Best Portable Camping Stoves: All Fuel Types

Portable Camping Stoves: Butane, Propane, White Gas, Multi-Fuel & Wood Burning

There are a multitude of portable camp stove options on the market, and many factors for choosing the best stove.

This article will allow you to choose the best camping stoves for all your campervan journeys.

Our Top Picks for Best Portable Camping Stoves
Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove Our rating	Coleman 2 Burner Dual Fuel Stove Our rating	BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove Our rating

 

Number of burners on your camping stove

In terms of number of people and cooking aspirations, the general rule of thumb is single burner for one person and two or more burners for more people.

However single campers who like to chef it up on the road can get a two burner camping stove.

Whatever the case may be, it is important that the stove selection be adequate for the feeding of the group.

Cooking Fuel Considerations

In the wilderness, you cannot just hop downtown and get a gas refill or call your local utility to turn on your cooking gas. Thus, the type of fuel used is an important factor to consider when choosing a suitable camp stove for your trip outdoors.

There are numerous fuel options that are used by many of the top brands of best portable camping stoves. Each with its own strong points and weak points based on parameters such as fuel availability and economy, ease of refill, weight and spill hazard just to mention a few.

In this article, I’ll cover these fuel types and their pros and cons in some detail in order to help our readers make informed choices when choosing camp stoves.

Propane and Butane Camping Stoves

Propane and Butane are popular fuels for most single campers. They are both gases and their heat output is basically the same, so they both cook meals at the same speed. Propane and Butane can also be mixed to form hybrid cooking fuels.

Pros of Butane and Propane

• You don’t need firewood when using propane, butane and hybrid stoves.
• Very easy to light, no priming required.
• There is no risk of spilling as they are stored in pressurized containers.
• They are both long lasting fuel options.

Cons of Butane and Propane

• Butane does not burn in high altitudes due to the low ambient temperature which causes the gas to condense to its liquid form.
• Bulky, empty gas canisters need to be carried and eventually recycled.

White Gas Stoves

White gas is simply pure gasoline that does not contain any of the additives found in gasoline blends for use in automobile engines.

It’s a liquid camping stove fuel but unlike other liquids (kerosene, diesel, unleaded auto gasoline), it is free from impurities. It is the popular fuel choice for larger size camping stoves.

Pros of White Gas Stoves

• It has high heat output and as such it is suitable for most types of cooking.
• White gas has low temperature properties that make it suitable for cold weather conditions and high altitude camping.
• White gas stoves are readily available, they’re parts are easy to find, so they can often be repaired when they break. Rare in today’s throw away world.

Cons of White Gas Stoves

• White gas is easy to spill. Just a small spill from the white gas container is enough to make the smell permeate your belongings.
• White gas is not stored in pressurized containers and as such, it takes up more space than gas fuels.
• White gas stoves require hand pumping and warm up time.
• White gas may not be readily available outside the US.

Multi-Fuel Stoves

Just like the name implies, this type of stove can operate using more than one type of fuel. Such stoves can run on white gas, unleaded auto gasoline, jet fuel (kerosene) and even gas oil (diesel).

Some multi-fuel stoves even have the ability to support both gas and liquid fuels making them an even more versatile option for campers.

Pros of Multi-Fuel Stoves

• Highly versatile. Can use different fuels and can operate in varying temperature conditions.
• Most multi-fuel stoves feature robust design that makes them small and compact. The ideal stove for light van packing and hiking.
• Easy to maintain while outdoors.

Cons of Multi-Fuel Stoves

• Requires extensive cleaning after use. Some of the liquid fuels contain residues which can clog up the stove.
• Again, liquid fuels can easily be spilled. I’ve personally had expensive hiking gear ruined by fuel spills, so make sure to purchase good quality fuel bottles if you decide to use this type of stove.

Wood Burning Camping Stoves

Camp stoves that use wood as fuel are becoming quite popular among the hiking and camping population. They certainly have a feel of the great outdoors about them, hearing the crackling of splinters in the fire while flames dance around the cooking skillet…

In recent years, there have been considerable technological innovations in the design and performance of wood burning camping stoves, and they are fast becoming a staple for many campers.

