The Finest Tenting Stoves of 2022

We tested stoves from all of the top brands to determine the best camping stoves for 2022. Whether you’re a car camping pro or are just getting started, we’ve got you covered.

Camping and food go hand in hand, especially when car camping affords you the luxury of a two-burner stove.

This year, we tested a few new stoves and retested many previous top picks. With years of combined experience with camp cooking, we used our collective knowledge to narrow down the best camping stoves available today.

For each stove in this comprehensive review, we considered design, ease of use, BTUs, windy weather performance, simmer control, weight, cost, and boil time. On the surface, these stoves all have a lot in common, but each has unique features that stand out for specific uses.

This list is for car camping stoves. If you want to eat hot food while hiking or backpacking, check out our review of the best backpacking stoves.

Scroll through to see all of our recommended buys or jump to the category you’re looking for. At the end of our list, be sure to check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide.

The Best Camping Stoves of 2022

Best Overall Camping Stove: Camp Chef Everest 2X

The Camp Chef Everest 2X ($190) replaced the older Mountain Series Summit model from this brand. The Everest is definitely as high-powered as its predecessor (if not more so), with two 20,000-BTU burners, an auto-igniter, and a redesigned burner area and exterior.

Although the Camp Chef Everest has the strongest burners we tested, it still simmers well. And with the new burner and surface design, you get a few more cubic inches of cooking space for the same weight.

Gear Editor Mallory Paige lives in an off-grid cabin and has been using the Everest 2X as her family’s primary stove. After cooking up to three meals a day on it for over a year, the stove has held up impressively well.

The striker still works, and the mix of high output settings and good simmer control meets the demands of any cook. From quickly boiling water at high altitude to carefully toasting pine nuts, it does it all. This stove roars to life for heavy-duty use, but is delicate enough for finer cooking.

The previous contender for the best overall stove, the Camp Chef Summit 2-Burner Camp Stove ($150) model, also has impressive heat output, but we had issues with the striker (and the price tag). This year, we found the auto-igniter on the Everest 2X to be much more consistent, and the redesign adds features that make it our overall best camping stove.

Pros:

• Produces strong flames
• Works well in windy conditions
• Burner design evenly spreads out heat
• Windscreen tabs stay secure with exterior locks, which is a nice touch

Cons:

• A bit heavier (12 lbs.) and bulkier than we’d like

Check Price at REI

Runner Up: Kovea Slim Twin Propane Camp Stove

This stove impressed us from the get-go for two main reasons: the design and functionality. The Kovea Slim Twin ($129) was almost completely redesigned last year, with two 10,500-BTU burners, short and sturdy legs that work well on a variety of surfaces, adjustable windscreens, and an incorporated piezo igniter.

When we tested an older model of the Kovea Slim stove, we had issues with the leg supports — they were thin and wobbly. Additionally, the burner design required two separate propane cans. The simmer control wasn’t ideal for delicate dishes, and the price was a bit high for a camping stove with that many issues.

Overall, Kovea made tons of great updates, and the effort shows. The only downside would be that a propane adapter doesn’t fit inside the stove for storage. Weighing in at 10 pounds, the Kovea Twin Slim is a fantastic improvement on the old model, making it one of the best camping stoves of 2022.

Pros:

• Slim and packable, yet sturdy
• Performs well across the board
• Great price point for the ingenuity

Cons:

• Adapter doesn’t fit inside for storage. (We recommend labeling it or attaching a leash, carabiner, or clip to the adapter so it can be stored with the stove.)
• Plastic burner knobs aren’t ideal (remember, we’re being picky).

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Great Portability: GSI Outdoors Pinnacle 2-Burner Camp Stove

As one of the most highly anticipated stoves in the industry, it took us close to a year to get our hands on one of these for testing. Once we did, however, it didn’t disappoint. For us, the Pinnacle lived up to its innovation award at 2019’s Outdoor Retailer trade show (we gave it our Best in Show award).

The Pinnacle ($249), similar to the Kovea Slim Twin, is designed to be as slim as possible. It has fold-out legs, two 11,000-BTU burners, a collapsible grate, and a thin windscreen and frame — all adding up to a stove that’s just 1.4 inches thick. How does it get that small? A well-designed burner base, stove cover, and lots of well-placed hinges help this stove pack down incredibly well.

In testing, the Pinnacle Pro really won out over others because of a combination of size and burner power performance. We found the stove’s windscreen and burners to be slightly better incorporated (and flatter) than other compact two-burners. And, the incorporated piezo igniter (one for each burner) worked consistently, even in colder conditions.

