Without a single doubt, cooking is and will always be a major part of human life – some would even argue it’s a survival skill. So what exactly is this fuss about the best portable butane stove?
If you’re reading this we have a quick question for you – what’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you’re about to make your favorite outdoor dish?
A good stove! Your culinary skills partly depend on a good stove to make your meals turn out just the way you want them – but not just any type of stove, a good butane stove.
A butane stove is a compact and lightweight single or double burner stove that uses butane cartridges as a source of power.
If you’re into outdoor activities like hiking in the mountains, camping in the woods, or even hunting or fishing, you will definitely need a good butane stove to help satisfy your stomach rumbles.
Since you will be traveling light, a portable butane stove that conveniently fits in your backpack is the best option. Luckily, we know a couple of portable butane stoves that would come in handy.
Top Pick
There are many reasons Techef portable butane gas burner is our top pick. It boasts of a nice design powered by 11,500 BTU, a magnetic locking system to ensure the safety of users, and an advanced heat panel for increased fuel efficiency.
Budget Pick
Etekcity ultralight portable camping stove is a great choice for those considering pocket-friendly products. With a power rating of 6,666 BTU and a built-in electric spark ignition system, you sure would get your money’s worth.
Best Portable Butane Stove Review
1. Techef Portable Butane Gas Burner
Highlighted Features
- 11,500 BTU
- Magnetic locking system
- Auto shut-off
- Fuel efficiency
If you happen to come across this while shopping for a new butane stove, what’s going to catch your attention first is its simple yet fascinating design, but that’s not all to it. It provides a whopping power of 11,500 BTU which is actually a lot for a portable butane stove.
You’ll never have to worry about safety as it comes with advanced safety functions like a magnetic locking system and auto safety stop which cuts the supply of butane if the pressure in the canister rises beyond safety level.
This butane burner guarantees fuel efficiency, courtesy of the heat panel system. It is easy to operate; igniting the stove only requires you slightly turning the knob counterclockwise. As for maintenance, the body of the product can be cleaned easily by wiping dirt off using a damp towel.
2. IwataniPortable Butane Stove Burner
Highlighted Features
- 12,000 BTU/hr
- Advanced heat panel system
- Safe to use
- User-friendly
- Maximized fuel economy
This portable burner achieves fast cooking via power output as high as 12,000 BTU/hr. It would make a great choice if you’re going for simplicity and speed.
Operating this product has been made super easy – the ignition of the system is by piezo-electric. The heat panel system ensures fuel consumption is maximized while at the same time supplying constant power output.
In terms of safety, there’s a fuel locking lever that is operated manually to prevent leakages. That’s not all; the system was designed to exhaust the butane content of the can to avoid accidents and it comes with a built-in function that stops the flow of butane, putting out the flame if the pressure in the canister rises above safety levels.
The manufacturers were kind enough to include a carrying case so you can store and carry easily during camping.
3. Coleman Portable Butane Stove
Highlighted Features
- 7650 BTU of power for about 1.25 hours
- Insta-start ignition
- Easy to clean
- Durable
- Temperature control
This product may be a good pick for your next camping trip; it is very portable and comes with a carry case for easy mobility wherever you go.
Made with reliable materials; the grate with coated porcelain, the burner with aluminum, and the exterior with enameled steel – the durability of this butane stove is guaranteed to give you a run for your money.
You can easily adjust the burner and the more interesting thing is you can adjust the temperature by turning the rotating dial in the preferred direction.
Great news for people with large pan sizes as it supports pans up to 10 inches. One thing you might find interesting is the ease of operation, the ignition for instance is done by just turning the knob counterclockwise. How could we forget about the wind baffles, shielding your flame on windy days?
It is portable, easy to clean, carry, and operate, and would make a great cooking companion for outdoor activities.
4. Gas One Portable Butane Gas Stove
Highlighted Features
- Power rating of 10,000 BTU
- Auto shut-off
- Easy to operate
- Cartridge ejection system
- Piezo ignition
This butane stove easily checks all the criteria that make a good camping stove. It provides a large power output of 10,000 BTU which allows you to make meals quickly.
This product may be one of the safest butane stoves out there with the number of safety features it boasts of. When pressure rises above the normal level, there’s an auto shut-off feature that cuts off the supply of gas and a cartridge ejection function that ejects the butane canister.
The makers made sure to insulate the knob to ensure it is safe to touch during operation. Like that’s not enough, there’s a safety lever that ensures the butane can is set correctly and the canister locked to prevent leakages.
It is lightweight, comes with a carrying case and is just perfect for camping.
