For a safe, secure alternative to building your own fire, stay warm and toasty when you’re camping – and even do some of your cooking and water boiling! – on a wood-burning stove made portable, to take with you on every trip.
An alternative to propane or other gas-fuelled setups, it’s much more affordable to run, and you won’t need to rely on hoses and hookups – just some wood and a match or a lighter and you’re good to go.
Sorting the quality stoves from the cheap imitations can prove tricky without adequate knowledge, and that’s why we’ve made things ridiculously easy for you, by picking out five of the best for your perusal, right here right now.
We’ve done all of the research for you here, but if you’d like to know more about what features you should be looking out for, consult our Buyer’s Guide to find all of the information you need to make an informed decision.
Likewise, if you find yourself with any nagging doubts, queries or concerns, you might have them allayed by our set of Frequently Asked Questions right at the end. We’ve answered the most common customer inquiries – yours may be one of ‘em!
Best Wood Burning Camp Stoves – Comparison Table
5 Best Wood Burning Camping Stove Reviews
#1. Camp Chef Alpine Heavy Duty Cylinder Stove
Camp Chef Alpine Heavy Duty Cylinder Stove
For a wood burning stove that’s ideal for wall-tent camping, outdoor cookouts and staying warm beneath the stars, the Alpine Heavy Duty Cylinder Stove from Camp Chef is ideal and comes with plenty of accessories, so it’s our number one choice!
Constructed of heavy duty steel, with a fire grate to prevent overheating at the base, it’s been created to withstand years of continuous use, and the handy multipurpose shelves can be used for storage, as drying racks or utensil holders.
An internal log grate, damper, spark arrestor and shelves are included as part of your purchase, each designed to fit perfectly inside the stove, whilst the removable legs aid in portability and make for easier transport all around.
Its unique design, with a roomy cook top and door damper for easy temperature control, make feeding yourself (and the whole family) a breeze!
Boiling water is easily achieved, with plenty of space for a standard wood stove water heater.
With more than two decades of experience manufacturing camping equipment, every product is designed, made and distributed from their Utah site, right in the heart of the Bear River Mountain range – a perfect spot to test all of their products!
Pros:
- Solid construction, made to last
- Comes with all accessories a camper could need
- Portable – disassembles and all parts fit inside for easy transport
- Flat top for cooking, storage for your equipment
Cons:
- Air vents cannot be completely sealed off, according to a few different reviews
#2. Ohuhu Stainless Steel Portable Wood Burning Stove
Camping Stove Ohuhu Stainless Steel Potable Wood Burning StoveBuilt from the highest quality stainless steel, this sturdy wood burning stove from Ohuhu is ideal for camping, with a small but mighty design that may appear unassuming at first but certainly packs plenty of punch.
Its three armed base creates a pot support system, meaning that even on the most uneven ground there’s no danger of tipping over, staying stable even in windy conditions, as well as evenly distributing heat for an efficient cook.
As it’s on the smaller side, you can easily use smaller dry twigs, leaves, pinecones and wood to fuel it, without the need to spend money on hefty logs or waste your whole afternoon searching for free heat sources!
Because it’s collapsible and lightweight, it stows away in its own mesh carry bag, standing only 3 inches tall when packed away, so it’ll fit easily in a large rucksack. If you like to pack light, this is definitely the stove for you.
Should you prefer to use charcoal as your fuel, that’s absolutely fine, and may actually be more efficient for cooking than using foraged materials; set up takes a matter of seconds, so you’ll be able to eat as soon as hunger strikes!
Pros:
- Super portable, collapsible design great for traditional campers
- Stainless steel design is solid and transfers heat well
- Three armed build holds your pots and pans steadily
- Works with coal, wood or fuel tablets
Cons:
- Cooking can be a little slower than with bigger stoves
#3. Unigear Wood Burning Camp Stove
Unigear Wood Burning Camp StoveCapable of cooking food, boiling water and even good old fashioned barbecue, this multipurpose stove from Unigear is constructed from premium stainless steel, designed to survive even the most rigorous camping trips.
Easily folded down and stored in the included carrying bag, it’s incredibly company and convenient to transport, no matter how intrepid you’re feeling.
