Lightweight Camping Stoves
In this post we round up a selection of the lightest weight camping stoves. Each has different attributes and may suit different purposes, so the best advice is always to be prepared: consider what you would be cooking, whether you need to carry water for cooking (in addition to drinking), whether you'll be able to get water at the location, and whether you could eat out instead of using a stove at all — the lightest weight stove would be the one you don't need to carry!
Vango Ultralight Stove
A lightweight stove is invariably going to be a compact stove that screws directly into a gas bottle. The Vango Ultralight is the lightest of our selection at just 72 grams. The pot supports fold away making it easier to pack, and there is a flame adjuster so that you can control the burner — at the time of writing £23, so lightweight doesn't have to be expensive.
MSR PocketRocket
MSR are synonymous with camping equipment and particularly cooking stoves. Their PocketRocket weighs in at 85g and neatly folds down for storage. It has been available for some time and is a firm favourite among campers. At the time of writing priced at £30.
Jetboil Sol Titanium
The Jetboil Sol Titanium is our wildcard choice — it's all very well us saying a stove is 72g, but of course you need to bring all your cooking pots and accessories on top of that. The Jetboil range is a new breed of stove which includes a large (0.8 litre) cooking cup, and the stove and small gas canister pack away into the cup, making it easy to carry. Without the gas canister the weight is 245g, currently priced at £160 (but the titanium version is top of the range — others are available).
Cooking Accessories
If you're just taking a gas stove like the MSR PocketRocket, don't forget your cooking equipment — at a minimum you'll want a pot, a spork (for both cooking and eating), and probably a mug for a nice cup of tea. If you can afford it, titanium will be both lightweight and strong for all the accessories. A great option is the MSR 0.8l Kettle — you won't get much lighter than this at 118g, and it can be used as a pot, a mug or a bowl with a tight-fitting lid and a non-drip spout. At £50 it's a great investment, but if you don't want to stretch this far, aluminium is an option — not as strong as titanium, but much cheaper and still light.
What are your tips?
What tips do you have for lightweight camp cooking? Any favourite meals, must-have equipment or other cooking secrets? Share away in the comments.