Buyer’s Guide to Backpacking Stoves

JILL CHEN /SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Pricing key (based on manufacturer’s suggested retail price):

$ = under $50

$$ = $51–$75

$$$ = $76–$100

$$$$ = $101–$150

$$$$$ = $151–$200

$$$$$$ = $201+

Alcohol Stoves

Manufacturer/Model: Trangia / Spirit Stove

Price: $

Weight: 10.2 oz.

Dimensions: 3.75" × 2.5"

Fuel Type: Alcohol

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 25 minutes

Boil Time: 8 minutes for 1L

Manufacturer/Model: Trail Designs/Caldera Cone System

Price: $

Weight: Varies (each cone handcrafted to fit your pot)

Dimensions: Contact manufacturer

Fuel Type: Alcohol

Pot included: No

Burn Time: Contact manufacturer

Boil Time: 6-7 minutes for 2 cups

Manufacturer/Model: Trail Designs/Caldera Sidewinder Stove System

Price: $$

Weight: 9.9 oz.

Dimensions: 6" × 4.25"

Fuel Type: Alcohol

Pot included: Yes

Burn Time: Contact manufacturer

Boil Time: 6-7 minutes for 2 cups

Manufacturer/Model: Vargo/Decagon Stove

Price: $$

Weight: 1.2 oz.

Dimensions: 2.25" × 1.25"

Fuel Type: Alcohol

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 20 minutes

Boil Time: 5-6 minutes for 2 cups

Manufacturer/Model: Trangia/27-2 UL (Kit)

Price: $$$

Weight: 30.3 oz.

Dimensions: 7" × 4"

Fuel Type: Alcohol

Pot included: Yes

Burn Time: 25 minutes

Boil Time: 8 minutes for 1L

Canister Stoves

Manufacturer/Mode: Primus/ClassicTrail

Price: $

Weight: 8 oz.

Dimensions: 4.9" × 4.9" × 2.2"

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: No

Burn Time: Contact manufacturer

Boil Time: 3 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: Vargo/Triad XE Multi-Fuel Stove

Price: $

Weight: 1.5 oz.

Dimensions: 3.9" × 1.2"

Fuel Type: Canister (alcohol, fuel tabs or fuel gels)

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 15 minutes (alcohol); 13 minutes (fuel tab); 20 minutes (fuel gel)

Boil Time: 5-6 minutes for 2 cups (alcohol); 8 minutes for 2 cups (fuel tab and gel)

Manufacturer/Model: The Coleman Company, Inc./PerfectFlow 1-Burner Propane Stove

Price: $

Weight: 16.4 oz.

Dimensions: 7.7" × 7.8" × 6.63"

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 132 minutes (high)-9 hours (low)

Boil Time: Contact manufacturer

Manufacturer/Model: Optimus/Crux Lite

Price: $

Weight: 2.5 oz

Dimensions: 2.8" × 2.2" × 2.2"

Fuel Type: Canister (butane/propane)

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 90 minutes at maximum output per 230g canister

Boil Time: 3 minutes to boil 1L

Manufacturer/Model: The Coleman Company, Inc./PowerPack 1-Burner Stove

Price: $

Weight: 4 lbs.

Dimensions: 13.38" × 12.5" × 4"

Fuel Type: Canister (propane)

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 132 minutes (high)-9 hours (low) per 494g canister

Boil Time: Contact manufacturer

Manufacturer/Model: Optimus/Crux

Price: $

Weight: 2.9 oz.

Dimensions: 1.3" × 3.3" × 2.2"

Fuel Type: Canister (butane/propane)

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 90 minutes at maximum output per 230g canister

Boil Time: 3 minutes for 1L

Manufacturer/Model: Camp Chef/Butane One Burner Stove

Price: $

Weight: 5 lbs.

Dimensions: 12.5" × 14.5" × 3.75"

Fuel Type: Canister (butane)

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 120 minutes (high)-4 hours (low)

Boil Time: 10 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: The Coleman Company, Inc./Micro Backpack Stove

Price: $$

Weight: 6 lbs.

Dimensions: 4.5" × 4" × 2.4"

Fuel Type: Canister (butane/propane)

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 60 minutes (high)

Boil Time: 3.25 minutes for 1L

Manufacturer/Model: MSR/Pocket Rocket

Price: $$$

Weight: 4.2 oz.

Dimensions: 4" × 2" × 2"

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 60 minutes per 227g canister

Boil Time: 3.5 minutes for 1L

Manufacturer/Model: Optimus/Crux Weekend HE Cook System

Price: $$$

Weight: 9.7 oz.

Dimensions: 4.9" × 6.5"

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: Yes

Burn Time: 90 minutes at maximum output per 230 g canister

Boil Time: 3 minutes for 1L

Manufacturer/Model: Primus/Profile

Price: $$$$

Weight: 11 lbs. 11.2 oz.

