You think politics in America are divisive? Try asking a group of backpackers to pick their favorite stove.The conversation quicklygets heated as peopledivide into brand-loyal camps. I think of myself as nonpartisan on the issue, so I tested six popular backpacking stove systems this fall that have everything you need to cook a meal in the middle of nowhere (except fuel and water).There’s no clear winner in this bunch.The good news is that every entry on this list is a solid choice—it just depends on your priorities.
MSR PocketRocket Stove Kit ($99)
MSR has fancier stoves, but I refuse to get rid of my ,because this featherweight beauty (2.9 ounces)worksevery time, even after years of use. Thanks to its simple, universal design, I can use the PocketRocket with any cookware, unlike somestoves that require brand-specific add-ons. There’s no autoignition, so bring a lighter or matches. If you’re a solo backpacker looking to shave weight, MSR sells the in a , which is basically just a stove with a potand a grabber handle(9.9 ouncestotal). Iprefer the PocketRocket kit, which is built for two and features a large potwith a fixed handle, bowls, mugs, and sporks. One thing to watch out for: since this stove doesn’t have a built-in wind guard, a strong breeze can inhibit the flame from whooshing full bore.
Solo Stove Lite and Pot 900 ($70 and $35)
If a speedy boil time is your main priority when choosing a backcountry cooker, then skip the , which is basically a miniature version of the company’s popular fire pit. The tiny stainless-steel can burns twigs and kindling, so it’s not as efficient as a gas stove. I found ittookseveral minutes longeron averageto boil water with the Solo Stove Lite,but the obvious benefitis thatyou don’t have to bring gas.It’s not the best option if you’re backpacking in a wet climate and there isn’t a dry stick in sight, but not having to worry about running out of fuelon a multi-day trip is glorious. By itselfthe Liteisn’t as backpack friendlyas the smalleroptions in this list, butit nests into thestainless-steelfor an easily packable cook system.
BioLite Camp Stove 2 and KettlePot ($130 and $50)
dzٱ’s runs on wood fuel, just like the Solo Stove Lite, but the similarities end there. This is what campfires will look like in the future: it hasan integrated batterythat can charge your phone and that runsitsfour-speed fan—afeaturethat lets you control the strength of the flame—which in turn charges the battery via a thermoelectric generator.It weighs two pounds, but remember, you’re carrying a power source, too, so you cansnap Instagram pics on day five of your trip. BioLite also makes a slick that works with the stove and doubles as a carrier. I dig the heat shield on the bottom of the pot, which nests over the stove to protect the flame from wind.
Snowpeak LiteMax and Trek Titanium 700 Mug ($60 and $45)
Weight watchers, pay attention: Snowpeak’s is the lightest stove on this list, coming in at a feathery two ounces. Pair it with the and you have a solo cooking kit that weighs less than seven ounces. A simple wire handle makes it easy to adjust the stove’s output, butlike the PocketRocket, there’s no autoignition on the LiteMax. It doesn’t boil water as fast as the PocketRocket, but if shaving weight is your goal, you can’t beat this system. Warning: the mug gets wicked hot, so I’d recommend wearing gloves when handling.
Jetboil MiniMo ($145)
Jetboil redefined backpacking stoves when itintroduced the Flash a dozen years ago, and that unit is still the go-to option for a lot of hikers. But I don’t like the tall, skinny nature of the system’s pot, because it makes eating food difficult without long utensils. The company solvedthis problem with the :a wider, shorter pot that still holds a liter of water and boils it in just a few minutes. I also like a couple of recent upgrades to the system.Jetboilditched itsplastic gas knob for a wire handle similar to what’s on the MSR and Snowpeak options, offering better simmer control, and it’sgiven the pot solid handles instead of the Flash’s nylon grip. Also cool: the stove and pot click together into one apparatus, and the plastic cover that protects the bottom of the system doubles as a bowl.
Primus Lite+ ($115)
You’ll notice that the looks a lot like the Jetboil Flash. The inspiration seemsundeniable, with this all-in-one system that boils water in just over two minutes, but Primus has given the Lite+a few cool features that help it stand apart. First, the stove and pot twist together with a comforting snap,and the fit is so secure that you can actually hang this stove to cook(imagine if you’re sleeping in a bivy on the side of a cliff). You can also screw three risersinto the top of the stove, allowing you to use it with any pot or kettle, which opens up a world of possibilities beyond Primuscookwear.