First off, it helps to know the type of adventure you intend to take. If you typically carry your weight into the woods with you, a lightweight canister stove or multi-fuel single-burner makes the most sense. If you’re usually hunkered down by a river with a bunch of friends and your car is but a few feet away, you may opt to bring a full-sized foldable barbecue or chuck wagon-style grill. Whatever your fancy, here are the best camping stoves for every outdoor occasion.

Compact and user-friendly, Green Haven’s Red Camping Stove is a portable stove that you can carry with you during excursions, picnics, beach vacations, and garden food parties without difficulty. The single-burner stove features enamelled pan supports to maintain stability if you’re cooking with large pans. The insta-start piezo ignition, meanwhile, lets you do away with lighting a match. Its cartridge locking system also ensures safe and correct cartridge insertion every time. This camping stove comes with a hard plastic carry case for efficient packing and protection.

With an operation time of around 1 hour and 25 minutes, this stove is perfect for both quick meals, and longer parties, and the enamelling means less clean-up effort and more time for roasting marshmallows. Only weighing around 1.4kg, this stove is the perfect portable companion, so whether you’re heading out to the mountains, to a beach party, or even just to your garden, taking this stove with you won’t cause a hassle.

MSR’s classic Pocket Rocket has been a long-running favourite for backpackers and recently the iconic backcountry burner got a reboot. The upgraded PocketRocket 2 features the same elements as the original but with an even lighter and more compact design. At 2.5 ounces, MSR shaved a half ounce off the weight and re-engineered how the arms fold up, making it even more packable. Even better, the ultralight 8,200 BTU burner now comes in a smaller, oval-shaped case instead of the classic triangular sleeve.

It still boils a litre of water in a short amount of time — roughly 3.5 minutes — and offers precise flame control, as well as a WindClip windshield. However, the new pot supports expand more to hold a wider range of cookware. On top of that, the serrated arms grab onto the pot to make it less wobbly. This new-and-improved single-burner is one of the best ultralight backpacking stoves for long-distance hikers, backpackers, and even weekenders who like to have an extra burner around their group site.

If fast boil time is what you seek, nothing beats Jetboil’s FluxRing technology that’s capable of boiling water in just two minutes. The company’s lightweight, MiniMo is arguably its best integrated system, boasting exceptional fuel efficiency and a sleek, compact design. Unlike some of the company’s other models, the 10,000 BTU MiniMo offers simmer control with a regulated valve that can go from a barely-there simmer to a furious boil within moments. The one-litre cook pot features neoprene insulation and an ergonomic, low spoon angle so you can eat straight from the cup without spilling it everywhere.

It has sturdy metal handles and comes with a little gadget to secure the fuel canister, further stabilising the unit. In contrast to many other all-in-one systems, it features a push-button igniter for easy lighting and the compact, easy-to-use stove is a breeze to set up and break down. The MiniMo doesn’t shine in cold weather as much as some of its competitors, so if you’re into mountaineering, it may not be the best option. For someone who wants a lightweight, easy-to-use single-burner that boils water in a hurry, this is a fantastic choice.

You can cook up a storm even when you’re outdoors if you’re using this double-burner stove by Campingaz. Aside from its two burners, this camping stove also has space for a toast rack and tray allowing you to whip up a rich set of meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its reliable piezo ignition also enables you to start the stove without much hassle. The stove’s durable case can be folded for easy carrying.

Operating this stove has never been easier with its convenient match-free operation, ensuring that you will never have to worry about errant flames, as well as the individual heat controls, which means you can cook one the two different burners at differing temperatures. The durable multi-functional case that this stove is housed in not only offers easy portability, but protection from the elements, and provides a stand for when you are cooking out in the open.

The problem with many canister-style stoves for backpackers is that they don’t offer much in the way of wind protection. Fire-Maple’s FMS-X2 collection, however, utilises a built-in pressure regulator that makes it highly wind resistant, keeping the stove lit even when it’s brutally gusty. Using radiant burner technology, the compact stove comes to a boil fast and burns fuel efficiently. Plus, unlike many similar canister stoves, it’s sturdy and won’t topple over at the drop of a hat. The trade-off to that is that it carries a bit more weight — 600 grams total — but the pieces nest into a convenient, small space.

The Fire-Maple’s lock-on system integrates with all the items needed, making it a great choice for someone who enjoys solo backpacking or mountaineering, yet also car camps with friends. These cookware options include the stove and cooking pot, the detachable stove base, the stove body, and there is also room for the gas canister, which is unfortunately not included. The quick ignition and fast boiling abilities of this stove make it a must pick for those always on the go.