Uniquely designed for more efficient burning, it’s sure to outlast competing designs.
Capable of using coal, gas, wood or fuel tablets (which are essentially solidified alcohol), it’s one of the most versatile offerings on our list, which means you should never find yourself short of heat sources to use!
Made up of only four parts, assembly is swift in just three simple steps: just stand up the main body, insert your ash plate and top with the coal grill and pop stand, then you’re ready to rock and roll. Free up more space in your bag and set up faster!
As they’re certain that you’ll have no trouble loving this stove, should you have any problems within the first six months of purchase, simply contact Unigear for a swift and satisfactory resolution, guaranteed.
Pros:
- Folds away like a book for simple, efficient storage
- Cook in various ways, use a variety of fuels to heat
- Solid stainless steel construction for years of use
- Simple assembly, just follow four easy steps
Cons:
- Small capacity – not suited for burning longer, fatter wood
#4. TMS Portable Military Camping Wood Stove
TMS Portable Military Camping Wood Stove Tent HeaterWhether you’re looking to cook food, dry off, heat up your walled shelter or simply warm up on a cold night, a Military Wood Stove from TMS is an ideal option, far safer than an open fire and small enough to transport in your car.
With ample space to prep and make food on the rotating cooktop, staying well fed has never been easier – when you’re finished, simply rotate outwards and use it for drying damp, small items of clothing after a long day of trekking.
Simple enough to carry, thanks to the in-built handle and removable angled legs, it’s large enough to pack plenty of power without being difficult to transport, with four extendable interlocking flue pipes that disassemble when not in use.
Thanks to front and rear air flow regulators and a stove pipe cap, temperature regulation is easy, with all the tools you need for setting up included as standard. An in-built spark regulator ensures you stay safe throughout usage, too.
Though not included, you also have the chance to buy a stove with a handy travel bag and a water heating kettle, which would make a great gift for the wilderness enthusiast, fisherman or travel fan in your life.
Pros:
- Easily disassembled for transport, then put back together in seconds
- Suitable for use in an outfitter’s tent with the proper pipe vent
- All tools needed for cooking included
- Easily accessible bottom ash clean-out tray
Cons:
- Larger and slightly more cumbersome than some of the other stoves we’ve picked out
#5. REDCAMP Wood Burning Folding Stainless Steel Camp Stove
REDCAMP Wood Burning Camp Stove Folding Stainless SteelAvailable in a smaller and a larger design (our review focuses on the latter), this fold-down wood burning stove from REDCAMP is efficient and space-saving; crafted from 430 stainless steel with a 304 SS grill net, it’s also very strong.
At only 5.5 lb, it’s very lightweight, and once collapsed, has a far smaller footprint, so it can easily tuck into a large backpack, though it comes with its own storage bag thrown in for free to make transportation even easier.
Having upgraded their design in response to customer feedback, the grid’s backing plate is now more securely fitted to the stove, much more able to withstand consistent use without succumbing to wear and tear.
Other useful design features include the removable, slide out ash pan for tipping away your spent wood, with a diamond shaped ventilation panel for efficient airflow and a rotatable switch for a startup that takes only seconds.
Just in case you aren’t satisfied with your purchase, the manufacturer offers a 100% money back guarantee with its limited warranty, valid for just under a year. They aim to reply to all messages within 24 hours, so just get in touch if you have any issues.
Pros:
- Very affordable in comparison to other designs on our list
- Industry-grade stainless steel design
- Collapses into a much smaller, sleeker shape for storage/transportation
- Lightweight – you’ll hardly notice you’re carrying it!
Cons:
- Comes with residual protective film that must be removed before use – don’t forget!
Best Wood Burning Camp Stove Buyer’s Guide
Things to Consider When Buying a Wood Burning Stove for Camping
There’s very little point investing in a stove for camping if it isn’t portable, being light enough to transport without much difficulty and taking up minimal space in the trunk of your car or trailer. If it folds down at all, or is collapsible, that’s even better!
Likewise, although you want a small but mighty stove in an ideal world, you also want there to be enough wood capacity so that you can get a real roaring fire going, without having to add more logs every half hour to sustain it!
