Best camping stoves 2024

The best camping stoves enable you to enjoy the great outdoors without losing the convenience of cooking at home.

That's why our tests focus on finding the easiest to use, the quickest to heat and the most fuel-efficient. Camping stoves that burn through lots of fuel and take a long time to heat can really put a dampener on your camping trip even before the rain starts – and we've found some stark differences between models.

We test popular camping stoves from Alpkit, Quechua, Campingaz, MSR and more, to see which ones you should take on your next camping trip. 

We've mainly tested compact stoves, as they're the most popular type at leading UK retailers, but we've also tested some larger, two-burner camping stoves. 

The best camping stoves from our tests

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The camping stoves we tested

All the camping stoves we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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Alpkit Brukit

Available from Alpkit (£49.99)

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 19 x 13 x 13cm (HxWxD); 585g

Recommended fuel(s) Screw-on butane/propane gas canisters

Need to know Piezo ignition, cooking cup with carry handle, storage bag, and canister stand included

Campingaz Camp Bistro Elite Cooking Stove

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 13.3 x 28.4 x 34.3 (HxWxD); 1.6kg

Recommended fuel(s) CP250 or A4 gas cartridges

Need to know Piezo ignition, carry case included

Campingaz Camping Chef Folding Double Burner & Toaster

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Number of burners 2

Size (packed) and weight 8.5 x 59.5 x 32.5cm (HxWxD); 4kg

Recommended fuel(s) Butane gas canister (hose and regulator required)

Need to know Piezo ignition, toast tray included

Coleman FyreStorm PCS

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 16.2 x 14 x 14cm (HxWxD); 606g

Recommended fuel(s) Screw-on butane/propane gas canisters

Need to know Piezo ignition, cooking pot with sleeve/carry handle and wind shield included, hose and gas regulator included

Go System Dynasty II Compact Camping Stove

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 13 x 34 x 28cm (HxWxD); 1.45kg

Recommended fuel(s) CP250 or A4 gas cartridges

Need to know Piezo ignition, carry case included

Halfords Double Stove with Grill

Available from Halfords (£35)

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Number of burners 2

Size (packed) and weight 8.5 x 59.5 x 32.5cm (HxWxD); 4.2kg

Recommended fuel(s) Butane gas canister (hose and regulator required)

Need to know Piezo ignition, toast tray included

Halfords Portable Gas Stove

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 10 x 34 x 28cm (HxWxD); 1.47kg

Recommended fuel(s) CP250 or A4 gas cartridges

Need to know Piezo ignition, carry case included

Jetboil Zip Cooking System

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 15.5 x 10.5 x 11cm (HxWxD); 354g

Recommended fuel(s) Screw-on butane/propane gas canisters

Need to know Piezo ignition, fuel canister stabiliser and cooking cup with sleeve/carry handle included

MSR PocketRocket

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 10.2 x 5 x 5cm (HxWxD); 73g

Recommended fuel(s) Screw-on butane/propane gas canisters

Need to know Piezo ignition, carry case included

Trangia Mini Stove

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 15 x 6.7 x 6.7cm (HxWxD); 330g

Recommended fuel(s) Methylated spirit

Need to know Frypan, saucepan, windshield and detachable handle included

Vango Folding Gas Stove

Available from Vango (£40)

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Number of burners 1

Size (packed) and weight 11 x 9.3 x 6.3cm (HxWxD); 0.23kg

Recommended fuel(s) Screw-on butane/propane gas canisters

Need to know Carry case included, gas hose and regulator included

How we test camping stoves

We select the UK's most popular camping stoves, including those from Alpkit, Jetboil, Vango, Coleman and more. We buy each stove we test.

We regularly assess the camping stoves on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them we do.

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Speed to boil, wind resistance and fuel efficiency

• We time how long it takes each stove to boil one litre of cold tap water, and for each camping stove we also record how much of a difference there is in those boiling times when a light breeze is blowing.
• We set each camping stove to burn at full power for five minutes, and weigh the gas canister before and after to assess how efficiently the stove burns through fuel.

Portability and ease of use

• We use each stove to cook up sausages and eggs and give an appraisal of how easy it is to use, taking into account the heat controls, stability, ease of lighting and how widely the stove spreads its heat.
• We also take the size and weight of each stove into account, as lighter, more compact stoves are likely to be more convenient on camping trips.

See our picks of the 10 best tents from our tests, the best 2 and 3-person tents, the best 4 and 5-person tents, the best 6-person and larger tents, and the best pop-up tents.

How to use a camping stove

1. Ensure you're using the right type of gas. Most large camping stoves in the UK require a canister you attach with a gas hose and regulator, and they typically use small freestanding patio gas or butane gas cylinders. Compact camping stoves usually take a screw-on mini canister that is usually a mix of butane and propane, and single-ring stoves take A4 gas cartridges.
2. You shouldn't need more than one canister per day. Even the smallest gas cartridges should last for at least three hours of continuous use. Definitely have spares to hand though, especially if you're taking your stove on a lengthy camping trip.
3. Set up your camping stove on a flat surface clear of trip hazards/flammable objects and in a place that's not too breezy. Before lighting, check the hose for leaks at both ends.
4. Light your stove using either piezo ignition if your stove has it, or a match if it doesn't. There should be a gas regulator on the burner - use this to control the heat levels as you would a hob at home.
5. Heat tends to be concentrated in the middle, and there isn't much surface area on camping stove burners so, if you can, stick to smaller pans - especially with compact stoves. We'd recommend pans of less than 20cm diameter.
6. Once you've finished cooking, make sure to turn the regulator off completely and then disconnect the gas from the burner.

