We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
Over the last 12 years, we've tested 38 unique backpacking stoves in our quest to find the best, with the top 20 in this review. We tested them side-by-side backpacking, ice climbing, and adventuring to get a clear picture of their abilities.
The Soto Windmaster is our favorite option in the lineup. It performed well across all metrics and is stable, boils water quickly, and has impressive wind resistance. The Soto Amicus is a high-value ultralight option that wowed us with its fuel efficiency and stability, given its size and price. We also found a great pick for tighter budgets, the best integrated canister stove, and best option for liquid fuel. Read on for more information.
Editor's Note: This backpacking stove review was updated on November 20, 2024, to better compare alternative products.
Essential Weight: 3.0 oz | Windy Boil Time: 5 min 46 sec
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Piezo igniter
Wind resistant
Simmers well
Great pot supports
Convenient and easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Loud
Less compact than other models
From the first time we fired up the Soto Windmaster, we were surprised by its respectable performance across all metrics. The piezoelectric igniter works almost every time, a rarity among auto-igniters. The 4-flex pot supports provide generous stability for pans of all sizes — even burly 2-liter pots won't threaten this stove's stability. The Windmaster produces a smoldering blue flame that boils water quickly and lends to above-average fuel efficiency. However, the most noteworthy feature of this stove is its impressive wind resistance. In an 8-10 mph breeze, this thing stays lit and can even boil water.
This backpacking stove performs so well that we have very few gripes about it. That said, the high-octane flame comes at the expense of your peace; this stove is a little loud (though certainly not the loudest in this review). The Windmaster is also not the most compact of the stoves we tested. It was challenging to pack the generous pot supports, burner, and fuel canister into our small tester pot. That said, we found this a small price to pay for the sturdy pot supports. Bottom line, we think this an essential piece of backpacking gear and is the best stove for most people most of the time. If you're on a mega-tight budget, check out the BRS-3000T, which isn't as fuel efficient, but it's ultra-lightweight and a great option for folks who only take one or two backpacking trips per year.
Essential Weight: 2.79 oz | Windy Boil Time: 6 min 30 sec
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight and easy to use
Affordable
Compact
Very fuel-efficient
Performs well in wind
Piezo igniter
REASONS TO AVOID
Somewhat loud
Igniter can be unreliable
Pot supports are not ideal for large pots
The Soto Amicus is an attempt at making an affordable ultralight stove that lives up to the company's reputation. Not only did Soto achieve their goal, they surpassed it. This stove is very fuel-efficient and is compact enough that you won't notice it in your pack. The piezoelectric igniter worked most of the time to light the stove, and the recessed burner ensures that it performs well in variable weather. The pot supports are generous enough to accommodate most 1-liter pots and even held our 1.7-liter kettle with 1 liter of water without threatening to topple over.
Our gripes with the Amicus are minor. The high-powered burner means this stove is a little loud, though nothing unusual. The pot supports pivot around a spring rivet mechanism that may wear out or get grimy over time, but this wasn't an issue during our testing. The pot supports were also not as wide as some small canister stoves. Additionally, to stow this stove in its stuff sack, you must open the fuel valve, which means you must also remember to close it before attaching a canister, or you'll get sprayed with a little fuel. Finally, our reviewers found the piezo igniter to be somewhat unreliable. You'll always want to carry a lighter anyway, but we hope future iterations of this stove will be more consistent, like other Soto stoves. Setting aside these minor issues, it is easy to recommend this stove for thru-hikers, backpackers, alpine climbers, or anyone looking for an affordable way to shave grams off their backcountry kit without sacrificing quality. If you're an infrequent backpacker, check out the even more affordable BRS-3000T below.
Essential Weight: 0.9 oz | Windy Boil Time: 14 min 45 sec
REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly lightweight and easy to use
Very affordable
Stable for the size
Tiny packed size
REASONS TO AVOID
Inconsistent performance in the cold, wind, and higher elevations
Small burner head
No piezo igniter
We had low expectations for the BRS-3000T due to its low price. Straight out of the box, we were shocked by its size — this is tiny, and it weighs next to nothing. It can fit comfortably in any ultralight hiker's 375ml titanium cup. Despite the diminutive size, this stove sports a wire valve that's easy to use and provides nice low-end flame control for simmering. The pot supports are also sturdier than they appear — they held a 1.7-liter stainless steel kettle with a liter of water without any issues.
