We dine al fresco with the best camping stoves 2026

Choosing a stove can be difficult. None of the camping stoves we have reviewed could be described as poor. How then do you decide which stove is best for you? That depends on several factors. How many people will it be used for? A stove for several people needs to support big pots. A stove for solo use can be minimalist and ultralight. When will the stove be used? All stoves work fine in warm weather. Not all work well in the cold. Which fuel is best? For short trips where it will all be carried from home this doesn’t matter. For longer trips you need to know what fuel will be available along the way. Fuel efficiency matters as well – the better it is the less often you’ll need to resupply. Do you just want a stove to boil water or one that simmers so you can do some real cooking? Not all stoves have easily controlled flames.

With any stove you need a pot or two. Some models come with pots, and they’re often designed to work together as a system. If you don’t already have any pots one of these could be a good choice.

Fast boil times sound impressive. However running a stove at full power isn’t best for fuel efficiency. Turning the stove down a little and waiting a minute or two for your tea or coffee saves fuel. Other simple ways to reduce fuel use are to have a lid on the pot and to use a windscreen. Heat exchanger pots also make a big difference.

Whichever stove you choose it’s always best to practise with it at home rather than trying to work out how to light it on a windy hillside. Stoves are potentially dangerous so knowing how to operate one safely is essential.

What camping stove you choose depends on where you plan to go with it, in what conditions, and how you use your hot water. That and your budget – there’s a wide range of prices here too. Looking for advice for maintaining a stove? Our guide on how clean a camping stove will help you there. 

The best camping stoves we’ve tested

Quick List
Gear of the Year Award Winner: Optimus Vega (available from Base Camp Food)
Best all-season efficiency: SOTO Fusion Trek (available from Ellis Brigham)
Lightest in test: Primus Micron III (available from WildBounds)
Best boil time: JetBoil Flash 1L (available from Base Camp Food)
Best for windy conditions: MSR Reactor 1L (available from alpinetrek.co.uk)
Best value: Campingaz Twister Plus PZ (available from Go Outdoors)
Best for basecamp: Primus Tupike (available from alpinetrek.co.uk)

Optimus Vega

Quick specs
Price: $119.95 / £89.95 (available from Base Camp Food) Weight: 185g Fuels: gas canister Dimensions assembled 74mm h x 160mm Ø Burner Diameter: 48mm Power: 2600W Boil time: 3m10s x 500ml Fuel used: isobutane/propane canister katadyngroup.com

The Optimus Vega is a remote canister stove suitable for year-round use. It has a preheat tube running over the burner that vaporises the gas, which means it can be used as a liquid fuel stove in subzero temperatures by inverting the canister. Unusually, it has flip-out wire legs to hold the inverted canister in place and enable the control lever to still be used. Optimus says that used like this it’ll work down to -20°C.

The Vega is compact when packed as the pot support/legs fold around the burner. At 178g it’s light for a remote canister stove. It has a low profile so stability is good and the pot supports are quite wide, making it fine for use with big pots. The burner is powerful and it boils water fast and works well for melting snow. Flame control is good for simmering. It’s fuel efficient too, though fuel usage increases when the canister is inverted so this should only be done when necessary. The Vega comes with a foil disc to place under it to prevent it scorching the ground, but not a windscreen, which is needed in strong winds. One is available separately, the Optimus Wind Foil, which weighs 36g and costs £7.70. The Vega itself costs £139.99. Tester Peter Macfarlane says “the Vega is excellent – a reliable go-to and brilliant in the tent porch.”

Read more: Peter’s full Optimus Vega review

SOTO Fusion Trek

Quick specs
Price: $84.95 / £65 (available from Ellis Brigham) Weight: 186g Type: Pressure-regulated remote-canister stove Fuel: Gas Dimensions: 11x6x10cm Burner diameter: 6cm Power: 3260W / 11000BTU Boil Time Average: 4min on test Burn Time Approx: 90min from a 230g canister (quoted) sotooutdoors.com

In brief and for those who don’t know the brand, The SOTO Fusion Trek camping stove is a remote-canister version of the well regarded Windmaster stove. There’s a fairly wide burner, with around 300 burn holes sitting in a concave circular ‘tray’ and surrounded by a lip of metal. The three legs extend very securely, and the pot supports are integral to the legs, making for a very stable base. The hose to the canister is very flexible, which may sound trivial, but if you’ve ever wrestled a stiff fuel hose and a windshield together in the cold, you’ll realise how useful this is. Even the canister attachment is well-designed and has a wired hoop control for fine flame control at the canister end.

