The best camping stoves for cooking like a pro in the wild, tested

Forget soggy sandwiches! From pocket-sized burners to multi-hob wonders, these camping stoves came top in our tests

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A reliable camping stove makes all the difference to food alfresco, allowing you to cook a stew in the evening and then warm up in the morning with a hot cup of coffee. The great thing about these stoves is that they’re essentially portable hobs, meaning anything you can cook on the stove at home can be whipped up in the great outdoors by sticking a pot or frying pan on top.

There’s a dizzying variety on offer, ranging from dinky ultralight burners that fit into your pocket to big stove-tops with multiple hobs, grills, wind protectors and a lid – the latter are like bringing along your cooker from home. Most run on gas, such as propane and butane, although I’ve also included charcoal options for traditional types. I’ve tested some of the best portable stoves, for everyone from ultralight wild campers to families who need to cook dinners for the masses.

Best camping stove overall:
Dometic Cadac 2 Cook 2 Pro
_{£99.99 at Robert Dyas}

Best grill:
Primus Kuchoma portable grill
_{£154.95 at WildBounds}

Best for family camping:
Campingaz Camping Kitchen 2 Multi-Cook Plus
_{£160 at Go Outdoors}

Best for wild campers:
Petromax Atago stove
_{£179.95 at Mountain Warehouse}

Best for backpacking/best mini stove
MSR Switch system stove
_{£114.75 at WildBounds}