Mary Witlacil

We compared backpacking stoves from Soto, Jetboil, MSR, and more to find the best for your next backcountry adventure By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Updated May 8, 2026 Contributions From: Mary Witlacil & Ian McEleney Ounce for ounce, no piece of gear is as crucial as your backpacking stove. The perfect stove balances ultralight packability, great fuel efficiency, and the ability to rapidly boil water or gently simmer a sauce, even when the wind kicks up.

We fried, simmered, and boiled with 11 camping stoves from Camp Chef, Coleman, Jetboil, and more to help you find the ideal outdoor kitchen staple. By Kate Pitts ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Updated March 30, 2026 A great camping stove needs to be powerful enough to boil water in a breeze, yet delicate enough to simmer a sauce without scorching it. The stove we recommend for most campers is the . It's a powerful stove with a great windscreen and performed well across every single test metric.

Price:  $30 List Manufacturer: Camp Chef By Mary Witlacil ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  March 30, 2026 67 OVERALL SCORE RANKED #5 of 12 Boil Time - 30% 10.0 Simmering Ability - 25% 7.0 Ease of Use - 20% 3.0 Portability - 20% 5.0 Fuel Efficiency - 5% 6.0 Our Verdict The Gas One High Pressure Burner is a sturdy, cost-effective stove built for sheer power. Featuring a massive 6-inch burner, it boasts an incredibly fast three-and-a-half-minute boil time, making it perfect for large pots and big groups.