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The Best Lightweight Camping Stoves for Backcountry Cooking

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BioLite lightweight camping stove turned on.
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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.

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MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove

Red MSR PocketRocket Deluxe stove on a white background.
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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.

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Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo

Gray Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo on a white background.
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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.

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BioLite CampStove 2

BioLite CampStove 2 on a white background.
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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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.

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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…
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Invasive species are a threat to wilderness areas throughout the world. It’s tempting to bring firewood from home to your campsite, but this can threaten local ecosystems. Although it’s more expensive, the best option for “gathering” firewood is to buy it locally. The closer it’s purchased to your campsite, the better, whether that’s at the campground itself or a nearby convenience store.
Deader is better
Perhaps the most essential rule of gathering firewood responsibly is never to strip live trees. It’s bad for the environment, and it’s not sustainable. Imagine if every camper in that area -- dozens, even hundreds throughout a season -- pulled their firewood from the trees closest to their campsite. But, even from a selfish perspective, fresh, green wood is not going to burn well. Repeat after me: “Deader is better.” If it snaps easily under your boot, it’s ready to burn.
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Dead logs might look like great fire-stoking material, but there are two reasons to leave them be. The first is that they make great homes and hiding spots for smaller wildlife, including mammals, reptiles, and insects. They’re a vital part of any ecosystem. Second, the oldest logs are often damp or soaked completely through, so they make for terrible campfire wood.
Size matters
Gathering oversized pieces of wood is fine, so long as they’re cut to size before adding them to the fire pit. For front-country camping, consider packing a bow saw. Leave the axe at home, as it’s overkill for simply cutting logs to size. Backcountry campers concerned with pack weight might bring a hatchet, which is lightweight, compact, and incredibly versatile even beyond fire-making purposes. Whatever the tool, always cut firewood to fit completely inside your fire pit. This will help keep your campfire contained to a manageable size that’s less likely to get out of control.
Pay it forward
In some national and state parks, campers are not allowed to leave firewood behind. It must be taken with them or burned. Another option is to give any leftover wood to a fellow camper. It’s the right thing to do legally, environmentally, and for the simple pleasure of paying it forward.
Leave no trace
The idea is to leave your campsite just as you found it, for the next person to enjoy, so don't take more wood than you need for your campfires. If you accidentally collect more wood than you need, then refer to the above "rule" and share it with other campers.

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