Several consumer reviews mention a durability problem with melting pot supports. Though we haven't personally experienced this issue, we acknowledge that high-end quality control can't be expected when a product is significantly less expensive than the competition. While the BRS has good flame control, the burner head is tiny, so be attentive to avoid burning rice and beans or scorching the bottom of your pot. It also does not perform well in the wind, cold, or higher elevations and lacks a piezo igniter. Truth be told, this budget stove really isn't great for cooking anything more complicated than a freeze-dried meal, oatmeal, or coffee. However, this little stove will save weight, space, and cash for ultralight solo backpacking trips in temperate climates. If you don't mind a few more ounces, the Primus Essential Trail could be a good option for a few bucks more. It's more fuel-efficient, but five times heavier.
Essential Weight: 3.0 oz | Windy Boil Time: 5 min 27 sec
REASONS TO BUY
Compact
Lightweight
Fast boil time
Works well in the wind
Great for simmering
REASONS TO AVOID
Inconsistent piezo igniter
There might be lighter-weight stoves on the market, but the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe strikes the best balance between a high-performing stove with excellent simmer control, fast boil times, and an ultralight option for gram-counting aficionados. The large regulator knob is easy to use with or without gloves, and it fits well in most pots with a small fuel canister.
The piezo igniter is somewhat inconsistent on the PocketRocket Deluxe. Our reviewers found that it worked most of the time but would occasionally experience low functionality — a common plight with auto-ignitors. This stove also has fairly average fuel efficiency, likely due to having high-output burners. This means the stove will boil water quickly in various conditions but might burn through more canisters. For a more fuel-efficient option with a reliable piezo igniter, we love the Soto Windmaster. All told, though, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is a great option for backpacking when you want a lightweight stove, but don't want to compromise on durability, boil speed, quality design, and simmering ability.
Essential Weight: 13 oz | Windy Boil Time: 4 min 50 sec
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent fuel efficiency
Good boil time
Piezo ignition
Comes with a pot stabilizer
Pot and burner mate well
REASONS TO AVOID
Diminished wind performance
A bit heavy
Average simmer ability
The Jetboil MiniMo is our favorite integrated canister stove. Jetboil stoves have always included a confidence-inspiring burner-to-pot connection, and that's true here. Previously, piezoelectric igniters were a known failure point. However, our testers used the igniter hundreds of times with no issues on this model. The main improvement with the “Mo” is a redesigned burner that boils quickly and more efficiently than other models. This one is the best at simmering among the integrated canister stoves in our review, owing to greater fuel valve control. The short and squat profile of the pot makes it easier to avoid scorching your meals and lends stability to the design. With all these features combined, you could even use it to cook a real (one-pot) meal in the backcountry!
The MiniMo stays lit and boils water at wind speeds that would have most backpackers hiding in their tents. That said, gustier winds will blow the stove out if you don't shield it. It is also a bit heavy for a backpacking stove. Nevertheless, we recommend the MiniMo for hikers and backpackers who also have alpine climbing or big wall plans (and who have practice protecting a stove from the wind). The JetBoil Flash is a little cheaper, but overall, we prefer the performance of the wider, squat pot design of the MiniMo.
Trail Weight: 11.5 oz | Windy Boil Time: 6 min 40 sec
REASONS TO BUY
Relatively simple
Durable
Versatile
Field repairable
Best for multiple people
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Complicated
Can simmer, but difficult to finesse
The MSR Whisperlite Universal takes the classic Whisperlite of liquid fuel fame and updates it for the modern wilderness traveler. Liquid fuel stoves are known for field repairability, durability, and the ability to cook bigger meals. The Universal ticks each of these boxes with the benefit of being equipped to work with isobutane canisters, kerosene, and auto fuel. We tested its fuel efficiency and boil time with a fuel canister and found it to have respectable fuel efficiency, even if it had slightly slower boil times. Most American backpackers are shifting to canister stoves because of their lighter weight and ease of use. However, if you seek a nimble stove ideal for traveling outside the US, this stove's multi-fuel versatility and bombproof design could be an ideal match.