5. Camplux Dual Fuel Camping Stove
Highlighted Features
- 7,200 BTU per hour power output
- Piezo-electric ignition
- Convenient maintenance
- User-friendly
- Safety features
Just as its name implies, the camplux single burner stove is compatible with both butane and propane fuels using an 8 oz. canister or 16.4 oz. propane tank with one butane canister lasting for up to two consecutive hours.
This stove provides 7, 200 BTU heat output which is more than enough to provide you with a great cooking experience during your outdoor activities.
Gone are the days of throwing a lighter in your backpack, it comes with a built-in auto-ignition feature.
One great thing about this product is – it is easy to operate and it improves the quality of your camping experience by reducing cooking stress. For instance, there’s a windshield that ensures your flame doesn’t go out, preventing you from having to ignite the burner over and over again.
It also has a canister ejection system, gas canister lock, and lid opening hole which can all be operated easily and ensures safety. Maintaining the stove won’t be an issue – all you have to do is wipe, no scrubbing needed.
6. Shinestar Dual Fuel Portable Gas Stove
Highlighted Features
- Heat output of 7,200 BTU/hr
- Safe to use
- Easy operation
- Adjustable heat
- Propane converter regulator hose
Looking for a great camping companion? Check this product out. This gas stove supports dual fuel (butane and propane) and that sounds like pure bliss. This provides you with another option depending on the availability of fuel.
With a power output of 7,200 BTU/hr, this burner heats up quickly to provide you with quick and convenient cooking and by just turning a knob you can adjust the heat intensity if and when necessary.
It works with round-shaped pans to provide you with various meals on your camping trips. Should you decide to go with this product, your safety is guaranteed as it comes with built-in advanced safety features such as gas canister lock, canister ejection system, and pressure protection function.
7. Chef Master Butane Countertop Stove
Highlighted Features
- 12,000 BTU heat output
- Safe to use
- Piezo ignition
- Adjustable heat
- In-line regulator
- Can be dismantled for cleaning
This portable stove will be of great use for hiking, camping, or fishing. It provides a whopping 12,000 BTU of heat and a wind guard to ensure the fire keeps burning! If you’re more than three on a trip, don’t worry – it was designed to cater to the needs of enough people on a hiking treat.
It allows you to cook at your own pace with the adjustable heat dial by turning the heat down or up. If you’ve had a bad experience with defective burners, that won’t be the case with this product. The burner is made from brass which has a high heat resistance and high tensile strength to withstand corrosion or deformation.
There’s a “safety stop” feature that turns off the stove if it detects overheating and an in-line regulator that shuts off the valve when the pressure gets too high, so you can go on your outdoor trips without having to worry about safety.
This product is very easy to maintain. The plate on top of the burner is removable so you can clean thoroughly.
8. Gas One Dual Fuel Gas Stove Burner
Highlighted Features
- Dual Fuel
- User-friendly
- Piezo-electric ignition
- Safety features
- Non-slip rubber feet
You’ve got options! Whether you got an 8 oz. butane canister or a 16.4 oz. propane tank, this stove comes pre-installed with a regulator which enables it to support both fuels and you can use either one available to you.
Igniting the stove is easy and straightforward, all thanks to the piezo-electric ignition system – eliminating the need for a lighter or matches. After turning on the heat, there’s a heat dial that you can use to control the heat.
If you’re going camping or hiking, this product will provide you with a safe cooking experience with features like cartridge ejection system (ejects the butane fuel canister at unsafe pressure levels) and the auto shut-off device (stops the flow of gas also at unsafe pressure levels).
It comes with a carrying case which makes it even more portable for your camping trips.
9. MSR PocketRocket Ultralight Stove
Highlighted Features
- Lightweight
- Easy set-up and operation
- Wind-guide
- Foldable
This stove is ideal for extreme light-packing adventures. It provides reasonably fast heating, boiling water in about 3 and a half minutes.
It’s easy to put together – no pumping or pre-heating required. The pot-support is foldable which makes it fit easily in backpacks, provides the whole unit with rigidity and works with different sizes of the pot.
It uses isobutane-propane fuel and comes with a protective cover and a wind-guide to shield the flame on windy days.
10. Etekcity Ultralight Outdoor Stove
Highlighted Features
- 6,666 BTU heat output
- Piezo ignition system
- Lightweight
- Foldable
- High heat efficiency
Made with stainless steel and aluminum alloys, this portable stove is one of the lightweight products out there. Like being lightweight is not enough, it comes with a carrying case which just makes it super convenient for conveyance during your hiking or camping treats.
If you’re looking for a small stove that you can carry comfortably on quick outdoor trips, this might be the one for you.
It comes with a built-in piezo ignition system to ease the lighting of the stove and the foldable feature allows you to save more space in your travel pack.
