Whether you camp, hike, hunt… whatever your outdoor backpack recreation may be, if you carry around a small portable stove, then you need to check out this new piece of kit I purchased earlier in the spring. Supper affordable! It’s the best ultralight backpacking stove I’ve ever owned.
I’ll be providing a review below, but be sure to check out the incredible online reviews at Amazon as well. The masses have spoken, and they love this low priced camp stove by Etekcity. And I do too.
- Name: Etekcity Ultralight Backpacking Stove
- Price: Check online, usually $10.99 – $16.99
- Best Place To Buy: Amazon
- Guarantees: One year warranty
- My Rating: 5/5
What Makes It The Best Ultralight Backpacking Stove?
When you are using a backpack to haul around gear and personalize items a few things come into play. You don’t want to haul around more than you have to. So size of the items you bring along with you, as well as the weight can make a huge difference.
The Etekcity ultralight backpacking stove is light and compact.
- Weight: less than 4 ounces.
- Size: 3.5″ x 1.8″ x 2.3″
- Durable Material: made of aluminum alloy and stainless steel that can withstand high temperatures and heat.
- Compact: comes with a plastic carrying case that makes storage fast and easy.
- Compatibility: 7/16 thread butane/butane-propane mixed fuel canisters.
- Flame Control: adjustable control valve for maximum heat output or simmer; you control and decide what output you need.
- Leave No Trace: adheres to the ‘leave no trace’ principles set forth by the US Forest Service. Burns clean, no debris or soot left behind.
These things make great gifts for Boy Scouts, hikers, campers, remote hunters, day trekkers… anybody who enjoys outdoor activities that may need to cook their own food.
Where Have I Personally Used This Stove:
Previously I used similar portable stoves that cost six or seven time more than the Etekcity. I admit, I was a little skeptical going from a $60 portable stove to one that cost me less than $14.
The first time I used it was on a day hiking trip where I boiled up some water and used the water to hydrate some camp food. It worked great. I later did some testing to see how many times I could boil 2 cups of water from a single 100g fuel canister; it took about three minutes at 75% throttle to boil 2 cups of water, and I was able to do that twelve times from a 100g fuel canister. That averages to around 36 minutes of burn time from that sized fuel canister.
I have found fuel canisters in sizes: 100g, 250g, and 450g. Cost for the various sized fuel canisters varies from $8 to $18.
Boiling water to cook and drink is easy. The real test this stove went through was frying fish in a large skillet during shore lunches in Canada this past summer. It worked like a BOSS! The stoves little support legs had no problem holding up a skillet filled with boiling hot oil and cooking walleye fillets.
I have also used this stove on a few overnight camping trips this year, as well as day trips to local State Parks. Each and every time it lit right up using the stoves internal ignition system. If that ever fails, I could always light it using my ferro rod or another piece of lit tender.
The stove has held up excellent. No issues of any kind. I find it to be durable and able to get any job done for my cooking needs. And the price point is fantastic!
This little stove is the perfect gift for holidays and birthdays. It will not disappoint you or any outdoor enthusiast you may know.
Etekcity Ultralight Backpacking Stove – The Pros!
Based on my use of this item and why I think it is the best ultralight backpacking stove, here is a list of my pros:
- It is supper light and compact. I can carry this stove in its case, along with a canister fuel inside my 12cm Zebra Pot. Check out the picture.
- The aluminum and steel design makes it highly durable.
- It has a self ignition lighter that has never once failed to light up for, even on cold an wet outings I have used it on.
- If you need a backup stove, this would fit that need easily.
- I usually carry dehydrated food packets, and it works great for boiling water to warm and hydrate my meals fast.
The Cons!
While I have not had this issue, I have read online that the internal ignition system will go out sooner or later. That is to be expected, and is typically the case with such systems. When that happens, you need to be prepared to light the burner with an alternative means.
I have not had any issues with the ignition not working… at least so far. It have employed this camp stove many times, but I do know eventually I will need to light it another way. So don’t be caught unprepared for when the ignition system finally goes out. It will happen.
