by There are a gazilion options of camp stoves out there. How do you know which stove to get for your next camping trip? Should you collect a camp stove for each type of camping trip you do? Or could you purchase a versatile stove that will cover most of your needs? This post aims to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about camp stoves.
We’ve divided this post into four sections:
One-burner camp stoves for road trips
One-burner camp stoves for backpacking/bikepacking
Two-burner camp stoves for road trips
Three-burner portable stoves for car camping
In each section about camp stoves, we mention the best use scenarios for each of them. Here are some definitions:
Basecamp car camping – camp next to the car, settle into a campsite for multiple days
Road trips – travel by car, camp next to the car, but change campsites every day or two
Backpacking/bikepacking – hike or bike to your campsite
DetourOn camping gear rental notes:
You may have gathered from our other posts that we rent camping gear through our partner, Basecamp Outdoor Gear. That includes camp stoves and other camp kitchen items. You can even rent a complete camping kit for a cheaper total price.
One-Burner Camp Stoves for Road Trips
Best use: Road trips for up to 4 people
Can also be used for: Basecamp car camping
Fuel type: Propane or butane
Our favorite 1-burner stove: We like the Gas One Duel Fuel Portable stove because it comes with an adapter for both butane and propane fuel, which makes it versatile. It also has a wide base so you can cook in a large pot without worrying about balance.
The downsides: It’s too heavy and bulky for backpacking. It’s also rare to find one-burner stoves with windscreens, so you should invest in one separately.
Note: You should also look into this Biolite Cooking System. I haven’t tried it yet, but this seems really cool! Use the woodchips sold by Biolite or simply collect kindling from the ground. You don’t need to buy any fuel at a gas station. Once the fire is lit, the device generates its own electricity so you can charge your phone while cooking. The stove also comes with a lantern so you can see what you’re cooking at night. Boil water in the compatible kettle and grill your food in the attachable skillet.
One-Burner Camp Stoves for Backpacking/Bikepacking
Best use: Backpacking/bikepacking for up to 2 people
Can also be used for: Any kind of camping
Fuel type: Isobutane fuel mix
Our favorite backpacking stove: We like the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Canister Backpacking Stove because it’s a great price for superior performance. It’s lightweight, compact, long-lasting, and boils water very quickly. The best thing about backpacking stoves is that they are versatile. You can take them anywhere, from backpacking trips to family picnics. You just need to add a lighter and lightweight cooking pot and/or frying pan.
The downsides: You have to balance the pot/pan just right over the stove so it doesn’t fall over. The bigger and heavier the pot, the harder it is to balance. It’s rare to find backpacking stoves with built-in windscreens because it makes them heavier. In the case of windy conditions, you should get creative to cook out of the wind. Some backpacking stoves come with a self-ignite switch, but this feature only adds to the weight, bulk, and price of the item. Don’t get used to that and forget to take a lighter with you for emergencies! You always need a lighter, so in my opinion the self-ignite feature is superfluous.
— Click here to rent this item from Basecamp or buy this item brand new on Amazon —
The Jetboil Cooking Systems
Note: If you just plan on boiling water during your backpacking trips (or any other camping trip you take) you should look into the Jetboil Cooking Systems. These pot and stove combos are perfect for the backpacker that likes things to fit together. Their ideal use is to boil water, which they do very quickly. They also have a built-in windscreen so they generally work in adverse weather conditions. They come in 0.5-1 L capacities, enough to boil water for 1-2 people at a time. Cooking food in the pots might result in overflowing or burning of said food, and make it a bit harder to clean afterwards.
— Click here to rent this item from Basecamp or buy this item brand new on Amazon —
Two-Burner Stoves for Road Trips
Best use: Road trips for up to 6 people
Can also be used for: Basecamp car camping
Fuel type: Propane
Our favorite 2-burner stove: The Camp Chef Everest 2 burner stove is by far the best portable stove we’ve ever come across. Nothing we’ve tested even comes close to its power and durability. It’s also really easy to take apart for a deep clean. This particular stove comes with a self-igniter, three-sided wind barrier, and is wide enough to fit two 12″ pans side by side.
The downsides: You can’t take this backpacking. Camp Chef stoves are incompatible with regulators from other brands, and they are hard to find if you need to replace them.
Note: There are plenty of other 2-burner stoves that look similar to this on the market, but don’t be fooled! This stove has a much more powerful flame than most of the other brands out there and it’s much more durable! Unlike the Camp Chef Everest 2 burner stove, we did NOT like other two-burner camp stove options that Camp Chef has to offer. We don’t even think that they are worth a review. If you’re looking for a simpler and less expensive options, the standard Coleman and Ozark Trail 2-burner stoves are reliable classic stoves at great price points. You can find them at Walmart.
— Click here to rent this item from Basecamp or buy this item brand new on Amazon —
Three-Burner Stoves for Basecamp Car Camping
Best use: Basecamp car camping
Can also be used for: Group road trips
Fuel type: 20L Propane Tank
Our favorite 3-burner stove: The Camp Chef Explorer 3X stove is a great option for cooking for large groups. It’s spacious and powerful!
The downsides: Big, bulky, and heavy (47 lbs). Use with 20L propane tank which is also big, bulky, heavy.
Note: Camp Chef makes a 2-burner version of this, but in our opinion, it is the three-burner version that’s deserves the spotlight. If you have oversized pots and pans and need to cook for a group of 6 or more adults, you cannot beat the Camp Chef Explorer 3X stove. You just need to figure out how to store it for transport and when not in use.
— Click here to buy this item brand new on Amazon —
Conclusion
You can deduce from this post that we very much like backpacking stoves because they are so versatile. You can take them anywhere! But you can only use backpacking stoves to cook simple meals, like pasta and fried eggs. I think everyone should own a backpacking stove and keep it as a backup in the car to impress your friends in impromptu picnics. If you want to make more extravagant meals during your roadtrips, then you now have a few other options to choose from.
Before committing to buying a stove, you can try most of these by renting them from Basecamp Outdoor Gear. Keep in mind that this rental shop has many more outdoor gear items for rent, such as tents and sleeping bags. Contact us or Basecamp if you have any questions. Happy camping!