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Ways to stay nourished while on backcountry excursions have come a long way from throwing a can of beans on the fire or surviving on dry snacks. Modern backpacking stoves are incredibly lightweight, fuel-efficient, and pack down to an impressively small size. If you're ready to ditch the granola and fruit snacks for some backcountry gourmet, we highly recommend getting yourself a backpacking stove.
Over the last 13 years, we've tested 42 unique backpacking stoves in our quest to find the best, with the top 22 in this review. We tested them side-by-side backpacking, ice climbing, and adventuring to get a clear picture of their abilities.
The Soto Windmaster is our favorite option in the lineup. It performed well across all metrics and is stable, boils water quickly, and has impressive wind resistance. The Soto Amicus is a high-value ultralight option that wowed us with its fuel efficiency and stability, given its size and price. We also found a great pick for tighter budgets, the best integrated canister stove, and best option for liquid fuel. Read on for more information.
Editor's Note: This backpacking stove review was updated on March 31, 2025, to retest old favorites and add the Jetboil Stash and Biolite Campstove 2+.
From the first time we fired up the Soto Windmaster, we were surprised by its respectable performance across all metrics. The piezoelectric igniter works almost every time, a rarity among auto-igniters. The 4-flex pot supports provide generous stability for pans of all sizes — even burly 2-liter pots won't threaten this stove's stability on flat ground. The Windmaster produces a smoldering blue flame that boils water quickly and lends to above-average fuel efficiency. However, the most noteworthy feature of this stove is its impressive wind resistance. In an 8-10 mph breeze, this thing stays lit and can even boil water. Our testing team concluded, “While the WindMaster is a fairly light option, we particularly loved its versatility: it's excellent for anything from simmering to boiling water.”
This backpacking stove performs so well that we have very few gripes about it. That being said, the high-octane flame comes at the expense of your peace; this stove is a little loud (though certainly not the loudest in this review). The Windmaster is also not the most compact of the stoves we tested. Consider an option like the compact and featherweight Jetboil Stash if needing something to just boil water. If needing a bit more versatility, consider the smaller sibling to the Windmaster, the Soto Amicus. Our main testers shared their primary complaint, “The pot supports are not permanently attached to the stove and can be finicky to put back on if they fall off.” Outside of these considerations, the Soto WindMaster is a truly top-notch stove for shoppers needing a model that can handle anything your backcountry trip culinarily demands.
The Soto Amicus boasts excellent scores across several metrics while still being very affordable. Our gear testing team shared, “For such a lightweight stove, we figured it was only good for boiling water, but we were surprised by its ability to simmer.” While much of the lightweight stove market is only ideal for water boiling, the Amicus can actually be used to cook real meals with a bit of practice. This stove is also fairly fuel-efficient and is compact enough that you won't notice it in your pack. The piezoelectric igniter also worked most of the time to light the stove, and the recessed burner ensures that it performs well in variable weather. While we loved its low weight, there are even lighter options like the Jetboil Stash if you only need a stove to boil water.
The Amicus doesn't have the largest pot stabilizers, so we'd recommend using pots or pans on the smaller side. If you do need something that can handle larger kitchenware, consider the Soto WindMaster, which is the bigger sibling to the Amicus. Our head stove tester also commented, “The Amicus doesn't include a pot or lid, so budget shoppers will still need to shell out some extra money to get a complete stove system.” Besides a few setbacks, the Soto Amicus belongs in your cart if you need something light and capable without breaking the bank.
The Jetboil Stash is an incredibly lightweight option that boasts some of the best fuel efficiency in the review lineup. At a modest 7.2 ounces, including the stove, stove bag, and pot, this is an option you'll hardly feel in your backpack, also offering friendly dimensions for packing. Our head gear tester shared, “We could not believe how long we were able to make a can of fuel last with the Stash. It lasted twice as long as some of the competition”. While we loved this model, we wish it simmered a bit better, with a fairly strong flame even at its weakest output. The Stash is ultimately best for meals needing boiled water unless you're ok holding a pot or pan higher above the flame, though sometimes we were able to use a few rocks or a tripled-up aluminum foil ring as a makeshift pan holder. If you're aiming to get more complex with your backcountry cooking, consider the Soto WindMaster, which offers much better simmering.
