10 Best Backpacking Stoves in 2019

Next up on the menu is Jetboil’s Flash cooking system.

We’ve labelled it as one of the best heavy-duty stoves as it’s practically ideal for high performance heating and boiling jobs.

Even though you’d perceive it as a compact stove at first, it actually features a FluxRing cup which can take up an entire litre of liquid. What’s more, it’s made of highly sturdy stainless steel materials, making it impervious to most kinds of damage.

One of the best things about Jetboil’s flash cooking system is its practicality. Namely, you’ll be able to start (and finish) the entire process with but a click of a button.

On top of that, there are a couple of convenient features which further simplify the (already plain) method of operation. Such are the heat indicator which changes the color as the water starts to simmer and boil, as well as the drink-through lid.

Now, let’s discuss its price a bit.

As you can see, this is a great stove meant for heavy duty boiling and heating. It’s only normal that it costs a little bit more than, for example our previous pick MSR Pocket Rocket 2. Regardless, it packs quite a punch for the money.

Just after we saw what Pocket Rocket can do, we’re taking a gander at yet another remarkable stove from MSR – the WindBurner.

As the name implies, this is one of our top picks in the “windproof” department, which means that it’s absolutely ideal for backpackers, trekkers, mountaineers, and people who love enjoying the outdoors in general.

This stove is a compact all in one solution for virtually every possible scenario. It features a powerful burner which promises extra quick boil times with the quality heat exchanger feature. It’s decently compact, although Jetboil’s flash cooking system is just a bit smaller.

We’ve already mentioned that the only flaw of MSR’s Pocket Rocket is that the fuel canister comes separately. Such is the case with WindBurner as well, but that’s not the most pressing issue, to be fair. Namely, this model is nearly three times more expensive than the Pocket Rocket.

On the upside, the absolute windproof performance of this stove ensures safe and easy cooking and boiling in practically all weather conditions. Though it does cost quite a bit, it’s practical, it’s great, and it’s one of the best windproof stoves you’re going to find for the buck.

After compact and windproof stoves we’ve decided to spice things up a bit.

The title of the “best simmer control stove” goes to Soto’s WindMaster combo stove.

In essence, this is a plain burner mechanism which features four adjustable flex supports. It can take on smaller and medium-sized pots with ease, but using a larger pot shouldn’t be too big of a deal.

Its resistance to wind is impeccable, perhaps as good as that of MSR’s WindBurner. Safe to say, the flame will keep on burning even in the harshest conditions, but to contrast the two stoves we mentioned, the Soto WindMaster offers the same qualities, yet at a lower price.

There are, however, a couple of hiccups that should not be neglected. Firstly, you’ll need to be extra careful (and patient) while you assemble the stove. Slight lapses of concentration could easily result in a leak, as the construction is not too durable. Secondly, the same can be said for the complementary carry bag. On the upside, the bag is free, though.

We are looking at one of the best folding stove models available for the buck – Jetboil’s MiniMo cooking system will be your best buddy during your backpacking trips. It’s available in several colour variations and features specially designed regulator which provides outstanding simmer control.

You’ll be able to cook and eat straight from it, as it comes supplied with convenient metal handles. What’s more, the entire cooking process can be started with a simple push of a button. Be it as it may, that’s not the reason why we’re recommending this fine backpacking stove to you.

Namely, this is one of the best folding stoves – it’s very compact and petite in size. The only real downside is that it costs quite a lot. It’s pretty durable altogether, the boiling time is excellent, and the insulating lid will keep your meals warm for quite some time.

The good things about MiniMo are great simmer control, fast boil time, and the width of the pot section. The bad things are that this backpacking stove isn’t as easy to use as the models we’ve previously reviewed and that it comes at a rather expensive price.

Next up is our “best value” pick, the Wild-Wind Star X3 outdoor cooking system.

This is an ultralight backpacking stove which boasts exceptional burn efficiency, rapid boil time, and several complementary features. You’ll get a pot support, as well as a convenient stabilizer completely free of charge.

