Most hikers and backpackers want a hot meal at the end ofthe day, or maybe they want to boil water for a cup of coffee to get them goingin the morning. Whatever the reason, a backpacking stove is essential for nearlyall backpackers.
But if you are new backpacking or have been relying onsomeone else for your cooked meals, you may need a little insight on how tochoose a backpacking stove. After all, there are so many options all with theirown advantages and disadvantages. So, here are a few highlights to help youknow 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 oversome of the things about a stove that may sway your opinion one way or theother. Some top considerations are:
- Fuel Type
- Size
- Maintenance
- Weight
- Price
All the above, in my opinion, are main driving factors whenit comes to choosing a backpacking stove. Now, let’s go over each one andelaborate more on how these should affect how you go about choosing one.
Fuel Type
By far, fuel type should be the number one thing thatdetermines what type of backpacking stove you should buy. There are varioustypes of fuel that can be used, some being more efficient than others, but whatwill work best depends on how and what you plan to cook and for how manypeople.
A small canister stove might not be the best option if youplan to cook for half a dozen people every night on a seven-day backpackingtrip. However, if you are just cooking for yourself, a small canister stove orwood burning stove might suit you perfectly.
Once you determine your cooking needs, you should know whatfuel type will work well for it and when you have come to a decision, all theother considerations come into play.
Size
Size is also very important when picking out a backpackingstove. By size, I primarily mean how large of a pot it can hold, but how wellthe stove fits inside your backpack is also very important.
Most backpacking cookpots are not very large, but a 750mlpot on a small canister stove will likely require careful setting. A 750ml potis usually more than enough for one person, maybe even two, but if you thinkyou need something larger, then that should also play into your decision-makingprocess. Whatever you choose, you have to make sure it works with your cookset.
Maintenance
While a lot of stoves require only minimal maintenance, somestoves 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 onoccasion, potentially at inopportune times, meaning you may need to keep toolsand replacement parts handy in your backpack.
Weight
Many long-distance hikers will make weight their toppriority when it comes to choosing a backpacking stove. Weight shoulddefinitely 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 abackpacker can carry, however carrying an Esbit Stove that uses fuel pelletsonly weighs 3.25 ounces.
That said, you also need to factor in the weight of the fueland how much of that fuel you need to keep on hand to last you until your tripis over or your next resupply. Perhaps a particular stove may be lighter, butif you have to carry heavier fuel it might not be the best option if weight isgoing to be a determining factor.
Price
Whether you are or aren’t worried about the price of abackpacking stove, it can be a determining factor. The prices vary greatly andcan range from less than $10 all the way to and above $200! You might not be inthe 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 abackpacking stove, let’s discuss the different types available and what some oftheir advantages and disadvantages are to further help you make the rightchoice.
Canister Stove
Canister stoves are the most popular stove for backpackingpurposes. It’s easy to use, efficient, and most are extremely lightweight! Mostweigh around 3 ounces, but there are some, like the BRS UL Stove, that weighless than an ounce! All you need is a fuel canister and something to ignite theflame and you can be cooking in no time!
Most will have three arms that fold down to hold your cookpot. Once screwed onto your fuel canister, turn the control valve and you willhear the gas evacuating. Use a lighter or match to ignite the flame, carefullyplace your pot on the arms, and proceed to cook!
There are also different kinds of canister stoves, such asintegrated canister and remote canister.
An integrated canister stove is essentially the same, but itcomes with a pot that threads onto the stove. A remote canister stove, alsovery 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 bothtend to be heavier than your traditional canister stove. For example: My BRSstove and Toaks Titanium pot weigh less than 4 ounces combined while a JetBoilFlash Cooking System weighs in at just over 13 ounces.
Canister stoves are good to use when you need to boil wateror if you need to lower the temperature for a simmer. Just turn the controlvalve down. When you are done cooking, close the valve completely and removethe 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 thesecanisters at most retailers that sell camping products such as REI, AcademySports, and even Wal-Mart. On average, an 8oz canister will have around 60minutes of burn time if used wide-open and can boil a liter of water in 4minutes or less.
