Have to stay fueled on long backpacking trips, and granola bars and beef jerky only go so far. Having a hot meal at camp does wonders for energy but also morale on cold rainy nights. In order to enjoy that hot meal need a good way to get it hot. Modern backpacking stoves mean no more waiting with a soot covered pot over the fire. Water can be quickly and efficacy boiled, and the stoves or there fuel wont weigh you down either. Some come with pots for those that dont check here for out camping pot review. Below is Trail Trialed’s top backpacking stoves.
MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Stove
Everything you want in a backpacking stove. Small (sometimes a little too small, we have lost it in a pack before) extremely light at only two and a half ounces, and powerful enough to get the coffee hot without too much time suffering outside the warmth of your sleeping bag. The MSR Pocket Rocket is the gold standard in backpacking stoves. Its so small it can also be taken on sunrise missions to enjoy a little coffee with a view with only a day pack. Just a stove and not a complete cooking system allows for pot choice depending on trip length and food plans. Only drawback is the wind can blow the flame but we haven’t had it ever go out wind will just slow down cooking.
Jetboil Flash Cooking System
I know this list is backpacking stoves but please forgive us for including a complete cooking system. The Jetboil Flash is your one tool for cooking on the trail. This integrated stove and pot allows for quicker boiling and unmatched win resistance when compared to traditional stoves and pot configurations. Integrated insulation sleeve and handle make the Flash easy to handle even when hot and will keep contents warm longer. The integrated stove does have some drawbacks, it can be slightly more bulky and harder to pack than other models.
Soto WindMaster Stove
Another bare bones backpacking stove. The Soto WindMaster is a small backpacking stove that packs a punch. The burner design helps to block wind which is the biggest weak point of these kinds of stoves. At only three point one ounces it is on the lighter end of the stoves we looked at but not light enough to knock the pocket rocket off its pedestal. The four prong pot support is good but being not integrated means one more small part to keep track of and organize in your pack and gear closet.
Jetboil MightyMo Backpacking Stove
Of the canaster top backpacking stoves the MightlyMo by jetboil is the heaviest at three point three ounces and that’s the biggest reason it is down here below the others. Its a good stove and works well. The integrated starter is nice but not exactly necessary carrying a lighter works just as well and is more versatile. Overall the MightyMo is a good solid stove if you have one no need to upgrade but just too heavy to be higher on our list.
Snow Peak BiPod Stove
A different take on a backpacking stove, the snow peak bipod is unlike anything else we have looked at. This design offers a much more stable cooking surface to set a pot that the typical backpacking stoves like the pocket rocket that sit on top of that gas canaster. Rather than having to balance the canaster the Bipod sets off the the side of the canister with two legs that results in three good points of contact. The Snow Peak Bipod does fold well but it is heavier than some of the ultralight stoves. Have to pay for that stability with a little extra weight.