Preparing anything more than simple meals still requires practice and savvy when running the Whisperlite Universal on liquid fuels. This stove ranked in the middle of the pack in our boiling tests, both with and without wind. Still, for serious snow melting, backcountry trips involving groups, or crossing multiple international borders, the Whisperlite Universal is our first choice for a liquid fuel stove and has been for years.
The versatile MSR Whisperlite Universal can be used with white gas, kerosene, unleaded gasoline, and fuel canisters.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Compare Products
Integrated canister stoves make it quick and easy to hustle through coffee when you're trying to beat a storm.
Credit: Mary Witlacil
How We Test Backpacking Stoves
After researching the top stoves on the market, we selected and purchased the 20 shown here for side-by-side testing and analysis. We tested these stoves in the “lab” and in the field. For months in the mountains, the woods, and the desert, we used them daily for all our cooking needs to evaluate for ease of use and simmering ability. We also conducted tests in a controlled environment to score the stoves for fuel efficiency, boil time, and weight. See our How We Test article for more info on our test process.
We tested backpacking stoves using the following five rating metrics:
Fuel Efficiency (25% of total score weighting)
Weight (25% weighting)
Simmering Ability (20% weighting)
Ease of Use (20% weighting)
Boil Time (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Testers Mary Witlacil and Ian McEleney are backcountry experts. Mary has logged thousands of backcountry miles as an alpine climber and backpacker. She lives in Fort Collins, CO, and spends most of her time adventuring and climbing in Rocky Mountain National Park and around the desert Southwest. Ian is an AMGA-certified Alpine Guide, climbing routes and peaks with his clients throughout the country. Together, these two cook meals outside (simple and complex) more than 150 nights per year.
In breezy conditions lighting the WindBurner can be a challenge.
The best backpacking stoves that include integrated canisters are shown during our boil time test. The Jetboil Flash can keep up when boiling water, except when the winds pick up. The MSR WindBurner and Reactor are much more wind resistant than either Jetboil.
Getting up to smash coffee is a breeze with a Jetboil Flash.
How To Choose a Backpacking Stove
So you've figured out you need a lightweight, portable stove to take into the backcountry. Now what? Here are some things to take into account before making your purchase.
Stove Type
There are a few different types of lightweight backpacking stoves.
Small Canister Stoves
This type is usually a small, foldable stove that attaches to an isobutane fuel canister. Quite compact, they usually weigh under 4 ounces and take up minimal space in your pack. You can usually toss it inside your cooking pot. We recommend this style for most people for general backpacking use.
Integrated Canister Stoves
These stoves include a burner that couples with an integrated canister with a heat exchanger on the bottom. Jetboil made these stoves popular, but many companies now have their own versions. These stoves are great for boiling water and, therefore, useful for freeze-dried or boil-in-a-bag dinners, but they're not really designed for cooking meals.
Liquid Fuel Stoves
These are versatile stoves; many can accept multiple fuel types, from white gas to kerosene. They tend to be a bit heavier than the other backpacking stove types, and there is a learning curve to operate them, as they have several parts and must be primed, and some maintenance is required.
Alcohol Stoves
A favorite of thru-hikers, these are small, compact stoves that burn denatured alcohol, which is quite inexpensive and ubiquitous. However, they take skill to operate, especially in cold temps or wind. They're best for boiling water for cooking dehydrated meals, but they're not nearly as fast at boiling as other stoves.
Wood/Solid Fuel Stove
This stove can burn chemical fuel tablets or wood you find along the trail. They're lightweight and usually pack quite small, but we think their drawbacks outweigh the benefits.
Fuel Efficiency and Weight
A lightweight and fuel-efficient stove is going to be your best bet. The more fuel-efficient your stove is, the less fuel you will have to carry, saving weight and space in your pack. We recommend choosing a stove that is fuel efficient for the conditions you will be in and your trip length, and then take weight into consideration next.
For more advice and considerations on choosing the type of stove you need, see our full Backpacking Stove Buying Advice article, which goes into more detail about calculating how much fuel you'll need for your trips, how cold weather affects your stove, and how to dispose of used canisters.