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Alcohol Stove
Alcohol stoves are another popular choice for backpackersbecause, like canister stoves, they can be very lightweight, sometimes evenweighing less than an ounce. You can also make your own ultralight alcoholstove by cutting up a soda can and fabricating the aluminum with some tools youhave 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 rubbingalcohol. Even products such as HEET, generally designated as a fuel-lineantifreeze, will work for your alcohol stove. And of course, there are fuelsdesigned 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 thealternatives.
However, if you plan on testing your cooking skills, youwill be limited with an alcohol stove because of an inability to control thetemperature. Boiling time also takes a little longer when compared to acanister stove, usually taking between 5 to 7 minutes for a liter of water.
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Wood Burning Stove
Wood burning stoves are exactly what they sound like; theyburn wood! While not as light as a canister or alcohol stove, wood burningstoves can still be quite light, sometimes weighing as little as 4 ounces. Buteven though wood burning stoves may be heavier, you can still save weight bynot having to carry fuel. You just pick up twigs, sticks, leaves, and otherdebris you can find out trail.
On the downside, it is hard to control the temperature witha wood burning stove, but if you just plan on boiling water, one of theseshould be fine. Another negative is if the area has experienced wet conditionsrecently, which may make finding dry fuel a challenge if not impossible. Youalso must be aware that some locations may have a fire ban, meaning you cannotuse this type of stove there.
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Tablet Stove
A tablet stove uses what are called solid fuel tablets. Youplace the tablet inside the stove and then light it. A tablet will typicallyburn for 10 to 12 minutes, which should be long enough to boil a cup or two ofwater. However, if you plan to boil a liter, you will have to use more than onetablet.
A typical tablet stove is lightweight and has a simpledesign that folds out to support a pot. They fold down compact, but not ascompact as a typical canister stove. These are also probably the cheapestbackpacking stove you can find on the market, typically being less than $15.
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Liquid Stove
You won’t see too many backpackers on the AT or PCT using aliquid stove, but they do have a place in the backpacking community. A liquidbottle is attached to a hose which is attached to your stove. These aretypically heavier than most other stoves (given the number of components), butsome provide much better stability on rough or uneven terrain. A liquid stovealso outperforms other stoves when it comes to cold temperatures and higherelevations.
Liquid stoves are also the most cost-efficient backpackingstove with a fuel bottle costing less per ounce than canister fuel. If the needarises, these stoves can also run on alternative liquid fuels such as gasoline,kerosene, and diesel.
As for some negatives, liquid stoves require priming andthey also need more maintenance than other stoves, such as having to clean thehose and replace O-rings periodically. They typically are more expensive thanother stoves as well.
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Where to Buy a Backpacking Stove
So, if you know what kind of backpacking stove you want andyou 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 onebackpacking stove, REI offers you to opportunity to rent a stove out for lessthan $10 (for members). They may not offer one of each type, and the moneyspent to rent is almost as much to purchase a tablet stove, but it is still agood 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 hereare a few suggestions for each fuel type to get you started.
Canister Stoves
You will be hard pressed to find any stove, regardless of type, that weighs as little as the BRS UL Stove and still cost less than $20. Most importantly, this little guy gets the job done and can boil a liter of water in under 4 minutes!
Get it at amazon.com!
The PocketRocket 2 costs more than twice the BRS, but you are getting a more durable product. With that durability comes a little more weight though. It also boasts a 3.5 minute boil time.
Get it at REI.com! – OR – Get it at amazon.com!
Weighing only 1.9 ounces, the LiteMax is lighter than the MSR PocketRocket 2, but has a longer boil time averaging 4 minutes, 25 seconds.
The Jetboil Zip Cooking System is an integrated canister stove, meaning it includes a twist-on pot/cup. While not ultralight, it can boil a half-liter of water in 2.5 minutes. The pot/cup for the Zip also has a drink-through lid with a spout for easy pouring. To top that, the bottom cover of the cup unsnaps and can be used as a measuring cup or bowl!
Get it at REI.com! – OR – Get it at amazon.com!
Alcohol Stoves
TOAKS Titanium Siphon Alcohol Stove
I don’t think you can buy a stove any lighter than the TOAKS Alcohol Stove, weighing only .7 ounces. With a price of under $35, it is also very friendly to your wallet. It can boil two cups of water in less than 6 minutes, which is usually enough water for a typical backpacking meal.
Get it at REI.com! – OR – Get it at amazon.com!
