The Best Camping Burner For 2024

Katie Finn By, Katie Finn
Updated
Coleman Portable Butane Stove
Image credit: Amazon.com

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: Coleman Portable Butane Stove

Coleman Portable Butane Stove is a collapsible, ultra-portable stove that can be folded and stored in the included carry case. The stove’s rotating dial lets you easily control burners for precise temperature control, while the durable steel grates can be removed to facilitate thorough cleaning. Its lightweight design and included carry case make it easy to take with you wherever your adventure takes you. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: Coleman Gas Stove

Designed to be portable and lightweight, the Coleman 60000-BTU Portable Camp Stove with Adjustable Burner offers a convenient and economical fuel source. Reflecting your outdoor adventures, this versatile stove comes in five color options for your preferences. Read Review

3. Best Portable: Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove

Perfect for cooking both indoors and out, the Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove, Single Burner, combines performance with portability. The stove is easy to transport and can be set up in minutes. It features an innovative collapsible design that makes it perfect for backpacking or camping trips. Read Review

4. Best Versatile: Coleman Fold N Go Propane Stove

Coleman Fold N Go Propane Stove is the perfect cooking solution for any backpacking or camping adventure. This durable, folding stove has an easy-to-carry design, and it's built to last with its chrome-plated grates and durable construction. The 1" diameter burner on each side is adjustable for precise temperature control, so you're guaranteed precise cooking every time. Read Review

When you’re planning on going camping, one of the first things you have to think about is what kind of fuel you want to use. Although there are many different camp stoves and camp lanterns available, most of these can get a little expensive.

If you’re wondering which brand is the best for your next camping trip, then this article is for you. Here we’ll be discussing some of the top brands when it comes to camping stoves and lanterns. After reading through this article, you will know everything that you need to know about the best camping burner and its features.

Our team had to focus on researching for 18 hours to get such results for readers. This type of study uses customer star ratings and customer interviews on their product experiences. In addition, Coleman Portable Butane Stove is one of the most wonderful models available, and it comes highly recommended by us. We also show the other fantastic alternatives with a complete guide which is worth your consideration below.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Coleman Portable Butane Stove
Our Score:
9.7
Coleman
  • Lasts up to 1.25 hours on high on one 8.8 oz. butane gas cylinder (sold separately)
  • Adjustable burner gives precise temperature control, and large base offers stability for easy stirring
  • Durable porcelain-coated grate is easy to clean, and aluminum burner is rust-proof for years of use
TOP Choice #2 Coleman Gas Stove
Our Score:
9.6
Coleman
  • PRESSURE REGULATOR: Pressure control for consistent performance, even in extreme conditions
  • WIND BAFFLES: Shield burner from wind for maximum heat
  • 3-year limited warranty
TOP Choice #3 Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove
Our Score:
9.4
Coleman
  • RUNTIME: Up to 3 hours on high on a 16.4 oz. propane cylinder (sold separately)
  • COOKING POWER: Up to 7,500 total BTUs
  • EASY TO CLEAN: Removable chrome-plated grate
4 Coleman Fold N Go Propane Stove
Our Score:
9.3
Coleman
  • Matchless InstaStart ignition lights stove with the push of a button
  • Fits 2 pans (up to 10 inches each) and produces 20,000 total BTUs of cooking power
  • Runs over an hour with both burners on high on a 16.4-ounce propane cylinder (sold separately)
5 Coleman Camp Propane Grill/Stove+
Our Score:
9.1
Coleman
  • COOKING POWER: Up to 20,000 total BTUs
  • PRESSURE REGULATOR: Pressure-control technology provides consistent performance, even in extreme conditions
  • 2 ADJUSTABLE BURNERS: For precise temperature control
6 Coleman Gas Camping Grill/Stove
Our Score:
9.0
Coleman
  • 2 ADJUSTABLE BURNERS: For precise temperature control
  • COOKING POWER: Up to 20,000 total BTUs
  • PRESSURE REGULATOR: Pressure-control technology provides consistent performance, even in extreme conditions
7 Goplus Outdoor Camping Stove
Our Score:
8.8
Goplus
  • 🔥Powerful Cooking Ability: You can use 3 burners simultaneously but adjust the flame separately to cook different food. Each burner can output powerful fire of 75,000 BTU, cooking your food easily.
  • 🔥 Detachable Legs: With detachable legs, our camping stove can also be used as a countertop stove. Besides, it's more convenient for transportation and storage.
  • 🔥Sturdy & Durable Design: Made of cast iron, this propane cooker is sturdy enough to hold food and pots. Besides, improved high temperature powder spraying coating won't fall off, making the stove waterproof and anti-rust.
8 Chef Master 90019 Portable Butane Stove
Our Score:
8.7
Chef Master
  • PORTABLE CARRYING CASE - Each Butane Stove comes with a hard-shell carrying case to make the unit even more portable! It is easy to take this stove with you on every camping or hiking trip
  • PACKED WITH SAFETY FEATURES - This Butane Stove is packed with many essential safety features. It comes with an In-Line Regulator with Pressure-Sensing Shut-Off. If the pressure gets too high, the regulator will shut off flow to prevent dangerous flashbacks. The Butane Burner has a wind-guard to protect the flame from breeze or A/C.
  • PIEZO ELECTRIC IGNITION - The Chef Master 15,000 BTU Portable Camping Stove is designed with a Piezo electric ignition. This makes the stove super easy to start and easy to adjust the heat output. No need for a lighter as the burner ignites automatically
9 STANSPORT
Our Score:
8.6
Stansport
  • DESIGNED TO BEAT THE ELEMENTS: The oversize frame is constructed of durable steel and features 3 windscreens for easier and faster cooking in your mobile kitchen!
  • PORTABLE AND POWERFUL: This portable gas stove features dual oversize burners that pump out 25,000 BTU with a smaller 10,000 BTU burner in the center.
  • HIGH-PRESSURE REGULATOR: The included pressure regulator makes this propane stove the ideal travel grill for camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, and hunting enthusiasts alike!
  • SPACE-SAVING ★ Legs are easy to put on or remove for easy taking apart. Easy to take apart to store or throw in back of truck. Stove is 29.7 inch in height.
  • EASY OPERATION ★ Just connect the tank, open the main valve, hold a long match next to the burner, turn the control valve, and tweak the vent cover if the flame is too yellow.
  • STURDY FRAME ★ This outdoor cooker is made from cast iron, which can support all kinds of cooking. Great for canning, home brewing, wok cooking, crawfish boil and turkey frying.