Analysis and Test Results
We tested all manner of backpacking stoves, from small canister stoves and remote canister stoves to integrated canister and liquid fuel models. The type of stove that's best for you will depend on your specific needs. There's a stove for every backpacker, but first, think about what's important for the backpacking you do: weight and bulk, fuel efficiency, cooking ability, simple operation? Read on to learn which stoves excelled in each of these areas.
What's the Best Value?
A common misconception is that spending more money gets you better outdoor gear. The simple fact is that this is not always the case. The cheapest stove in our test, The BRS-3000T, ended up with a middle-of-the-pack score and performed well enough to meet the needs of the occasional backpacker. The Soto Amicus is slightly more expensive but performed excellently across the board while remaining relatively affordable compared to other stoves. The Jeboil Flash is an excellent value for an integrated canister stove and the Soto WindMaster and MSR PocketRocket Deluxe scored the highest while still costing less than the majority of other products in our review.
Looking for a top backpacking stove which is small and light? The BRS, Windmaster, and MiniMo (left to right).
Credit: Ian McEleney
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is an important metric for backpacking stoves, but it's tricky to evaluate because many variables influence it. Our testers know from personal experience how running out of fuel can ruin a trip. Backpackers should know that any fuel efficiency numbers are only suggestions for pre-trip planning or performance on a trip. Tests performed both by our team and manufacturers happen in a controlled setting that's very different from real-world backpacking.
We measured efficiency concurrently with boil time. Both boil time measurements involved bringing one liter of water to boil inside our garage “lab” at 5000 feet in elevation. We start with a fresh fuel canister for each stove and weigh it before we begin. For the first boil test, we boil one liter of water in the presence of constant 2-4mph “wind” generated by a box fan on the low setting. We ensure wind speed by using a pocket anemometer. In between boil tests, we weighed the canister a second time. Then, we record how long it takes to boil a liter of water without wind. After the second boil test, we weighed the canister a final time. To determine fuel efficiency, we calculate the percentage of fuel used for each test and then base our score on the average between the two tests. Due to limited pot capacities, we tested a couple of stoves with only a half-liter of water.
Fuel efficiency matters for a few reasons, mainly because you don't want to run out of fuel while in the field! Fuel efficiency is also a huge consideration for environmental reasons — all those spent fuel canisters add up, and they have to go somewhere. The less efficient the stove is, the more fuel canisters you'll burn through.
Recycling Fuel Canisters
Did you know you can recycle your spent fuel canisters? First, you must burn off all the fuel — open the valve and (responsibly) fire up your stove on high until the flame dies out. Once you're sure it's empty, puncture a hole in the canister (you can do this with a rock in the backcountry or a Phillips head screwdriver and a hammer). Many national parks have dedicated fuel canister recycling receptacles. Otherwise, you can locate a “mixed metal recycling center” in your area. Some areas allow you to recycle punctured canisters with the rest of your recycling. To find out if you live in one of those areas, call your local recycling company to ask if they take punctured fuel canisters.
Fuel efficiency also matters for saving weight in your pack. If you're an ounce counter — as any prudent backcountry traveler should be — an efficient stove can cut down on the weight of fuel you will need to carry. By anticipating how much fuel your stove and cooking style requires, you may be able to leave an extra canister at home or bring a smaller canister to save weight and pack space.
A fuel-efficient stove means less time worrying and more time having fun with friends.
Credit: Jessica Haist
The most fuel-efficient stoves we tested are the Jetboil MiniMo, the Jetboil Flash, and the Primus Lite+, thanks to their integrated heat exchange systems and insulated pots. The MSR Whisperlite Universal also proved highly fuel efficient over our tests. The least efficient stoves are the Snow Peak Giga Power 2.0, BRS 3000T, and MSR Windpro 2. Some stoves are less fuel-efficient because they have high-powered burners that waste fuel in the struggle to boil water in our wind test. Like cars tuned for fast and furious street racing, these models have impressive power outputs but burn through fuel fast.
Canister Fuel Efficiency Improvement Tips
When your canister gets cold, you lose performance and fuel efficiency. Consider sleeping with the canister in your sleeping bag or put it in your jacket to warm it up before use.
Let food soak. Put food and water in the pot when you turn the stove on, then once boiled, turn the fuel off and let the food continue to soak.
Turn the stove down a half turn — it will only take slightly longer for water to boil.
Avoid a full boil. A near boil is good enough for most cooking and drinks.