As with any piece of equipment that involves fire, you also want there to be adequate safety features, ensuring you and your loved ones will stay warm but keep out of harm’s way, too! Tip-proof legs are an especially reassuring feature.
Though it doesn’t necessarily impact how well your wood burning stove will perform, some may include additional accessories as part of your purchase, including windshields, pokers or fuel tablets (used to stand in for wood in a pinch).
Your best bet is to get an off-ground camping stove that keeps any live burning fires away from the floor with plenty of distance, as this will minimize the chance for scorching and keep the ground in the same condition as you found it.
Wood Burners VS Other Stoves
You may be wondering why you should opt for the hassle of stocking a stove up with wood when you could instead choose an easier, less fussy gas option, but there are actually several other perks to picking wood as your fuel of choice.
Though it might seem cumbersome, setting up a wood burning stove can actually be a fun and somewhat satisfying experience, especially if you have eager young helpers to assist you (whilst staying thoroughly supervised around any flames!)
Many wood burning stoves can be used as a cooking and boiling vessel, as well as a heat source for warmth, whilst plenty of other stoves can only provide one or the other. It’s definitely your most versatile option.
Additionally, it also reduces your load and requires less equipment to carry, as you don’t need to worry about picking up expensive gas canisters and hoses, nor will you have to change anything once the fuel runs out!
It’s been proven that wood stoves are far cheaper to run, seeing as you can find wood naturally all around you for free, usually in very close proximity to your campsite of choice! Gas on the other hand means paying for fuel every time!
Those who like to contribute to saving the planet in any way they can will be pleased to know that wood burning stoves are better for the environment than their gas alternatives, and won’t produce anywhere as many pollutants when burning!
A sad but true fact is that campsites are less and less likely to allow you to build your own fire, so a wood burning stove makes an excellent alternative, providing all the ambience of a campfire without breaking any rules or the effort of building one!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are wood burning stoves bad for your lungs?
Though they aren’t especially damaging in small doses, regularly inhaling wood smoke for long periods of time can lead to coughing and wheezing, though breathing in anything that isn’t straight up oxygen prolifically will cause similar problems.
You shouldn’t need to worry so long as everybody is sitting an appropriate distance away from the flames and minimizes their chances of inhalation, though those who are more vulnerable should take further precautions.
If you have asthma, wood smoke can increase your chances of having an attack, whilst young children and those with other lung diseases like COPD or cancer are especially at risk.
If you have a bad chest generally – stay away!
How can you keep a wood burning stove burning all night?
If you’re struggling to keep a fire going for an extended period of time, there are several tips you can follow to further your chances of everything staying lit for longer.
First things first, check any air vents and make sure they aren’t open too wide.
Ensure all of the wood you use is as dry as possible, and where you can, use hardwood logs like ash or oak, as these are usually much denser than their soft wood counterparts and will therefore take longer to burn through.
Wet wood is not only more difficult to start a fire with in general, as well as maintain once lit, but it will also produce a lot more smoke when it burns, leaving you more vulnerable to over-inhallation and an unpleasant coughing fit.
When you’re following all of the advice above and still struggling to stay alight, there may be a breach in the seal of the stove’s door, allowing additional air in uncontrollably and causing the fire to burn quicker than it should.
What is over firing a wood stove?
A commonly used phrase in the world of wood burning, ‘over firing’ refers to running a stove at temperatures that are too high.
Yes, these products are intended to run very hot, but more than they’re able to withstand and you have a problem.
As a result, the construction of your stove, including its body and any internal components, can become warped, and lead to permanent damage and an unusable piece of equipment if you’re not careful or continue over firing for too long.
It can be caused by, for instance, allowing too much oxygen into your fire, either by operating with the vents open too widely or leaving the door open when lit.
Using too much fuel is also a culprit, as you can very quickly have a raging flame as a result.
Having trouble with this issue? You can avoid over-firing with one simple purchase: a stove pipe thermometer.
This lets you carefully monitor the temperature of your fire, whether too hot, too cold or just right, and trial and error for potential causes.
Related: Best Campfire Cooking Equipment Reviews
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