The Best Camping Stoves

Primus' Tupike stove is compact, lightweight, and well made. The cleverly designed handle makes it simple to pack and carry. It's also one of my favorite stoves to cook on, thanks to its stainless-steel construction and ease of cleaning. With only 7,000 BTUs, it's not the fastest at boiling water, but for low-heat cooking—the cooking most of us actually do—it's unbeatable. It also performed well in the wind, and the latest version features a wire latch to hold the wind screens securely in place. My only complaint is that the cooking area is rather small, making this one best for soloists or couples.

Unfortunately, this kind of quality does not come cheap. You could blow through four Coleman Classics for the price of the Tupike. Primus also makes the slightly cheaper Kinja ($190), which is nearly identical but lacks the windscreen of the Tupike. If you have the money, though, this stove is well worth the investment.

(This stove goes in and out of stock.)

The web is awash in stoves that look just like this Primus Profile, but in my experience most of them are junk. The Primus sets itself apart for two reasons, the robust propane hose connector and the ability to fine-tune the cooking temperature to attain an actual simmer. The build quality isn't as good as the Coleman Cascade, but it's better than our previous pick in this category (the Camp Chef Everest).

The other difference between this and other stoves this size is that the burners are only 12,000 BTUs, compared to the 20,000 BTUs found in the competition. At first glance that sounds like a minus, you want more power right? Well actually, no, you probably don't. Sure, you might be able to boil water slightly faster with the higher-output burners, but you'll also struggle to get those stoves to cook slowly. Most of us are probably happy to wait an extra minute for our coffee in exchange for the Profile's more precise temperature control, which means you're less likely to scorch the eggs. Sometimes less is more, and the Profile exemplifies that by being one of the few stoves this size that's actually capable of maintaining a simmer, even in a breeze. (Though the windier it gets, the harder it is to keep any stove running at a low flame.)

Camp Chef's Pro 60X is free-standing, ruggedly built, and weighs enough to justify renting a llama. It's overkill in most circumstances, but for large groups, like a scout troop or guided trip, it's the best choice, hands down.

It's a wonderful stove to cook on, and I know more than a few river guides who swear by it. Your giant pot of water for spaghetti noodles will boil in no time, though it's not great for simmering. It's easy to clean and packs up in a snap. I highly recommend the carrying bag with rolling wheels, and I really enjoyed extras like the BBQ grill box.

If you've ever dreamed of putting a Waffle House in your house, or camp, Blackstone's griddle is as close as you're likely to get. It's not as big as the flattop at your favorite diner, but it's functionally the same. Hungry for camp breakfasts where your potatoes slowly simmer in the lake of grease coming off your sizzling bacon? This is the camp stove you need.

It's not evenly distributed heat (there's an H-shaped burner under the flattop), but that's a feature, allowing you to speed and slow cooking by moving things around. Pair this with a good portable grill and you'll be the most popular chef in the campground.

You got the perfect stove, now what?

I cooked outdoors over stoves like these for more than two years (while living in an RV), and here's what I learned:

• Keep it simple: Camping is not the time to try new recipes. Stick with things you know, dishes you're comfortable making and that aren't too complex.
• No really, keep it simple: Bring the absolute minimum of cooking gear. A stove, some propane, a turner, a large spoon, a great knife, and tongs are about all you need. This depends somewhat on what you're cooking, but generally the less you bring, the less hassle you'll have cooking.
• Plan ahead: Planning a week-long trip? Great. Plan your meals too. This makes everything easier. Shopping, packing, even finding your food in camp is easier when you know what you're looking for. You can even prep some things ahead of time, like chopping some veggies or meats and storing them in bags so they are ready to use.
• Have a backup plan: For example, even if your stove has electronic ignition, bring a lighter and some matches, because you just never know. Similarly, I always throw an extra pack of hot dogs in the cooler. It takes up almost no space and comes in handy when a meal goes sideways.
• Get a table: If you have more than two people in your group, I highly recommend a table to cook on. Save the picnic table for eating and give yourself more room to cook. Good camp tables are hard to come by. I don't love it, but this basic $40 folding table from Walmart gets the job done.
• Cleaning up: Once you're done cooking and you've dished up the food, pour some water in the pan and let it sit while you eat. This will loosen up any stuck food and make doing the dishes a bit easier.

Remember to relax and have fun—you're on vacation after all! I know, it can be stressful at times, especially if you have kids or a large group looking to you for food, but remember: Everything is probably going to be OK.