Backpacking and Camp Stoves

Recent Backpacking/Camp Stove Reviews

Optimus Svea

Older technology but dependable. My first Svea 123 I purchased in the 1970s when I started backpacking. The old girl never let me down and provided enough heat to cook any trail food that was on the menu. This is so durable that if one would go on eBay you could find many antique 123's that work as good as they did when new. I say my first because the original suffered a broken stem valve back in the '90s and due to no internet I had no idea where to get a new one.  I recently purchased a new version… Full review

Optimus Polaris Optifuel

Lightweight, well built stove. Excellent flame control, even better than my Whisperlite. Good boiling times. It is loud, so I'd recommend buying a a silencer cap. Have enjoyed using it with the cap. Hike and camp in the Colorado Rockies. Bought this after reading and researching a lot of stoves. Was not happy with my WhisperLite Universal, which although better than my old Coleman in some ways, was not as good in others. Was tired of needing to change "jets" when changing fuels. This solved my issues… Full review

MSR WhisperLite

Workhorse Before reviewing this we need to address the elephant in the room, something I refer to as gear Stockholm Syndrome. We tend to have overly fond feelings about equipment when it is used to bail us out of uncomfortable situations. For example, you are caught in a driving rain, you retreat to your tent and are warm and dry. Because the tent kept you from a cold and wet night your opinion of that particular tent is higher than it would be if you never got caught in the rain. I bring this up… Full review

Optimus Svea

A fun stove. Svea 123r is a self pressurizing white gas (Coleman Lantern Fuel, Naphtha, Shellite) backpacking stove. The stove's base serves as an integrated fuel tank which can not be refilled on the fly. It holds about 40-60 minutes burn time of fuel. The stove produces excellent heat, but due to narrow size would not recommend putting large group pot on top. The stove like many liquid fuel stoves has two speeds, full blast and off. You can lower the flame, but the burner is small so all the heat… Full review

MSR WhisperLite Universal

Great stove with a lot of adaptability, especially if hiking or camping with a small group of people. I grew up on a Svea 123 using gasoline, not white gas, for fuel. This stove is (I still have it) a blowtorch and never let me down when I needed it. Forty years later, the seals are dried out, it doesn't pressurize the same, and I thought it time to move into the 21st century. The MSR Universal Multi-fuel is the best of both worlds. I really like being able to use gasoline for my stove, it's available… Full review

Coleman Peak 1 Stove

I’ve owned two of these Peak 1 single burner stoves. I’ve only had the best of luck with my stoves. Just love it and can usually find replacement parts if necessary. I like that I don’t need to connect a braided fuel hose to a fuel canister. I bought my first Peak 1 in 1990 and it was a replacement from a Coleman Sportster, which was an older and heavier model 405. It was wonderful in 1980 but was large and held more fuel but didn’t boil water as quick. The newer models burn dual fuel, but… Full review

Coleman 550B Multi-Fuel Stove

Excellent old school stove. The Coleman 550B is an excellent stove that has been proven on the trail by campers and by several countries‘ militaries in the field. It is meant to be carried in a pack and used with lighter weight cookware. It has full flame control and can be used from full blast for snow melting and water boiling to simmering for rice cooking or trout browning. The stove is designed for people who actually cook in the field, not for the ultralight crowd who only boil water. For… Full review

Campingaz Turbo 270

Been using a screw-on canister valve I have been selling. It's now forever useful. I have had these stoves since I started hiking and camping. I never want another stove. It boils water fast. It can cook stuff without it raising and lowering its flame. Fairly windproof. The Gaz canister fitting is not all that great, but it works. I had one fail and caused a flame around the fitting. Something that can fail due to the gas canisters having no thread. I solved that with a new conversion valve I have… Full review

BioLite CookStove

Terrible customer service As much as I want to love Biolite, and I have several products, there is something that you really need to know before you buy their products. Once you buy, you have no support whatsoever, other than a form you fill out on their web site. Then you are at their mercy to answer when they want to, if they want to. They make promises that they don't keep and the customers are left sitting on defective products with no avenue for help other than the form. Please keep this in… Full review