After an 8-mile hike through aspen groves and mushroom patches just outside Flagstaff over the long weekend, my friends and I were ravenous for food. I practically ran back to the campsite. To recoup our calories, we scarfed down tangy personal-sized pizzas topped with pepperoni and mushrooms crisped to perfection—all made on one burner of a camp stove.
With the right setup, there’s almost nothing you can’t whip up at your campsite, regardless of the stove style, weight, and size. But there are a few guidelines to consider when shopping for a camp stove: your budget, where you plan on using the stove, and whether you’ll be cooking for yourself or your whole family. A heavy two-burner stove is usually best for car camping and big groups, while a pocket-sized model is ideal for backpacking and a smaller number of eaters.
No matter where you’re headed (and with how many people), we’ve rounded up the best camp stoves for all types of adventures so you can cook whatever you’re craving.
The Best Camp Stoves for Any Adventure
Primus Profile Propane Camping Stove and GrillCourtesy Image
1. Best for Car Camping: Primus Profile Propane Camping Stove and Grill
The weight of your gear doesn’t really matter when you’re driving to the campground, but a stove’s output certainly does. Set up this 12-pound Primus propane stove and grill at the end of your site’s picnic table for cooking breakfast, lunch, dinner, and post-hike snacks. The burner on the right side can boil water or sauté veggies, while the grill grate on the left side can sear burger patties or fry eggs. Built-in igniters make it simple to fire up, and the side windscreens can be extended to keep the flame steady even when it’s gusty. A hose and connector are included, but the propane fuel is sold separately. Primus also makes a two-burner stove (sans grill grate) in the same size, but we like this one better for its versatility.
When you’re backpacking, you’ll want the smallest and lightest stove you can get away with. This tiny canister model is just five inches long and weighs 2.3 ounces—just slightly more than two AA batteries. But don’t let its stature fool you: The Windmaster is surprisingly capable, even for a group of hungry hikers. Four pot supports can stabilize a vessel as big as five liters, and the pot sits close to the flame to protect it from weather. The concave design of the burner head also ensures the flame doesn’t blow out, even in windy conditions. Boil time averages about four minutes, and the igniter lets you fine-tune the heat for boiling tea or warming up carb-packed pasta.
If you have enough room in your vehicle to pack an entire kitchen (and you’re feeding a crowd), the Yukon packs some key advantages over smaller camp stoves. Grillmasters will love the dual aluminum burners, heavy-duty grate, and expansive, 448-square-inch cooking surface—it’s large enough to fit multiple oversized pans and skillets for whipping up multiple dishes at once. It’s so capable, some users even set it up as their backyard grill when they’re not camping or tailgating. But when it’s time to hit the road, the Yukon’s legs are removable for easy storage and adjustable for a level setup on bumpy ground. Plus, you can add accessories like a barbecue grill, griddle, artisan pizza oven, or folding shelves for even more cooking options.
4. Best Budget: Coleman Classic 2-Burner Propane Stove
Tightening your outdoor gear budget? There’s no reason to splurge on a stove when this sub-$50 model has everything you need to cook in the wilderness. The steel frame is sturdy when it’s set up on a flat surface, and it’s tough enough to withstand bumps and jolts in your vehicle or trailer. You’ll need a separate propane canister and a match or lighter to light this stove, but once it’s going, it’s easy to adjust thanks to dedicated knobs for simmering or boiling on both burners. The wind panels adjust for optimal protection, and the chrome-plated grate is removable for easy cleanup of spills and splatters.
The downside of camp stoves is that they don’t replace a blazing campfire. Usually, they’re separate considerations, but with the Solo Stove Campfire, you get both in one. Made of stainless steel and weighing just 2.2 pounds, this wood-burning fire ring is ultra portable and big enough to cook for four people, too. Just add sticks, twigs, and other kindling into the barrel, ignite it with a match or lighter, and let the heated air circulate through the vent holes (this design creates a more efficient burn). Once the fire’s roaring, you can cook hot dogs, roast marshmallows, or simmer a big pot of chili. Solo Stove also makes smaller and larger models, like the Solo Stove Lite and the Yukon Fire Pit.
6. Best Butane Option: Snow Peak Home & Camp Burner
If it’s possible to make an outdoor product beautiful, Snow Peak will figure out how to do it. This butane-fueled stove is as sleek as it is powerful. It transforms from a compact, three-pound tube into a spider-like shape with supports that can hold even heavier cooksets. A butane canister plugs into the tube, and the auto-igniter and adjustable knobs provide stable flame control. The only drawbacks: You can’t use cast iron, ceramic, or stone cookware on this stove, and it takes a little bit of practice to unfold and collapse.
Most camp stoves run on gas canisters, but if you’re pining for a charcoal grill at your campsite, the Nomad Grill & Smoker is your best best. The unique suitcase-style design makes it easy to transport and set up, and as the name implies, it’s capable of both high-heat grilling and low-heat smoking, too. The case’s multi-layer construction keeps it cool enough to rest on most surfaces while cooking, magnetic vent sliders help you regulate the airflow over your coals, and an integrated thermometer makes it easy to monitor cooking temps while smoking or grilling. You can also pick up a second grate (which also doubles as a veggie basket) for even more cooking surface area, but keep in mind that you’ll need to bring a bag of charcoal to your campsite as well.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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