Five fuel types power camp stoves. Understanding what each actually is — not just the name — makes choosing a stove and planning fuel supply much clearer.
Isobutane / Propane (Canister)
The most widely used backpacking fuel. Canisters contain a mixture of isobutane (typically 70-80%) and propane (20-30%), which produces a fuel that vaporizes reliably down to roughly 15-20°F. Canisters use a standardized EN417 Lindal valve compatible with all major backpacking stove brands. Available at outdoor retailers throughout North America and Western Europe. Weaknesses: cold-weather performance degrades (propane vaporizes better but is a minority component), residual fuel in empty canisters is unrecoverable, and canisters are scarce in many international destinations.
White Gas (Liquid Fuel)
White gas is a refined petroleum product (naphtha) designed specifically for camp stoves. It burns hotter and cleaner than kerosene or automobile gasoline, requires mechanical pressurization via a hand pump, and must be vaporized by a brief priming burn before the main flame lights. Cold-weather performance is excellent relative to canister fuel, since the pump provides mechanical pressurization independent of temperature. Required maintenance: periodic jet cleaning with a shaker-jet tool, fuel line inspection. Available at outdoor specialty retailers.
Alcohol
Denatured alcohol (methylated spirits) burns in simple titanium or homemade cat-food-can stove designs with no moving parts. The stove system weights as little as 0.5oz, making it the choice of gram-counting ultralight hikers on warm-weather trips. Tradeoffs: slow boil times (5-8 minutes for 1L), no flame control, significant wind sensitivity, and the nearly-invisible flame that makes it easy to accidentally handle a lit stove. Alcohol burns at lower temperature than canister or liquid fuel stoves.
Wood / Biomass
Wood-burning camp stoves (the BioLite CampStove 2+ being the notable example in this roundup) burn collected biomass — sticks, twigs, pine cones — using a fan-assisted secondary combustion chamber that significantly improves burn efficiency compared to a simple open fire. The main advantage: no fuel to carry or purchase. The main limitations: dependent on dry wood availability, not permitted in fire-restricted areas or above treeline, produces soot and requires stove maintenance, and takes longer than canister fuel to achieve usable cooking temperature.
Propane (Large Tank)
Standard propane from 1lb disposable canisters or 20lb refillable tanks powers most two-burner car camping stoves, including the Coleman Classic and Camp Chef Everest 2X. 20lb tanks deliver more BTUs per dollar than 1lb disposable canisters and eliminate mid-trip resupply. 1lb canisters are more convenient for shorter trips. Propane from large tanks is impractical for backpacking due to weight and volume; for car camping it remains the most cost-effective high-output fuel available.