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Best Camping Stoves
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Stability
The camping stoves that stand on their own (up to about your waist level) normally come with adjustable legs. Before you even begin cooking, be sure that these portable stoves are stable or you could end up with an entire meal on the ground. It’s good to use your intuition as a cook here, and not set things that are too heavy on one side, and things that are too light on the other side, creating uneven weight. Most of these standing stoves are very stable, and tip-overs are rare, but you still have to exercise common sense when operating them. Even if you went camping multiple times a year, you'll barely see any wear and tear over several seasons. Everything from the cooking grate to the burners to the wind blockers is well-constructed, and you'll get the feeling once you start using it that you have real quality equipment in front of you.
Style
The kind of stove that you choose for your camping trips will depend on your preferences as a cook. For example, some cooks prefer to use propane instead of fuel because of its price and clean burning properties. On the other hand, there are those cooks who would rather use liquid gas because of how well it performs in cold weather. There are also wood camping stoves that allow folks to do their outside cooking more in the traditional way. Cooking over wood allows you to experiment with different flavors (such as using hickory, maple or mesquite wood) to enhance the taste of your meats. For power, you can use a propane canister fuel source that twists on easily, or you could get a bulk hose adapter and hook it onto a large propane tank. Hooking up the larger tank will allow you to cook for days because even with all those BTUs pumping out this camping stove is surprisingly good on fuel. Many of those stoves are wonderful for car camping.
Safety Hazards
The last memory that you want to create from your camping trip is a forest fire. If the camping location that you are planning to visit is one that you didn’t find on your own, and you are going to a more commercial one, you need to see if they have any regulations in place about camping stoves before purchasing one. It’s pretty rare to find a place that doesn’t allow you to do any cooking at all with your stove, but many places have certain rules to follow, so find out beforehand what they are. Camping meals are ones that your friends and family will remember years after the trip. That being said, you always want to get a camping stove that has good wind barriers on it, so that you could set your pots on simmer and not worry about the flame blowing out when you’re not paying attention. Simmering is very important to cooks who are trying to prepare meals with a great flavor, and it’s going to be a needed feature on your camping stove because you want to keep large stews and other meals warm while you relax at the campsite. The stoves with the highest BTUs can hold a low flame the best, but another tip is to use liquid fuel if you’re going to be doing a lot of simmering and slow cooking.
Value
When determining how much to spend on your camping stove, you should base it on approximately how many times on average per year you plan on camping. There are some outdoorsmen who make camping, hiking, fishing, and other activities a year-round thing. These folks would very likely invest more money into a product like a camping stove because they would need one of high durability and quality. But, if you’re just planning on taking one or two trips a year, say, during the spring and summer months when the children are out of school, then you could look for a more reasonably priced camping stove that would suit you just fine.
Camping is just not that fun if you don’t have at least a few of your favorite friends and family members with you. And, even if they never ever help you cook while you’re back at your apartment when they’re visiting, they will want to help you on your outside stove because these products are just irresistible and fun to use! That being said, don’t be surprised if a few of them show up with their own camping stoves. If you don’t have one of the larger three burner stoves, or at least one of the standing ones with a lot of cooking space, then them bringing theirs will be a good thing. All of your stoves can be used simultaneously to make a large meal – just be sure there’s enough fuel and you’ll be good to go.
Top Ten Camping Stoves
1. Coleman Road Trip
The reason the Coleman Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE is on this list is that it has shown time and time again that it is a popular choice among countless testers and reviewers alike. It is popular for good reason, because of the durability and simplicity to use.
Read moreStability
This camping stove is quite stable and has a well made support base to ensure that the stove will not move and stay upright while you are cooking.
Style
With the Coleman Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE in tow, you are sure to create some memorable camping meals. This stove is simple to use thanks to its lock and lift safety systems that it has been designed with. And in order to strike up the flame, all you need to do is push the fire-start button.
This stove is decently powerful with its 20,000 BTUs of robust cooking power. And to really keep your cooking game on point, the Road Trip Propane Grill LXE offers a PerfectFlow Pressure Control system that ensures your meals are cooked evenly, with no hot or cold spots.