If you want to maximize packable space without sacrificing performance, the Pinnacle is one of the best camping stoves money can buy. Read our full review. 

Pros:

• Great burner output speeds up cook time
• Simmers exceptionally well
• For more compact use, the legs are optional — it’s slim and sturdy on its own

Cons:

• Pot support grate folds out on a hinge, which isn’t removable, making it slightly trickier to clean
• It’s the most expensive camping stove on our list

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Best Budget Camp Stove: Coleman Classic Propane Stove

The simplest option on the list is also one of our favorites. As a tried and true model that meets the basic demands of car camping, it’s been a go-to choice for our staff over the years.

The Coleman Classic Propane Stove ($43) might not have all the fancy features of the others on the list, but it’s hands down the most bang for your buck out of all camp stoves on the market. The wind screens do the job, and the simmer control is surprisingly effective. It weighs 12 pounds, which isn’t much more than other more expensive options.

For as low as $43, you get two 10,000-BTU burners in a classic, trusted design. We cooked up plenty of meals on the Coleman Classic and appreciate how simple it is.

If you’re camping on a budget, or want an extra two burners for large meals, this stove would be a great addition to your outdoor kitchen setup.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Durable enough for the outdoors
• Ease of use

Cons:

• It doesn’t have a striker, so you’ll have to use matches or a lighter
• Simmer control could be better

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Best Camping Grill/Griddle: Coleman 3-in-1 Stove

This camping stove comes with not one but two cast iron attachments for grilling and cooking on a griddle. Trust us, the 3-in-1 ($230) aspect is awesome. Thanks to the versatility, you can use two burners like any other camp stove, or one burner and a grill, or one burner and a griddle.

What we loved most about this stove in testing was its durability, heat output, and simmer control. The windscreens were even adequate for 20-30mph winds. All of the features offer a quality feel, and it can cook just about anything.

The quality of the cast iron was also on par with more expensive options (though the cast iron components do make the stove fairly heavy). Still, the Coleman 3-in-1 (a two-burner stove, grill top, and griddle) weighs less than the only other camp griddle we tested, the Camp Chef Versatop, which you can read about below.

If you’re a fan of cast iron, or simply want an all-in-one option that performs well in every category, the 3-in-1 is one of the best camping stoves you can buy. Read our full review. 

Pros:

• You get what you pay for — quality
• Extra features: cast iron attachments, carry handle, igniter

Cons:

• We wish the windscreens were slightly taller

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Best One-Burner Camping Stove: Snow Peak Home & Camp Burner

One-burner stoves serve a lot of cool purposes. They’re great for those short on space, ideal for solo campers, and work great for building out vans or off-road vehicles. And as the name implies, they also work for home cooking.

Snow Peak’s newest Home & Camp burner ($119) has all the compactness and intricacy of origami, with the durability of a two-burner camp stove. Snow Peak is known for its minimal, highly compact designs, and this burner is no different — it completely folds into itself (to about the size of a 32-ounce Nalgene).

Simply open the top, slide out the legs, and engage the locking pin to swivel the burner out onto any surface. Then slide in a butane gas canister. While minimal, we didn’t experience any durability issues, and would expect this stove to hold up well to extensive use.

At such a small size, this stove is ideal for in-vehicle cooking. With no included attachments, you’ll need to add your own wind screen in blustery weather. If you ride solo often, or are looking for a quality camping stove that’s equally capable and compact, look no further.

Pros:

• The legs and burner are low to the ground, reducing wind interference
• Great simmer control
• Highly responsive dials

Cons:

• On the pricier side ($110) for only one burner

Check Price at REI

Camp Chef VersaTop

While not technically a stove, a griddle can bring a lot of joy and simplicity to outdoor cooking. The Camp Chef VersaTop ($170) has a nonstick cooking surface with a wide 15,000-BTU burner underneath, plus a grill accessory.

The unique part about the VersaTop is its versatile design. With separate attachments, you can cook on a flat top, grill, or even bake bread inside. You just pull off the cooking surface, place it on another, and start cooking.

While quite heavy (24 pounds), the size and weight makes you feel like a real chef. During our 2019 GearJunkie campout, our editors had a blast cooking breakfasts, sandwiches, and large helpings of stir fry on the VersaTop.

If you’re a griddle savant and don’t mind the extra weight in your rig, this might be the best camping stove for you.

Pros:

• Even cooking surface
• Great option when cooking for large groups of people
• You don’t need additional pans

Cons:

• It takes a while to heat up fully
• Can’t boil
• Weighs a hefty 24 lbs.

