Don't go camping without one of these

You checked all the essentials for your camping trip: tent, sleeping bag, bug spray — the list goes on. All that's left to do is think about how you're going to cook food outside. You could stick to roasting hot dogs or trying to hold a skillet over a fire pit, but you can do better than that.

A camping stove gives you a better surface for cooking actual meals. Plus, not every campsite will have a fire pit, so you want to be prepared.

Types of camping stoves

Not every camp stove is the same. They come in different shapes, sizes, and fuel types. For backpacking, you need a small stove than can fit in your pack without taking up too much room or weighing too heavily. The BioLite CampStove 2 is relatively small and lightweight, but for long backpack excursions, we suggest the MSR PocketRocket 2, which is basically just a burner with a couple cooking accessories and is super compact and lightweight.

Even if you aren't having to lug around a stove on your back, you still want to consider the size. Make sure you get a camping stove that fits in your vehicle. And get a clear picture of your campsite setup if you can — if you get a table-top camp stove, you've got to have access to a surface big enough to comfortably fit it.

The most common fuel types for camping stoves are propane and butane. There are also a couple stoves that rely on wood, charcoal, or pellet fires. Most camp stoves do not come with fuel canisters — especially if you buy them online because companies are not allowed to ship flammable contents. If you don't want to depend on a gas stove with a butane or propane tank, opt for one of the fire-fueled stoves.

What to look for in a camping stove

Aside from figuring out the type of fuel that will work best for your needs, there are some other factors to pay attention to. Heat output is one of the most important features because it will determine how efficiently you're able to cook.

Heat is measured as a British thermal unit, or BTU, which is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. All that to say, a higher BTU means shorter boil and cook times. 

Depending on your cooking needs, pay attention to whether a stove has adjustable heat settings — you don't want to sauté at the same heat level that you use to boil water. Also consider the type of cooking surface you want — are you more focused on sticking a pan on top of a burner or do you need a grilling surface? Some stoves feature both.

Are camping stoves worth it?

If you're going to be camping for more than one night, we suggest getting a camp stove. Just because you're sleeping outside doesn't mean you have to eat like shit. You can still feel just as outdoorsy and Davy Crockett while cooking on a stove versus over a fire pit.

We've rounded up eight of our favorite camping stoves for different types of outdoor situations, whether you're backpacking, hunkering down at a site for a few days, or doing some backyard camping.

Best portable stove

Image: biolite The Good Fire generates power to charge devices • Adjustable airflow The Bad Cooking surfaces sold separately The Bottom Line You can control the level of your fire and use the energy from it to charge your phone with this stove. 1. BioLite CampStove 2 This stove is small enough to fit in a pack and harnesses power to charge your devices.

• Fuel type: Wood
• Heat output (per burner): 10,000 BTUs

$149.95 from REI Not only is the BioLite CampStove 2 a reliable portable stove, it also generates power as you use it and features a USB port to give you the ability to charge your devices. Sticks, wood scraps, and pellets are suitable to burn in this small stove.
Adjustable fans let you control how much airflow your fire is getting. An LED panel on the outside of the stove allows you to see what's happening inside. It shows you the heat of your fire, speed of your airflow, and how much power you have to charge devices.
As for efficiency, a liter of water will take about four and a half minutes to boil on the CampStove 2. This portable stove is ideal for camping without an elaborate setup as you can just place it directly on the ground at your site.

Best budget camping stove

Image: coleman The Good Temperature control • Instant start • Affordable The Bad No wind guard • Takes a while to boil The Bottom Line This is a basic stove at an affordable price. 2. Coleman portable butane stove This stove is a nice size for your basic cooking needs.

• Fuel type: Butane
• Heat output (per burner): 7,650 BTUs

$34.95 from REI With an automatic ignition, the Coleman portable butane stove is ready to cook whenever you are. It has a compact design that fits on most outdoor tabletops and can accommodate up to a 10-inch pan.
Because of its tabletop nature, the Coleman stove is best suited for campsites with a picnic table or some other type of surface. Its automatic ignition makes it really nice to use on the fly. You don't have to fiddle with a lighter or anything.
The size of this stove is right in the sweet spot for camping when you have access to a vehicle. It's not small enough that you can backpack with it, but it's not so huge that you need a pickup truck or trailer hitch to transport it. It uses butane fuel canisters, which you can easily find at camping and recreational stores when you need replacements.

Best for grilling

Image: coleman The Good Good-sized cooking surface • Adjustable heat settings • Dual cooking surfaces The Bad Some reviewers mentioned the grill plate melting The Bottom Line This stove allows you to grill and cook things on a burner at the same time. 3. Coleman propane grill stove This multi-use stove features a grill and a burner.

• Fuel type: Propane
• Heat output (per burner): 11,000 BTUs

$138.95 from REI For all your grilling needs, the Coleman propane grill stove provides the ideal surface at a portable size. It has a grill plate and a stove burner that can be used at the same time, so you can do multiple types of cooking.
The burner holds pots and pans up to 10 inches while the grill offers 130 square inches of cooking area. The stove itself has nonskid feet, so you don't have to worry about it sliding off a picnic table or makeshift surface.
It has an instant ignition and heat control to keep each burner temperature steady. You can adjust what the actual temperature is set at. The stove has a one-hour runtime with both burners running on high, and water takes about three minutes to boil.