Safety
This stove from Coleman is quite safe to use and is built to reduce accidents. The stove can get hot so be cautious while cooking so you do not burn yourself.
Value
This propane camping stove comes to you at a price of around $190, which is a great price for the features and size of this stove. Along with space, great design for simple cooking, and features like a slide-in table, this portable camping stove also is made from porcelain and cast iron, which are both easy to clean. Adding to the Road Trip's merits is the fact that you can fold it up and add wheels for easy movement.
2. Stansport High
Propane stoves are among the most popular when it comes to camping. This Stansport High Output Propane unit is one that you should consider if you do a lot of cooking outdoors, whether you're going to a camping site or at a tailgating party.
Read moreStability
This camping stove is one of the toughest. Even if you went camping multiple times a year, you'll barely see any wear and tear over several seasons. Everything from the cooking grate to the burners to the wind blockers is well-constructed, and you'll get the feeling once you start using it that you have really quality equipment in front of you. This Stansport is one of the best camping stoves you can get for your money and is very reasonable.
Style
The camping stove has 12,000 BTU's per burner, so you can heat up some hot coffee or tea in just a short while. It comes equipped with a Piezoelectric lighter, so you don't have to worry about having any matches. The clean stainless steel makes this stove look really slick and attractive, and at first sight, you're going to be itching to cook on it.
There's also a lot of room on the cooktop, and you really won't realize how much space there is until you actually set your pots and pans on the burners. For example, you can have an eight-quart stock pot and a big twelve-inch skillet on it at the same time and still have space around and in between them. The wind guards also flip up and down quickly and stop those sudden gusts from coming in and blowing out your flame, especially when it's cut down low. When it's not windy, you can flip down the guards and use them as extra space on the stove to place cooking spoons and other utensils.
Safety
This lightweight camping stove is pretty well safe to use, the only thing to consider is that you are dealing with an open flame and the burners can get hot, so be careful not to burn yourself.
Value
This stove comes to you at a price of around $120, which is a great price for the quality and easily portable stove. This model has the ignition switch. When camping, sometimes trying to get the fire to catch while using it may take a few clicks. But this is mainly because of wind in most cases. All you have to do is flip up the multipurpose wind guards before trying to light the burners, and you'll be good to go.
3. Coleman Classic
If you're a novice camping cook running around the outdoors store in your town looking for a good camping stove, you may not know where to begin or exactly what kind you want. At times like this, it may be best to stick with the classics, and this Coleman Classic Propane Stove may be just what you need to start out.
Read moreStability
Overall, if you’re new to outdoor cooking, and simply want a dependable camping stove that is going to last for years, the Coleman Classic is what you should take on your first upcoming trips.
Style
This portable camping stove is a classic and vintage design and one of the most popular camping stoves Coleman sells. If you are looking for a reliable and efficient camping stove to last you years to come, check this stove out.
Safety
Whether you're a beginner or expert camping cook, you're going to spill something. The Coleman Classic has a chrome plated grate that's very easy to clean, and so is the rest of the stove. Once you lift the grate off, you can wipe around the wide space between the burners in a jiffy. The cooktop is aluminized steel and repels stains wonderfully, plus its rust resistant.
Value
It's just not smart to go buy the highest priced brand of camping stove when you’re just getting into outdoor cooking. Coleman's good name guarantees that you have power and quality at the same time, and this stove is evidence of that. It packs 20,000 BTUs, so whether you want to heat up something quickly or take your time simmering, the wind's not going to hurt flames with that much power behind them, especially with the effective wind guards.
4. Camp Chef Oven
This is a unique designed camping stove, as it does not only come with the option to use as a stove top but also comes equipped with an oven to allow you to bake goods while camping for your family as well.
Read moreStability
The fact that this camping stove has an oven attached makes it quite stable as it sits flat on a table or ground without issue. This camping stove/oven might be one of the most stable portable stoves on our list.
Style
This camping stove not only comes with two stove top burners to allow you to cook two things at once but it also gives you the option to use an oven if you need to bake any goods as well. The option to have an oven comes in handy and is a great addition.
