With the Flash, Jetboil didn’t needlessly reinvent a technology that works incredibly well. Instead, the brand made several welcome refinements that tighten the screws on its already-proven system. 

The most obvious change is a new ignition system that replaces the piezo igniter, the press-to-ignite button common on backpacking stoves. “My previous Jetboil worked like a charm in so many backpacking situations, but the igniter was tricky; I always had to carry a lighter because it was so inconsistent,” says Expert Advice Managing Editor Phuong Le. Jetboil finally fixed the glitch by adding a turn-click ignition that resembles the dial you’d find on your home stove.  

That’s not the only upgrade. The Flash now boasts an improved connection between the stove’s burner and the system’s removable pot, which protects the flame from wind and helps the stove heat efficiently. Three locking connection points secure the link, and visual indicators show when the pot is properly seated.  

Finally, Jetboil users at one time or another might have wished they had Teflon fingertips to touch the scalding stove, which can permeate even through its insulating cozy. With the Flash 1.0, the company added a colorful grip zone for extra protection and better handling.  

Along with these latest additions users will find the same convenient features they’ve come to expect from a Jetboil: The components fit nicely within the pot for compact storage. The bottom cover doubles as a measuring cup. And, of course, Jetboil’s trademark wicked-fast heating makes two 8-oz. cups of coffee in two minutes. Buy here.  

Stove specs are scrutinized in a controlled test environment, which is too bad because most of us will never prepare our freeze-dried entrées in a laboratory. And, unfortunately, a lot of speed burners in the lab don't fare so well on windswept mountain passes and gusty shorelines. Backpacking expert Jenny Askey of REI Co-op's Boulder, Colo., store, puts it this way: "Even a wind of 5 to 10 mph can really affect the efficiency of your stove if it's not screened properly."

Enter the MSR WindBurner, which is engineered to retain its cooking mojo in blustery conditions. MSR started by integrating the burner and cookpot in a stove system (like the Jetboil MiniMo and Jetboil Zip), then took it further by encircling the radiant burner inside a windshield ring to block breezes from all directions. A heat exchanger (which retains heat that would otherwise dissipate) and a pressure regulator (which maintains a consistent fuel pressure in the burner) further enhance cooking efficiency, even when outside temperatures drop and the canister's fuel level gets low. So just how wind-hardy is the WindBurner? Askey offers up this tale from a recent trip in the Rockies where gusts reached 50 mph: "We had a guy on that trip who used his WindBurner, and he had zero problems."

The WindBurner's 1-liter pot features many of the same touches you find with other stove systems: an insulating cozy and a lid that lets you sip out of one side or strain fluids out of the other. MSR also makes a wide range of additional cookpot sizes and styles that can integrate with the WindBurner. Buy here.

If you’re looking for a lightweight ripper of a stove that lets you shave ounces without sacrificing performance, grab the Zip 0.8 L for your next quick mission or solo outing. The right balance of portability, efficiency and convenience, the Zip 0.8 L is the flame-thrower that Jetboil users have come to expect: capable of boiling one liter of water in a remarkable two minutes, but in a slightly more pared-down package than the Flash 1.0.  

That doesn’t mean the Zip lacks refinements. Jetboil added a textured grip zone easy handling of the stove base. The Zip also sports a dial to better regulate its flame. Designers at the brand have also improved the pot-to-burner connection on this and other models: Three locking points now ensure that the pot stays seated to the stove base, and visual indicators provide extra peace of mind that the connection is secure.  

Other winning Jetboil attributes are present: All of the components nest neatly inside the cooking pot, which keeps everything organized and compact in your pack. And the stove’s bottom cover doubles as both a measuring cup and a bowl.  

To keep both the weight and the cost lower, the cooking pot on the Zip 0.8 L is slightly smaller than on its sister model, the Flash 1.0 (.8 liters versus 1 liter). And unlike the Flash 1.0, there’s no built-in igniter on this model—so don’t forget your Bic, unless you like cold oatmeal. Buy here.

For folks who just want to boil some water in the backcountry, this is your rig. "It's almost everyone's first backpacking stove," says Tim Bird in REI Co-op's Framingham, Utah, store, who still has his original MSR PocketRocket, along with a few updated versions he's gotten over the years. The venerable stove is simple, reliable, lightweight and affordable—what's not to love?

The PocketRocket 2 is also a triumph of minimalist design: just a burner with a flip-out wire control key and fold-out pot supports. The time from popping open its micro case to full-throated burner roar is quick, as is the cooking speed: It has the fastest boil time of any stove on this list. One reviewer says: "I actually think it's far and away the best of its kind. Packs small and light, takes less than a minute to set up and turn on and boils a few cups of water within two to three minutes."

At just 2.6 ounces, the PocketRocket 2 is a shade lighter than its predecessor. It's also slightly more compact. Even the cookware support is improved. A few users of past PocketRockets had complained that its pot supports were a little rickety. (We've knocked over a pot of boiling pasta at least one due to user carelessness). The ones on this model are a more secure thanks to an updated support bolt that provides better tension. Serrated pot-support edges also contribute to creating a secure cookware perch atop the stove. Buy here.

