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Best Cold Weather Backpacking Stoves
If you’re new to winter backpacking then choosing the best cold weather backpacking stove for your trip can be a difficult one.
You’ll often hear that upright canister stoves do not work in cold weather and the only choice is to use a liquid gas stove.
This theory does still have some validity in certain situations.
However with the introduction of higher propane mix gas canisters from both Coleman and Primus, using a liquid gas is not the only option anymore.
The trouble with liquid gas stoves, is they’re both heavy to carry with the risk of possible flare ups. When the only option is to use inside a tent due to heavy storm conditions, flare ups can be very dangerous.
Gas canister stoves when used with a 60/40 butane/propane mix work very well in low temperatures these days. They’re a lot easier to set up and far safer than a liquid fuel stove.
Below I have listed some of my favourite upright and remote invert gas canister stoves for cold weather backpacking trips.
In my final thoughts I include my suggestions for the type of gas canisters to use for cold weather cooking.
Last update on 2024-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Optimus Vega 4 Season Remote Canister Stove
The Opitmus Vega 4 has been around for a few years now and is still one of the best 4 season stoves out there.
This is a true 4 season canister stove ideal for cooking in temperatures as low as -18 degrees C / -0.4 degrees fahrenheit with no problem.
The stove comes with a windshield, plus a long hose to place the canister remotely. Inverting the canister using the built in canister holder legs allows you to run the stove in colder temperatures.
The stove is compact and lightweight, weighing only 6 ounces or 170 grams. There is the added weight of a canister to carry with you of course.
However, a 4oz canister will provide around 20 to 23, 14oz boils of water. That’s enough gas to last a whole week for one person.
The large pot base is also ideal for using bigger pots to boil enough water for up to 3 people on a winter backpacking trip. There is also a simmer mode for cooking more gourmet meals out in the wilds.
Overall, the Vega 4 is hard to beat as a winter backpacking stove. It’s extremely lightweight, has great fuel efficiency and versatility to cook more intricate meals, along with boiling water for dehydrated meals.
It’s my favorite winter stove currently on the market. Just make sure you light the stove with the canister upright and leave for a minute, then invert the gas canister for cold weather use.
Last update on 2024-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
MSR Pocketrocket 2 Ultralight Backpacking Stove
This backpacking stove doesn’t look particularly special or impressive, but it works well enough for what it is. Something that really stands out about this little stove is that it is really fuel efficient.
One small 8-ounce fuel cannister lasts for like 2 hours, which is pretty impressive, and it helps me save money. On that same note, it is not very expensive to begin with.
I also like that it is really small, compact, and portable in nature. Of course, the fuel tank does weigh a bit, but it’s nothing that can’t be dealt with.
The only small drawback with the MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Backpacking Stove is that it has no kind of wind guard, so if it’s even just a little windy, it takes forever to boil some water or heat some canned beans.
Last update on 2024-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Jetboil Joule Camping Stove
If you’re planning on boiling water for hot drinks and rehydrating meals only, then this option from Jetboil is a good choice.
To get something else out of the way, this camping stove is not the smallest or most portable option around compared to the MSR Pocket Rocket. The flip side is that it comes as a compete set with a dedicated pot to boil water.
For one, the Jetboil Joule Camping Stove Cooking System lasts a long time, in terms of fuel efficiency anyway.
This is due to the inverted gas canister design which makes it ideal for use in very low temperatures.
It has a built in piezo ignition so you don’t have to fiddle with matches, and fuel efficiency in windy conditions is very good.
The Jetboil is a solid alternative to more traditional type stoves, whether you want to pay extra for this type of stove is open to debate.
Last update on 2024-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Etekcity Ultralight Portable Outdoor Stove
In terms of overall convenience, the Etekcity Backpacking Stove is one of my favorite options.
Now, you do have to purchase the corresponding fuel canister for it, but the stove itself is so small and lightweight that it really doesn’t make much of a difference. It’s really easy to store, even in a small camping pack, which is thanks to the fact that it’s collapsible.
The Etekcity Backpacking Stove does have a flame control valve, so you can select how big to make the flame, and it is fuel efficient enough, at least when it’s not windy, which is a big drawback here as far as I have found.
It doesn’t have a wind guard, so good luck getting water to boil with a decent wind blowing.
Last update on 2024-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a perfect “one size fits all” backpacking stove. The Optimus Vega 4 comes very close though in my view.
The Vega 4 is ideal for 1 to 3 people on longer thru-hikes in winter.
For sole hiking over a weekend, I’d go with the MSR Pocket Rocket using one of the gas canisters from Coleman or Primus.
Having the right type of fuel mix inside a gas canister in cold weather is critical. Not all canisters are the same. Always use a canister with at least a 10% propane / 90% isobutane mix.
Avoid uisng n-butanae gas canisters. They perform badly in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read this overview article for more information on the different types of fuel for backpacking stoves.
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Last update on 2024-04-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API