Camping Stoves

Camping stoves are essential for backpack hiking overnight trips. That does not mean every Scout must have one. Scouts can share stoves to cook their meals. Working this out prior to a campout is a must, it will also allow the Scouts to distribute weight between them. If one carries the stove, maybe the other carries more food or more of the tent.

A Scout may also purchase a more inexpensive stove, such as an Esbit (see below). Later, once a Scout has a Canister stove, the Esbit can still be packed as a backup in case you run out of fuel.

Canister Stove

  • ex: SR PocketRocket Deluxe

  • price: $50-80

  • benefits: Lightweight. Rim provides windbreak

  • Must supply your on cooking equipment

Integrated Canister

  • ex: Jetboil Flash

  • price: $115

  • benefits: Efficient with use of radiator fins

  • cons: bulky

Solid Fuel Stove

  • ex: Esbit

  • price: $15

  • benefits: cost, lightweight

  • Good inexpensive first stove or as backup

Features to look for:

  • Piezo igniter

  • Lip on burner. Wind screen

  • Pack weight

  • Boil time in wind

  • Additional equipment needed to boil water

Also check out the list of stores and other resources on the Stores and Other Resources page.

Various Review Articles:

A Complete Solution (but there are others out there)

  • MSR PocketRocket 2 Mini Solo Stove Kit

  • price: $68-90 (Moosejaw)

  • An ultra-compact cook-and-eat kit for minimalist solo backpackers, it features the fast-boiling PocketRocket 2 stove and is perfectly sized to make hot water for one pouch meal or cup of coffee. For efficiency, its pot doubles as your eat-and-drink vessel and nests the stove and a 4 oz MSR fuel canister. Outside, the extra bowl comes at no packing penalty.

  • Ultra-Compact: Efficient nesting design saves precious space and slips easily into smaller packs; also makes a great back-up cook solution.

  • Ultralight: Whole kit weighs just 278 g (9.9 oz), keeping pack weight to minimum.

  • Fast-Boiling: PocketRocket 2 stove boils 1 liter of water in just 3.5 minutes.

  • Versatile: Pot’s insulated grip allows it to serve as an eating and drinking vessel; pot lid doubles as a strainer; bowl is hot- and cold-safe.

  • Includes: PocketRocket 2 stove, .75 L hard-anodized aluminum pot, 16 oz. bowl*, clear lid* with straining ports, ultralight mini pot lifter, stuff sack. Room to nest 4 oz IsoPro™ fuel canister (sold separately).