Throughout weeks of testing, we were impressed with the reliability of the Jetboil Stash, even after it was knocked around on rocks and dropped in the mud and sand. Our review team concluded, “Its simple 3-pronged design is significantly more durable than other lightweight options with more delicate arms, though you have to be careful to position the pot in the right location so it doesn't tip over”. If you need a 4-legged stove, consider a model like the Soto Amicus, which is also very lightweight and is listed at a very low price. Despite a few setbacks, the Stash is a very well-made option for the gram-counting backpacker, particularly when considering its fuel efficiency.
Inconsistent performance in the cold, wind, and higher elevations
Small burner head
No piezo igniter
SPECIFICATIONS
Fuel Type
Isobutane
Measured Essential Weight
7.5 oz
Type
Small Canister
Additional Included Items
Stuff sack
Dimensions
2" x 1.2" x 1.3"
We had low expectations for the BRS-3000T due to its low price. Straight out of the box, we were shocked by its size — this is tiny, and it weighs next to nothing. It can fit comfortably in any ultralight hiker's 375ml titanium cup. Despite the diminutive size, this stove sports a wire valve that's easy to use and provides nice low-end flame control for simmering. The pot supports are also sturdier than they appear — they held a 1.7-liter stainless steel kettle with a liter of water without any issues. Our crew of gear experts concluded, “At a price several times less than the competition, many shoppers will be happy with what the BRS offers.”
Several consumer reviews mention a durability problem with melting pot supports. Though we haven't personally experienced this issue, we acknowledge that high-end quality control can't be expected when a product is significantly less expensive than the competition. While the BRS has good flame control, the burner head is tiny, so be attentive to avoid burning rice and beans or scorching the bottom of your pot. It also does not perform well in the wind, cold, or higher elevations and lacks a piezo igniter. Truth be told, this budget stove really isn't great for cooking anything more complicated than a freeze-dried meal, oatmeal, or coffee. As our testers shared, “Many backpackers are just needing something that can boil water, and for that, this thing does the job.” However, this little stove will save weight, space, and cash for ultralight solo backpacking trips in temperate climates. If you don't mind a few more ounces, the Primus Essential Trail could be a good option for a few bucks more. It's more fuel-efficient but five times heavier.
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There might be lighter-weight stoves on the market, but the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe strikes the best balance between a high-performing stove with excellent simmer control, fast boil times, and an ultralight option for gram-counting aficionados. The large regulator knob is easy to use with or without gloves, and it fits well in most pots with a small fuel canister. One of our stove experts commented, “This model finds an incredibly rare balance of size, weight, and performance.”
The piezo igniter is somewhat inconsistent on the PocketRocket Deluxe. Our reviewers found that it worked most of the time but would occasionally experience low functionality, as they shared, “We appreciated that MSR included an igniter, but we were glad to have our lighter with us.” This stove also has fairly average fuel efficiency, likely due to having high-output burners. This means the stove will boil water quickly in various conditions but might burn through more canisters. For a more fuel-efficient option with a reliable piezo igniter, we love the Soto Windmaster. All told, though, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is a great option for backpacking when you want a lightweight stove but don't want to compromise on durability, boil speed, quality design, and simmering ability.
1L pot, canister stand, plastic cup, stuff sack for burner
Dimensions
5" x 6"
The Jetboil MiniMo is our favorite integrated canister stove. Jetboil stoves have always included a confidence-inspiring burner-to-pot connection, and that's true here. Previously, piezoelectric igniters were a known failure point. However, our testers used the igniter hundreds of times with no issues on this model. The main improvement with the “Mo” is a redesigned burner that boils quickly and more efficiently than other models. In our review, this one is the best at simmering among the integrated canister stoves, owing to greater fuel valve control. The short and squat profile of the pot makes it easier to avoid scorching your meals and lends stability to the design. Our gear team concluded, “You can actually, for once, use an integrated canister stove to make a real meal, not just boil water!”.
The MiniMo stays lit and boils water at wind speeds that would have most backpackers hiding in their tents. That said, gustier winds will blow the stove out if you don't shield it, as one of our testers shared, “We had a tough time trusting the MiniMo in intense winds since the flame could get blown out quickly and the integrated pot can make it a bit harder to keep an eye on the flame.” It is also a bit heavy for a backpacking stove. Nevertheless, we recommend the MiniMo for hikers and backpackers who also have alpine climbing or big wall plans (and who have practice protecting a stove from the wind). The JetBoil Flash is a little cheaper, but overall, we prefer the performance of the wider, squat pot design of the MiniMo.
