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Introduction
A good camping stove is an outdoor essential. You can warm up and hydrate with a quick trail brew, or re-fuel with a nourishing meal after a long day on the move. Backpacking stoves tend to be the lightest and most compact versions on the market, perfect for carrying over long distances.
Their smaller dimensions don’t mean a drop in performance. Powerful and efficient, they’ll cover all your needs on multi-day trips. We split backpacking stoves into three basic types: canister, liquid fuel and stove systems.
Types of Stoves
These small, lightweight stoves work with screw-thread canisters containing pressurised gas. Their versatility and stowability make them ideal for backpacking trips. Most canister stoves screw onto the top of the gas canister. Others sit low to the ground, connecting to the fuel source via a fuel line.
These designs offer better stability – ideal when cooking in difficult conditions or on uneven terrain. Some canister stoves have auto-igniters, making them quick and easy to light. Other models need a match, lighter, or fire steel to get them started. Once lit, you can use the simmer-control function to adjust the flame as needed.
Benefits
• Quick and convenient to use, with fast set-up
• Compact, lightweight, and easy to carry
• Good value for money
Fuel
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Most backpacking stoves use a gas cartridge that attaches via screw thread. Available from different brands, screw thread gas canisters usually share the same type of thread to ensure stove compatibility.
Smaller campsite stoves tend to be compatible with the classic gas cartridges. Larger family camping stoves will likely have a hose and regulator which attaches to a big gas bottle. This is a more efficient way of cooking outside for extended periods.
Gas canisters are clean, convenient, and easy to use. The downside is that they don’t perform as well in cold temperatures. That’s where liquid fuel stoves excel.
The alternative to a canister stove is a liquid fuel stove. These are also known as multi-fuel stoves; due to the fact they can run on different fuels. Examples include white gas, paraffin/kerosene, and unleaded petrol. These fuels are often easier to access, especially when travelling abroad.
They also work well at higher altitudes and in cold weather conditions. Serviceable in the field, they are the first choice for remote expeditions where reliability is crucial.
How much fuel do I need?
Carrying the right amount of fuel for your camping trips can be tricky. Too much, and you’ve got a heavy pack for no reason, too little, and you risk having a cold dinner. Before your next adventure, it’s worth doing some research (and maths) to get a better idea of how much you should take. As most backpacking meals require boiling water, the first step is to work out how much water you’ll use. Detailed meal planning is the best way to do this, but as a basic guide, use one litre of water per person, per meal.
Once you’ve confirmed water quantities, use your stove’s boil and burn times to calculate how much fuel you require to boil that amount of water. Remember, this will be a rough estimate, and adverse factors like low temperatures and wind will (often dramatically) increase how much fuel you need.
Stove Accessories
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How can I improve my stove’s performance?
Firstly, think about where you’re setting up. You want to position your stove in a sheltered area out of the wind – this will help protect and maintain a consistent flame. You can also use a windscreen to increase stove efficiency, but they’re only suitable for liquid fuel and remote canister stoves as it can cause sit-on-top canister models to overheat. Another tip is to use a lid! It’s obvious but often overlooked, and will really help speed up boiling times.
Staff Tips
“Don’t leave your canister out in the cold. They perform better when they’re warm, so I keep mine wrapped in my insulated jacket at night.”
“I always go for dehydrated meals to save weight. I prep them before I start boiling water, and use a long-handled spork – no more knuckles scraping the side of the pack!”
“Take a fire steel – they’re lightweight, never run out of fuel, and work in any weather. They beat soggy matches and empty lighters hands down.”
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