Don't light the stove until there is something in the pot and it's on top of the burner.
Some of the small canister stoves had severe problems in the wind, affecting their fuel efficiency. Noteworthy exceptions to this rule were the Soto Windmaster, Soto Amicus, and the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, which feature burner heads that shield the flames, proving that you can be lightweight, compact, and perform well in the wind.
Manufacturers advise against a windscreen that encloses the burner and fuel canister, as this could potentially heat the canister to a dangerous level and cause an explosion. The Windpro, GSI Pinnacle 4 Season, and MSR Whisperlite Universal are exceptions to this rule. Their remote canister design separates the burner from the fuel- like a liquid fuel stove- so pairing them with a windscreen is safe.
Built-in heat exchangers on the MiniMo (left) and Reactor (right) boost fuel efficiency and cut boil times.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Like remote canister stoves, liquid fuel models come with flexible aluminum windscreens to block wind and focus the heat on the pot. Toaks makes a Titanium windscreen that pairs well with liquid fuel stoves and stoves where the burner sits adjacent to the canister. The added weight (a few ounces) is well worth it.
Weight
In this review, we consider weight from three different angles. To determine the “packed” weight, we weigh each stove with all of its accessories: stuff sacks or cases, accessory cups, and maintenance doodads. We also weigh each stove at its bare-bones “essential” weight. This weight excludes any stuff sacks, accessories, or canister supports. The BRS 3000T excelled in this metric, at an unreal 0.9-ounce trail weight and a tiny packed size. If you prefer a lightweight but durable stove, the Optimus Crux Lite is a great option at 2.7 ounces. At 3 ounces, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe only tacks on an additional .3 ounces, but you get a high-performing and durable stove in a lightweight package.
When comparing an integrated canister stove with a small canister stove, remember that your camping cookware should be included in the comparison. This is why we calculated the “trail” weight for each stove. Trail weight includes the weight of the burner, a pot, and a fuel canister. This way, you can compare the functional weight of each stove with fuel and a pot to eliminate some of the guesswork. For the small canister stoves, trail weight includes the “essential” weight of the stove, plus the weight of a 4-ounce fuel canister (7.35 ounces) and the average weight of the five most popular titanium pots (4.78 ounces). For the stoves that include an integrated pot, we added the weight of a small fuel canister to determine their “trail” weight. For the stoves that take liquid fuel, we weighed an 11-ounce MSR fuel bottle filled with white gas, which weighs 13.6 ounces and added this to the combined weight of the stove and average titanium pot (4.78 ounces).
Canister Weight
The nominal description of canister size (4, 8, or 16 ounces) describes the amount of fuel in the can, not the weight of the fuel and the can together. That number is always more. A four-ounce fuel canister weighs approximately 7.35 ounces when full, and an 8-ounce can weighs about 13.1 ounces.
The surprisingly small BRS (and its stuff sack).
Credit: Ian McEleney
Most integrated canister stoves have multiple compatible pots available for purchase. This can skew their weights and should be noted by readers considering these models. Jetboil makes pots for its stove systems in several sizes, starting with 0.5-liter; MSR makes them in 1-liter and up. The Jetboil Zip comes with a 0.75-liter pot, which helped make it the lightest integrated canister model we tested.
The JetBoil Zip is the lightest integrated canister stove we tested, but the volume of the integrated pot is only 0.75 L, which is less than the other JetBoil models we tested. However, this capacity is usually sufficient for 1-2 person use.
Credit: Ian McEleney, Jetboil Zip
We also took size and packability into account in this category. Being able to pack your backpacking stove, fuel, and a lighter inside your pot can help you squeeze into a smaller (and thus probably lighter) backpack. It also helps keep things organized in your pack. We examined how small each burner got and how well it nested into a pot. Again, the BRS crushed; we could fit it and a 4-ounce fuel canister into a 500mL pot.
A 4-ounce fuel can, lighter, pot grip, WindMaster burner, and pot support fit snugly in this 1-liter pot.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Simmering Ability
Our testing team believes this is an important metric. We'll shovel down whatever freeze-dried food we have on hand if we're pressed for time or need to cut down on weight. But most of the time, we want to eat actual food because eating well enhances our backcountry trips. A stove that can simmer well can handle an egg scramble, sauteed veggies, or a fresh-caught golden trout.