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The MSR Whisperlite Universal takes the classic Whisperlite of liquid fuel fame and updates it for the modern wilderness traveler. Liquid fuel stoves are known for field repairability, durability, and the ability to cook bigger meals. The Universal ticks each of these boxes with the benefit of being equipped to work with isobutane canisters, kerosene, and auto fuel. We tested its fuel efficiency and boil time with a fuel canister and found it to have respectable fuel efficiency, even if it had slightly slower boil times. Most American backpackers are shifting to canister stoves because of their lighter weight and ease of use. However, if you seek a nimble stove ideal for traveling outside the US, this stove's multi-fuel versatility and bombproof design could be an ideal match. As one of our testers put it, “The Whisperlite is a tried and true option for expeditions as a well-established white gas stove that can be repaired in the field.”
Preparing anything more than simple meals still requires practice and savvy when running the Whisperlite Universal on liquid fuels. As our testing team recommended, “The Whisperlite has a much more substantial learning curve than iso-propane stoves, so make sure to practice working the stove before your first trip.” This stove ranked in the middle of the pack in our boiling tests, both with and without wind. Still, for serious snow melting, backcountry trips involving groups, or crossing multiple international borders, the Whisperlite Universal is our first choice for a liquid fuel stove and has been for years.
The versatile MSR Whisperlite Universal can be used with white gas, kerosene, unleaded gasoline, and fuel canisters.
Credit: Jessica Haist
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Our testing process includes extensive field and lab testing to ensure our process is as exhaustive as possible.
Credit: Zach Lovell
How We Tested
After researching the top stoves on the market, we selected and purchased the 20 shown here for side-by-side testing and analysis. We tested these stoves in the “lab” and in the field. For months in the mountains, the woods, and the desert, we used them daily for all our cooking needs to evaluate for ease of use and simmering ability. We also conducted tests in a controlled environment to score the stoves for fuel efficiency, boil time, and weight. See our How We Test article for more info on our test process.
We tested backpacking stoves using the following five rating metrics:
Fuel Efficiency (25% of total score weighting)
Weight (25% weighting)
Simmering Ability (20% weighting)
Ease of Use (15% weighting)
Boil Time (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Our testing team includes gear experts Zach Lovell, Mary Witlacil, and Ian McEleney. Zach is an IFMGA Licensed and AMGA certified Mountain Guide, utilizing backpacking stoves for as much as one third of the year, whether car camping or climbing in the Himalayas. Mary has logged thousands of backcountry miles as an alpine climber and backpacker. She lives in Fort Collins, CO, and spends most of her time adventuring and climbing in Rocky Mountain National Park and around the desert Southwest. Ian is an AMGA-certified Alpine Guide, climbing routes and peaks with his clients throughout the country. Collectively, this testing team spends over 200 nights a year cooking meals with a backpacking stove.
In breezy conditions lighting the WindBurner can be a challenge.
The best backpacking stoves that include integrated canisters are shown during our boil time test. The Jetboil Flash can keep up when boiling water, except when the winds pick up. The MSR WindBurner and Reactor are much more wind resistant than either Jetboil.
Getting up to smash coffee is a breeze with a Jetboil Flash.
Analysis and Test Results
We tested all manner of backpacking stoves, from small canister stoves and remote canister stoves to integrated canister and liquid fuel models. The type of stove that's best for you will depend on your specific needs. There's a stove for every backpacker, but first, think about what's important for the backpacking you do: weight and bulk, fuel efficiency, cooking ability, and simple operation. Read on to learn which stoves excelled in each of these areas.
What's the Best Value?
A common misconception is that spending more money gets you better outdoor gear. The simple fact is that this is not always the case. The cheapest stove in our test, The BRS-3000T, ended up with a middle-of-the-pack score and performed well enough to meet the needs of the occasional backpacker. The Soto Amicus is slightly more expensive but performed excellently across the board while remaining relatively affordable compared to other stoves. The Jeboil Flash is an excellent value for an integrated canister stove and the Soto WindMaster and MSR PocketRocket Deluxe scored the highest while still costing less than the majority of other products in our review.
Looking for a top backpacking stove which is small and light? The BRS, Windmaster, and MiniMo (left to right).
