Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Lightweight Camping Stoves for Backcountry Cooking

Mike Richard
By
BioLite lightweight camping stove turned on.

Going on a camping trip and living off-grid like a caveman doesn’t necessarily mean you also need to prepare your food like a caveman. While technology can be a distraction in the backcountry, camping cooking gear is one area where hikers needn’t — and shouldn’t — cut corners. Bring one of these lightweight camp stoves on your next backcountry journey, and you’ll be eating like a king, even when you’re miles from a proper kitchen.

Related Reading

MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove

Red MSR PocketRocket Deluxe stove on a white background.

MSR’s PocketRocket is a backcountry classic, well known for its blend of portability, reliability, and affordability. At just 0.3 ounces heavier, the upgraded, 2.9-ounce PocketRocket Deluxe adds must-have features like a push-button Piezo ignitor, a broader, recessed burner head for better wind resistance, and a pressure regulator for improved ignition in high-altitude, extreme-cold conditions. At less than $70 retail, it’s the best all-around backcountry camp stove on the market.

Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo

Gray Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo on a white background.

Soto specializes in outdoor stoves and cookware. Though the brand isn’t as widely known as the likes of MSR, its products are often comparable and less expensive. The Amicus Stove Cookset Combo is Soto’s answer to the PocketRocket with many of the same features, including a push-button start and a recessed burner head. The four spring-loaded legs also add convenience and additional support for larger pots. Plus, the combo set adds a large, 1,000-ml pot and a small, 500-ml pot to the mix. With a retail price tag under $45, it’s practically a steal.

Related

BioLite CampStove 2

BioLite CampStove 2 on a white background.

Camp stoves have evolved little in the last few decades, but BioLite has proven to be an exception. The company’s now-famous CampStove 2 adds two key features that few other stoves on the market can claim. First, it relies on burning wood, rather than isobutane canisters, for fuel. It readily burns wood scraps, sticks, or pellets with equal efficiency. Depending on the surrounding landscape, it has the potential to burn almost indefinitely. Plus, it includes a built-in backup battery pack and generates more than three watts of power to charge smartphones, camp lights, and more. At just over two pounds, it’s not as lightweight as the competitors on this list, but it packs down to about the size of a 32-ounce wide-mouth water bottle.

Primus OmniFuel Stove

Primus OmniFuel Stove on a white background.

If money is no object, the Primus OmniFuel Stove is one of the best, most versatile camp stoves. With almost two decades on the market, the brand’s most award-winning stove has proven to be extremely robust and capable of surviving the harshest conditions. It handles high altitudes and extreme temperatures with aplomb. Plus, it can run on almost any commercially available fuel, including isobutane, petrol/gasoline, kerosene, and even aviation fuel. The consistently high output makes it an ideal choice when cooking for up to four people. With the included multi-tool, it can also be completely disassembled and reassembled for easy cleaning and maintenance in the field.

To get started with gourmet backcountry cooking, check out our guide to five easy camping meals.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Revealed: These are the 10 best states for camping in the U.S.
If you love camping, we hope you live in one of these 10 states
A couple camping.

Get ready to pack your bags and hit the road! The adventure enthusiasts at Adventures on the Rock have done all the heavy lifting for you. They’ve created a Camping Index that analyzes each of the best states for camping based on ten critical elements to help you make the best decision about where to camp this summer.

The analysis used a range of statistics to assess each state, including the number of national parks and landmarks, hiking trails, RV parks relative to population, paid or free campsites relative to population, average fuel prices, yearly average rainfall, diversity of plant and animal species, death caused by dangerous plants and animals, and deaths per 10 million national park visits.
The best states for camping
Each state was given a score out of 10 for each category. Add that all up, and we have some easily comparable metrics. With 100 being the best and 0 the worst, here are the top ten state rankings to camp in this summer:

Read more
Review: Does the iPhone 14 Plus live up to its outdoorsy reputation?
Great photos and new safety features are solid travel additions
iPhone 14 Plus.

The iPhone 14 dropped several months ago, and having had a chance to give it a thorough test run, I aim to answer once and for all: Is it worth the upgrade?

I’m particularly interested in the viability of its alleged usefulness for outdoor enthusiasts. Apple has pushed the idea that the latest iPhone is well-suited for travel and adventure thanks to a few specific features, especially when paired with the Apple Watch Ultra. So I’ve spent a couple of weeks playing around with an iPhone 14 Plus to determine whether it lives up to its reputation as a phone for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Read more
Hydrate safely with the best portable water filters
Stay safe on the trail and avoid unwanted waterborne illnesses
Using a water filter

If you've ever fallen foul of dirty water, you'll know exactly how valuable a quality portable water filter truly is. If you've not, then congratulations, but it's time to get your filtration system sorted before you do. The dangers of dirty water are widely recognized — harmful germs and pathogens can cause serious illnesses — and as outdoorsmen, proper hydration key to our safety on the trail. We need to know that the water we're drinking is clean and safe.

Unless you're built like the Hulk or just plain love suffering, then you're not going to want to haul all the water you need for multiple days on a hike. Remember, every liter of water weighs 2.2 pounds, and with hikers needing at least a liter of water every 2 hours, this starts to rack up quickly. Instead, take one of these portable water filters next time you're out thru-hiking or headed to the campsite with your family. That way, you'll have all the clean drinking water you need without the excess weight.

Read more