After a long, tiring day out on the trail, there’s nothing quite so satisfying as reaching your campsite and settling in for a tasty meal and some quality sleep. To cook a meal that satisfies and fuels you for your adventures ahead, you need something to cook it with!
Many backpacking enthusiasts prefer wood burning backpacking stoves over other varieties like propane-fueled stoves—and for good reason.
For the complete buying guide to purchasing the best wood burning backpacking stove, including the top 5 wood burning stoves for backpacking available, keep scrolling.
The top 5 wood burning backpacking stoves we recommend for 2024:
A Review of the Best Wood Burning Backpacking Stoves
Here are the top 5 best backpacking wood burning stoves for any outdoor trek.
Solo Stove Lite Compact Wood Burning Backpacking Stove
- Durable stainless steel exterior
- Cylindrical design
- Efficient fuel usage
- Light and easy to transport
- Includes handy carrying pouch
- You may need to refuel more often
- A bit pricier than some other options
The best backpacking wood burning stove by Solo features a very lightweight design that is highly portable and easy to use. The cylindrical design is very durable with a 4 ½ inch base and 3.8 x 5.7-inch height. We really liked the fact that the Solo Stove Lite weighs a mere 9 ounces and even includes a pouch to make storing your wood burning stove a total breeze.
We were happy to see that the Solo Stove Lite is designed from durable, 100% stainless steel with a dual wall that produces high-efficiency energy. The stove can boil a liter of water in just 8 to 10 minutes.
You can purchase this stove as a combination package with accessories too, including pans, pots, and backup burners. It is important to note that because the design is so compact, you might have to refuel it more often.
BioLite CampStove 2 Wood Burning & USB Charging Camp Stove
- Great for wilderness camping and off the grid adventures
- Generates sufficient electricity to power devices and small appliances
- Very lightweight and compact design
- Quick boiling time
- Integrated battery design to start up the flame
- A bit bulky
- Electricity is not as efficient as some other products
The Biolite CampStove 2 made it to our list for its handy power charger that allows you to charge the device 100% off the grid. So, if you’re planning an extensive wilderness trek, this wood burning stove will ensure you’re prepared and have plenty of cooking options while off the beaten path.
Whether you like to backpack on or off the grid though, it’s hard to find fault with this wood burning stove
We love the incredibly lightweight 2-pound design with compact 5 x 5 x 8.3-inch specifications. We also like that it sports an integrated stand so you can keep the stove elevated above the ground when in use. The stove features a battery to start up the flame after you install the wood and turn the device on.
The wood burning stove is pretty efficient too and can boil a liter of water in just 4 ½ minutes.
You can even use the electricity emanating from the wood stove to charge your mobile device and other small appliances. After burning for 20 minutes, the stove generates sufficient electricity to keep your phone charged for a full hour.
Ohuhu Camping Stove Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove
- Very cost-effective
- High-quality stainless steel
- Compatible with various types of fuel besides wood
- Stable design
- Mesh pouch for easy carrying
- Weighs more than some other products
- Stability arms can wear out with frequent, prolonged use
For a cost-effective, dependable choice, the Ohuhu Camping Stove is one of the best option available. We love the stainless-steel design, but we would note that it is a bit heavier at 14.2 ounces. With that said, we liked the inner chamber that runs on different fuel types like pinecones and twigs. You can also insert fuel tablets into the 5.3-inch chamber if you so desire.
The Ohuhu Camping Stove features excellent ventilation to allow plenty of air flow through. The stove integrates 3 arms to keep your cooking area nice and sturdy, even for larger pans and pots. The stability of the design also helps heat flow through evenly, so you don’t have to stress about the device overheating.
We were glad to see that this wood burning stove includes a mesh pouch for storage, enhancing the overall portability of the Ohuhu Camping Stove. You can even store the stove in regular sized pans and pots, so you won’t need to budget too much additional space in your gear for transportation.
TOAKS Titanium Backpacking Wood Burning Stove
- 3 sections that fit into each other for easy carrying
- Efficient and sturdy titanium design
- Lightweight
- Includes nylon pouch for storing
- Burns through fuel pretty fast
- Tends to generate a lot of smoke
The TOAKS Titanium Backpacking Wood Burning Stove is a very lightweight choice to consider for your next outdoor excursion. The design is user-friendly and efficient, easy to carry, and sports a durable construction with a nice finish. The stove is actually 3 separate parts rolled into one, that stack against each other with ease so you can transport them on and off the trail without issue.
We liked that this backpacking stove includes a very durable nylon sack to carry it in, for space efficiency and easy access when you get to the campsite. The design of this wood burning stove is also compact enough that it fits inside branded TOAKS pans and pots with ease.
It weighs an incredibly light 7.9 ounces with 4 ⅛ x 4 ⅛ dimensions when fully packed.
Bushcraft Essentials Bushbox Outdoor Pocket Stove
- Nice and light
- Fits into your pocket for incredibly easy portability
- Runs on a wide range of fuel types
- Very versatile option
- Cotton storage back isn’t as durable as nylon
- Doesn’t draft as well as some
Our final selection is this exceptional product by Bushcraft Essentials, featuring a highly portable design that folds so flat you can store it in a pocket. If you are looking for an option that will take up as little space in your gear as possible, this could be the wood burning stove you’ve been searching for.