The cooking system is comprised of a stove base, a pot outfitted with a heat exchanger, a neat little TPE cover, a fabric sleeve, and the aforementioned gratis features (pot support, stabilizer).

Now, we did mention that this stove boils water pretty fast, but just how quick is it?

Even though the answer mainly depends on the quantity of the water you intend to use, in an average case you will be able to switch from simmer to boil in under two minutes.

So, with all the free stuff and benefits Wild Wind Star X3 offers, are there any things that it lacks? The only thing that leaves room for improvement is the build material – aluminium. As the story goes, this material is quite flimsy, although it does contribute to the lightweight quality of this stove.

In essence, the reason why we’ve dubbed the Star X3 as the “best value” stove is because it isn’t expensive, it does the job it’s supposed to, and it offers convenient (and completely free) features.

We’ve seen what good compact stoves are – the Pocket Rocket 2 is awesome, WindBurner (though it isn’t petite per se) is quite transportable, and the WindMaster from Soto are all fine examples of such.

Some of these stoves are really small in design, but even so, they can’t really compete with Snow Peak’s LiteMax stove in this field of performance. If you are looking for a premium-quality compact stove, look no further.

Surprisingly enough, the LiteMax is pretty lightweight even though it’s made of incredibly sturdy titanium and aluminium materials. It can withstand even the lowest of temperatures, making it a suitable candidate for all kinds of backpacking trips, hiking, and even mountaineering.

The bad thing is that it isn’t compatible with most conventional fuel tanks – it only accepts GigaPower fuel (from the same brand) which is sold separately.

On a brighter note, you’ll get a complementary storage bag for free.

Some of the models we’ve reviewed so far are complex, some are not so much, but the fact is that they’re all incredibly valuable for the money.

Now, we’ve figured that there are people who want to keep things simple, in which case we recommend Etekcity’s ultralight camping stove.

The majority of the construction is comprised of aluminium, although certain joints are made of quality stainless steel. It’s quite durable for a budget backpacking stove, to be fair. Speaking of which, this is also the most affordable, as well as the simplest backpacking stove we managed to dig up on the market.

Its design is labelled as “collapsible”, which basically means “a step beyond compact”. In truth, it’s perfect for light camping or light backpacking, which means that it’s not as versatile as, for instance, Jetboil Flash cooking system.

There are no exceptional features onboard, it doesn’t require any priming or preheating, and what’s best about it – it comes at a ridiculously cheap price. If you’re on a tight budget and after a simple backpacking solution, here’s the stove you’re after.

A couple of MSR backpacking stoves have already made their appearance in our review, but even so we felt like we need to mention one more – the Whisperlite.

This is the lightest stove ever made by this brand, and it’s safe to say that it’s also one of the most compact ones.

One of the biggest advantages it offers is the self-cleaning jet technology – it ensures easy and quick field maintenance, which means that this model is among the most reliable backpacking stove you’ll find for the money.

Its performance is undisputed and unparalleled due to AirControl technology. This means that Whisperlite offers zero compromise when it comes to performance. It’s compatible with virtually all forms of fuels and flammable gasses.

Lastly, you’ll be richer for a fuel pump, a windscreen, a heat reflector, and several small-part kits if you opt for this one, as it’s laden with a plethora of gratis features. Yeah, it’s true that it does cost quite a bit, but MSR’s stoves are famous for huge price-to-value ratios.

Let’s wrap it up with the best beginner backpacking stove – Snow Peak’s Giga Power. This particular model is pretty famous among backpacking enthusiasts, as it offers a lot and requires so very little.

Just like most stoves we’ve reviewed, this one is also pretty compact – the collapsible-leg design ensures you’ll be able to fit it in any smaller carry case.

The flame control of Giga Power is excellent, even though it’s only a budget stove. It works equally well when it comes to simmering.

What makes it perfect for beginners is the fact that it doesn’t come supplied with extraordinary, special features. It’s as plain as can be, and as easy to use as possible. To top it all, it’s pretty inexpensive, to say the very least.