Camp Chef Rainier 2X ($165)
A powder-coated lid and reinforced knobs made this the hardiest stove we tested—and the heaviest. The combination grill and griddle on the left put a perfect crust on six burgers and was easy to clean, while the burner on the right capably handled simmering and boiling.
Primus Essential Trail ($25)
The Essential Trail delivers functional design at a low price. Weighing in at four ounces, it’s heavier than some stoves, but a 4.3-inch wingspan makes it conspicuously stable, even when bringing three liters of water to a boil.
Ignik 2-in-1 Heater-Stove ($140)
Testers had reservations about the real estate this combination stove and space heater required in the car. But when it became the focal point of a cold evening outside, everyone agreed that its utility went far beyond the powerful 10,000-BTU burner. Pair it with Ignik’s refillable Gas Growler ($150), which holds five times the fuel of a single-use propane canister.
Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit and Grill ($200)
Cooking over an open flame is one of the joys of camping, but it can be dangerous (and illegal) during summer months. This combo meets both Forest Service and BLM safety regulations and is easy to set up. The 3.5-square-foot cooking space handles up to 75 pounds of meat.
GSI Outdoors Selkirk 540 ($125)
This is the best stove we tested when it came to feeding large groups. The 22-by-13-inch cooking top comfortably fit a 10.5-inch cast-iron skillet and an equally wide Dutch oven side by side, which made short work of bacon and pancakes for six.
Snow Peak Home and Camp ($110)
Snow Peak’s was the most elegant stove in our test. Closed up, the Home and Camp looks like a futuristic water bottle, but its single burner put out enough heat to sear a couple of steaks. Ample 5.9-inch cooking arms accommodated a 12-quart soup pot.