Camping stove types: which is best for you?

Camping stoves come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a range of features, making it tricky to decide which one to buy.

They mostly fall into two types:

1. Lightweight, compact stoves with single burners
2. Larger, heavier camping stoves with several burners and a design that's more similar to your home cooker.

There are exceptions, however. The Campingaz Camp Bistro 2 and the Kemper Camping Stove Xtra Smart are medium-sized but only have a single burner – so they're a compromise between the portability of the compact stove and the familiar cooking experience of a larger one.

Ask yourself these questions before you shop, to work out which camping stove is best for you:

• How many people will I be cooking for? If you're a large party and only have one cooker, you'll probably need more than one burner. This means a compact stove won't be much use as they rarely have more than one burner. Plus you might struggle to cook using big pots.
• Will my meals require more than one burner? Even if you're camping solo, you should think through the meals you'll want to cook and how many burners you normally use at home. If you aren't keen on one-pot meals, you'll probably need a stove with at least two burners.
• What type of outdoor trips am I taking? Backpackers and anyone who likes to camp with minimal gear will be drawn to a single-burner stove that packs up small and weighs very little. However, if you'll only be taking camping trips with your car and have plenty of room, you could go for a larger model.
• Do I have room for a gas canister? It can be easy to only focus on the camping stove itself and forget the fuel you'll need to burn with it. If you've got a larger stove, you'll probably need a large canister to go with it, which means even more bulk and weight in your vehicle.

Need somewhere to keep your food and drink cool? Check out the best cool boxes and the best cooler bags.

Can I use a camping stove in a park?

The rules that apply to barbecues also apply to camping stoves. If it's a public park, you'll need to check the by-laws of the area which will be available on the local council's website. They will say whether barbecues are allowed in their public open spaces or not. Most do not allow it.

If it's a privately owned park, you'll need permission from the landowner. This includes land owned by charities such as the National Trust. The latter generally prohibits the use of barbecues in its parks.

Can you use a camping stove indoors?

You can, but as you're dealing with an open gas-powered flame, you should ensure there's a good amount of ventilation before you use one to cook.

Using a camping stove instead of your main gas cooker to save money isn't a good idea, as a camping stove is highly unlikely to be cheaper.

Advice varies on how much gas hobs cost to use, and it does depend on the size of the hob ring you use and the heat level you set your hob to. At the time of writing (May 2024) a single large burner on a gas hob costs roughly 21p per hour to use. A typical 250ml gas bottle for a portable gas stove will cost around 96p per hour to use and will only last three hours.

Read our handy comparison of how much it costs to use different kitchen appliances to cook your food.

Five things you need to know before buying a camping stove

1) Flame types vary

Although you can get standard gas hob-style flames, there are camping stoves available that have welding-style flames with intense heat and an audible roar.

The stoves we've tested with this type of flame usually burn the hottest and tend to be more resistant to wind interference than standard burners.

However, they also concentrate their heat on a much smaller point, so if you've got a wide pan, you might find the food in the centre cooks more quickly.

2) Smaller stoves are trickier to control

Some smaller camping stoves pack plenty of punch in the heat they give out, which is useful for boiling a kettle but might be problematic for more precise cooking.

The gas regulators on these stoves are often small and don't take much turning to adjust the power of the stove significantly. A slight touch can make the flame go from powerful to very powerful.

This makes it difficult to cook on a low heat with stoves of this size, and being precise with the heat settings is particularly tricky.

3) Piezo ignition can be temperamental

Click ignition systems are handy, but not always reliable.

In case there's a lot of wind on your camping trip, or if the piezo ignition simply won't play ball, it's worth having a box of matches on standby so you can light your stove manually.

4) Fuel efficiency varies greatly

Some stoves we've tested burned through twice as much gas at full power than others, and it didn't necessarily mean they boiled the kettle twice as fast.

The sweet spot is finding a stove that doesn't use too much fuel but still gives out plenty of heat that w'll get your brew ready in good time. Our tests have managed to find a few of these gems.

5) Burner size matters

On your cooker at home, you'll usually have a selection of different-sized burners, and you'll select the one best suited to the size of your cooking pot.

Choosing a small burner for a large pot runs the risk of the heat being concentrated in the centre, leaving the edges of your food undercooked.

This applies to camping stoves, too, although you're unlikely to find many stoves that have different-sized burners.

To cook food evenly in a larger pot, you may have to exercise some patience and gradually build up the heat of your stove. If you blast too much heat too quickly, you're likely to find well-done food in the middle and raw food around the edges.

Pick the perfect pan for cooking with our guide to the best non-stick frying pans.