We Tested 5 of the Most Popular Backpacking Stoves in the Wind

We tested five of the most popular lightweight backpacking stoves in various conditions to see which stove performed the best in fuel efficiency and boil times. Every experiment was repeated three times and an average value was determined.

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The most fuel efficient of all the backpacking stoves was

We tested five of the most popular lightweight backpacking stoves in various controlled wind conditions.  Each stove was also tested in sheltered conditions with no wind. We tested the stoves in 0, 1, 2 and 4 mph simulated wind, and verified the controlled wind speed with an anemometer.  We tested each stove three times at each wind speed and averaged the values.

Fuel to boil 2 cups of water

The most fuel efficient stove in all wind conditions tested was the Soto WindMaster. The Soto WindMaster performed about 6% better on average in fuel efficiency than its closest competitor, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe.

The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe had the best boil times.

The stove with the best boil times in all wind conditions tested was the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe. The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe performed about 5% better on average in boil times than its closest competitor, the Soto WindMaster.

Soto WindMaster in 1.0 mph controlled wind conditions

stove wind test

We tested each stove at controlled wind speeds of 0, 1, 2 and 4 mph. We heated 2-cups of 72°F water to a rolling boil at an elevation of 5,280 feet in the same (26 ounce capacity) titanium pot.

Five backpacking stoves laying next to each other by a ruler
Left to right: Soto Amicus, MSR PocketRocket 2, Snow Peak LiteMax, MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, Soto WindMaster
Five backpacking stoves laying next to each other by a ruler
Left to right: Soto Amicus, MSR PocketRocket 2, Snow Peak LiteMax, MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, Soto WindMaster