Tips and strategies for selecting the best camping burner on the market

People are always attempting to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Whether they're shopping for new shoes or a new automobile, knowing which best camping burner to buy on the market might be difficult. Fortunately, this article gives some amazing keyword selection tips and tactics, so you don't have to worry about making a bad option!

BTUs

BTU is the British Thermal Unit. It's basically a measure of heat and energy. On average, a gas stove that you would find in your home uses 6,000 to 8,000 BTUs.
Lower BTUs are good for light and simmering cooking. Higher BTUs, which are above 10,000, indicate high heat cooking. This is great for longer cook times as well as for quick boiling of large quantities of water.

Simmer Control

Because boiling water doesn't always work, we did extensive testing on the simmer control. You need to not only be able boil water, but you also have to cook, bake, stir fry, stew, or grill in order to make a camp meal that is chef-worthy. To see the stacking of the burners/stoves, we measured their simmering temperatures.

Fuel Types And Capacities

As you can see, the majority of stoves in this article use propane canisters up to one-pound. Some stoves use butane as an alternative fuel. It all depends on the time it takes to cook meals, and on what temperature your burner is set. A one-pound canister usually lasts three to four meals.

Time To Boil

Camping is a great way to get out and enjoy nature. Yes, camping also involves enjoying the outdoors and good food. A camp stove must be able to boil water.
While some stoves boil in three minutes, others can take up to 10 minutes. A stove with the highest boiling time is considered a good stove. However, it doesn't always mean that the stove will be the most efficient. You may need to give up some boiling time if you want certain features like a lighter stove or an igniter.
The stoves that we tested were all able to light/start and heat the water in less than 8 minutes.

Number Of Burners

A two-burner camp stove is a good choice if you plan to spend at least 2-3 months camping each year, even if your household is small. You can cook with two burners, so you have both the option to use a pan and a pot, or make one main dish while cooking for a family of four.
Two-burner stoves remain the norm. There are many options for single-burner stoves, as well as a handful of three-burner models.

