Camp cooking is a glorious pastime — or, at least, it can be with the right stove. Bring one thats too small to adequately cook your meal or too big and heavy for the backpacking trip youre on, and youve got a recipe for a rough time.

　　However, when youve got the perfect stove and a dialed camp cooking setup at your fingertips, nature makes one of the best kitchens you could ever cook in.

　　When you start shopping for the right stove, though, youll quickly realize how many options there are. Camp stoves come in all shapes, sizes, weights, burner styles, fuel options, and price ranges. Peruse GearJunkies guides to the Best Camping Stoves and Backpacking Stoves to get a sense of whats available.

　　So, how does one choose the camp stove thats right for them? Before you pull the trigger and make a purchase, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

　　Choose a Camp Stove: How to Pick Whats Right for You

　　(Photo/Eric Phillips) To reiterate, not every stove is suitable for every adventure or circumstance. So, before you purchase, consider what youll use it for. If you primarily want a stove for car camping, you can look at some of the heavier, bulkier options. Depending on how many people you intend to cook for, you might choose a larger or smaller stove with more or fewer burners.

　　If you want a stove that can be packed in a backpack and carried over many miles on a trail, you need to consider something lighter. Ultralight burners and flash boil stoves make cooking fast, easy, and painless even when youre miles into the backcountry. There are even lighter and cheaper options (which well get to in due time).

　　Then consider your fuel. If youre backpacking, do you want to carry a fuel canister? Or will you have access to natural fuel? Some brands make backpacking wood stoves that are light and packable. These can be great options for circumstances where a lot of dry tinder is available and there is no fire ban.

　　No One-Stove Solution

　　(Photo/Snow Peak) You can shop around for one stove that will work for every occasion. But it will require functional compromise no matter what. You must pick a stove thats light and packable enough for backpacking but big enough to handle larger meals for car camping. Ultimately, the option that works best for both will probably only work semi-well for either.

　　So, unfortunately, the best system for camp cooking is to own multiple stoves. Have one for backpacking, one for car camping, one for outdoor banquet parties, and another for emergencies.

　　OK — maybe you dont need that many. But you get the picture.

　　How to Choose the Right Camp Stove: Types, Styles, Models

　　Testing camp stoves in Colorado; (photo/Eric Phillips) The Classic Two-Burner The two-burner propane stove, popularized by Coleman and used by families and Scout troops alike for generations, is aperfect tool for groups of up to 10 in the front country. They’re rugged enough to take a beating and simple enough to work after idle years in agarage. When something goes wrong, it’s typically cheap and easy to fix.

　　Disadvantages? They are heavy and bulky. These units are best kept within a few hundred feetof the car. You wont want to lug them on a backpacking trip.

　　Examples: Coleman Triton, Camp Chef Everest 2, Primus Kinjia. For more stoves like these, check out GearJunkies guide to the Best Camping Stoves.

　　Fuel: Propane

　　Limitations: Heavy and large

　　Best Use: Front-country, group campouts, family events

　　The Boiler Compact and fully self-contained, these units comprise a burner, fuel canister, stand, and lid — all in a tidy package the size of a water bottle. They are made to boil water fast — most will boil it in less than 2 minutes.

　　Some of these stoves can cook food, but theyre more often used to heat water for drinks or dehydrated meals. Cleaning them can be a pain, and the heat control is not very dynamic.

　　These are great for backpacking because theyre light and packable. I bring mine car camping too, because its the fastest way to a cup of hot coffee when I wake up in the morning.

　　Examples: Jetboil Flash, MSR WindBurner, Primus Lite+

　　Fuel:Isobutane

　　Limitations:Usually only works with included pot; boiling water only

　　Best Use: Backpacking, solo travel

　　(Photo/REI, MSR) The Ultralight Burner These are small, single burners with collapsible support arms for your pot or pan. They are minimalist, ultralight, and preferred by many for backcountry use. All you need to carry is your fuel canister and the burner. Attach the former to the latter, turn it on, and youre cooking.

　　They weigh mere ounces and can pack down to a tiny size. These units are common among long-distance hikers and make excellent additions to an emergency kit.

　　Examples: Primus Classic, MSR PocketRocket 2,