stoves do have ultralight options. A DIY alcohol stove made from a cut-up soda can may be the lightest option a backpacker can carry, however carrying an Esbit Stove that uses fuel pellets only weighs 3.25 ounces.

That said, you also need to factor in the weight of the fuel and how much of that fuel you need to keep on hand to last you until your trip is over or your next resupply. Perhaps a particular stove may be lighter, but if you have to carry heavier fuel it might not be the best option if weight is going to be a determining factor.

Price

Whether you are or aren’t worried about the price of a backpacking stove, it can be a determining factor. The prices vary greatly and can range from less than $10 all the way to and above $200! You might not be in the market for a $200 stove and you can certainly get a great one for under $100. In fact, the most popular stoves used by backpackers are usually around $50 or less, such as the MSR PocketRocket 2.

Types of Backpacking Stoves

Now that we know what we should consider before selecting a backpacking stove, let’s discuss the different types available and what some of their advantages and disadvantages are to further help you make the right choice.

Canister Stove

Canister stoves are the most popular stove for backpacking purposes. It’s easy to use, efficient, and most are extremely lightweight! Most weigh around 3 ounces, but there are some, like the BRS UL Stove, that weigh less than an ounce! All you need is a fuel canister and something to ignite the flame and you can be cooking in no time!

Most will have three arms that fold down to hold your cook pot. Once screwed onto your fuel canister, turn the control valve and you will hear the gas evacuating. Use a lighter or match to ignite the flame, carefully place your pot on the arms, and proceed to cook!

There are also different kinds of canister stoves, such as integrated canister and remote canister.

An integrated canister stove is essentially the same, but it comes with a pot that threads onto the stove. A remote canister stove, also very similar, has a hose that attaches from the stove to the fuel canister, which is set on a canister stand. Either rendition is a good option, but both tend to be heavier than your traditional canister stove. For example: My BRS stove and Toaks Titanium pot weigh less than 4 ounces combined while a JetBoil Flash Cooking System weighs in at just over 13 ounces.

Canister stoves are good to use when you need to boil water or if you need to lower the temperature for a simmer. Just turn the control valve down. When you are done cooking, close the valve completely and remove the stove from the canister.

Fuel canisters can be bought in various sizes such as 4oz, 8oz, 16oz, and probably other sizes are available as well. You can buy these canisters at most retailers that sell camping products such as REI, Academy Sports, and even Wal-Mart. On average, an 8oz canister will have around 60 minutes of burn time if used wide-open and can boil a liter of water in 4 minutes or less.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Lightweight	Hard to tell how much fuel is remaining
Simple	Can be unsteady with a pot
Can boil and simmer	Cold weather can affect flame
Various canister sizes

Alcohol Stove

Alcohol stoves are another popular choice for backpackers because, like canister stoves, they can be very lightweight, sometimes even weighing less than an ounce. You can also make your own ultralight alcohol stove by cutting up a soda can and fabricating the aluminum with some tools you have lying around the house.

For fuel, you have a variety of products to choose from, most easily accessible at retailers, such as 99% Isopropyl Alcohol, or rubbing alcohol. Even products such as HEET, generally designated as a fuel-line antifreeze, will work for your alcohol stove. And of course, there are fuels designed specifically for an alcohol stove, such as Crown’s Alcohol Stove Fuel, that will be a bit more efficient and burn cleaner than some of the alternatives.

However, if you plan on testing your cooking skills, you will be limited with an alcohol stove because of an inability to control the temperature. Boiling time also takes a little longer when compared to a canister stove, usually taking between 5 to 7 minutes for a liter of water.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Lightweight	Produces less heat, meaning longer boil times
Simple	Can be unsteady with a pot
Cheap (both stove and fuel)

Wood Burning Stove

Wood burning stoves are exactly what they sound like; they burn wood! While not as light as a canister or alcohol stove, wood burning stoves can still be quite light, sometimes weighing as little as 4 ounces. But even though wood burning stoves may be heavier, you can still save weight by not having to carry fuel. You just pick up twigs, sticks, leaves, and other debris you can find out trail.

On the downside, it is hard to control the temperature with a wood burning stove, but if you just plan on boiling water, one of these should be fine. Another negative is if the area has experienced wet conditions recently, which may make finding dry fuel a challenge if not impossible. You also must be aware that some locations may have a fire ban, meaning you cannot use this type of stove there.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Simple	Wet conditions may make finding fuel difficult
You don’t have to carry fuel	Use may be restricted in some areas

Tablet Stove

A tablet stove uses what are called solid fuel tablets. You place the tablet inside the stove and then light it. A tablet will typically burn for 10 to 12 minutes, which should be long enough to boil a cup or two of water. However, if you plan to boil a liter, you will have to use more than one tablet.

