When it comes to camp stoves, there’s a tendency to over-complicate matters. Our ancestors were cooking over an open flame for millenia before modern stoves were invented and even those just mimic the ancient ways. For a camp stove, it’s all about concentrating the heat and controlling the flame. Unless you’re above the tree line, there’s no reason not utilize what nature provides. We previously covered how to build a pit fire that funnels air and builds heat, a perfect bush craft stove top.
But this is not about digging holes. This is about Outdoor Retailer, the mega-trade show in Salt Lake City that drew 1,600 exhibitors and roughly 30,000 attendees. Having walked the show for three days we came away a bit dazed, but well-reasoned. Still the name of the game is light weight and compact. These were the best camping stoves the industry had to offer at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show. Here are the top five that caught our eye.
Top Stoves at Outdoor Retailer
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Evernew Appalachia Set
One that especially caught our eye for its simplicity and light-weight construction was the Evernew Appalachia Set. It combines a traditional Swiss Army alcohol stove with a titanium design that’s completely self-contained within a coffee mug. This super-light camp stove and a small amount of fuel is all you need for comfortable camping. MSRP $150
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BioLite Camp Stove
Not often does a product come along as innovative as the BioLite Camp Stove. This unique stove transfers thermal energy from a fire into electricity that power can charge an electronic device or support a fan beneath the stove that stokes the fire. MSRP $129
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Merkwares EmberLit FireAnt
Here’s a camp stove that takes minimalism to a new level. The Merkwares EmberLit FireAnt takes hobo stove to a new level. Using custom engineered titanium, this tiny wood stove focuses the heat and provides ample draw so that you can cook on the smallest fires. This stove also packs up into the size of a few playing cards. $70
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Jetboil Genesis Basecamp
From a trusted name in lightweight propane camp stoves comes a cook stove that will revolutionize basecamp. Using a clamshell design, this 2-burner stove packs up within a single cook pot, comes with simmer control and burns with the same heat and intensity to be expected from the jetboil brand. MSRP $350
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GoSun Solar Cooker
Talk about not using any fuel. The GoSun Solar Cooker is the answer to a lightweight completely self-sufficient camp cooker. Using thermal water heating technology with duel layers of glass between vacuum sealing, the solar cooker reaches 350 degrees in just 20 minutes. MSRP $279