Safety
This camping stove runs off of propane, so with any propane gear be careful not to use it near any heat sources and make sure you completely turn off the propane when you are finished using. Also, be cautious as this device can get hot, so take proper precautions not to get burned while using.
Value
This camping stove comes to you at a price of around $200. This is a little pricier than other models on our list but with the option to use the two stovetop burners and an oven makes it worth the price. This device will allow you to feel as though you brought your kitchen with you camping.
5. Coleman Powerpack
This is a great and easily transported camping stove from Coleman. It is an original and vintage design but still is quite effective at providing you with an efficient stove top to do your camping cooking. If you are in the market for a camping stove and do not want to break the bank, this may be the stove for you.
Read moreStability
This stope burner is quite stable as it sits quite low to the ground. it is best used on a table or flat surface and will not shake or move while being used.
Style
This camping stove has a vintage design to it but still holds up great as a camping stove as it is simple to use and easy to set up. This camping stove is also quite small and compact which makes it a great stove to carry around with you and transport.
Safety
When dealing with any propane fulled gear, always be careful you do not have open heat sources around propane canister. Also, the stove can get quite hot, so be cautious and avoid burns.
Value
This stove is quite affordable as it comes to you at a price of around $35. This is a great price for a Coleman product and will not break the bank but provide you with an efficient and durable camping stove that you can use for years to come.
6. BioLite Basecamp Wood Burning
The smart engineers at BioLite believe that there is clean energy all around us, but most people and companies don't know how to use it correctly. This is the thinking they incorporated into the making of the BioLite Basecamp Wood Burning Camp Stove and Grill, one that has features that are both environmentally friendly and will make your camp trip more electronically convenient.
Read moreStability
This camping stove could be a tad more stable as it is resting on thin supports. Overall you will have no problem using this portable stove, but it is recommended that you use it on flat surfaces.
Style
The wide-open top grill is almost 140 square inches, and the heat can be used precisely how you want to. There's a lever that you can switch for both grilling and boiling options that evenly distributes the heat all over the grill or dead in the center where you can set a big pot. This is a very cool off-grid grill that uses only wood to generate energy. It's also very portable with the handle over the top that lets you lift and carry it easily. This camping stove is also pretty tough being made out of stainless steel and comes with all the accessories needed, such as fire starters.
The main question from people who first see this extremely innovative Biolite camping stove is 'How does it charging up my smartphone?' Well, the heat from the fire uses a thermoelectric generator to create electricity. This all happens in that orange power pack on the side of the grill. A built-in fan then enhances combustion by blowing air back into the burn chamber, then electricity is sent to the USB port that you use to charge up all of those devices that you don't want to do without on your camping trip, like your smartphone, tablet or laptop. There is even an attached USB light that lets you see what you're cooking at night. Some models of this wonderful energy producing stove even have a dashboard that lets you monitor how hot the fire is, and it will tell you exactly how much electricity you are generating.
Safety
Since you are dealing with an open flame as you are burning organic material to generate a flame, you must be careful not to burn yourself.
Value
This camping stove comes to you at a price of around $200 which is a little high but the ability to charge your phone and how this stove uses organic fuel is a plus and makes up for the price as you do not have to buy propane.
7. Camp Chef Explorer
Do you ever worry about setting your food on simmer and having the wind blow it out? If you don't want to make multiple trips back and forth to your food checking the flames, the dependable Camp Chef Explorer 2 Burner camping stove is one that you will want to use each and every time you cook outdoors.
Read moreStability
Camp Chef made this 2-Burner Explorer, especially for heavy-duty use. There's a bottomless design that's easy to clean up, and any debris will fall straight to the ground. The aluminum frame can normally be wiped clean with a wet cloth, it and doesn't hold stains easily.
Style
The way that this camping stove is designed will have it out of your car up and ready to go in a matter of minutes. There's a huge cooking area of almost 450 square inches, and one of the things consumers really like about this camping stove is that it actually has windscreens on each individual burner. It's already burning at a whopping 30,000 BTUs, but the fact that each burner is protected from the wind gives you even more peace of mind as you mingle with your fellow campers while the food cooks slowly.
