What Are Camping Pellet Stoves? Everything You Need to Know

Whether you're heading into the backcountry or setting up basecamp for the weekend, your choice of stove can make-or-break the outdoor cooking experience. Enter the camping pellet stove - a powerful, fuel-efficient option for adventurers who want a low-maintenance fire with high-performance output.

In this post, we’ll break down how pellet stoves work, what makes them unique, and when they might be the best tool for your trip.

What is a pellet stove?

A pellet stove is a style of biomass-burning stove designed to run on compressed wood pellets instead of traditional fuels like propane. These stoves use a combination of airflow and combustion chamber design to burn fuel more efficiently than an open campfire. The result: Less smoke and more consistent heat output.

How do pellet stoves compare to other portable stoves?

If you're used to carrying a portable wood burning stove or a gas canister option, pellet stoves might offer an intriguing middle ground. Here’s how they stack up:

• Fuel Efficiency & Clean Burn - Pellet stoves use pre-processed biomass (the little wood clumps that look like small animal dung), which burns more completely and cleanly than wet, live, or dirty wood. That means less smoke in your face and less soot on your pots and pans.

• Off-Grid Power Options - BioLite’s CampStove 2+ converts heat into electricity, which can charge phones, headlamps, or power BioLite lights. This is a huge win for longer trips where battery life matters.
• Ready-to-Go Fuel - Wood pellets are compact and energy-dense, making them easy to carry and store. Unlike traditional backpacking stoves that require gas for fuel, pellet stoves run on cleaner, renewable resources, whether that's purchased pellets or sticks gathered on-site.

When is the best time to use a pellet stove for camping?

A camping pellet stove is ideal for:

• Group trips where larger, multiple meals will be cooked. CampStove Complete Cook Kit packs down and still can cook up to 4 burgers at a time. Often these are car camping trips.
• Short, 1-2 night backpacking trips (check local regulations to see what fire bans are in place before you go out)
• Off-grid weekends where phone charging or lighting is essential. With just a few sticks and a match, you can get a charge in a pinch.

When shopping for a portable wood burning stove that supports pellets, consider:

• Does it have a quality airflow systems that boost combustion efficiency?
• What kind of fuel is it compatible with? Ditch the propane and use pellets, sticks, pinecones, or other found-biomass.
• What is the packability and weight for your specific needs? Keep in mind what accessories you’ll need to add to your stove setup. Unless your sticking close to your car, having a kit that packs down and can do more with less is ideal.

BioLite’s stoves are designed with all of this in mind, supporting both solo missions and shared camp cooking experiences.

Conclusion: Is a camping pellet stove right for you?

If you're looking for a clean-burning, off-grid cooking solution that adds a touch of tech to your setup, CampStove might be your new favorite tool. It's efficient, easy to use, and backed by real experience from BioLite’s engineering team and outdoor community.

CampStove in action