The Fusion Trek gets my Best Buy because of its versatility. It’s super-stable and all-season-capable, and is built to last. It can simmer, not just nuke, water; it can cook for one or for five; and it’s economical to run.

Read more: David’s full SOTO Fusion review

MSR Reactor 1L

Quick specs
Price: $270 | £295 (available from alpinetrek.co.uk) Weight: 432g Type: pressure-regulated, radiant burner stove system with integrated pan and heat exchanger Fuel: gas Dimensions: 12×14.5cm Burner diameter: 10cm Power: 9000W / 3070BTU Burn time: approx 80min from a 230g canister (quoted)

The Reactor is a high-performance camping stove designed to melt snow and boil water quickly. It is wind-resistant and uses both convective heat and radiant light energy. It has a solid, all-metal handle that stays cool to the touch and folds away securely over a pot lid with a strainer and steam release. The pressure regulator gives an even burn and it was the only stove on test to beat its quoted boil times. It is a one-trick pony and expensive, but it is perfect for short, sharp missions to the mountains, especially in winter.

Read more: David’s full review on the MSR Reactor 1L

Jetboil Stash

Quick specs
Price: $127.95 | £155 (available now from alpinetrek.co.uk) Weight: 232g including burner, pot and canister stand (24g) Type: Unregulated pressure canister-top stove system with integrated pan and heat exchanger Fuel: Gas Dimensions: Pot 0.8 Litres, 10x12cm Burner diameter: 4cm Power: 1318W/ 4500BTU Boil time: Average 5min on test Burn time: Approx 80min from a 230g canister (quoted)

The Jetboil Stash camping stove was big news when unveiled a year or two ago as the lightest in the range. It achieved the 200g-ish all-in weight by dumping some of the features found on larger and heavier models. The Stash too is a ‘stove system’, but it’s really packable. The 0.8 litre pot is wide rather than tall, making it less prone to burning food and easier to stir the contents. It’s more than big enough for most solo meals (and will hold a 100g canister if you wish). There’s a very solid integrated handle that folds over the plastic lid, which has a built-in drainer.

There’s a lot to like here. It’s a simple, very light design that packs small and will allow basic cooking. For longer, warmer-weather trips nothing else is needed.

Read more: David Lintern’s full review of the Jetboil Stash

Primus Micron III

Quick Specs
Price: $69.99 | £60 (available from WildBounds) Weight: 58g Fuels: gas canister Dimensions: 80 x 110mm open, 62 x 41mm folded Burner Diameter: 38mm Power: 2600 watts/ 8900 BTU Boil time: average 2 min 45 sec for 500ml water Fuel used: 6 – 7g www.primusequipment.co.uk

The latest version of Primus’s Micron stove, which has been around in different models for over twenty years, is the lightest, just 58g, and most compact yet. While the Primus Micron III is tiny folded up, it has wide pot supports and a long control handle that’s easy to use with gloves and prevents burnt fingers. The pot supports have serrated edges to hold pots securely and click into place when unfolded. The burner has a narrow flame and a mesh centre that glows red. Flame control is good so food can be simmered.

In calm controlled conditions the Micron took 3 minutes to boil 500ml of water in an MSR Titan 900ml titanium pot and 1 minute 45 seconds in a Fire Maple Petrel G2 aluminium heat exchanger pot, using 7 and 6 grams of fuel respectively. In real world use a Primus Power Gas 100g canister lasted 4 days with the stove, boiling around 4.5 litres in a heat exchanger pot before it was empty.

