The Best Camping Stove Reviews [2018]

After 14 days of crowd-sourcing feedback, research and hands on testing, we have decided that the Jetboil Minimo is one of the best camping stoves of 2018. It innovates stove technology by employing the use of push button ignition as well as advanced simmer control features [Read more].

Planning for a camping trip this weekend?

If so, then it is best that you be equipped with the necessary pieces of equipment before going out into the outdoors.

Have you ticked off all the camping essentials checklist? If you haven’t found the right camping stove to bring to your camping trip, then you are in the right place!

There are several options in the market nowadays, which make it hard to close in and pick one to buy. While there is a possibility of buying a bang for the buck camping stove every now and then. There is also a huge chance that you will end up with cheap underperforming stoves.

To save you from that head scratching situation, we have done the tedious work for you to give you a list of the best camping stoves available in 2018.

After weeks of hands on testing, crowdsourcing opinions and research, we have concluded a list of products that deem to be the best of what 2018 has to offer in terms of camping stoves.

Read more on the article and find out what our top pick is and what makes it deserve such tribute.​

What are the Things to Consider When Buying A Camping Stove

If you are an outdoorsy kind of person then you might have a few experiences with camping or trekking in the outdoors. Experienced campers would emphasize the need to be equipped and prepare effectively before taking a step out into the outdoors.

Typically, there are several things that you need to be prepared with before camping, one of the most important piece of equipment is a camping stove.

Preparing a camping stove is important so that you will regain energy to go on a hike or trek since this requires a huge amount of effort and tons of proper nutrition. The last thing that you want to happen is to get lost in the middle of nowhere with no stove to cook on and therefore no food to eat.

But you just can’t go to a store and buy the first stove you see, that’s just being lazy. Here are the important things that you need to look into before buying a camping stove:

1. Stove Type

We begin by discussing the different stove types. This factor usually brings confusion among consumers across the globe. Typically there are 5 common camping stove types, these are: canister stove, liquid fuel stove, solid fuel stove, alcohol stove and wood stove. You should weigh in on their pros and cons before buying one.​

2. Price

Another important factor you need to consider is the price of the product. Camping stoves can come in a wide array of prices. More expensive ones come in with a lot of added features and inclusions, thus offering better convenience and functionality.

Cheaper ones on the other hand usually come with all the necessary features, however, quality is still in question. Choosing a camping stove, in the end, still relies on your budget.

Make sure to pick one that gets more value of what you paid for.​

3.​ Weight

Different stoves come in different weights. However, performance or efficiency of a stove is not necessarily relative to weight.​

Stoves that are meant for heavy snow and cold climates usually weigh heavier, this is because they need more insulation to resist the cold weather. These types of stoves usually weigh close to a pound.

Lighter stoves, on the other hand, can weigh down to less than an ounce. These types of stoves make them suitable for backpacking and trekking on steep and difficult terrain where you only need small baggage.​

4.​ Simmer Control

There are some who want to cook more complex meals during camping trips. If you are one of them, then you might need a stove that has good simmer control. This is one of the most important feature that you need to check before buying a stove. Normally, more expensive ones have this type of feature.

This will come in handy, when you want to cook meals that require more simmering time than simple meals like eggs and hotdogs.​

5.​ Winter Use

The outdoors can be very tricky, one moment it's hot and a few hours later, raining hard. Because of this, you need to buy a stove that can withstand extreme conditions and temperatures. For example, winter season.​

During winter, it is harder to keep heat on the stove, because of this, it is expected that you will use the stove for a longer period of time, not to mention, the increased need for fuel. You need to buy a stove that can perform well even in below-freezing conditions. Camping stoves are usually labelled whether they can be used in snow or not. Check the packaging.​

5.​ Stability

Nothing is worse than just finishing cooking a meal when suddenly you hear something topple over. You check to see what it is and you realize that it was your stove being knocked down over an uneven pile of rocks.

If ever you are planning to prepare a huge amount of food, then it is appropriate that you buy one that has a stable design and a firm stand, one that you can trust to keep standing even at huge volumes and at uneven surfaces.

