Best Wood Burning Backpacking Stoves (Our 7 Picks & Buying Guide)

1. Ohuhu Camping Stove – Best Overall

The Ohuhu Camping Stove is pretty convincing if you’re looking for the best wood-burning backpacking stove. You can use it to boil water, cook simple meals, or make a fire for heat while in the woods. 

It comes in a foldable and portable design that weighs only 14 ounces, and you can even pack it into its carrying case for easier transport. The stove also features a windscreen to protect against the wind when cooking.

Pros

• Incredibly lightweight
• Sturdy stainless-steel construction for durability
• Compatible with other fuel types, including a traditional gas tank
• Comes with a grill grid, so you can easily barbeque on the stove
• It also features an ashtray, an alcohol tray, and a carrying case

Cons

• Susceptible to rust 
• Some customers reported a difficult time trying to wash off the soot after using the stove.

2. TOMSHOO Camping Stove – Best Foldable

The TOMSHOO Camping Stove is another great budget wood-burning backpacking stove if you’re looking for the best bang for your back. It has a similar design to the Ohuhu Camping Stove but has fewer features.

The TOMSHOO Camping Stove can boil water in 15-20 minutes and has a moderate heat output that can cook simple meals, but as expected, it’s still only good for certain situations.

Pros

• Foldable and portable design that weighs only 7.4 ounces 
• Sturdy stainless-steel construction that can withstand high temperatures and corrosion
• It has a wide opening for easy feeding of fuel 
• Features a simple air vent design that improves combustion efficiency
• Three-arm pot support that provides stability and safety
• Easy to use as it does not require any assembly or maintenance

Cons

• Can be slow and inefficient when boiling water and cooking food 
• Can create a lot of dirt and noise when burning

3. Solo Stove Lite – Best Lightweight

The Solo Stove Lite is ideal for solo backpacking adventures. This highly efficient wood-burning stove comes in an incredibly lightweight and compact design that fits inside most pots. 

It has a patented design that features a double-wall construction and a secondary combustion system that burns the wood more efficiently, producing less smoke. The Solo Stove Lite can boil water in 8-10 minutes and has a high heat output to cook various meals.

Pros

• It is efficient and powerful thanks to its patented double-wall design 
• It’s durable and robust and comes with a lifetime guarantee
• It is lightweight and compact, weighing only 9 ounces
• Easy to use and maintain

Cons

• Takes longer to start and maintain a fire compared to similar products
• Lacks backup fuel options, such as gas, solid fuel tablets, or alcohol

4. Unigear Wood Burning Camp Stoves – Best On Budget

If you’re looking for an affordable and versatile camping stove that uses wood, charcoal, solid alcohol fuel, or gas stove as fuel sources, check out the Unigear Wood Burning Camp Stove. 

It comes in a foldable and detachable design that weighs only 12 ounces and can be packed into its mesh bag.

Furthermore, it has four pot support arms that can be folded flexibly to fit different sizes of pots and pans.

Pros

• Portable and ultra-compact — folds like a book
• Lightweight and highly durable
• Robust premium quality stainless steel construction
• Compatible with all sorts of fuel types, including wood, gas, and solid fuel tablets

Cons

• It may warp a bit when it gets too hot
• Ash pan could be a little deeper

5. Emberlit Stainless Steel Stove – Most Stable

Emberlit Stainless Steel Stove is another foldable and collapsible backpacking wood stove that weighs only 11.3 ounces.

This camping stove is extremely stable for any pot size up to 10 inches in diameter and can be packed flat for easy storage.

The Emberlit stove has a unique side feed system that allows it to burn long twigs and sticks without breaking them down.

It comes in a robust stainless-steel construction with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

Pros

• Simple design; takes less than a minute to assemble or disassemble
• It has a large feed port on the side, so you can add large sticks or branches without having to cut them
• Sturdy stainless-steel construction and lifetime warranty
• You can install crossbars to use any size pot, pan, or cup

Cons

• No bottom insulation, and it may scorch the ground
• Panels may warp over time
• Sharp edges may result in cuts if not handled carefully

6. Solo Stove Titan Camping Stove – Best Premium

If you’re looking for wood-burning backpacking stove for a larger group or longer trips, check out the Solo Stove Titan Camping Stove.

This is a larger version of the Solo Stove Lite featuring the same patented design with a double-wall construction and a secondary combustion system. 

It can boil water in 4-6 minutes and has a high heat output that can cook various meals for up to four people.

However, it’s also one of the more expensive options in our list of the best wood-burning backpacking stoves this year and beyond.

Pros

• Powerful and efficient thanks to the patented Solo Stove Titan design 
• Incredibly lightweight for its size, weighing only 16.5
• Comes with a lifetime warranty
• Perfect for larger groups

Cons

• Can be smoky, leaving soot all over your pots and pans
• May scorch the ground or any other surface it’s placed on due to the lack of bottom insulation

7. Bruntmor Camping Gear Rocket Stove – Easiest to Use

The Bruntmor Camping Gear Rocket Stove is a cylindrical stove with a large feeding tube and a removable top grate.

You can get this versatile, portable wood-burning stove that can be used for heating, BBQ, boiling water, and cooking in most outdoor settings.

It comes in a sturdy cast iron construction to ensure durability. The Bruntmor Camping Gear Rocket Stove has a large cooktop and can stand on uneven surfaces.

The clever hinge design and loose fit in the overlapping tabs reduce the chances of warping significantly.

Pros

• Comes with a handle for easy carrying
• Can accommodate many kinds of pots and pans
• Features a feed tube for easy fuel-adding
• Extremely easy to assemble and disassemble

Cons

• Produces a lot of smoke
• Some users complained about its warping tendencies
• According to some Amazon reviews, the feed tube requires constant manual feeding