Related MSR models: The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe gives you a push-button piezo igniter and a pressure regulator that maintains a consistent cooking performance in cold temperatures and when the canister is getting low on fuel. With those upgrades, the Deluxe weighs 0.3 ounces more (2.9 oz.) than the PocketRocket 2.

Talk to any guide or longtime REI employee and chances are they have at least one WhisperLite stove in their gear closet. Staffer Ingrid Johnson's white-gas version of the MSR icon is still going strong: "Classic. It was my first stove; I got it after high school graduation in '97. I've replaced one part and cleaned it out once since then. It's still cruising. It was my only stove for nearly 20 years and I still bring it anytime it's going to be sub-freezing." Since you pressurize the fuel bottle with a pump, colder temps won't make it sputter or fail like a canister stove that loses fuel pressure as the temperature of its fuel drops.

Another benefit of a stove like the MSR WhisperLite that relies on white gas is in the economics. White gas, which you can buy at most sporting goods stores, tends to cost less per ounce than isobutane/propane. That makes it a great option for both group trips and winter trips where you may be burning through a ton of fuel every day, Johnson points out. (Downsides: Liquid-fuel stoves tend to be heavier than isobutane/propane canister stoves, and can also be sooty—especially if you burn kerosene.)

Those are the primary hallmarks of the regular WhisperLite, and the International improves upon the winning design by adding multifuel capability. Being able to run on white gas, auto gas or kerosene makes this iteration versatile enough for major trips abroad where fuel options can differ from those in the U.S. And if you saved "buying fuel" for the drive to the trailhead, you're much likelier to find a suitable option at a gas station or grocery store along the way. Staffer Geoff Irons, from REI Co-op's Colorado Springs, Colo., store, remembers a time when having that multifuel capability saved a trip that took him merely across the country. "We'd driven from the East Coast to Colorado and planned to get fuel at the mountain shop in the town near our trailhead. The store was closed, though, so we walked across the street and filled up at the town gas station." Buy here.

Related MSR models: The MSR WhisperLite Universal gives you even more fuel versatility because it burns the same range of liquid fuels as the WhisperLite International while also working with isobutane/propane fuel canisters.

Alcohol stoves have a niche following, primarily among ultralighters and thru hikers who are drawn to the miniature contraptions like moths to a flame. Our pick in this category, the TOAKS Titanium Siphon, is just a wee dram more than half an ounce. (Imbiber's note: The stove will not run very long on scotch or whisky.)

The other allure of an alcohol stove is that it's a relatively inexpensive setup. (A classic gear hack is to make your own alcohol stove from a soda can.) The denatured alcohol fuel required is also one of the cheaper fuels you can buy. Thus, it might be said that paying $35 for an alcohol stove, even a featherweight titanium one, is violating the spirit of the thing. But staffer Tim Bird makes the case this way: "This TOAKS stove is precision-machined to burn as efficiently as possible." Cooking efficiency is one thing all alcohol stoves lack, so there's definite value in having one that's more fully engineered. The Siphon features double-wall construction, which channels vaporized steam up through those double walls to boost cooking performance. Its cooking speed—11 minutes to boil a liter of water—is still slowest in our roundup.

Another caveat is that alcohol stoves lack burner control—to turn it on, you light it, to turn it off, you blow it out. Having an open flame also means that alcohol stoves might be banned in some areas at certain times of the year because of wildfire regulations.

Customer reviewers are big fans of the TOAKS Titanium Siphon. One sums it up this way: "This is by far my favorite alcohol stove. It is so simple, with no extra parts; it couldn't be easier to use. It boils water efficiently, and it's even easy to pour any excess alcohol back into a storage bottle without spilling it." Buy here.

Wood-burning backcountry stoves, like alcohol burners, have a passionate following. They can burn pinecones, dry leaves and twigs, freeing the user from having to pack fuel and fuel canisters—or deal with empties. No other type of stove offers these distinct advantages. The stoves are also very light, weighs in at a bantam sub-6 oz. And there’s something primal about huddling beside an open flame, outdoors. 

This thoughtfully designed backpacker's version of a larger TOAKS stove, consists of three parts that stack into each other for clean storage when not in use. Feed twigs into the base; the stove’s design encourages repeated combustion for high efficiency.  

There are cons to using a wood-burning backpacking stove. Finding fuel that is the right size, and dry, may be a challenge. " Unlike gas stoves, wood stoves need a bit more of your attention to keep things burning their hottest,” notes one customer-reviewer. And users report that it can take about 15 minutes to boil one liter of water. Finally, the small stove can be a little tippy, which is why some prefer to stake it down before use. The upshot: More than with other stoves, practice makes perfect with this one. But once you nail it, the TOAKS delivers. 

Note: Backcountry regulations might forbid the use of a woodburning stove in areas where wood sources are scarce or because of wildfire danger. Before you head out with plans to use a wood-fed stove, check regulations for any fire bans or restrictions on wood collection or open flames. Buy here.