Credit: Ian McEleney
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is an important metric for backpacking stoves, but it's tricky to evaluate because many variables influence it. Our testers know from personal experience how running out of fuel can ruin a trip. Backpackers should know that any fuel efficiency numbers are only suggestions for pre-trip planning or performance on a trip. Tests performed both by our team and manufacturers happen in an environment that may be different than where you use your stove. Outside of rigorous field testing (where we took extensive notes on our fuel efficiency findings), we weighed a fuel can before and after a stove boiled water to create a “fuel-per-boil” score.
Recycling Fuel Canisters
Did you know you can recycle your spent fuel canisters? First, you must burn off all the fuel — open the valve and (responsibly) fire up your stove on high until the flame dies out. Once you're sure it's empty, puncture a hole in the canister (you can do this with a rock in the backcountry or a Phillips head screwdriver and a hammer). Many national parks have dedicated fuel canister recycling receptacles. Otherwise, you can locate a “mixed metal recycling center” in your area. Some areas allow you to recycle punctured canisters with the rest of your recycling. To find out if you live in one of those areas, call your local recycling company to ask if they take punctured fuel canisters.
Fuel efficiency also matters for saving weight in your pack. If you're an ounce counter — as any prudent backcountry traveler should be — an efficient stove can cut down on the weight of fuel you will need to carry. By anticipating how much fuel your stove and cooking style requires, you may be able to leave an extra canister at home or bring a smaller canister to save weight and pack space.
A fuel-efficient stove means less time worrying and more time having fun with friends.
Credit: Jessica Haist
The most fuel-efficient stoves we tested are the Jetboil Stash, Jetboil MiniMo, the Jetboil Flash, and the Primus Lite+, thanks to their integrated heat exchange systems and insulated pots. The MSR Whisperlite Universal also proved highly fuel efficient over our tests. The least efficient stoves are the Snow Peak Giga Power 2.0, BRS 3000T, and MSR Windpro 2. Some stoves are less fuel-efficient because they have high-powered burners that waste fuel in the struggle to boil water in our wind test. Like cars tuned for fast and furious street racing, these models have impressive power outputs but burn through fuel fast.
Canister Fuel Efficiency Improvement Tips
When your canister gets cold, you lose performance and fuel efficiency. Consider sleeping with the canister in your sleeping bag or put it in your jacket to warm it up before use.
Let food soak. Put food and water in the pot when you turn the stove on, then once boiled, turn the fuel off and let the food continue to soak.
Turn the stove down a half turn — it will only take slightly longer for water to boil.
Avoid a full boil. A near boil is good enough for most cooking and drinks.
Don't light the stove until there is something in the pot.
Some of the small canister stoves had severe problems in the wind, affecting their fuel efficiency. Noteworthy exceptions to this rule were the Soto Windmaster, Soto Amicus, and the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, which feature burner heads that shield the flames, proving that you can be lightweight, compact, and perform well in the wind.
Manufacturers advise against a windscreen that encloses the burner and fuel canister, as this could potentially heat the canister to a dangerous level and cause an explosion. The Windpro, GSI Pinnacle 4 Season, and MSR Whisperlite Universal are exceptions to this rule. Their remote canister design separates the burner from the fuel- like a liquid fuel stove- so pairing them with a windscreen is safe.
Built-in heat exchangers on the MiniMo (left) and Reactor (right) boost fuel efficiency and cut boil times.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Like remote canister stoves, liquid fuel models come with flexible aluminum windscreens to block wind and focus the heat on the pot. Toaks makes a Titanium windscreen that pairs well with liquid fuel stoves and stoves where the burner sits adjacent to the canister. The added weight (a few ounces) is well worth it.
Weight
In this review, we primarily analyzed each option's weight by placing the stove, stove bag (which can be essential to protect more delicate parts), pot, and lid on a scale and recording our findings. We call this the “essential weight” since it only includes the necessary components of a stove system, and additional accessories, such as a canister stand, are generally not truly needed. For stoves that didn't include a pot or lid, we used a standardized pot/lid combo from Snow Peak that weighed 6.6 oz. Lastly, we also considered packability when scoring each option.
This includes the stove, stove bag, pot, and lid. For models that don't include a pot or lid, we included a standardized pot/lid set that weighs 6.6 oz.
