Best buys · The campsite and the trail

The best backpacking stove worth buying

Our pick is the Jetboil Flash. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The camp stove

Jetboil Flash

Boils water for coffee or a freeze-dried meal in a couple of minutes, and the burner packs inside its own cup. The fastest way from sleeping bag to hot drink.

Buy it for
Backpacking, fishing trips, the tailgate.
Skip it if
You cook real meals for a group. Get a two-burner camp stove.

What actually matters when buying a backpacking stove

  1. Boil time and fuel efficiency, which decide how much fuel you carry.
  2. A heat-exchanger pot, which boils faster and holds up better in wind.
  3. A system that packs together, so nothing rattles loose in a pack.

Either side of the pick