Dimensions: 23.2" × 3.9" × 12.6"

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: No

Burn Time: Contact manufacturer

Boil Time: 3 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: Primus/Eta Express

Price: $$$$

Weight: 15.8 oz.

Dimensions: 5.9" × 3.9"

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: Yes

Burn Time: 85 minutes per 230g canister

Boil Time: 2.6 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: Primus/Profile Dual

Price: $$$$$

Weight: 10 oz.

Dimensions: 21.5" × 12.25" × 3.25"

Fuel Type: Canister (Propane/butane)

Pot included: No

Burn Time: Contact manufacurer

Boil Time: 3 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: MSR/WindPro II

Price: $$$$$

Weight: 11 lbs. 14.4 oz.

Dimensions: 6.5" × 5" × 4"

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 60 minutes per 8 oz.

Boil Time: 3 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: MSR / SuperFly

Price: $$$$$

Weight: 6.2 oz.

Dimensions: Contact manufacturer

Fuel Type: Canister

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 60 minutes per 227g canister

Boil Time: 3 minutes for 1L

Liquid Fuel Stoves

Manufacturer/Model: Primus/Eta Power Multi Fuel Kit

Price: $$$

Weight: 14.2 oz.

Dimensions: 3.9" × 5.9"

Fuel Type: Naphtha fuel, lead-free petrol and kerosene

Pot included: No

Burn Time: Contact manufacturer

Boil Time: 3.5 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: The Coleman Company, Inc./Sportster II Dual Fuel™ 1-Burner Stove

Price: $$$

Weight: 3 lbs. 1.3 oz.

Dimensions: 7.38" × 7.8" × 6.55

Fuel Type: Unleaded gasoline

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 105 minutes at maximum output

Boil Time: 4 minutes for 1 qt.

Manufacturer/Model: The Coleman Company, Inc./Dual Fuel™ 2-Burner Stove

Price: $$$$

Weight: 12 lbs.

Dimensions: 20.13" × 12.88" × 6.63"

Fuel Type: Unleaded gasoline

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 120 minutes with both burners at maximum output

Boil Time: 4 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: Optimus/Nova

Price: $$$$

Weight: 15.3 oz.

Dimensions: 5.5" × 3.1" × 2.5"

Fuel Type: Optimus Arctic fuel, white gas, kerosene, diesel and jet fuel

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 150 minutes at maximum output per 450 ml fuel

Boil Time: 3.5 minutes for 1L

Manufacturer/Model: The Coleman Company, Inc./Classic 2-Burner Stove

Price: $$$$

Weight: 11 lbs. 1.6 oz.

Dimensions: 19.6" × 6" × 5.38"

Fuel Type: Liquid Fuel

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 120 minutes with both burners at maximum output

Boil Time: Contact manufacturer

Manufacturer/Model: Primus/OmniFuel

Price: $$$$$

Weight: 15.6 oz.

Dimensions: 5.6" × 3.5" × 2.6"

Fuel Type: Gas, gasoline/petrol, diesel, kerosene/paraffin and aviation fuel

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 70 minutes per 230g

Boil Time: 3.1 minutes

Manufacturer/Model: MSR/DragonFly Multifuel Stove

Price: $$$$$$

Weight: 18 oz.

Dimensions: 6.3" × 5" × 3.5"

Fuel Type: White gas, kerosene, unleaded auto fuel, diesel and jet fuel

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 66 minutes/white gas; 153 minutes/kerosene; 136 minutes/diesel

Boil Time: 3.5 minutes for 1L/white gas; 3.9 minutes for 1L/kerosene; 3.5 minues for 1L/diesel

Manufacturer/Model: Optimus/Hiker+

Price: $$$$$$

Weight: 3 lbs. 8 oz.

Dimensions: 7.1" × 7.1" × 4.3"

Fuel Type: Optimus Arctic Fuel, white gas, kerosene, diesel and jet fuel

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 120 minutes at maximum output per 350ml

Boil Time: 3.5 minutes for 1L

Manufacturer/Model: MSR / XGK EX Expedition Stove

Price: $$$$$$

Weight: 17.2 oz.

Dimensions: 5" × 3.9" × 3.5"

Fuel Type: White gas, kerosene, diesel

Pot included: No

Burn Time:109 minutes/white gas; 98 minutes/kerosene; 170 minutes/diesel

Boil Time: 3.5 minutes/white gas; 2.8 minutes/kerosene; 4.5 minutes/diesel

Manufacturer/Model: MSR/WhisperLite International Stove

Price: $$$$$$

Weight: 15.5 oz.

Dimensions: 6.5" × 5" × 4"

Fuel Type: White gas, kerosene and unleaded auto fuel

Pot included: No

Burn Time: 110 minutes/white gas; 155 minutes/kerosene

Boil Time: 3.5 minutes for 1L/white gas; 4.4 minutes for 1L/kerosene