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Camping Stoves Buying Guide

There's nothing better than getting down and dirty with mother nature.  Camp-outs  make for great get-togethers with friends and family, and the food cooked over a warm open fire is the kicker.  Or is it?  Maybe we should leave the fire for the marshmallows and use the grill  for cooking the rest.  After all, raw hot dogs really dampen camper spirits and can leave you sick and stranded in the great outdoors.

Never Fear, Technology is Here

Long gone are the days of leaky gas, clogs and flames that refused to stay lit.  Modern stoves make camp cooking as easy as cooking at home with features like push-button ignitions, flame-control adjustments and self-cleaners.  And what's more is that the increased innovation hasn't really led to increased prices, since there are so many different model stoves out there competing for the top spot on the stove sale charts.  So you'll have plenty of dough left over to buy all the grilling grub you want.

Types of Stoves

Camping stoves fall into one of two categories--either cartridge or liquid gas. While cartridge stoves are generally lighter and more maintenance free than the liquid gas variety, they are also more expensive and less environmentally friendly.  See below to find out about some other features, advantages and disadvantages.

Cartridge Versus Liquid Gas

Compressed/Cartridge Camping Stoves 

  • As mentioned above, they are lighter and require less maintenance.
  • They are clean burning.
  • They tend to simmer better.
    • Cartridge stoves use compressed gasses (like butane, iso-butane and propane) that come in their own containers.
  • They are usually sold as a burner that attaches to the top of the cartridge, or is connected by tube to a canister. Canisters that attach directly to the burner tend to be lighter than those that use tubes or gas lines.
    • Most canisters have re-sealing valves that close when not in use. These cartridges can then be stored and used later.

Liquid Gas Camping Stoves 

  • They have refillable fuel tanks.
  • They burn hotter and work better in cold and windy weather than cartridge stoves.
  • They are heavier and more expensive.
    • Liquid gas stoves are designed to work with a variety of fuels, which can be an important consideration when travelling internationally.
    • If bulkiness is an issue, look for a model with a removable fuel tank.

Other Considerations

Size and Weight

  • The weight stated by the manufacturer usually includes only the burner, and not the fuel cartridge or tank.
  • While a double-burner stove  may be great for car camping, it will be too cumbersome for wilderness backpacking or climbing.

Burners

  • Dual-burner stoves are somewhat heavy, but are great if you are setting up camp in one area for a long period of time and will want or need to cook more than one item at once.
  • A small, single-burner stove  works better for campers who are doing a lot of hiking and really only need to heat up single servings of food and water.

Accessories

  • Many stoves come with carrying cases  to protect knobs, buttons and other parts from getting damaged.  If your stove doesn't come with it's own, consider going to a local hobby or outdoors shop to buy one.
  • Some cartridges and propane tanks will accept a lantern  head, which is a super-convenient feature for campers who want a single fuel source for cooking and light.

Related Guides

Camping Kitchenware

Camping Backpacks

Sleeping Bags

Hiking Boots

Torches

External Links