The Jetboil Stash is among the top-scoring options in this metric, weighing in at 7.2 ounces and boasting incredible packability. The BRS 3000T also excelled in this metric, at an impressive 7.5 oz essential weight and a tiny packed size. If you prefer a lightweight yet durable stove, the Optimus Crux Lite is a great option at 9.3 ounces. At 3 ounces, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe only tacks on an additional .3 ounces, but you get a high-performing and durable stove in a lightweight package.
Canister Weight
The nominal description of canister size (4, 8, or 16 ounces) describes the amount of fuel in the can, not the weight of the fuel and the can together. That number is always more. A four-ounce fuel canister weighs approximately 7.35 ounces when full, and an 8-ounce can weighs about 13.1 ounces.
Stove systems such as the Stash are a fraction of the weight of more hefty models.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Most integrated canister stoves have multiple compatible pots available for purchase. This can skew their weights and should be noted by readers considering these models. Jetboil makes pots for its stove systems in several sizes, starting with 0.5-liter; MSR makes them in 1-liter and up. The Jetboil Zip comes with a 0.75-liter pot, which helped make it the lightest integrated canister model we tested.
The JetBoil Zip is a fairly light option but the volume of the integrated pot is only 0.75 L, which is less than the other JetBoil models we tested. However, this capacity is usually sufficient for 1-2 person use.
Credit: Ian McEleney, Jetboil Zip
As previously mentioned, we also took size and packability into account in this category. Being able to pack your backpacking stove, fuel, and a lighter inside your pot can help you squeeze into a smaller (and thus probably lighter) backpack. It also helps keep things organized in your pack. We examined how small each burner got and how well it nested into a pot. Again, the BRS crushed; we could fit it and a 4-ounce fuel canister into a 500mL pot.
A 4-ounce fuel can, lighter, pot grip, WindMaster burner, and pot support fit snugly in this 1-liter pot.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Other options that didn't do as well in this metric include the Biolite CampStove 2+ with a hefty weight of 34.1 oz. Fortunately, it still offers a unique feature of being a miniature fire ring for wood or pellet-burning fires and isn't meant to travel too far from the car.
The Biolite is incredibly heavy, but it does serve as a portable fire ring for car camping.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Simmering Ability
Our testing team believes this is an important metric. We'll shovel down whatever freeze-dried food we have on hand if we're pressed for time or need to cut down on weight. But most of the time, we want to eat actual food because eating well enhances our backcountry trips. A stove that can simmer well can handle an egg scramble, sauteed veggies, or a fresh-caught golden trout.
We looked for backpacking stoves with good control valve sensitivity, particularly at the low end. This allows you to turn the stove down without turning it off. A broad burner head can help distribute the heat more evenly around the bottom of a pot. Narrow burner heads and focused flames often lead to scorched oatmeal in the center and a lukewarm goop around the edges. The Soto WindMaster, PocketRocket Deluxe, Soto Amicus, Primus Essential Trail, and Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 are champions in this department. Their control wires give just the right amount of resistance, allowing us to dial in the flame without carbonizing dinner.
Cooking oatmeal is a good test of simmering ability.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Unless you want your dinner cajun style or are prepared to stir fast and continuously, think twice about using an integrated canister stove for tricky cooking. This type of stove is mostly made for boiling water quickly, not cooking rice slowly.
Liquid fuel stoves often require experience and skill to achieve a good simmer. While you can learn how to finesse the heat down with a liquid fuel stove, it is a steep learning curve and isn't recommended by the manufacturer. Besides, who wants to practice using their backpacking stove when not actually backpacking? This is another reason why we think most backpackers prefer small canister stoves over liquid fuel models.
Can you believe we made this delicious pot-pie with a backpacking stove!
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Ease Of Use
We think it's important that backpacking stoves are easy to operate. After a long day on the trail, the last thing anyone wants to do is struggle to make dinner. This is why we prefer models that only require a quick glance at the operating manual.
We prefer backpacking stoves without tons of small parts and accessories because keeping track of them can be annoying. We also examined the controls on each model to see if they were easy to access and operate. Large wire knobs, like on the Windmaster, Amicus, PocketRocket Deluxe, and MiniMo, are becoming the standard. The tiny knobs on other stoves seem dated in contrast.