And the classic cylinder stove has been adapted for portable use. They can be used (with careful stove pipe ventilation) in vans and tents, or they can be set up outside.

Pros of Wood Burning Camp Stoves

• Since the fuel is wood which is often readily available in the wild, you don’t need to carry fuel with you.
• Has an authentic natural feel to it. Creates that fireplace ambience which adds to the overall outdoor experience.
• Some models generate enough electric power while in operation to charge mobile phones via USB ports installed on the stove.
• They are mostly simple and lightweight but built of sturdy material such as titanium.

Cons of Wood Burning Stoves for Camping

• Requires dry wood which can be difficult to find in wet weather conditions.
• Some wood may release harmful emissions which can be dangerous especially when used for grilling.
• Cannot be used in areas where lighting a wood fire or collecting firewood are prohibited.
• Difficult to use in high winds without a windscreen.

While making the choice of the best portable camping stoves for your next hike or camping trip, you may want to consider the possibility of carrying two types of stove.

One should be liquid fuel, while the other should be wood burning. This way, no matter the unforeseen circumstances, you will always have a stove to use for cooking.

Portable Electric Cookers

We created a detailed post about the best portable induction cookers.

If you have plenty of on board power, spend a lot of time on shore power or just want a solid backup cooktop on board, these brilliant machines might be just what you need.

 

Best Propane Portable Camping Stoves
Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove Single burner stove for campsites, picnics… Fits 12 inch pan or pot 7,500 total BTU of heat Pressure-control technology for consistent heat 16.4-ounce propane cylinder provides 3 hours or more of cooking time Our Rating	Camp Chef Explorer 2 Burner Camping Stove Add accessories; BBQ grills, griddles, cast iron grills, or pizza ovens to for the ultimate camp kitchen Connects to tank with regulator (included) adaptable for disposable propane or natural gas 448 square inches of cooking space, three sided windscreen, easy heat adjustment knobs Our Rating

 

Best Butane Portable Camping Stoves
Camp Chef Mountain Series Butane Stove Heat adjustment control dial 8,000 BTU output burner Handy storage case included Compact, lightweight, cleanable Powered by recyclable, easy to find butane cans 12.5″ L x 14.5″ W x 3.75″ H One Year Warranty Our Rating	Iwatani Portable Butane Stove Great Fuel Efficiency 12,000 BTU output Automatic Safety Stop Handy Carrying Case Our Rating

 

Best White Gas & Multi-Fuel Portable Camping Stoves
MSR XGK Extreme Condition Campervan Stove Multi-Fuel burns more liquid fuels than any other stove. Easy to maintain Shaker Jet cleans fuel jet with a simple shake New flexible fuel line  Boils 1 liter of water in just 2.8 minutes with kerosene Retractable legs and pot supports for great stability Our Rating	Coleman 2 Burner Dual Fuel Stove ★ VanSage Top Pick Two burner One 7,500 BTU burner and one 6,500 BTU burner Runs on Coleman Fuel or unleaded gas Boil a quart of water in four minutes 2 Burner, 14,000 BTU Cooking Power Limited Lifetime Our Rating

 

Best Campervan Portable Wood Burning Camping Stoves
KampMATE Wood Burning Stove Great air flow allows for high output temps Quick, simple set up and break down Light weight, collapsible, folds flat for storage Includes carrying case Fuel types: Charcoal, Wood, Cedar Pucks, Esbit Tablets, Stereo Fuel, ReadyFuel or any Bio-Mass Weighs 1.1lbs 304 Stainless Steel. 0.8 millimeter thickness Our Rating	BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove USB charging for most devices like smart phones About 60 minutes talk time on most smartphones from 20 minutes of charging with a strong fire The Biolite Stove will boil 1 ltr of water in roughly 4.5 minutes CampStove weighs about 2 lbs. and is about the same size as a 1-liter Nalgene water bottle An internal starter battery helps kick-start the fire before the stove begins generating its own power Our Rating	Camp Chef Alpine Cylinder Stove Legs Adjust for uneven surfaces Wide rack for heating and drying Breaks down and store parts inside for compact transport Includes water tank brackets for tank sold separately Five inch chimney pipe. over 10 foot height Heavy, tough steel build Our Rating