The best camping stoves of 2023, tried and tested by an expert in the wild

Whether safe on a campsite or wild camping in mountains, moors or forests, the outdoors is the best place in the world to make a meal. Food just tastes better in the wild, maybe because of the effort required to cook on a camping stove, away from the mod-cons of our kitchens.

Just think about it: the scent of the fire, the feeling of mud between your toes, a river babbling in the background and the feeling of relief as you relax into your camping chair and taste your first bite. I maintain that even a cheap hotdog tastes like a Michelin starred meal when eaten under the stars. You just have to have the best camping stove for the job. 

What type of camping stove is best?

There are three basic types and it’s worth understanding their pros and cons.

Camping gas stoves, powered by screw-on or snap-on pressurised gas cylinders (usually a butane/propane mix) are available to buy from all camping shops and even supermarkets. These are very efficient to use and lightweight, with the ability to control the flame from low to high. But in cold weather they can be temperamental and it’s tricky to gauge how much gas you have left.

Liquid fuel stoves – such as the Trangia that many of us used in Scouts or on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions – use methylated spirits, paraffin and even petrol. They ignite easily, work in all weathers and the fuel is easy to source worldwide. But they don’t burn as hot as other fuels, so can take longer to cook on. 

Multi-fuel stoves, like the original Kelly Kettle invented in the 1890s, can use wood and twigs, dry grass, paper, cardboard and even dry animal dung. Basically, if it burns you can use it. They allow all the fun of a campfire but don’t scorch the ground, so are great for the environment. The only problem is that the flame can’t be turned up or down. (And, of course, if you can’t find anything to to use as fuel, you go hungry.)

All of these come in a range of sizes and weights. The smallest and lightest are backpacking stoves like the MSR Pocket Rocket. At the other end of the scale are camping cookers with multiple hobs, a grill and other extras, which are best for family camping trips by car. And if the kids (or you) are reliant on having a charged phone, you can even get a stove that charges devices via USB as it cooks.

Read on for this year’s best stoves in all the above categories, as well as some hints on how to use a camping stove. And if you’re heading off on an outdoor adventure, check out my guides to the best tents and the best sleeping bags before you go.