How To Select Portable Camping Stoves

If you’re going camping or traveling somewhere remote, you may be wondering how to select portable camping stoves. Several designs of portable camping stoves are commercially available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Size, fuel type, cooking capacity and convenience vary greatly from model to model. Consider each of these qualities in relation to the needs of your trip and you should be able to select the portable camping stove that’s right for you.

1. Propane stoves. Propane stoves may be the most commonly used portable camping stoves. Single-burner stoves use the propane canister as the base of the stove, meaning that the fuel containers are the bulkiest part of the stove to transport. Small propane canisters are not refillable and must be packed out and disposed of when empty. Larger canisters are heavy and bulky, but can be refilled. Propane canisters are available at sporting goods stores, department stores and some grocery stores, but may be hard to locate in rural and remote areas.

2. Primus-style stoves. Propane and other pressurized-gas stoves are easy to set up and have adjustable flames; primus-style stoves are also adjustable, but setup is a little more complicated. As the name suggests, these stoves must be “primed” with a little fuel or alcohol before lighting. As with propane stoves, double-burner tabletop models are also available; they are bulkier than single-burner stoves, but can be useful if you’re cooking for a large group.

3. White gas and kerosene stoves. Stoves that burn kerosene or naphtha fuel, also known as “white gas,” are also popular portable camping stoves. These generally must be pumped by hand to pressurize the fuel for burning; once lit, the pressure can be manually adjusted to set the intensity of the flame. These stoves can be bulky, but fuel is generally easy to find in most areas.

4. Solar stoves. If you’re dedicated to the environment, you may want to try these stoves, which require no fuel, per se, and leave no waste. Inflatable versions can weigh less than a pound. However, they require long cooking times and must be placed in direct sunlight, which may not be convenient for all campers. Being lightweight, they should be anchored in windy conditions and you should never look directly at the reflectors, as the intensely focused sunlight can risk damaging your eyes. Despite these drawbacks, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint to zero, solar stoves are the way to go. 

5. Alcohol stoves. Many backpackers prefer alcohol stoves, as they are extremely light and compact and fuel is readily available almost anywhere. It’s even possible to make one out of a soda can, using instructions found on the web or camping manuals. For those who aren’t quite so dedicated to the do-it-yourself ethic, commercial versions are also available. The flame is generally not adjustable, so you must measure out your fuel beforehand. Many different types of alcohol can be used as fuel in a pinch, including vodka, although alcohol designed as cooking fuel is of course recommended. Sterno fuel can be burned directly from its container, which is why it is called “canned heat.” Because of this, Sterno cans are among the lightest portable camping “stoves.”

6. Zip stoves. Zip stoves are popular with backpackers, such as those hiking the Appalachian Trail. The stove burns small twigs, bark and other wood found in many wilderness areas; this means you don’t have to carry fuel with you. It also works with common solid fuels such as charcoal. A battery-powered fan focuses and optimizes the flame. The design is very compact and weighs just over a pound, giving this portable camping stove many advantages for hikers who are carrying their gear a long way from the nearest camping store. 

7. Chemical stoves. These portable camping stoves burn a chemical called hexamine, which can be messy and difficult to locate. The advantage is in portability; chemical stoves are tiny and the hexamine itself is available in small, easy-to-carry tablets. Some models can burn alcohol as well if hexamine is not readily available. For some chemical stoves, as with alcohol and Sterno stoves, the stand to hold the pot over the stove is heavier and bulkier than the stove itself.