Final Thoughts On The Etekcity Backpacking Stove
This little stove is hard to beat. The reviews online are stellar, and it really fits my needs for a compact stove. The fuel is easy to carry, the stove is easy to carry, and it gets the job done.
I love how compact it is. And I really live the price point; it is incredibly affordable.
Is it the best ultralight backpacking stove? For me it certainly is.
Be sure to let me know if you have an questions or comments on this sweet little camping stove.
TD
Nice one. How I wish we had this when we were young because me and my friends loved going out to the woods for a picnic. We had to use a pumping gas stove which is quite big and heavy.
What I like about Etekcity backpacking stove is that it is small and portable, it should be great for picnics and camping. But how long would the fuel last? You mentioned boiling 2 cups of water 12 times. Hmm, not bad I guess. Perhaps a 100 gram fuel canister is able to cook 12 packs of instant noodles.
I think it can be used also as back up when our gas range or stove runs out of gas and we don’t have spare. It’s also affordable so thank you for this review article, I will definitely look into this.
Hi Alice,
It has about a 36+ minute burn time from a 100 gram fuel canister. It really is great for boiling up water to hydrate food. If I go to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for 4 days and pack along Mountain Home hydrated food for my meals, I am going to need to to be able to use my stove at least 12 times. I would bring one 100g canister of fuel, and probably another one for backup, or just buy the 250g sized canister. Super light to carry the burner and two small canisters of fuel (or one 250g). If I wanted to cook fish or whatever I brought that was not dehydrated, I would probably cook over the camp fire.
However, this stove is great to have along for those instances and locations where camp fires are under a temporary ban, or not allowed at all. It really is the best ultralight backpacking stove I have ever used. I love it.
TD
I’m actually on my 3rd Etekcity as the first 2 broke, not because they are easy to break but because of my clumsiness!
The first one was definitely my own fault as I was putting into my back pack it slipped out of my hands and into the river.
The 2nd one though, I blame my eldest son! Rather than pack it away with all out other things from camping he decided to “forget” to put it in the car and reversed over it.
I’m now on my 3rd one as it really is a brilliant piece of camping equipment for me and I will always buy another one
Hi,
Wow, sounds like a run of bad luck with your backpacking stoves! Luckily these things are pretty low in price and not so hard on the wallet to replace.
It’s a pretty handy little backpacking stove.
TD
HI! Super impressed with the Etekcity portable camp stove! It sounds perfect for most of your needs while camping. I rarely use both burners on our stove and I sure didn’t pay such a great price! We are looking into ways to downsize our camping supplies and this little stove would be just perfect! Thank you for your thorough review and for mentioning that it burns clean! It is so important to keep our forests clean!
Hi,
I used to lug around a big single burner Coleman propane stove… never again. The Etekcity is a small, and does a fantastic job. I’ve used it with a 12″ lightweight camp skillet without a hitch…it did what it need to do with no complaints from me. If you are looking to save weight and space on camping and hiking, this is the way to go.
TD
This is really cool. Me and my family love the outdoors. Were always going camping and hiking. It’s just a great for the family to bound and learn about nature, Plus nothing beats the smell of the outdoors. I have had a backpack stove before and loved it, but now it’s all old and rusty. So i am glad i came across this article because i’m definitely in the market for a new one. This one seems more durable than my old one, Where is the best place to buy? Great review, very helpful.
Hi Garrett,
The best place I have found to buy the Etekcity Backpacking Stove is from Amazon. For me, as a Prime member, I can order this stove and it will arrive in two days – no extra charge for shipping. One of the things I love about Amazon – that, and they have very good prices.
These little stoves make great Holiday presents to anybody into the outdoors.
TD
This is a nifty little camping stove. I have seen ones that can cost over $200, especially those with double-burners.
Even if this stove falls apart in a couple of years, I can see that it is well worth the money!
Is this a new product? I can’t remember seeing another one like it…so light and easy to carry.
Looking for more quality products reviewed on your website. Can’t wait!
Jim
Hi Jim,
Yeah, there are other stoves out there that are similar in size and weight. Many cost a lot more, as you yourself have said. I have owned a few of the more expensive stoves over the years, but this one is just as good. The Etkecity burner gets the job done!
TD