Safety
This camping stove has a lot of open areas to be safe when using this camping stove and be sure to mind the open flame. Also, the propane tank sits on the floor, so be sure to not put it near open flames or hot heat sources.
Value
This camping stove comes to you at a price of around $100, which is an excellent price for such a heavy duty camping stove. This stove is also multi-purpose so it can be used for tailgates, in your backyard, etc.
8. Coleman Triton Series 2
Coleman has always been a brand that has produced quality equipment of many kinds. And, if you were to choose one of their camping stoves for your next outdoor expedition, you would be just as satisfied with the dependability and toughness. The Coleman Triton Series 2 Burner is a durable and effective stove that will meet or exceed your outdoor cooking needs on your next trip.
Read moreStability
One of the things that consumers want out of their camping stove is the ability to move it around freely without it getting in the way of the rest of the camping equipment. Still, some people feel as if a lighter stove will not be as powerful as a heavier one. That's simply not the case with this Coleman Triton. It weighs just over 10 lbs but still performs wonderfully when cooking outdoors.
Style
One of the most loved things about this camping stove is that it doesn't use up a whole lot of propane at a time. Some people may say that 11,000 BTUs is low output, And depending on the weather that you're cooking in, it may seem that way. But, if you go camping in decent weather (where it may be a kind of windy but nothing major) then you'll be just fine using this great Coleman Triton.
Safety
This camping stove puts out 11,000 BTUs on each of its burners. You can store the propane adapter conveniently inside the stove after snapping the lid shut. When you get ready to hook up your propane tank, all you do is easily screw on the adapter to the side of the stove. What compliments the BTUs are the windscreens, which flip out to the side after opening the stove, and you can secure them nicely in place as you cook.
Value
This lightweight camping stove comes to you at a price of around $60 which is a great price for Coleman product.
9. Camp Chef Tahoe
There's nothing better than cooking in the beautiful outdoors with lots of your friends and family. The only problem is, do you have a camping stove that's big enough to feed all of them? Well, if you have this Camp Chef Tahoe 3 Burner that won't be a problem for you!
Read moreStability
This camping stove comes with stable supports to hold up the camping stove without issue while camping. You will have no issues cooking on this stove and it will stay stable the whole time.
Style
This large camping stove is so fun to use, and it won't be only at your camping expeditions. The three burner stove is also great for all types of at home get-togethers with large amounts of people, such as big family picnics and birthday parties. The manufacturers at Camp Chef really outdid themselves this time with all this extra room to cook on this huge outdoor stove. It allows you to do so many things at once, so you can have multiple courses of the meal being prepared simultaneously.
Safety
Although this camping stove may use propane faster than others, that's understandable with those very powerful 30,000 BTU burners that'll have your hot, tasty dishes rolling out back to back.
Value
This camping stove comes to you at a price of around $200 which is a reasonable price for such a great camping stove. It is great for not only camping but tailgates, backyard cooking, etc.
10. Ohuhu Portable Stainless Steel
Made from high-quality stainless steel that can stand high temperature and weight, the Ohuhu Portable Stainless Steel Camping Stove is a great option for a small, inexpensive, yet sturdy and functional camping stove.
Read moreStability
The Ohuhu Portable Stove promises stability and versatility in a very small package. The 3 arms pot support system creates a stable cooking platform even for larger pots and helps to distribute heat evenly.
Style
These canisters are disposable but work well for a quick flame source if you need to cook a meal in a hurry. They are also lightweight and easy to transport, so maybe a great option for backpacking or hiking.
Safety
One of the main selling points for the Ohuhu is that there are no fuel canisters or chemical emissions which both give a better cooking experience while also keeping the weight down during transportation. This means that you'll need wood and experience starting your campfires (a good skill to have anyway). This might be a turn off for some though, while others love that there's less to bring in (and take out), and nothing to worry about as far as having a full supply of propane or fully charged batteries.
Value
These camping canisters come to you at around $20 per canister which is a little expensive as these are disposable. They are good if you do not go camping often, but if you do you rather invest in a camping stove that you can use for years to come.
Sources
- , The Best Camp Stoves of 2018, Blog
