Guide: Best Backpacking & Camp Stoves for Hunting

By: James Denhalter, Brand Evangelist & Avid Hunter

I was gifted my first Jetboil, a Flash, in 2008 and it immediately became a staple in my hunting pack. Since 2008 I have taken a Jetboil stove with me on over 40 hunts from chasing Coues Deer in Mexico, Whitetail in Wisconsin, Elk in Arizona, Mule Deer in Idaho and Turkey all over the states.

For me hunting is all about systems; glassing systems, sleeping systems, etc., and Jetboil is my trusted cooking system. The entire stove system packs into itself, it's reliable, durable and just plain tough.  

But we have a lot of options here at Jetboil, so how do you know what stove is best for you? Let me try to help:

Best Stove for Backcountry Western Hunts

STASH

The Jetboil Stash is our lightest stove system, at just 7.1 ounces it’s the lightest stove system on the market. It’s also wildly compact, the whole system fits in the palm of your hand.  

Not all of our hunts are as epic as a backcountry elk hunt, but if you are lucky enough to draw a tag or have a chance to chase animals deep into the backcountry you know every thing in your pack needs to be compact, durable and reliable. When plans, circumstances and weather can change in a moment’s notice, having a stove for a warm meal or drink is crucial.  When your goal is to carry more weight out than your carried in, every ounce matters.

Best Stove for Basecamp Hunts

GENESIS BASECAMP

The Genesis Basecamp System is one of my favorite products we make. It’s a two-burner camp stove that folds in half (clam shell style) and packs into it’s pot and pan. Its built tough and can take some abuse. If you’re cooking for a group of hungry hunters, this is your cooking system.

One of my favorite hunts every year is a big group hunt that my family takes. We head to southern Arizona and chase Coues Deer, we set up a big camp and split up in the mornings but all come back together for dinner each night. It’s our western version of a hunt camp. The Genesis is a main stay at these camps and we cook great meals to enjoy around the fire as we share stories of that days pursuits.

A side bonus is that two Coues skulls fit perfectly into the pot if you are doing a European mount.

Best Stove for Alpine/Winter Hunts

MINIMO

If you are one of the crazy ones that love the late hunts, or want to get above 10,000 feet then the MiniMo is the best system for you. The MiniMo is a regulated stove and part of our Precision Cook line, allowing you to control the flame and dial in the perfect temperature for cooking. It also performs better at high elevations or in freezing conditions.  

The MiniMo also comes with a Pot Support attachment, allowing you to use pans and other cooking vessels like our Summit Skillet. If you're willing to carry a little extra weight, the MiniMo can cook up some incredible backcountry meals (it's perfect for searing some backstraps).

Best Stove for Traditional Outdoorsmen

FLASH

Classic, do-it-all outdoorsmen who are in the outdoors year-round require a cooking system that is versatile and can keep up with their changing pursuits. The iconic Flash system is just the stove for the job. Flash is the OG, it's exactly what you need with lightning-fast boil times, a compact design, and intuitively simple operation. It was my first stove, and is usually the stove I reach for on any hunt.

Part of our Fast Boil line, Flash is perfect for dehydrated meals, quick coffee, or anything that requires hot water. It’s the stove that can take years of hard use and still work every single time.  

Best Jetboil Pots, Pans & Accessories for Hunters

A big advantage of the Jetboil systems is the opportunity to build and customize your cooking kit. Just like any good hunting system it’s important to find what works for you. Here are a few of my favorite Jetboil accessories that every hunter should check out:

Silicone Coffee Press

Turn any Jetboil single-burner system into a French Press coffee maker with the Silicone Coffee Press. Available in two size to fit all Jetboil cooking cups, this is consistently our best-selling accessory for any Jetboil system. 

Pot Support

The Pot Support attaches to most Jetboil burners to accommodate Jetboil's skillet, 1.5L FluxRing cooking pot, or a variety of traditional pots and pans. Securely lock the support to the burner base with the flanges, which fold easily for storage inside Jetboil system cups. Note: the MiniMo, MicroMo, and SUMO come with a Pot Support, and the MightyMo does not require one. 

Summit Skillet

There is nothing worse than packing a dirty, greasy pan into your pack. The Summit Skillet is Jetboil's easy-to-clean ceramic-coated skillet for cooking up your favorite meals in the backcountry. I pack this when I know I'll be cooking up some fresh meat on my hunts. 

1.5 L Pot

Just like our Summit Skillet, the 1.5L Cook Pot is ceramic-coated for easy-to-clean, non-stick cooking. This one comes with our patented FluxRing heat exchanger, allowing for efficient, fast cooking and boiling. When your cooking system is more efficient, you can carry less fuel. 

Selecting a Jetboil For Your Next Hunt

I get that I am not exactly unbiased here, I work for Jetboil after all. But long before I knew what I wanted to do for a living, I knew I loved hunting and I was carrying my Jetboil on all of those hunts. For me, it’s removing the stress from my cooking system, knowing that my Jetboil has me covered.  

If none of these categories quite hit the mark, check out our interactive Stove Selector tool and we'll help you pick the perfect Jetboil system for your next hunt.