Camping is one of the best ways to get close to nature. It is the place to stop and smell the roses…Camping is usually with family, co-workers and friends, of course if you're seasoned enough it is a joy to camp alone. Apart from having the right company, great camping venue and the attitude, campers must think of the proper gear needed.

For cooking meals in the outdoors, stoves provide the convenience and safety for every camper. Making a fire or spit to cook your meals on is time consuming and an energy sapper. Camping stoves are similar to regular ones, but their difference lies in the camping stove being light-weight and easy to set up.

The hardy camping stove is collapsible and easy to store. Its base must be stable, especially when having to use a big pot to cook in. Most camping stoves have tripod stands, making it tip-free while allowing proper circulation of air.

Choosing what type of camping stove is best for you depends on your situation. A stove with an adaptable fuel usage & setting is best for camping where fuel may not be available. A family camping on the hand calls for a two-burner stove to handle meal-cooking in large batches. Having a two-burner makes cooking faster and convenient available with light fuel or canister fuel.

Lugging along a bulky and heavy two-burner is not advisable for backpackers though since it will take up most of your energy and packing space. A light-weight camping stove can weigh less than 4 ounces excluding the fuel and pack.

Back pack stoves

These must be light-weight, easy to use and pack. This consists of a burner that locks onto the canister fuel. These stoves can be operated using different types of fuel. These are liquid multi-level types that are versatile especially in times your not sure what fuel may be available near or at the camping site.

Single burner stoves

These stoves are non-collapsible and commonly have a tripod base. Though bulky and in a fixed appearance, it is light-weight and convenient to pack. There are single-burners that also latch on to different types of fuel canisters and are able to use a variety of fuel types.

Wok stoves

These stoves are made of light-weight material with an alloy burner. This attaches to a tank with a hose through a port at the back. This is best suited for tailgating parties or RV camping. Backpackers and wilderness campers will do better with a different stove. Wok stoves come with a detachable burner, carrying it the wrong way may detach it without you knowing (until you smell your fuel leaking from the back). These come in automatic and manual ignition, so the choice is matches or none.

Double & Triple burner stoves

These are bulky kinds of stove but ideal for family camping. Cooking in big quantities is easy since it accommodates 2 or 3 cooking preparations. These stoves look like a mini barbecue grill, with wind shields at three of its sides, the fuel tank attaches at the front.

Generally, camping stoves come in a variety of types suited for the all kinds of camping. Camping stoves are on of the important camping gear to invest in and bring. They make cooking and heating easier while making it safer for the environment. Forest fires can be started due to inexperience in making and maintaining an ideal wood fire going. Camping stoves takes this danger away with its fail safe burners and fuel canisters.