Backpacking and camping are among the top ones on many peoples’ “to-try” list, but they aren’t something to readily jump into without any prior knowledgeof. Basic survival skills, the best backpacking camp stove, how not to accidentally set the woods on fire—all important things you need to know before going on your big adventure.
Before you attack us with pitchforks about how you’ve already done all this research, it’s never a bad thing to know more.
We’re sure you’re all sorts of excited about going out there and becoming one with nature and embracing that “backpacker life,” but you may want to consider slowing down and taking some baby steps.
Today’s Best Backpacking Camp Stoves
It’s tempting as a first timer to go with the cheapest equipment to test things out, but with something that involves life and death situations, it probably isn’t the best idea for a beginner to go out camping with nothing but their bare hands and a can of soup.
Let’s take cooking during camping as an example. A DIY stove may seem like a good cheap alternative, but for a beginner, it may be best to stick with something that’s easy to use and set up and doesn’t take much effort to work out how to fuel.
We’ve compiled a list of great wood burning camping stoves, to give you some ideas hopefully.
kampMATE WoodFlame Ultra Lightweight and Portable Wood Burning Camping Stove
Features
The kampMATE WoodFlame Ultra Lightweight Portable Wood Burning Camping Stove is a great unit that comes with a nylon carry case. It’s perfect for anything from stocking survival packs to camping weekends.
- It’s a wood burning camping stove that’s collapsible, lightweight and compact.
- The camping stove folds flat for easy transport and storage and comes with a neat nylon carry case.
- It’s ideal for cooking using a wood of course, but can also be used with charcoal, stereo fuel, Esbit tablets, cedar pucks, or any bio-mass.
- It weighs 520g or 1.1lbs and is 0.8mm thick with edges that are processed in such a way that you won’t accidentally cut yourself when you assemble or fold up the unit.
- The camping stove has reinforced bends for added strength.
- It has a removable pot rack made from stainless steel.
- It has highly efficient air ventilation shafts.
Pros
- Its compact size and ability to fold make it perfect for ultralight backpacking.
- Incredibly simple to assemble and to fold back up again.
- Conducts heat very well, making cooking or boiling water incredibly easy.
- It is not flimsy despite being lightweight; made from high-quality stainless steel.
- Larger than average wood-feeding area, meaning you don’t have to chop up your branches or fuel into tiny pieces to fit into a small opening.
- Cooks fast with very little wood or fuel.
Cons
- Compared to other stoves of this nature, it may be too large and heavy for less than two people to tote around.
- Depending on the person, the wood-feeding area’s large size can be seen as needless.
- Learning how to maintain the fire for ideal cooking conditions may take getting used to.
Uberleben Stoker Flatpack Wood Burning Stove
Features
The Uberleben Stoker Flatpack Wood Burning Stove is a wonderful bio wood burning stove that’s minimalist and perfect for backpacking.
- Has an ergonomic design
- The Uberleben stove is fuelled fully by organic matter, and also works with charcoal, Esbit tablets, and the like.
- It is collapsible and portable, weighing only 14.5oz.
- The ultra-lightweight stove can be easily kept away and entirely dismantled in a bag.
- The Uberleben Stoker stove is built to be durable and to hold a fire securely; is created from 100% best-quality stainless steel.
- It provides a consistent fire source and is anti-corrosive, regardless of the weather conditions.
- It has a wide-mouth fuel door that is beyond 2.5in, making fuel loading incredibly easy.
- It has a floor that is of high ventilation, allowing for more oxygen flow.
Pros
- It’s light enough to tote around but strong and durable enough to handle long cooking sessions with heavier cookware.
- Flame retention is excellent, and the design of the stove places it high enough off the ground to allow for proper airflow.
- The walls are solid and prevent a flame blowout from the wind.
Cons
- There is a slightly steep learning curve when assembling it for the first time.
- The first few times you disassemble the stove after cooking, you may find that it is a little tight around the cross pieces.
Wolfyok Portable Stainless Steel Wood Burning Camp Stove
Features
The Wolfyok Portable Stainless Steel Wood Burning Camp Stove is a durable unit that’s perfect for all your camping needs.
- The Wolfyok camp stove is created from top-quality stainless steel, making it resistant to corrosion.
- Its foldable pot support system makes it easy to store in a neat mesh bag, and incredibly convenient for just tossing into a backpack.
- The Wolfyok stove uses twigs, leaves, pinecones, and wood as fuel, so you don’t have to worry about lugging fuel canisters around.
- The three stainless-steel-arms pot support system provides an incredibly stable platform for cooking and allows for heat to distribute evenly.
Pros
- The Wolfyok camp stove is very lightweight.
- Very easy to set up and use.
- Heat retention is very good, and it can get hot.
- The steel arms provide a great surface for cooking, so you don’t have to worry about pots and pans slipping off.
Cons
- Is not fully collapsible, so it isn’t as compact.
- Does not come with instructions, so unless you are familiar with camp stoves, there may be a slightly steep learning curve.
- The design puts the stove quite low to the ground, so to get proper airflow you will have to lift the bottom off of the ground.
Summary
Across the board, all three are excellent wood burning camp stoves that are ideal for backpacking. What makes one better than the other, with regards to someone just starting out, will most likely be portability and ease of use.While all three are pretty intuitive when it comes to usage, the Uberleben Stoker Burning Stove is the most compact.
This stove would be best for someone just starting out as their backpacks will probably be filled with many things a beginner would need that a seasoned camper wouldn’t necessarily have.