We looked for backpacking stoves with good control valve sensitivity, particularly at the low end. This allows you to turn the stove down without turning it off. A broad burner head can help distribute the heat more evenly around the bottom of a pot. Narrow burner heads and focused flames often lead to scorched oatmeal in the center and a lukewarm goop around the edges. The Soto WindMaster, PocketRocket Deluxe, Soto Amicus, Primus Essential Trail, and Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 are champions in this department. Their control wires give just the right amount of resistance, allowing us to dial in the flame without carbonizing dinner.
Cooking oatmeal is a good test of simmering ability.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Unless you want your dinner cajun style or are prepared to stir fast and continuously, think twice about using an integrated canister stove for tricky cooking. This type of stove is mostly made for boiling water quickly, not cooking rice slowly.
Liquid fuel stoves often require experience and skill to achieve a good simmer. While you can learn how to finesse the heat down with a liquid fuel stove, it is a steep learning curve and isn't recommended by the manufacturer. Besides, who wants to practice using their backpacking stove when not actually backpacking? This is another reason why we think most backpackers prefer small canister stoves over liquid fuel models.
Can you believe we made this delicious pot-pie with a backpacking stove!
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Ease Of Use
We think it's important that backpacking stoves are easy to operate. After a long day on the trail, the last thing anyone wants to do is struggle to make dinner. This is why we prefer models that only require a quick glance at the operating manual.
We prefer backpacking stoves without tons of small parts and accessories because keeping track of them can be annoying. We also examined the controls on each model to see if they were easy to access and operate. Large wire knobs, like on the Windmaster, Amicus, PocketRocket Deluxe, and MiniMo, are becoming the standard. The tiny knobs on other stoves seem dated in contrast.
We appreciated the long control wire (about 1.5 inches) on these two stoves.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Piezoelectric lighters have become more reliable, and we think they should be a standard feature. Our testing team always goes into the backcountry with a lighter (or three), but with this feature, you won't get caught up looking for one when what you want to be doing is drinking coffee. MSR has added a piezo to the PocketRocket line on the Deluxe, though its performance was semi-inconsistent. We'd love to see the Reactor and WindBurner sprout them, too. Over half of the small and integrated canister stoves we tested sport a piezo, though they didn't all offer the same reliability. Unfortunately, the igniter on the Amicus proved somewhat unreliable. However, we were pleased with the auto-igniters on the Soto WindMaster and Jetboil MiniMo, which fired up consistently.
The business end of the piezo igniter on the Windmaster (left) is the small metal tab in the center of the burner. On the MiniMo (right) it's the small white post and wire in the burner.
Credit: Ian McEleney
The burner and pot interlock on integrated canister stoves, so they are stable in that regard, but as they're often taller and slimmer by nature, they can also be knocked over. All manufacturers try to address this problem by including canister stands, but we rarely bring these on trips because they're one more thing to keep track of and don't change the fundamental center-of-gravity issue. Small canister stoves are also tall once screwed onto a canister and have smallish pot supports. One standout is the WindMaster; its 4Flex pot supports are long and noticeably more stable than most of its competition.
The short and squat shape of the MiniMo pot makes eating right out of it pretty easy.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Lower and broader designs give more stability and allow for a wider array of cookware and, therefore, meals. Liquid fuel models are more stable because they are low to the ground and have wide stove legs that act as stable platforms. The MSR Dragonfly is the most stable, partly due to its giant pot supports. The Windpro 2 looks more like a liquid fuel stove and is nearly as stable as one.
The Windpro's solid pot supports handle big cookware with ease.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Boil Time
Though stove manufacturers like to make a big deal out of boil times, most backpackers will not notice if their stove is a minute or two slower — only if it's 8 - 10 minutes slower. Boil time is also a complicated specification, with many contributing variables, so we don't give it much weight in our scoring.
We do not claim to be scientists, though we have tried to make our tests as objective, controlled, and repeatable as possible. We tested in a garage at 5000 feet (about 1524 meters), where the boiling point of water is 202.97° F (about 94.98° C). We tested the time it took for one liter of water to make a 1.7-quart kettle whistle with each of the small canister and liquid gas stoves. For the stoves with integrated pots, we tested how long it took for them to reach a rolling boil. With each test, we began with a full 4-ounce fuel canister and weighed it for the wind test. Then, after the wind test, we weighed the canister and tested it for boiling without wind. All fuel bottles were full, and the canisters used were identical.