This stove is compatible with pots and pans with a maximum diameter of 7 inches. The heat efficiency is pretty high for a really small stove and it burns clean, without debris or smooth.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Portable Butane Stove
We know you want nothing but the best and you have burning questions concerning the features you should look out for before making a purchase. Say less – this section addresses some of your questions and provides key features you should look out for.
Which is Better – Single or Dual Fuel Stove Burner?
Both are great. The dual-fuel stove only provides you with an extra option, that way you could never really run out of fuel. However, butane canisters are smaller and have a lighter weight which gives them an edge over propane tanks, hence more suitable for light-packing outdoor trips.
Also, propane costs a little higher than butane but produces larger heat output and has higher combustion efficiency than butane. It’s not really a question of which is better; it’s about which meets your demands more.
Heat Output
Before you pick your butane stove, make sure to check its heat output (rated in BTU). The portable butane stoves reviewed above have a power or heat output ranging from 6,000 – 12,000 BTU.
Usually, the higher the heat output, the faster the stove heats. If your cooking process demands more power, you should consider getting a butane stove with higher heat output. Otherwise, the heat output of 7,000 – 8,000 BTU should be sufficient.
Can You Use a Butane Stove Indoors?
No. Butane stoves are strictly made for outdoor use, so unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer, we do not recommend using your portable butane stove indoors.
The reason is simple, combustion of butane releases carbon monoxide which is dangerous if inhaled. An outdoor use allows the toxic gas to escape into the atmosphere, hence zero risks of hazard.
To be on the safe side, a butane stove that can be used indoor shouldn’t be a feature you should look out for, because even with enough ventilation, anything can still wrong.
Safety features
Most, if not all portable butane stoves come with one or more safety features. Your safety is of top priority so you should look into that carefully.
Common portable butane stove accident includes overheating and explosion. Any safety feature is great, as long as it protects you from horrible accidents and injuries.
Most of the products reviewed above come with safety features like an auto shut-off feature that cuts off the supply of gas when pressure rises above the normal level and a cartridge ejection function that ejects the butane canister when it detects irregular pressure flow.
Some come with a safety stop feature that turns off the stove if it detects overheating and a fuel locking lever which is operated manually to prevent leakages.
Other notable safety features are gas canister lock, heat-insulated knob, etc. If the portable stove you’re considering has two or more of these features, you’re good to go.
Ease of operation
It is important to get a portable butane stove that is user-friendly; it saves you time, stress, and improves the quality of your camping experience.
Make sure it has an auto-ignition system like piezo-electric so you don’t have to stress using matches or lighter to start your stove. A gas stove with a heat dial would be ideal so you can regulate the heat whenever and however you want.
You should also check for a windshield to ensure your flame won’t go out unexpectedly, saving you the stress of having to ignite the burner over and over again.
Why should You Consider Durability?
These portable butane stoves were made for outdoor use, you should make sure they are made with strong materials that can withstand the tough conditions of the outside.
The body and burner should be made with metal materials that can withstand heat, corrosion, and wear.
Compatibility
It won’t make sense to discover your portable burner doesn’t work with your cookware after the product has been delivered, so check the diameter of the burner and make sure your cookware doesn’t exceed the maximum diameter.
Some portable butane stoves are compatible with pots and pans with up to 7 inches of diameter. Also, make sure what you’re getting is compatible with the material types of cookware you have.
Maintenance
This might not seem so important, but it actually is. You don’t want to spend your whole trip cleaning, so before you make that decision, check to make sure you won’t have a tough time getting the body cleaned.
Preferably, opt for options that are less messy and can be cleaned easily with just a damp towel. That way, you can clean easily between stops and not get your backpack all stained.
Size and weight
The sole reason for getting a portable butane stove is for use during outdoor activities such as camping or hiking, so it is the only reason the product is lightweight and compact so you can lift and carry around easily.
Make sure the size of the portable electric stove doesn’t consume much space and fits perfectly wherever you want to put it.
Final Thoughts
We took the liberty to research the best portable butane stove in the market and provide you with information you’ll find useful before making a purchase.
For the best outdoor cooking experience during hiking, camping, hunting, or fishing, we recommend our top pick option for you. It definitely will give you a run for your money by providing a large heat output for cooking, guarantees fuel efficiency, and is user-friendly. It easily checks all the important requirements stated in our buying guide above.
However, if you’re tight on budget and still want great quality, our budget pick is perfect for you. It is lightweight and definitely will be one of the most convenient to carry portable butane stoves. For an affordable product, it comes with great features like a power rating of 6,666 BTU and a built-in electric spark ignition system – you sure would get your money’s worth.