Read more: Chris’ full Primus Micron III review

Jetboil Flash 1L

Quick Specs
Price: $144.99 | £100.59 (available from Base Camp Food) Weight: 406g complete Accessories: 0.6 litre pot with heat exchanger & insulated pot cozy, 0.3 litre bowl, piezo igniter, canister stand Fuel: butane/propane canister Packed Dimensions: 18.5 x 10.7cm Burner Diameter: 3.8cm Burner weight: 124g Power: 5300 BTU Boil time: 2 min 36 seconds Fuel used: 8g www.jetboil.co.uk

Twenty-one years ago, Jetboil launched the first ever stove with a heat exchanger pot that fitted onto the burner. The Jetboil Flash 1.0L Cooking System is the direct descendant of that stove and has been popular for many years. Jetboil has updated the design with several significant changes to make it easier to use, the main ones being an integrated ignition and burner control and a grip zone below the burner. The pot is the same tall narrow aluminium one with a pot cosy round it, a thermochromic heat indicator on the side, a webbing handle, and a plastic lid. The heat exchanger under the pot now has three rather than two dimples for attaching it to the burner to give a firmer fit plus markings showing which way to turn the pot to release it from the burner.

The Flash boils water fast and is fuel efficient. My most severe test of the Flash was on a camp where the temperature fell to -2°C overnight. The stove was used with a half-full canister that had been on the ground all night. It lit immediately and boiled 400ml of water in three minutes, which I think is fine. There was a slight breeze, which didn’t affect the flame. The new Flash is an improvement over the previous model. The grip zone and turn-and-click ignition are excellent. It’s great being able to hold the stove securely while switching it on or putting on and taking off the pot. For boiling water for hot drinks and cook-in-the-pouch meals it works fine. The price is low for a stove system, making the Flash good value for money.

Read more: Chris’ full Jetboil Flash 1L Cooking System review

Alpkit Koro

Quick specs
Price: £41 Weight: 126g Type: Pressure-regulated remote-canister stove with preheat tube Fuel: Gas Dimensions: 8x8x9cm Burner diameter: 8cm Power: 2800W / 9553BTU Boil time Average: 5min on test Burn time Approx: 70min from a 230g canister (quoted) www.alpkit.com

The Alpkit Koro has three legs and three pot supports. The Koro is pretty powerful, but there are faster units out there. The burner has no inherent wind resistance other than it being close to the ground, and so a half-height windshield is essential. Similarly, simmer control is OK, but not world-beating. The ability to invert the canister in colder temperatures or when near the end of the canister is really useful.

I like the Alpkit Koro enough to own one; I bought and paid for the unit on test, last year. It’s simple, light, packs down small and is inexpensive. There are other options here that will boil faster using less gas, and I’d prefer the pot supports to be a little more robust; but the Koro operates on a principle of good enough – and most of the time it’s just that.

Read more: David’s full Alpkit Koro review

MSR Switch Stove System

Quick Specs
Price: $139.95 / £135 (available from Cascade Designs) Weight: 389g complete, burner & pot w/out accessories 328g Fuel: isobutane/propane Dimensions: stove 9.4 x 8.4cms, pot 17.7 x 11cms Burner Diameter: 2.8cms Power: 7100 BTU, 2100W Boil time: 2 minutes 45 seconds Fuel Used: 10 grams www.msrgear.com

The latest combined stove and pot system from MSR – the MSR Switch Stove System – has a unique design unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s very different to MSR’s other stove systems, the well-established Reactor and Windburner, which have radiant burners and can only be used with compatible heat exchanger MSR pots. The lighter weight Switch has a standard burner and is more versatile as it can be used with any pots. The cost is also much lower.

Read more: Chris’ full MSR Switch Stove System review

Primus Tupike

Quick specs
Price: $260 | £240 (available from alpinetrek.co.uk)  Weight: 4.3kg Type: Pressure-regulated dual burner base camp stove Fuel: Gas Dimensions: 8x48x30cm Burner diameter: 4.6cm Power: 3000W /  1023BTU Boil time: average 5min on test Burn time: approx 47min from a 230g canister (quoted)

The Tupike is a two-burner camping stove designed for basecamps and backpacking. It has two independent burners, two piezo igniters and two flame controls, and a griddle. It is large and heavy, but is also beautifully finished in brass, oak and brushed aluminium. It sits on two locking and folding legs and has adjustable windshields and a splashback. However, its fuel efficiency is a bit of a gas guzzler, so it should be used with larger canisters and boil/rest cycles to conserve fuel.