Soda Can Stove
Unless you know someone who makes and sells these, you aren’t going to buy a soda can alcohol stove. Fortunately, they are easy to make and they may be the absolute lightest stove option ever known to man.
The one pictured is a quick stove I made in less than 10 minutes, so it can use some polishing. You can even make it smaller. If you are interested in making your own soda can stove, here are the easiest directions I have found:
Wood Burning Stoves
The Vargo Titanium Hexagon Stove is perhaps the lightest wood burning stove and can be folded down to a very backpacker friendly size. It is also among the cheapest of wood burning stoves, selling for just under $60 at REI.
Get it at REI.com! – OR – Get it at amazon.com!
TOAKS Titanium Wood Burning Stove – Small
KS makes a wood burning stove that is easy to recommend. Weighing just 5.4 ounces and packing down to a respectable 3.75 x 3.75 inches, the TOAKS Titanium Wood Burning Stove costs under $50. The stove has 3 parts that stack into each other and can even nest inside of a TOAKS Titanium 750ml pot.
Get it at REI.com! – OR – Get it at amazon.com!
Tablet Stoves
The Esbit Pocket Stove is one of the cheapest stoves you can buy, plus it is lightweight (3.25 ounces) and comes with 6 solid fuel tablets, each burning approximately for 12 minutes. It also packs down to a small size, being only .75 inches thick.
Get it at REI.com! – OR – Get it at amazon.com!
Liquid Fuel Stoves
The WhisperLite stove and pump are packaged together and weigh 10.9 ounces. It can boil a liter of water in around 3.5 minutes when using white gas, though it will take longer using another gas like kerosene. It also includes a windscreen and heat reflector, all for $100.
Get it at REI.com! – OR – Get it at amazon.com!
Alternatives to Backpacking Stoves
You don’t have to carry any kind of backpacking stove withyou on your trip. Here are a couple of methods for feeding you belly you cantry that might work out better for you.
Campfire
You can cook over an open fire as long as where you arebackpacking allows campfires. Most campfires are only permitted in designatedcampfire rings, so know and be respectful of any regulations in the area youwill be hiking.
Cooking over an open flame requires some caution and mayrequire cookware more appropriate for doing so. Many pots are designed to beused with backpacking stoves and not campfires, so they may have short handlesthat will make it dangerous to try to remove them from a fire. Pots with longerhandles are preferred and you may need something to protect your hands fromburns, which is a good idea anyway even if you are using a backpacking stove.
Using a campfire for cooking when backpacking can work outextremely well if you are cooking for a larger group since you can create alarger cooking area for more pots or pans. Campfire cooking also allows for awider range of foods that can be cooked that may require longer cook times orneeds more than just boiling water to make edible. But beware as all this is amoot point if conditions are wet and dry wood is difficult to find, making ithard to get a good fire going.
Stove-less
Many thru-hikers have opted to go the route of carrying nostove at all, eating day-in and day-out stove-less backpacking meals. Somebackpackers do this to reduce weight, others do this simply because of theconvenience.
When it’s hot outside, after a long day of hiking, you mayjust not care to have a hot meal, so you pull out a tortilla shell and load itup with peanut butter or whatever else you may like. Another idea is tocold-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 coffeecold!
There are plenty of options available for stove-lessbackpacking meals. Some are simple and others may require a little creativity,but people have thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail not having used a stovea single time. I recommend trying this at least a couple of times to see if itmay work for you before giving up your stove, though.
Conclusion
As you see, there are a few variations of backpacking stovesand each brand may bring unique features to their products. Deciding on whattype of fuel you want to use narrows down the field a lot and should help youchoose the backpacking stove that is best for you.
However, if you are still having a hard time deciding, youcan’t go wrong with a canister stove. Their popularity is proof of theirconvenience and efficiency, plus they aren’t very expensive. That’s not to sayother stoves aren’t a better fit for your needs, especially if you are justplanning to backpack on dry weekends, in which case a wood burning stove may beperfect for you or even just cooking with a campfire.
I have personally used a canister stove, alcohol stove, anda 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, whichleads us again to you knowing what your needs and wants are for a hiking meal. Andif you know someone that has a type of stove, ask them to use it for a trialrun or, as I mentioned earlier, you can even rent backpacking stoves at REI!
And that’s it! Hopefully this has made your backpackingstove search easier and you will be ready to cook your first meal out on thetrail soon!