5.​ Wind Performance

Last but not least is wind performance. When buying a camping stove, you need to choose one that can withstand strong winds. Strong winds can topple stoves in an instant. Moreover, if there is a huge gap between the stove and the pot, then the wind can automatically put off the flame, making your stove less efficient.

Some camping stoves are equipped with windscreens that help reduce the effects of strong winds.

How We Assessed and Evaluated These Products

In our aim to find out which of the camping stoves of 2018 are the most bang for the buck, we did a very tedious process of evaluating and assessing each product we deem as having a big potential. After 2 weeks of crowdsourcing comments, researching and hands on testing, we have shortlisted a total of 20 products.

However, to further narrow down the list, we had to weigh in on their essential features as well as their respective pros and cons. In addition, we focused on the different aspects that make a good camping stove, these are: durability, functionality, ease of use, added features, windproofing, weight and stability.

We brought some of the 20 contenders on a camping trip and treated each one of them in almost similar conditions. We subjected them in the same type of surface, all in the same wind and sun condition.

Moreover, to test its functionality, we recorded the time it took for each camping stove to finish cooking the same meals. We also tested each of the contender’s boiling times.

The products that had more added features typically stood out above the rest. However, we also weighed in on the actual value for money for all of the camping stoves.

After the hands on testing, we also crowdsourced opinions from consumers as well as reputable camping websites such as Gocampingamerica.com and Hicamp.com.

The result of this rigorous evaluation and assessment has led us to come up with 5 of the best camping stoves available in 2018. In this article, we highlighted each of their specifications and also revealed our objective opinion regarding their pros and cons.

Read on to know more of the products and discover which one is our top pick. So without further ado, here are the 5 best camping stoves available in 2018.

Our Top Picks

1. Jetboil Minimo - Editor’s Pick

The first entry on our list is a canister stove, which is the Jetboil Minimo.

Weighing only 14 oz, the product is lightweight and portable enough to make it suitable for camping or hunting trips.

The Jetboil Minimo is considered to be a complete cooking system that offers convenience and efficiency while you are out in nature, exploring and basking in its innate beauty.​

The product is jam packed with a lot of useful features which include a durable and stable handle and a reliable simmer control for meals that require a little more time in heating.

It also has a push button ignite which provides more convenience, with this, there is no need to bring along matchsticks or lighters. It also has a stout shape design that allows equal distribution of heat in the pot.

To provide efficiency and fast distribution of heat in the pan or pot, the Minimo is equipped with metal coils along the bottom of the unit.

When testing the unit, we instantly noticed its ergonomic design that allows better heat distribution and upon using it, it definitely delivers on its promise.

One caveat we have with the product is that it tends to be slightly heavier and more expensive than its counterparts.​

Another worthy entry on our list is the MSR Windburner.

This stove is a compact, well rounded product that is equipped with a secure locking pot and also comes with a mug.

To provide a safe and efficient use of the stove, it is equipped with 100% primary air combustion and an internal pressure regulator.

All these features are housed in a secure and ergonomically designed frame.

The compact stove is equipped with a folding canister stand to carry the insides of the pot as well as the full sized bowl snaps on the outside.

The main selling point of this product is its durable stand that is able to withstand strong winds.

To provide better delivery of fluids, the lid has both drinking and straining ports. With this, there is no need to worry about spills and other mess. It also flaunts an insulated handle which makes it easy for you to hold the mug while eating or drinking.

The purchase includes an extra 16 oz full sized bowl and a radiant burner as well as a heat exchanger for fast heat distribution and better fuel efficiency. It also includes an 18L pot with heat exchanger.

To provide better adjustment to eat intensity it has a pressure regulator that delivers consistent performance and reliability. Sporting an overall weight of 15.5 oz, the Windburner is sure to be lightweight enough to carry around.

Our only gripe with the windburner is the fact that the purchase does not include a fuel canister. Because of this, you need to buy one elsewhere.