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Eureka Ignite 2-Burner Camp Stove

The Eureka Ignite 2-Burner Camp Stove ($114) is an exceptionally well-rounded camp stove. It performs well time and time again. The classic, functional design packs up well, and it has acceptable heat regulation.

The wind panels block wind reasonably well (but not great if you notice the gaps), and it has excellent simmer control. It may look similar to cheaper options, but the materials feel more trustworthy than our bargain pick. On par with options higher on the list, it weighs just 10 pounds.

While perfectly functional, this stove simply doesn’t excel in any one particular area. It does all things a camp stove should do, but when compared to others, its performance just doesn’t stand out.

The Ignite has proven to be highly durable, with little to no lapse in function after extended use, and it looks great in action. Despite its lack of exceptional features, it’s still one of the best camping stoves for the price.

Pros:

• Falls in the middle/upper end of the pack
• Simmers really well
• Looks great
• Fairly priced

Cons:

• We had occasional issues with the strikers
• Slower to boil than its higher-priced competition

Check Price at REI

Primus Profile 2-Burner Stove

The Primus Profile 2-Burner Stove ($169) has a clean design and classic appearance. With a moderate heat output of 12,000 BTUs per burner, it works great for almost any meal you can conjure.

The piezo ignition striker is easy to use, and it has a slightly larger cooking area than other stoves we tested. This allows you to get larger pans on it, though the larger the surface area, the longer it takes to generate adequate heat.

While it performs well in almost all facets of cooking, our flames blew out multiple times while testing, which means it’s not ideal for windy climates. The dials function well enough to simmer, and it’s also on the lighter side for two-burner stoves, weighing in at just 9 pounds.

This is another stove that works great, but simply doesn’t stand out in any specific category. The Profile is an all-around performer with no frills, and would work well for anyone who wants a little extra cooking space in a classic design.

Pros:

• Ideal for steady, low-heat cooking
• Dial is accurate and slow to turn

Cons:

• Lacks adequate wind protection
• A bit pricey

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Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System

The Genesis Basecamp System ($260) from Jetboil brings one of the more novel (if not genius) designs to the classic camping stove. It functions with a clamshell design that unfolds to display the cooking surface. And underneath each burner is a place to chain additional burners.

“Where the Genesis really shows through is its simmering ability. The burner knob can be spun in four full rotations from the lowest to the highest setting, and each slight movement of the knob makes fractional adjustments to the flame,” we wrote in our full-length Jetboil Genesis review.

This stove system packs up small, and with the ability to chain additional burners, you can turn this system into a full-fledged kitchen for large groups at a fraction of the packed size. It’s quite expensive, but the technology backs it up, and it also comes with a lightweight pot and pan.

If you’re cramped on space or want to tote a two-burner system into the backcountry, the Genesis could be the best camping stove for you. While the foldability isn’t necessary for the average car camper, it’s truly one of the most versatile setups we’ve tested.

Pros:

• The clamshell folds down small
• Great simmering control
• Includes pot and pan
• Can chain additional burners

Cons:

• More expensive than other stoves on the list ($260)
• Hi-tech, modern look isn’t for everybody

Check Price at REI

Why You Should Trust Us

Besides just boiling water, we cooked meals on each of the camp stoves for this review (including mac and cheese, sautéed veggies, meats, rice, and more). We also conducted boil and simmer tests — a consistent way of comparing stove performance. We believe this provides a good understanding of each stove’s technical cooking capabilities.

Note: We tested these stoves over a period of several seasons, hence the absence of some (including the Coleman Classic and Primus stoves) from testing photos. However, we’ve reviewed all of the stoves on this list in depth.

Boil Test

We subjected each propane stove to a substantial boil test. We boiled 1 L of water with the same GSI pot and lid on each stove. Before each test, we made sure the pot and water were at the same temperatures as in prior tests. We also checked the water occasionally to note when it began to boil.

Different air temperatures and altitudes will boil water differently, so we tested all of these stoves at the same altitude. Don’t buy one of these stoves and expect it to boil water at these specific times; instead, use this as a rough guide as to which stove heats the most effectively and gets the hottest. Some stoves might have faster boiling times, and others might have better simmer capabilities.

Simmer Test

To test how well a stove could simmer, we tested the knobs and saw how low the flame could go while still remaining active. We also placed a hand above the flame and lowered it to see how close I could get before it got uncomfortable.

