Snow Peak LiteMax

The Snow Peak LiteMax is one of the lightest camping stoves on the market, weighing a mere 1.9 ounces. The stove doesn't include a cooking pot or isobutane-propane fuel canister, but the diminutive burner folds up so you can easily stow it in your pack. Reviewers say the Snow Peak LiteMax is a good budget choice for backpackers, and it earns a Best of Adventure award from National Geographic Adventure magazine. It also tops the list in a test of six camping stoves conducted by Backpacker magazine. The Snow Peak LiteMax has three pot supports, and reviewers say they are stable and sturdy. In several tests, the LiteMax boils a liter of water in roughly five or six minutes, but it is vulnerable to wind, which decreases the stove's efficiency. One test from BackpackingLight.com indicates that the Snow Peak LiteMax has high carbon monoxide emissions, so don't burn it in or near your tent. If weight isn't a concern, the MSR Reactor (*Est. $140) is heavier at 19 ounces, but it includes a cooking pot and boils water in less than three minutes.

The most comprehensive testing of the Snow Peak LiteMax comes from BackpackingLight.com. This subscription-only site conducts exhaustive and detailed tests on several stoves, and the subscription fee is well worth it if you regularly buy camping gear. While it is less technical, Backpacker magazine also tests and rates the Snow Peak LiteMax. A good number of user reviews help round out the opinions on this lightweight camping stove.