A typical tablet stove is lightweight and has a simple design that folds out to support a pot. They fold down compact, but not as compact as a typical canister stove. These are also probably the cheapest backpacking stove you can find on the market, typically being less than $15.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Cheap	Long boil time
Simple	May leave a residue on pot
	Sometimes has an odor

Liquid Stove

You won’t see too many backpackers on the AT or PCT using a liquid stove, but they do have a place in the backpacking community. A liquid bottle is attached to a hose which is attached to your stove. These are typically heavier than most other stoves (given the number of components), but some provide much better stability on rough or uneven terrain. A liquid stove also outperforms other stoves when it comes to cold temperatures and higher elevations.

Liquid stoves are also the most cost-efficient backpacking stove with a fuel bottle costing less per ounce than canister fuel. If the need arises, these stoves can also run on alternative liquid fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel.

As for some negatives, liquid stoves require priming and they also need more maintenance than other stoves, such as having to clean the hose and replace O-rings periodically. They typically are more expensive than other stoves as well.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Performs better in cold temps and higher elevations	Weight
Cost of fuel per ounce is cheaper than canister fuel	Requires priming
Easy to know how much fuel is remaining	Maintenance
Better stability

Where to Buy a Backpacking Stove

So, if you know what kind of backpacking stove you want and you think you’re ready to make a purchase, where can you go to do so?

REI is going to be your number one source to all things hiking and backpacking, stoves included, but you can also purchase backpacking stoves at Wal-Mart, Academy Sports, and your local outdoor and camping store! In fact, any store that sells outdoor and camping gear will likely have some type of stove for backpackers.

Another valuable online source for hiking and backpacking gear is Amazon. There are some brands of products, including stoves, that you will only find on Amazon. As far as I know, the BRS UL Stove is only available here, so like for most other products we want or need in our life, look on Amazon for some great deals!

If you don’t think you are ready to settle on one backpacking stove, REI offers you to opportunity to rent a stove out for less than $10 (for members). They may not offer one of each type, and the money spent to rent is almost as much to purchase a tablet stove, but it is still a good way to put your mind at ease that you are making the right choice.

A Few Backpacking Stove Recommendations

Decided on what kind of stove you want already? Then here are a few suggestions for each fuel type to get you started.

Canister Stoves

Alcohol Stoves

Wood Burning Stoves

Tablet Stoves

Liquid Fuel Stoves

Alternatives to Backpacking Stoves

You don’t have to carry any kind of backpacking stove with you on your trip. Here are a couple of methods for feeding you belly you can try that might work out better for you.

Campfire

You can cook over an open fire as long as where you are backpacking allows campfires. Most campfires are only permitted in designated campfire rings, so know and be respectful of any regulations in the area you will be hiking.

Cooking over an open flame requires some caution and may require cookware more appropriate for doing so. Many pots are designed to be used with backpacking stoves and not campfires, so they may have short handles that will make it dangerous to try to remove them from a fire. Pots with longer handles are preferred and you may need something to protect your hands from burns, which is a good idea anyway even if you are using a backpacking stove.

Using a campfire for cooking when backpacking can work out extremely well if you are cooking for a larger group since you can create a larger cooking area for more pots or pans. Campfire cooking also allows for a wider range of foods that can be cooked that may require longer cook times or needs more than just boiling water to make edible. But beware as all this is a moot point if conditions are wet and dry wood is difficult to find, making it hard to get a good fire going.

Stove-less

Many thru-hikers have opted to go the route of carrying no stove at all, eating day-in and day-out stove-less backpacking meals. Some backpackers do this to reduce weight, others do this simply because of the convenience.

When it’s hot outside, after a long day of hiking, you may just not care to have a hot meal, so you pull out a tortilla shell and load it up with peanut butter or whatever else you may like. Another idea is to cold-soak food and still eat many of the same meals as you will with a stove, just a colder, non-heated version. I have even seen hikers drink their coffee cold!

There are plenty of options available for stove-less backpacking meals. Some are simple and others may require a little creativity, but people have thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail not having used a stove a single time. I recommend trying this at least a couple of times to see if it may work for you before giving up your stove, though.

Conclusion

As you see, there are a few variations of backpacking stoves and each brand may bring unique features to their products. Deciding on what type of fuel you want to use narrows down the field a lot and should help you choose the backpacking stove that is best for you.

However, if you are still having a hard time deciding, you can’t go wrong with a canister stove. Their popularity is proof of their convenience and efficiency, plus they aren’t very expensive. That’s not to say other stoves aren’t a better fit for your needs, especially if you are just planning to backpack on dry weekends, in which case a wood burning stove may be perfect for you or even just cooking with a campfire.

I have personally used a canister stove, alcohol stove, and a tablet stove, plus I’ve cooked on a campfire and have even gone stove-less. All have proven to work fine for my needs for those particular trips, which leads us again to you knowing what your needs and wants are for a hiking meal. And if you know someone that has a type of stove, ask them to use it for a trial run or, as I mentioned earlier, you can even rent backpacking stoves at REI!

And that’s it! Hopefully this has made your backpacking stove search easier and you will be ready to cook your first meal out on the trail soon!