The closer the hand could comfortably get (measured in inches), the lower we found a burner could go. Why does this matter? You don’t just want a stove to have hot and very hot settings; sometimes you need less flame to cook on a low simmer.

We also tested each of the dials to see the range of control they allowed. The higher the degrees of rotation, the more you can turn the dial and change the heat output.

Generally, the higher the better, as this lets you clearly know if you’re cooking on low, medium, or high. Some knobs are also marked with high and low settings to indicate the range.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Camping Stove

Number of Burners

If you spend more than 2-3 months out of the year camping — even if you are a single household — I’d recommend going for a two-burner camping stove. Two burners mean you always have the option of cooking with a pot and pan or, for instance, making one entreé alongside a vegetarian or kid-friendly option.

Not to mention, two-burner stoves are the standard. However, for those wanting something different, there are now many single-burner (and even a few three-burner) options on the market.

BTUs Explained

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. Basically, it’s a measurement of energy and, in the case of camp stoves, heat. A gas range stove you’d find in a home has about 6,000-8,000 BTUs per burner (on average).

Lower BTUs generally mean lower-heat cooking (good for simmering and light cooking uses). While higher BTUs (anything above 10,000) indicate high-heat cooking (great for meals with longer cook times and essential for being able to quickly boil lots of water).

Time to Boil

Usually, when you go camping, you’re there to enjoy the outdoors. And yes, that also means enjoying hanging around camp and eating good camp food. One of the most essential criteria for a camp stove is its ability to boil water.

Some stoves can boil in 3 minutes, others take as long as 10 minutes. The stove that boils the fastest marks a great stove, but doesn’t necessarily make it the best. If you are looking for certain features, say a lightweight stove or one with an igniter, you may have to sacrifice some boil time.

All the stoves we reviewed were able to efficiently light/start, heat, and reach a rolling boil in 8 minutes or less.

Simmer Control

We did a whole test on simmer control because, as we’ve mentioned, boiling water isn’t everything. In order to enjoy a good chef-quality camp meal, you want to be able to boil, but also bake, sauté, fry, simmer, grill, and more. We measured the simmering range on the flame of each burner/stove to see how they stacked up.

Performance in Wind

Think about how often and under what conditions (such as in cold weather) you’ll be using your stove. The more you expand your horizons to travel, the chances of harsh weather and wind will increase.

Knowing whether or not your stove can hold up in windy weather isn’t something you want to learn on a 10-day camping trip on the blustery New England coast. Check the specs, see if the stove has or offers a windscreen, and read up on customer reviews.

If you live somewhere windy, you can also ensure better stove performance in wind and cold by investing in more BTUs.

Fuel Types and Capacities

The majority of stoves on this list (as you can tell by the images) use one-pound propane canisters. However, a few use butane fuel as well. While it varies based on how long you take to cook your meals and what setting your burner is on, a one-pound canister generally lasts about three or four meals.

Weight and Packed Size

Weight is one of the biggest differentiators between the stoves on this list. However, these stoves are built for car camping, so you won’t really be carrying them too far. If you know you want a capable and strong two-burner, weight might not matter as much as other features.

What does matter more is packed size. There’s only so much space in your car or truck or at your campsite. Check to see if the stove packs down into a case, has a cover, and how the fuel line and grill can be stored. Is it all stored together? Do accessories take up more space? These are all factors to consider for your unique preferences and needs.

Ignition: Strikers vs. Matches

Strikers, also sometimes known as auto-igniters or piezo igniters, are buttons that expel a spark using electricity to ignite a stove. (It’s a process similar to the button that ignites the pilot light on your stove at home.)

Other strikers that provide a spark can be flint or metal. I always opt for a camp stove that has an integrated igniter — as long as the igniter works consistently, this is the best option.

The last option for lighting your camp stove is the good ol’ fashioned match. However, matches can be wasteful, are fragile, and not all are waterproof or can stand up to harsh weather. You can always bring flint or some matches as a backup method.

Extra Features: Griddles, Grates, Pots, and More

Think about who you’re cooking for. Is your group size usually one to two people, three to four, or a larger family? Also consider what you’re cooking.

Do you make a lot of one-pot meals, or do you like sautéing, simmering, slicing, dicing, and baking when in the outdoors? Do you want to invest in these features down the road? Or do you want a stove with a compatible grill top, or a stove big enough for say, a dutch oven?

Finally, consider your budget. If you see a stove on sale for less than the others, we recommend jumping on it.

Now that you’ve got all the info, it’s time to go camping, get cooking, and enjoy the great outdoors!

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