Read more: David’s full review on the Primus Tupike

Campingaz Twister Plus

Quick Specs
Price: no US shipping | £24.99 (available from Go Outdoors) Weight: 210g (burner only) Fuels: bespoke gas canister Dimensions assembled 110mm h x 120mm w Burner Diameter: 54mm Power: 2900W Boil time: 2m40s x 500ml Fuel used: butane/propane canister www.campingaz.co.uk

I’ve had many Campingaz stoves over the years. A twin burner model was a favourite for many years, so I was very curious to see how their current dedicated mountain style stove compared. The Campingaz Twister Plus PZ Gas Stove is used with Campingaz’s own widely available gas canisters of various sizes. It ends up quite tall, but still stable enough even without a dedicated pot stand, partly because canister and burner together are weightier. 3rd party plastic canister feet will fit. The stove design is chunky with the metal burner parts encased in a plastic surround incorporating both piezo and control dial. The shape means a good grip for attaching the canister – a push-on and quarter turn with a click and the reverse action for removal. It’s a good system, with a definite click that reduces the likelihood of over overtightening. There are adapters to bridge the gap between Campingaz connections and other canisters.

The fine-tuning heat is positive and smooth. Nice touches are a metal heat shield between the burner control, a hard plastic case and of course the price. It might be a little heavy and bulky but is an accessible starter stove that you really can really cook on.

Read more: Peter’s full review of the Campingaz Twister Plus PZ

How we test these camping stoves

In controlled conditions in still air Chris boiled 500ml of water in each stove with a standard pot and a heat exchanger pot. Boiling times indicate the power of the stove. In cold weather, especially when melting snow, this can be important. He also measured how much fuel was used, which is more significant than boiling time, especially on multi-day walks. The results show that HX pots are more fuel efficient and reduce boil times with all stoves.

Go System 2250 canisters were used with the gas stoves, Bartoline methylated spirits with the Trangia and Alpkit Bruler stoves. For stoves that don’t come with pots Chris used 1 litre hard anodised aluminium pots – the GSI Pinnacle Soloist and Fire Maple FMC-XK6 HX. In field use several variables – air temperature, water temperature, wind speed and more – will produce different results so these figures are comparative only.

David tested his stoves on walks and backpacks from glen level to Munro summits across the eastern and western Highlands in 2024. It was winter on the tops and spring in the glens. He tends to boil water for dehydrated meals, but his budget is supermarket rather than branded outdoor sachets. As such, his food needs longer to hydrate and he does a little more in-pot preparation, rather than just pour-and-wait. This makes a difference to what he looks for in a stove.

Measuring stove performance is as hard as or harder than evaluating sleeping bags as there are so many variables – “but at least I was able to drink lots of tea as I tested,” he said. When deciding on a purchase, it’s worth looking closely at the power output and burn times in conjunction with David’s boil times, which he averaged over multiple uses in different conditions. There is no industry standard, and quoted figures need to be read with care and balanced with the comments in review.

Weights and boiling times were recorded by Peter in various conditions outside and at home to achieve a benchmark time. The stacking systems height includes the plastic feet and a 230g gas canister, the others from canister base to potstand top. The stoves have been used across all seasons, most often on hill days with a wind shield as well as at camp and on bothy trips. 

What to look for in camping stoves

Fuel

Butane/propane in canisters is hot, convenient, and clean. Stoves generally have good flame control. Methylated spirits/denatured alcohol/gel fuel doesn’t give out as much heat and flame control is poor. However only the amount needed needs to be carried and it isn’t a petroleum product. Meths stoves are silent too.

Burner Head

Small diameter burner heads are best used with narrow pots. Wider burner heads spread the flame more efficiently and work well with larger pans.