The third entry on our list is the Snow Peak Litemax which is one of the lightest camping stoves we have featured in this article.

Weighing only 1.9 oz, the Litemax is very light which makes it suitable to carry around in harsh treks and far flung camping sites.

With this, you can place it in your bag and never worry about the extra baggage.

Equipped with a heat system that boasts of equal heat distribution, the Litemax is able to boil water in just over 4 minutes, it’s that fast! This is because of the product’s output of 11,200 BTU’s.

The litemax has an ergonomic design which allows faster boiling times as well as to provide easier use and access to its lids and ports.

The product is also equipped with a durable stand that makes it withstand strong winds as well as the harsh elements of the outdoors.

We noticed however, that the Litemax comes with a heftier price tag compared to its similar counterparts. On the good side however, you get a product that is worth every cent of your purchase.​

Another worthy entry on our list is the Soto OD-1RX Windmaster.

The windmaster boasts of performing well even in cold weather.

This is because the product dons a well insulated canister that allows better heat distribution and output despite cold situations.

The Windmaster functions with the standard gas canister.

To provide better adjustment with the heat output, it has a micro regulator that allows adjustment of temperature or fuel level. With this, micro flame adjustments are possible.

With its small space between the base of the pot and burner head, there is better efficiency in terms of heat output and distribution. This small gap also allows the windmaster to block strong winds.

Weighing only 2.3 oz, the windmaster is a worthy lightweight companion to your future camping, hunting or trekking trips.

When we tested out the product, we noticed that the stand was rather flimsy and unstable, On less plane ground or surfaces, the unit fails to stand on its own without the aid of additional support. With this, we think that the Windmaster falls short in terms of design.

The last entry on our list is the MSR Whisperlite. The MSR Whisperlite’s main selling point is that it's very silent.

With the product, you can merely hear any sound coming from the stove.

This will come in handy whenever you want to catch a few ZZzs while waiting for your food to be cooked.

The product is equipped with a shaker jet that allows you to clear clogged up dirt with just a simple shake.

The Whisperlite also comes with a windscreen, a heat reflector, a fuel pump and a stuff sack.

The Whisperlite can be powered via white gas, kerosene or auto. Because of this, you have a lot of options to choose in regards to turning on the stove.

Upon testing, we have learned that the Whisperlite is able to boil water in a short span of 3.8 minutes. Moreover, burning time is usually 2 hours and 40 minutes at best.

Our main gripe with this product is that it lacks simmer controls. Because of this, you do not have the freedom to adjust the heat to your liking. In addition, fuel bottles are sold separately.

Our Recommendations:

Editor's Pick: Jetboil Minimo

The 5 products mentioned in this article all deliver on good heat output as well as durability and stability, this is why it was rather difficult for us to pick one with the most value for your money among them.

However, after careful deliberation, we are able to say that the Jetboil Minimo is one of the best camping stove available in 2018.

Owing to its ergonomic design and convenient usage, the Minimo is able to cook your foods at a minimal amount of time while still being fuel efficient. It has a stout shape design and metal coils strategically placed at the bottom of the pot to allow for better and even heat distribution.

The most important feature of the Minimo that lets it stand above the rest is its push ignition button. With this, you no longer need to worry on how to ignite the stove, since this problem is already answered.

Even though the Jetboil Minimo is more expensive and heavier, these small caveats both pale in comparison to the good points of this product.

Runners Up: MSR Windburner and MSR Whisperlite

The article would be incomplete if we did not mention about the honourable mentions. Coming in as second is the MSR Windburner. The Windburner boasts of an ergonomic design with a compact build. Because of this, the product can be a reliable partner for your camping and hunting trips.

The most essential thing about the Windburner is its customization features which include an internal pressure regulator which aims to provide a more secure and convenient use.

The third place goes to a product of the same company as well, in the form of the Whisperlite. The Whisperlite ticks off all the boxes in terms of the essential traits such as durability, portability, convenience and usability. But what sets this product apart from the others is its ability to remain silent throughout each use.