Performance In Wind

Consider how frequently and in what circumstances (such as cold weather) your stove will be used. You will have more chances to experience wind and harsh weather if you travel further.
It's not something that you should learn while on a 10 day camping trip along the New England coast. You can check the specifications, find out if your stove offers windscreens, and review customer experiences.
You can make your stove more efficient in colder areas by purchasing extra BTUs if you live in windy regions.

Ignition: Strikers Vs. Matches

Sometimes called piezo incendiers, or auto-igniters, strikers are buttons that use electricity to excite a spark and ignite a stove. It's similar to the button that lights up the pilot light in your home stove.
Metal and flint are other options for sparking. A camp stove with an integrated igniter is my preference. As long as it works well, I will always use this option.
A match is your last choice for lighting your camp stove. Matches can prove to be wasteful and fragile. They also don't all hold up well in harsh weather. As an alternative, you can always take flint and some matches.

Weight And Packed Size

The biggest difference between stoves in this category is their weight. These stoves can be carried around in your car, but they are designed for camping. Weight might not be as important if you are looking for a strong and reliable two-burner.
Packing size is what matters more. You have a limited amount of space at your campsite or in your vehicle. You should check to make sure the stove can fit into a bag, is covered, and where the grill and fuel lines are stored. Are all the pieces stored in one place? Are accessories taking up more space than the main item? All these factors should be considered for your individual preferences and needs.

FAQs

What Burn Time Should I Look Out For?

Stoves are often advertised with their boil and burn times. This is especially important if your campsite is far from civilization. You should also consider your weight, especially if backpacking. It is also useful to transport and store your stove in its own containers or bag.

Backpacking Stove Vs. Camping Stove: What's The Difference?

The backpacking stoves can be small, single-burner units. They fit into a backpack or even your palm. They weigh in at a mere ounce. However, camping stoves are only used for "base camp", whether you're camping in a car, truck, National Parks or somewhere else.
The camp stove is larger and more heavy (8-14 lbs) and can be placed on top of a truck bed, tabletop, picnic table or camp table to convert your campsite into a kitchen.
You now have all of the information you need to camp, cook, and just enjoy the outdoors.

I’m Going To Travel. Which Type Of Stove Would Be Best?

It depends. A backpacking stove is the best option if you are traveling on foot with a backpack. Car? Get a camping stove for your car. Check with the airline to find out what they allow you to bring aboard, and what fuels will be available. Most airlines won't allow you to fly without fuel.

Can You Use A Camping Stove Inside A Tent?

No. No. Your tent may catch on fire, and your body could be engulfed in a molten nylon coating, leading to a terrible, unimaginable death.

Which Is Better — A Butane Or Propane Camping Stove?

Butane as well as propane both have pros and cons. Both gases are compressed gases, which is gas stored in liquid form. Butane performs less in colder temperatures. There are many sizes of propane canisters. This makes it easier to find the right size for your needs.
You should consider the climate in which you will be using your camp stove most often. You can also find propane in large cities, rural areas, and general stores close to national parks or state lines.

What Size Do I Need?

There are many sizes of stoves, from small ultra-light ones to large multi-hob models with grills. These can be used to prepare almost any meal you make at home. A simple, small camping stove is sufficient for camping solo or with your partner.
A lightweight backpacking stove that can work in all weather conditions is worth it if you are going on an extended expedition or wild camping trip. We recommend buying the largest camping stove possible if you plan to take your family on a camping trip. Having multiple burners allows you to cook in every field.

Are Multi-Fuel Stoves Difficult To Use?

No. They do require more preparation and care than canister stoves. They are easy to learn once you have the necessary procedures.

What Stove Is Best For Cooking Actual Food?

A stove with enough BTU output and can heat is the best. It can be used to cook food in a pot. These stoves are generally used for car camping/basecamp cooking.

Conclusion

Choosing the best camping burner for your purposes might be a difficult challenge. It is critical to remember what you want to achieve with the purchase as well as any factors that may influence your selection. 
Whether it's as basic as reading reviews before purchasing or inspecting images of best camping burner on the market from numerous perspectives. When you wish to locate another one, you may also look at the ROVSUN 3 Burner High Pressure Outdoor Camping Burner. Now, let’s pick one for you!


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About Katie Finn

Katie Finn

Katie Finn is a freelance writer who loves to explore the world and go camping. She's also an editor for CampfireHQ, where she enjoys writing about wildlife and camping tips. She also has a passion for reading and learning new things, which she often incorporates into her writing.

Read Katie's full bio