It weighs in at a moderate 9.5 ounces with 4.5 x 3.5 x 0.2 dimensions.
The wood burning stove runs on everything from leaves to wood shavings to cotton pads and is compatible with just about any type of fuel including gel cans, Esbit tablets, and alcohol burners. We just loved how versatile the Bushcraft Essentials Outdoor Pocket Stove is, featuring 2 handy trivets that are compatible with any kind of pot you choose.
The wood stove is very easy to maintain and comes with a quality cotton bag to transport the device on the go.
What Is a Wood Burning Backpacking Stove and Why Do You Need One?
If you’re considering purchasing the best backpacking wood stove, you might be wondering exactly what sets this selection apart from the competition. Wood burning backpacking stoves use wood and wood-derived options such as pellets for fuel. The design is typically comprised of a steel or cast-iron exterior with a inner fire chamber, air controls, and base.
Wood burning backpacking stoves are a fantastic backup choice if you don’t have access to propane or another kind of fuel. Wood burning stoves are very cost-effective as well because you can use everything from pine cones to twigs to wood chips as fuel.
Besides this, wood burning backpacking stoves can also run on other fuels like gel cans and charcoal, making them a very versatile selection.
When you think of a wood-burning backpacking stove, a heavy stove that is tough to carry might come to mind. The good news is, the modern models feature lightweight designs and are highly portable, with collapsible configurations that rarely weight more than 2 pounds and are easy to carry on the go.
The 3 primary types of wood burning backpacking stoves are rectangular, pyramid, and cylindrical stoves featuring a circular base. Pyramid and rectangular stoves are the most compact options available, easy to transport, and simple to construct when you reach the campsite. Cylindrical stoves typically are more fuel efficient than the other two choices, with greater output to boot.
The majority of backpackers like the pyramid and rectangular varieties because they are highly functional and really easy to carry for both short and lengthy treks.
Considerations When Selecting Your Wood Burning Backpacking Stove
There are some critical factors you need to consider before selecting your next wood burning stove to meet your needs.
The Material
The material of the wood burning stove is the first crucial aspect you’ll need to consider. Most wood burning stoves are designed from quality titanium or stainless steel. Titanium stoves weigh a bit less than stainless steel ones, but they also usually come with a higher price tag.
If your biggest concern is picking a wood burning stove that is going to be really light and easy to transport with the rest of your gear, a titanium stove could be worth the investment. If you are camping in your vehicle or backpacking with a group of fellow trekkers, you’ll probably be just fine with the traditional stainless-steel variety.
The Design
The design of the best backpacking wood burning stove is another key factor to take into account when deciding which one is best to meet your needs. We already discussed cylindrical vs. pyramid vs. rectangular designs. Cylindrical stoves definitely have the sturdy factor on their side, with more efficient fuel usage.
One thing to note is that cylindrical wood burning stoves don’t always circulate air as efficiently as other designs do, potentially overheating and emitting soot on your cookware. Pyramid and rectangular wood burning backpacking stoves are easy to transport with collapsible designs to carry on the go.
They feature quality ventilation for proper air flow too. The main thing you need to be aware of with these two types of wood stoves is their lightweight design can tip over with high winds, so you’ll just need to keep an extra eye out when cooking.
The Size
A stove’s dimensions are equal to its base’s circumference and total height. You’ll want to consider the exact size of any wood stove you pick because this is the ultimate determinant of the size of the wood you can use as fuel or any other type of fuel for that matter. Also, the size of your stove will determine the kind of cookware you use.
Traditional pyramid and rectangular wood burning backpacking stoves typically feature a base between 3 ½ to 5 ½ inches and 3 ½ to 6 inches. Cylindrical models usually sport a 4.25 to a 5.1-inch base. The height you can expect for the right wood burning backpacking stove ranges from 4 ½ inches up to 8 inches.
The collapsible design of pyramid and rectangular wood burning backpacking stoves usually comes to a ¼ inch or so when fully folded, so you won’t have to worry about your gear feeling too heavy or bulky.
The Weight
When you’re setting off on a trek out in the wilderness, the weight of the stove is going to be a key aspect you’ll want to consider. Smaller wood burning stoves can weigh as little as 9 ounces, while heftier models could be closer to 16 ounces.
Accessories
Pay close attention to the accessories when deciding which selection is ideal for your outdoor adventures. Most wood burning stoves come equipped with a cloth or mesh pouch so you can store the entire device with ease.
A lot of wood burning stoves are compatible with a variety of fuel types beyond wood, include esbit tablets and gel cans. Many wood burning stoves also include cookware like pans and pots too.
The Top Choice
Each of the best wood burning backpacking stoves on our list has something to offer a variety of backpacker needs, for newbies and pros alike. Still, our top pick is easily the Biolite CampStove 2. We loved that it included a power charger for off the grid use, so you can depend on this wood burning stove no matter where you’re camping.
Plus, the lightweight 2-pound design won’t overburden your pack and the integrated battery makes starting a flame easier than ever. Whether you’re out in the wilderness or at a familiar campsite, the electricity this wood burning backpacking stove generates to charge smaller devices is nothing short of impressive. For a light, compact, durable, and energy efficient design, the Biolite CampStove 2 is our top choice above all the rest.
