Camping stoves are a major upgrade for everything from casual family camping trips to multi-day treks. These portable stoves are especially good during the colder months when a hot meal can tuck you in your sleeping bag, or give you the energy to hike all day.
Thinking of investing in a camping stove? We’re here to help you find the right one. Portable stoves come in a wide range of styles including single-burner, dual-burner or even quad-burner. They’re usually powered by propane, some are powered by butane or even wood. Also, be sure to note a stove’s power output, measured in BTUs. Typically, the more power the better, although you might not need too much if you’re just heating up soup and making coffee.
If you’re setting out on a hard trek, a super-compact, single-burner will be your best friend. However, if you’re just setting up camp with the family, a larger, more powerful stove will keep everyone properly fed and in the right mood.
Check out our top picks for portable camping stoves below.
1. Coleman Gas Stove
BEST OVERALL
If you’re not hiking too much, go for this straightforward, effective camping stove from Coleman. They’re the best-selling gas stove brand for a reason; their products are powerful, long-lasting and super easy to use. This classic 2-burner gas stove is one of Coleman’s best, boasting an impressive 20,000 BTUs in a compact, easy to carry set-up. It comes very highly-rated on Amazon, with some users even saying they use it at home during power-outages as well.
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2. Gas ONE Portable Butane Gas Stove
BEST BUDGET
Looking for an affordable camping stove? This pick from Gas ONE is a good idea. It’s just $17, so you can buy one to use for a single camping trip, as a backup, or in addition to your current stove. But while the price is tempting, you won’t get the same power output with this stove (7,650 BTUs) compared to better models. This means it’ll get the job done, but it might be hard to cook serious dishes like thick cuts of meat.
3. Petforu Camp Stove
MOST COMPACT
This tiny stove from Petforu features a clever design that includes the stove, the gas can and 2 pots all in one compact package. The whole thing weighs just over 3 ounces and measures 6.3 inches tall, making it ideal for backpacking, long hikes or minimal camping. Reviewers say the little guy works great, although you do have to be attentive while cooking as the heat doesn’t distribute very widely around a pan.
4. Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove
BEST FOR VAN CAMPING
For those of you camping or living in a van, this Coleman PowerPack is your best bet. It’s super compact with a lay-flat design for table-top cooking. This makes it much more stable and powerful for its compact design but limits the places where you can use it. The build is very high-quality as well with a durable chrome-plated grate that fits a 12-inch pan for decently sized meals.
5. Solo Stove Lite
ECO-FRIENDLY OPTION
Solo broke the camping stove status quo by creating a compact wood-burning stove. Instead of carrying fuel around, just find some twigs, leaves or pine cones to throw on the top. This makes it another great choice for backpackers and light campers, as it’s super small (4.2 inches) and very lightweight (9 ounces). If you’re a little skeptical (like we were), check the reviews. Users love the little burner, earning it 4.6 stars and over 500 reviews.
6. Koblenz Victoria 4-Burner Gas Stove
BEST FOR GROUPS
If you’re traveling with your family or a big group of friends, consider one of these 4-burner stoves from Koblenz. It boasts 4 individually-controlled burners with 16,000 BTUs, allowing you to cook serious meals for the whole group. And I think we can all agree that well-fed campers are happy campers.
7. Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove
MOST POWERFUL
Another great option for large groups is this stove from Camp Chef. It features a super heavy-duty build with a large surface area for big dishes and a whopping 60,000 BTUs of power. This greatly expands the menu while you’re out in the wilderness. Plus, the stove comes with adjustable legs so you don’t need to crouch down while you cook or find a table.
8. Gas ONE Propane & Butane Camping Stove
BEST DUAL-FUEL STOVE
Sometimes, a stove that runs off both propane and butane can come in handy (most stoves just use propane). If you want that convenience, we recommend this dual-fuel stove from Gas ONE. It comes highly-rated and lets you seamlessly switch between propane and butane. Plus, it’s very affordable at just over $30.
9. Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove
PREMIUM OPTION
If you’re a seasoned camp cook, a certified glamper or just a gear nerd like us, you’ll want this incredible Everest stove from Camp Chef. It has two burners and a similar wind-guarded design as the Coleman up top, but comes with a higher price tag of $146. However, you get what you pay for with 40,000 BTUs of power (twice as much as the Coleman) and a high-quality stainless steel build.