Backpacking and Camp Stoves

Recent Backpacking/Camp Stove Reviews

Solo Stove Lite

Terrible Customer Service. I found out after buying that they are prone to rust and didn't want to deal with that so I asked if it could be returned to them for a refund and the phone rep not only agreed but emailed their address. Since they have an office in DFW I brought it by unopened and spoke with TWO representatives on site who told me I would receive a refund. Fast forward the next week I call after hearing nothing from the company and was told by a CS rep that they would not be issuing a… Full review

Tomshoo Outdoor Camping Hiking Cookware Pot Set

I bought the Tomshoo Backpacker Stove off Amazon, kind of an impulse purchase because it was only $20, and it included a two-piece pot set as well. I had been looking for a smaller stove to take on my backpacking treks and figured I'd check this one out. I had never heard of the "Tomshoo" brand before (made in China) but saw they had other outdoor products online, so I took a chance. I'm very pleased with this little stove so far. It is very compact, and I can store a gas cylinder and a few other… Full review

Esbit Pocket Stove

Good for its designed purpose. The Esbit stove is a nice stove for simple cooking. If moving from one hunting camp to another, or along game/mountain trails throughout the day, I don't have to break out the Dragonfly and assemble/disassemble it to cook up Ramen-style noodles and coffee. It allows me to eat quick and move on. If I find an outstanding area to glass it's easy to set up, boil water for a coffee and glass the area with a coffee (that is really living). If I need to move in a hurry,… Full review

Coleman 550B Multi-Fuel Stove

30-year-old product—still delivers 100%. I‘m no expert on these stoves—this my first pressure stove, but I have a few pressure lamps so I’m familiar with the principles and safety aspects.  This a 1989 model. Hardly used and works perfectly. Nice arc of intense green/blue flame that is highly controllable. Original box, made in Canada. Will be used when camping a few times a year. Mainly coffee prep.  Full review

Trangia Hard Anodized Stove Kit

Very light and great, but the HA made my pancakes stick to the pan and make a mess. Buy the non-stick pan. The hard anodised made a mess of pancakes: I purchased a 27 and 25 ultra light hard anodised (UL HA). I had the plain aluminium version for the 25 model and non-stick for the 27 model. I tried to make pancakes using the new HA pan and the pancakes stuck to the pan. Trying to pry them off just made a mess. I used lots of oil and tried lowering the heat, but it still stuck. The HA pots did not… Full review

MSR WindBurner Personal Stove System

If your idea of a pack stove is a tool for boiling water then read on as the MSR WindBurner does a brilliant job of it with only a little room for improvement. Mountain Safety Research (MSR) has been around since 1969. It was founded by Larry Penberthy; an engineer, professional inventor and lifelong mountaineer bent on making everything about the experience safer and better.  Enjoy the very interesting history of MSR here https://www.msrgear.com/msr-our-history.html.   The Windburner Personal… Full review

Optimus Hiker+

Sturdy. Can be used lightly in a tent without burning the floor. Always work. I have used the 111T since the '80ies. The last year the Hiker plus with the DAWG conversion.  I can not emphasise enough: The first thing you do when you get the thing, is to clean the tank. If you do not do this, you probably will experience a stove failure, and if you then do not carry a new filter, you're going to eat cold food.  With good care, not the old, nor the new Hiker, will fail. I always use indoor kerosene,… Full review

Ozark Trail Camp Stove

The regulator that was manufactured for this stove goes bad, and any other regulator or propane attachment will not fit this stove. You cannot buy a replacement. And even if you could, it will also go bad after several uses. BUT I do have a work-around. Work-around to bad Ozark Trails regulator: Buy a Coleman 5430 Regulator at Walmart for $16. Get a 6-inch piece of automotive 5/16"i.d fuel line hose and four small clamps. Cut the metal tube (with a metal saw blade) on the Coleman and Ozark Trails… Full review

Rome Industries #49 Campfire Gripper Stainless Steel

These are very similar to the long-missing "Chinese Hoodlum Gangs" or "Spondonacles", once sold by Paddy Pallin. They are long tongs useful for lifting billies, frying pans, etc, off a camp fire. Their length makes them far more useful than most currently-available tongs, when cooking on an open fire. So, I've finally found and bought a substitute for long-unavailable billy tongs—the "Chinese Hoodlum Gangs" or "Spondonicles" formerly sold by Paddy Pallin. They are solidly made, and appear very… Full review