We greatly appreciate stoves that have generously-sized valve controls to easily adjust the output, just as the Soto Amicus.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Piezoelectric lighters have become more reliable, and we think they should be a standard feature. Our testing team always goes into the backcountry with a lighter (or three), but with this feature, you won't get caught up looking for one when what you want to be doing is drinking coffee. MSR has added a piezo to the PocketRocket line on the Deluxe, though its performance was semi-inconsistent. Over half of the small and integrated canister stoves we tested sport a piezo, though they didn't all offer the same reliability. Unfortunately, the igniter on the Amicus didn't work all the time. However, we were pleased with the auto-igniters on the Soto WindMaster and Jetboil MiniMo, which fired up consistently. No matter how reliable these igniters become, we always recommend bringing a lighter or two, just in case.
The piezoelectric igniters found in some models like the Windmaster were incredibly reliable.
Credit: Zach Lovell
The burner and pot interlock on integrated canister stoves, so they are stable in that regard, but as they're often taller and slimmer by nature, they can also be knocked over. All manufacturers try to address this problem by including canister stands, but we rarely bring these on trips because they're one more thing to keep track of and don't change the fundamental center-of-gravity issue. Small canister stoves are also tall once screwed onto a canister and have smallish pot supports. One standout is the WindMaster; its 4Flex pot supports are long and noticeably more stable than most of its competition. Options like the Jetboil Stash aren't the most stable, but the pot dimensions are short and stocky to reduce the likelihood of a tipover.
Some integrated canister stoves like the Jetboil Stash have short and wide dimensions that help with stability.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Lower and broader designs give more stability and allow for a wider array of cookware and, therefore, meals. Liquid fuel models are more stable because they are low to the ground and have wide stove legs that act as stable platforms. The MSR Dragonfly is the most stable, partly due to its giant pot supports. The Windpro 2 looks more like a liquid fuel stove and is nearly as stable as one.
The Windpro's solid pot supports handle big cookware with ease.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Boil Time
Though stove manufacturers like to make a big deal out of boil times, most backpackers will not notice if their stove is a minute or two slower — only if it's 8 - 10 minutes slower. Boil time is also a complicated specification with many contributing variables, so we don't give it as much weight in our scoring.
Boil times are unlikely to make or break your purchasing decision, but it's a nice piece of information to add to the mix.
Credit: Jared Ross
You'll see a variety of boil time types listed throughout our review, ranging from lower elevation times with less water (which equates to shorter times) to higher elevation times with more water (which equates to longer boil times). You'll even see some timed boils in the wind, which always means a slower time. While all of the data collected is factual, some of the numbers from older stove models are from previous testing processes, which we are quickly phasing out with our standardized process utilized in the present day. Due to the highly variable nature of boil times in the outdoors, this metric should simply give you a general sense of each model's capabilities, and we highly encourage you to focus on the other metrics when making your purchasing decision.
Our primary testing is conducted indoors at 5000 feet (about 1524 meters), where the boiling point of water is 202.97° F (about 94.98° C). We tested the time it took for each stove to boil a pot of water and repeated the process to formulate an average. Each round of testing was performed in the same ambient air temperatures with cool tap water. Then, we carried out weeks of field testing, keeping detailed notes relative to boil time while utilizing each stove in a variety of environments.
Be aware that different manufacturers use different amounts of water in their boil tests and often test them in a lab at sea level. This is why the specs on a product's website may differ from what you find on your backpacking trips.
Liquid fuel stoves take longer to boil water because they must be primed first. To keep our comparisons fair, we started the clock after priming. We found it took anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds to prime these stoves. User results for priming times can vary so widely that we did not bother to publish them. Boil time after priming for the MSR Universal was 7 minutes 28 seconds with liquid fuel. Similarly, the boil time for the Universal when used with a fuel canister was 7 minutes 18 seconds. We think that boil times for liquid fuel stoves are even less important than for other stoves because their other functions (including their versatility) are more important than speed.
The Reactor is fast to boil, even in the wind.
Credit: Jessica Haist
The Soto WindMaster got .5 liters of water to a boil in 1 minute and 56 seconds with the Soto Amicus close behind at an impressive 2 minutes and 6 seconds. The Jetboil Stash also did really well when considering it's top-notch fuel efficiency, offering a .5 liter boil time of 2 minutes and 25 seconds.
The Jetboil Stash is quick to boil, particularly when considering its excellent fuel efficiency.