Be aware that different manufacturers use different amounts of water in their boil tests and often test them in a lab at sea level. This is why the specs on a product's website may differ from what you find on your backpacking trips.
The integrated pot that comes with the Primus Lite+ and Jetboil Zip have smaller volumes, which prevented us from testing them with a full liter. We tested the boiling time of the Lite+ using only 0.5 liters of water (making its time seem faster than it would have been otherwise) and the Zip with 0.75 liters.
Liquid fuel stoves take longer to boil water because they must be primed first. To keep our comparisons fair, we started the clock after priming. We found it took anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds to prime these stoves. User results for priming times can vary so widely that we did not bother to publish them. Boil time after priming for the MSR Universal was 7 minutes 28 seconds with liquid fuel. Similarly, the boil time for the Universal when used with a fuel canister was 7 minutes 18 seconds. We think that boil times for liquid fuel stoves are even less important than for other stoves because their other functions (including their versatility) are more important than speed.
The Reactor is fast to boil, even in the wind.
Credit: Jessica Haist
While our testing team is not usually impressed with boil times, numbers at either end of the range catch our attention. The PocketRocket Deluxe dominated this metric — when there was no wind — with a time of 3 minutes and 14 seconds. The Soto Amicus clocked in at 3 minutes 52 seconds, followed closely by the MSR Reactor, Soto WindMaster, and Jetboil MiniMo, which were practically tied at 4 minutes.
In our boil test, we pointed a fan blowing 2-4 mph wind at the flame of each stove.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Wind plays a big part in boil times. You'll unlikely have perfectly still conditions on your next backpacking trip, so we tested how these stoves would perform in the presence of 2-4 mph of “wind” generated by a box fan set to low. Some models could not boil water in these conditions, but most continued to perform reasonably well. Models that couldn't boil in front of the fan are indicated as “>15 min” because, after 15 minutes, we shut them off to stop wasting fuel.
Canister stoves usually do not come with windscreens, and manufacturers warn against using them in their instructions. The exception is the Windpro 2 and GSI Pinnacle. Their remote canister design separates the burner from the can, so using a windscreen that fully encloses the flames poses minimal risk. Nevertheless, these stoves saw their boil times increase in front of the fan. Several small canister stoves worked surprisingly well in the wind. The PocketRocket Deluxe boiled water in 5 minutes 27 seconds, a commendable speed. The Soto WindMaster and Amicus were close behind. These three canister stoves did well in this test because the burners are recessed below a lip on the edge of the burner, providing some added protection from the wind.
The integrated canister stoves fared much better. As expected, the Reactor did the best in this metric and was only slightly affected by the wind. The MiniMo, Flash, Windburner, and Lite+ all boiled water quickly because the bottom of their integrated pots sheltered their burner. It should be noted, however, that the MSR stoves can be difficult to light in the wind. And the stoves from Jetboil and Primus struggle in stronger wind gusts without some shelter. If a speedy time to boil is essential for your backcountry experience, consider one of the higher-ranking stoves in this category. However, while stove marketing and advertisements will try to convince you otherwise, we don't recommend making this metric the sole source for your decision-making.
The Windpro 2 performs better in the wind than any small canister stove, just make sure the windscreen is wrapped snugly around your cookware.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Conclusion
While there is no single backpacking stove for every application or budget, the stove selection above can take the backcountry enthusiast from a weekend for two on the Appalachian Trail to a week on the Colorado Plateau with a group of friends and the high peaks of the Alaska Range. Most of our testers and friends agree that food tastes better outdoors, especially when you do it right. We hope you find the right stove for your backcountry culinary desires that leads you to many happy, tasty meals in the great outdoors.
Our review team has rigorously tested everything on your backpacking gear list to remove the hassle of trial and error or guesswork. From backpacking tents to backpacking backpacks capable of carrying heavier loads, we're here to help you put together the best kit for any kind of excursion.
The small pot of the Lite+ is great for one hiker preparing a freeze-dried meal.