Stability

Stability can be an issue with canister stoves. The simplest – a gas head that screws onto a canister – need a very stable base to counteract the effect of perching a loaded pan on top of a stove, on top of a canister. By contrast, a remote canister stove sits on the ground with its own legs and is attached to the canister by a flexible fuel hose. It has the additional advantage of allowing the canister to be inverted in cold weather or when nearly empty.

Burner diameter

Gas stoves with small-diameter burner heads can create intense burn zones, or hot spots, on cooking pans. Others are wide but work less well with taller, thinner pots. Some stoves come as complete ‘systems’, with exchangers built into the accompanying pan to distribute heat more evenly. Pan materials also matter: thin titanium is prone to hot spots; stainless steel is better; a thick aluminium pan is best at dispersing heat.

Efficiency

Fuel efficiency is a trade-off between weight, speed, size, design and the conditions of use. It’s impacted by ambient temperature, altitude and wind, and is difficult to measure accurately. A heat exchanger pot or a pressure regulator can improve fuel efficiencies. In Britain the most common type of gas canister cartridge is screw-on, and most contain a mix of butane, isobutane and propane. Isobutane has better vapour pressure and offers superior performance, especially in low temperatures. Butane is the cheapest but poorest-performing fuel in the mix.

Gas

Brands will specify their stoves should only be used with their own brand gas canisters. In reality they will work with any canister with a compatible connection (in Britain, the most common type is the screw-on). Virtually all compact cartridges contain a mix of butane, isobutane and propane. Isobutane is far superior in terms of vapour pressure, and high vapour pressure translates to better performance, especially in low temperatures. Isobutane is more expensive to source than butane, so you’ll usually find it in higher-quality canisters. Normal butane is the cheapest and poorest-performing fuel in the mix. Burning efficiency is also reduced by cold temperatures, high altitude and wind.

Windshield

A windshield is needed with every stove in any wind stronger than a light breeze. Some stoves come with windshields as part of the design. Fully encircling foil windshields can be used with remote canister stoves. Canister top stoves shouldn’t be fully surrounded by a windshield as the cartridge needs to be kept cool.

Pans

Camping stoves with small diameter burner heads can create intense burn zones, or hot spots, on cooking pans. Titanium pans have thin bases so are prone to this, stainless steel is better, a thick aluminium pan is best at dispersing heat.

Controls

Stoves may have compact gas control dials, or wire hoops that fold out, which can provide finer control of the flame and reduce the risk of burning fingers or sleeves. Onboard piezo igniters are a nice convenience, but it’s worth carrying a fire steel and/or a lighter in case of failure. Multifuel stoves come with a pump system to fit pressurised fuel bottles.

Many people talk about the ‘Big Three’ when it comes to hiking and camping: that’s your backpack, your backpacking tent and your sleeping bag. For backpacking, we think it’s better to think about a ‘Big Four’ with that extra digit accounting for your cooking system.

Heat Exchanger

Sets of radiator-like fins attached to the base of a pot are designed to reduce heat loss and increase fuel efficiency and boil times. These are provided with some stoves as part of a component system. Heat exchanger (HX) pots can be bought separately.

Regulated and non-regulated canister stoves

Canisters lose pressure as the gas is released. This happens more rapidly in cold weather. Below zero power output can double the time it takes water to boil. If the canister is less than half full water may not boil at all. Keeping the canister warm helps – in your sleeping bag overnight, putting your hands round it for example. A better solution is a stove with a regulated burner that controls the pressure for a more consistent performance. Regulated burners perform better with an almost empty canister though there’s still some drop off in power.

Pre-heat Tubes

A pre-heat tube is a loop of the fuel line that runs over the burner so it is heated by the flame. They are found on some remote cartridge stoves. A preheat tube means the cartridge can be inverted in cold weather to turn it into a liquid feed stove – the liquid turns to gas when heated in the pre-heat tube. Such stoves are excellent in sub-zero temperatures.

Pot Supports

The width and strength of the pot supports determines how heavy a pot they can safely support.

Piezo Ignition

Many stoves have Piezo ignition. This is fine – when it works. Such ignition can easily be damaged so carrying a back-up is a good idea.