Best beginner camping stove

Image: camp chef The Good Three-sided wind blocking • Carrying handle and lid The Bad Some reviewers mentioned the latches were loose The Bottom Line A straightforward portable stove, the Everest is good for beginners and pros. 4. Camp Chef Everest If you're new to outdoor cooking, this is a good place to start.

• Fuel type: Propane
• Heat output (per burner): 20,000 BTUs

$129.99 from Dick's Sporting Goods The Camp Chef Everest is a pretty standard camping grill, with two burners and a lid that doubles as a wind guard. It's portable, weighing in at 12 pounds.
This is a solid entry-level stove for campers. The matchless ignition is easy to light, it has adjustable heat controls, and its compact size and carrying handle makes it easy to tote around — though, it's not small enough to be a suitable stove for backpackers.
The stove is a bit on the long side, so keep that in mind when planning a surface on which to use it. Also note that it doesn't have non-slip feet, so it might slide around a bit when you start it or adjust heat.

Best backpacking stove

Image: msr The Good Small size • Includes cooking accessories The Bad Can't cook a lot at once • Doesn't include fuel canister • Kind of pricey for what you get The Bottom Line Backpackers will love this stove — just remember to pick up a fuel canister. 5. MSR PocketRocket 2 This tiny, lightweight camping stove is great for backpackers.

• Fuel type: Isobutane-propane
• Heat output (per burner): 8,000 BTUs

$79.95 from REI Weighing in at just under 10 ounces, this tiny MSR PocketRocket 2 stove is perfect for backpackers. It can easily fit into a pack without feeling heavy or taking up too much space.
Though it's small, this mighty stove can bring water to a boil in just three and a half minutes. It comes with an aluminum pot, bowl, and clear lid with straining ports — all of which are stackable and portable. 
You're not going to be able to cook a huge meal on this thing, but it's really great if you're doing some hiking and/or don't have a large campsite. Heads up, this stove kit does not actually come with a fuel canister, so you will have to pick up an isobutane-propane canister.

Best for large groups

Image: camp chef The Good Grill grate included • Detachable legs • Large cooking space The Bad Windscreen doesn't block underside • Heavy The Bottom Line This stove provides adequate space if you're doing a lot of cooking. 6. Camp Chef Explorer At a larger size, this stove is ideal for extended camping or large groups.

• Fuel type: Propane
• Heat output (per burner): 30,000 BTUs

$129.99 from Dick's Sporting Goods If you're hunkering down at a campsite for a while, you might want a bigger cooking option like the Camp Chef Explorer. It's like a full-sized grill, but more portable. It has a lightweight frame and features two burners and detachable grill grate.
The grill features a three-sided windscreen to keep you cooking even when the weather isn't cooperating. It has commercial-grade, cast-aluminum burners that put out high heat.
This thing takes up quite a bit of space, so it's probably not the best choice for someone who is going to be moving from site to site. (It weighs 40 pounds.) The nice thing is that its legs are detachable to make transporting and storing easier.

Best for fire pits

Image: adjust-a-grill The Good Simple to set up • Don't need fuel canister The Bad Bulky • Stake is on the shorter side The Bottom Line Easily transform a fire pit into a cooking surface with this grill grate. 7. Adjust-A-Grill No fuel required, 'cause this grill plate sits above your fire pit.

• Fuel type: Wood

$49.99 from Cabela's With Adjust-A-Grill you're able to get that smokey campfire taste without having to hold a stick or a pan over an open flame. It's not really a "stove" per se, but it's a really simple solution if you already have a fire pit.
To set up the Adjust-A-Grill, drive the steel post into the ground next to the fire pit and then slide the grill onto it and tighten to your preferred position.
This grill plate is a bit bulky and hard to transport, so this is definitely for situations where you'll have a vehicle. Or you can use it for your backyard fire pit if you have bonfires or do any at-home camping.

Best for an open flame

Image: biolite The Good Less smoke than a standard fire pit • Adjustable fan speeds The Bad Pricey • Does not replace the warmth aspect of a fire pit The Bottom Line This portable fire pit lets you cook stovetop meals and roast s'mores. 8. BioLite FirePit For campsites lacking fire pits, this provides an open flame for cooking.

• Fuel type: Wood and charcoal

$249.95 from REI Not everywhere you camp is going to have a fire pit, so sometimes you have to bring your own. The BioLite FirePit is a portable pit that you can set up wherever you need it.
It has a system of air jets the keep the fire alive with consistent heat and little smoke. This fire pit features low, medium, and high fan speeds, which you can actually control from an app on your phone.
You can fit up to four logs in the BioLite FirePit and the flames are controlled from an external battery pack, which can last up to 24 hours on low before needing recharged. The body of the pit is made of mesh, allowing you to see what's happening inside. Its legs fold up for easier transportation.
Unlike a regular fire pit, this is just for cooking, and won't output enough heat to keep you warm. The flames are contained and don't replace a campfire.