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Portable stoves let you cook meals on the go. If you want a camping stove that’s weather-resistant, intuitive, and easy to clean, it’s worth doing a little research before your next trip. The This Old House Reviews Team did the legwork for you and examined the best camp stoves on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations.
Best Small Two-Burner Stove
Key Features
- Has two burners
- Produces 22,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) of heat total
- Uses propane gas
- Weighs 10 pounds
- Has a three-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciated the simplicity and light weight of this camp stove. Many customers also reported good longevity by leaving a follow-up review a few years after their original review. Unfortunately, other customers found that the light weight of the stove made it flimsy and unstable. Some users experienced issues with the automatic ignition system, too, stating that it was difficult to press.
Best For Warming
Key Features
- Has two burners
- Produces 30,000 BTUs of heat per burner
- Uses propane gas
- Weighs 30.5 pounds
- Has a one-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked using this portable stove because of its sturdiness and relatively efficient propane consumption. They also found the 30,000 BTUs of cooking power per burner to be more than sufficient for most of their cooking needs. Alternatively, other customers found it difficult to achieve steady heat with both burners operating simultaneously. They were also disappointed with the lack of an automatic ignition system.
Most Durable
Key Features
- Has one burner
- Produces 7,650 BTUs of heat total
- Uses butane gas
- Weighs 4.68 pounds
- Has a one-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked the compact nature of this portable butane stove, calling out its small size and light weight. Although limited in its cooking capabilities, many found this stove to be perfect for one or two people. On the other hand, many customers were confused about its fuel source. They either had trouble finding butane or finding a campground that allowed butane.
Most Lightweight
Key Features
- Has one burner
- Produces 8,000 BTUs of heat total
- Uses propane or butane gas
- Weighs 3.1 pounds
- Has a one-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers valued the two-fuel design of this stove, saying that it was convenient to be able to choose between propane and butane. The built-in ignition switch was also a valued feature for many users. However, other customers had issues with the stove’s fuel regulator, stating that it leaked gas. Some also reported that the unit arrived with a chemical-like smell.
Best Cooking Power
Key Features
- Has three burners
- Produces 30,000 BTUs of heat per burner
- Uses propane gas
- Weights 57.8 pounds
- Has a one-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers were impressed by the performance of this camping stove, sharing that it offered plenty of cooking space and power. However, some customers found that its heat output was too strong even on the lowest setting, leading to burnt food. Others said that even though the stove was easy to assemble and maintain, its heavy weight was a drawback.
Buyer’s Guide
Check out our buying guide below to learn what features and functions to consider when you’re purchasing a camp stove.
Number of Burners
Camp stoves usually have between one and four burners. Having two or more burners allows you to accommodate several pots and pans at once, but it also increases the size and weight of the stove.
Weight
Camping stoves usually weigh between five and 60 pounds. However, it’s also important to factor in the weight of the gas canisters you’ll be bringing to power your stove, as these will add more bulk and weight to your camping supplies.
Size
Camp stoves range from bulky units that come with legs to compact models that fold into a travel pouch. Though this varies from trip to trip, what you cook affects the size camp stove you need. For example, to heat a can of beans, you only need one small burner, but you need several large burners to cook chicken, vegetables, and more across multiple pans. When in doubt, it’s better to have a stove that’s slightly too large than one that’s too small.
Wind Protection
Some stoves come with two- or three-walled screens to prevent wind from blowing your flames out. This is a useful feature for camping, since you’ll be outdoors and susceptible to wind.
Heat Output
British Thermal Units (BTUs) are used to measure heat output. The higher a stove’s BTU rating, the faster your meals will cook. For example, a camp stove with 20,000 BTUs will cook faster than one with 7,500 BTUs.
Camp Stove Safety Tips
Camp stoves are a convenient, travel-friendly alternative to traditional cooking appliances. Whether your power goes out or you’re planning a week-long camping trip in the wilderness, it’s important to use your camp stove with caution. For your safety, we’ve put together a list of some essential tips to help you handle your camp stove correctly.
- Use your camping stove on a flat, even surface.
- Make sure your stove is properly and securely attached to its fuel source.
- Don’t leave your stove unattended for any reason.
- Even during inclement weather, never use a camp stove in your tent.
- When you’re using a propane camping stove, keep the tank upright when it’s packed away. When you’re unpacked, store the tank in a well-ventilated area that’s away from direct sunlight.
- Account for the extra weight and bulk of fuel canisters when you pack for your trip. Pack them carefully so that the other contents in your bag don’t poke the canisters.
- Make sure the stove cools completely before packing it away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do tabletop and freestanding camp stoves compare to each other?
Tabletop camp stoves are designed for use on a flat surface, such as a picnic table, while freestanding units have legs. Tabletop models are smaller and lighter, making them easier to transport. Freestanding camp stoves, on the other hand, have larger burners for more cooking power and space. They also let you cook in areas that don’t have tables.
What type of fuel do camp stoves use?
Most camp stoves use propane or butane gas. However, you can also find some that burn wood. Wood-burning camp stoves are more difficult to control, but they cut down on how much you have to bring with you because you’ll likely already be carrying wood for a bonfire.
How long will a camp stove burn?
It depends on the fuel source and the canister size. For example, a small one-pound butane canister will last for about two hours, while a 20-pound propane tank will last for about 15 hours.
Can I take my camp stove with me on an airplane?
So long as your camping stove is completely empty of fuel with no residual vapors, the Transportation Security Administration allows it. You can travel with it as either carry-on or checked luggage.
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This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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