Credit: Zach Lovell
followed closely by the MSR Reactor, Soto WindMaster, and Jetboil MiniMo, which were practically tied at 4 minutes. Wind can play a big part in boil times. You'll unlikely have perfectly still conditions on your next backpacking trip, so we tested how these stoves would perform in the presence of 2-4 mph of “wind” generated by a box fan set to low. Some models could not boil water in these conditions, but most continued to perform reasonably well. Models that couldn't boil in front of the fan are indicated as “>15 min” because, after 15 minutes, we shut them off to stop wasting fuel.
The integrated canister stoves fared much better. As expected, the Reactor did the best in this metric and was only slightly affected by the wind. The MiniMo, Flash, Windburner, and Lite+ all boiled water quickly because the bottom of their integrated pots sheltered their burner. It should be noted, however, that the MSR stoves can be difficult to light in the wind. And the stoves from Jetboil and Primus struggle in stronger wind gusts without some shelter. If a speedy time to boil is essential for your backcountry experience, consider one of the higher-ranking stoves in this category. However, while stove marketing and advertisements will try to convince you otherwise, we don't recommend making this metric the sole source for your decision-making.
The Windpro 2 performs better in the wind than any small canister stove, just make sure the windscreen is wrapped snugly around your cookware.
Credit: Ian McEleney
How To Choose a Backpacking Stove
So you've figured out you need a lightweight, portable stove to take into the backcountry. Now what? Here are some things to take into account before making your purchase.
Stove Type
Small Canister Stoves
This type is usually a small, foldable stove that attaches to an isobutane fuel canister. Quite compact, they usually weigh under 4 ounces and take up minimal space in your pack. You can usually toss it inside your cooking pot. We recommend this style for most people who are general backpacking users.
These are your basic user-friendly stoves that typically require minimal setup or know-how.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Integrated Canister Stoves
These stoves are frequently identical to the small canister stoves, but they include a specific pot and lid that are designed to provide excellent heat exchange. Jetboil made these stoves popular, but many companies now have their own versions. These stoves are great for boiling water and, therefore, useful for freeze-dried or boil-in-a-bag dinners, but they're not really designed for cooking meals.
Many integrated canister stoves are designed to neatly fit a net 8 oz can of iso-pro and the stove inside the pot.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Liquid Fuel Stoves
These are versatile stoves; many can accept multiple fuel types, from white gas to kerosene. They tend to be a bit heavier than the other backpacking stove types, and there is a learning curve to operate them, as they have several parts and must be primed, and some maintenance is required.
Liquid fuel stoves are the preferred choice amongst expedition climbers and skiers due to their more robust construction and fuel efficiency.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Alcohol Stoves
A favorite of thru-hikers, these are small, compact stoves that burn denatured alcohol, which is quite inexpensive and ubiquitous. However, they take skill to operate, especially in cold temps or wind. They're best for boiling water for cooking dehydrated meals, but they're not nearly as fast at boiling as other stoves.
Wood/Solid Fuel Stove
This stove can burn chemical fuel tablets or wood you find along the trail. They're lightweight and usually pack quite small, but we think their drawbacks outweigh the benefits.
Fuel Efficiency and Weight
A lightweight and fuel-efficient stove is going to be your best bet. The more fuel-efficient your stove is, the less fuel you will have to carry, saving weight and space in your pack. We recommend choosing a stove that is fuel efficient for the conditions you will be in and your trip length, and then take weight into consideration next.
For more advice and considerations on choosing the type of stove you need, see our full Backpacking Stove Buying Advice article, which goes into more detail about calculating how much fuel you'll need for your trips, how cold weather affects your stove, and how to dispose of used canisters.
Conclusion
While there is no single backpacking stove for every application or budget, the stove selection above can take the backcountry enthusiast from a weekend for two on the Appalachian Trail to a week on the Colorado Plateau with a group of friends and the high peaks of the Alaska Range. Most of our testers and friends agree that food tastes better outdoors, especially when you do it right. We hope you find the right stove for your backcountry culinary desires that leads you to many happy, tasty meals in the great outdoors.
Our review team has rigorously tested everything on your backpacking gear list to remove the hassle of trial and error or guesswork. From backpacking tents to backpacking backpacks capable of carrying heavier loads, we're here to help you put together the best kit for any kind of excursion.
The small pot of the Lite+ is great for one hiker preparing a freeze-dried meal.
