9 Best Wood Stoves to Buy in 2023 | Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

While it may lack the grandeur and elegance of a traditional fireplace typically found in a mansion or country house, modern wood stoves have their own perks. They will give you the same rustic and cozy vibes as a pleasant hearth while keeping you warm. Moreover, a wood-burning stove is portable and doubles as a cooking stove, so there’s that!

You can comfortably snuggle up by the wood stove on cold winter nights or in your tent while on a camping trip in the wilderness. But before that, the first challenge is to get an efficient wood stove.

Now, there are literally dozens of wood stove options out there. Thus, we have prepared this detailed list of the 11 best wood stoves you can go for.

So, without any further ado, let’s get straight to it, shall we?

Best Wood Burning Stoves

From traditional designs to modern innovations, these stoves have earned high praise from users and experts alike. Here's the list of the 9 best wood-burning stoves to elevate the warmth and comfort of your home.

1. Guide Gear Outdoor Wood Burning Stove - Best for Camping and Cooking

Guide Gear is a pretty renowned brand when it comes to outdoor equipment for camping or hunting. In that vein, the outdoor wood-burning stove by the brand is a durable and portable choice for when you need to go on any outdoor activity.

Why Did We Like It?

The Guide Gear outdoor wood-burning stove has a pretty durable construction, thanks to its heat-resistant, galvanized steel finish. You can easily use it in your backyard or when you want to go on a camping trip. 

Its detachable legs and interlocking stove pipes can be easily disassembled for transportation. Furthermore, it's compact size and lightweight construction add to its portability.

You can use this wood stove as a functional heater for your tent by burning firewood. There is also a flat-top platform that you can effectively use as a stove for cooking. And the adjustable air vents on the front door allow you to control the temperature of the firebox. So, you can easily heat up your saucepans and pots. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

Since it is an outdoor wood-burning stove, it is focused more on the aspect of portability. As a result, its firebox is relatively smaller and has low capacity. So, you will need to load firewood frequently and in small amounts, which can be a little cumbersome.

2. Fltom FL-785 Camp Tent Stove - Best for Portability and Affordability

Fltom may be a relatively lesser-known brand in the domain of wood-burning stoves. But that doesn’t imply that the FL-785 camp tent stove is anything less than our previous wood stove. In fact, it features a multifunctional and portable design that has high heat output.

Why Did We Like It?

The Fltom FL-785 camp tent stove is an excellent wood-burning stove that has a high heat output for keeping your tent warm. Thanks to the adjustable intake controls, you can easily regulate the temperature of the stove. Its conductive alloy steel body also helps in reaching high temperatures quickly.

Considering that this is an outdoor stove, it has different portable features like collapsible legs and a detachable stainless steel pipe with adjustable height. So, if you want to hit the road, you can conveniently carry it along with you.

On the top of this stove, there is a dedicated cooking surface where you can easily cook food or boil water. What’s more, you get this multifunctional wood stove at a relatively affordable price, which makes it a really great option. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

This wood stove provides a relatively affordable heating choice for your tent or backyard. However, we noticed that the stove design was somewhat inconvenient. It has sharp edges and corners, which can be dangerous. Furthermore, it can be easily damaged or dented if you don’t use it carefully.

3. WINNERWELL Tent Stove - Best for Durability and Design

If you have shopped for a stove before, then you probably might have heard about the WINNERWELL brand. They manufacture a wide range of stoves and heating solutions, and the nomad medium tent stove is a worthy choice from their portfolio. It is a small-sized, portable wood stove for your travels.

Why Did We Like It?

The WINNERWELL nomad medium tent stove is a small-sized stove that you can conveniently fit within your tent. Despite its small size, it comes with a relatively large firebox capacity. So, you can burn more firewood to keep yourself warm for longer.

Furthermore, the full stainless steel body is fully resistant to corrosion or rusting, thereby making it durable. It is extremely lightweight at only 20 pounds and comes with carrying handles that double as side shelves. This to the wood stove’s portability.

The flat platform on top can be conveniently used for heating kettles and pans. Furthermore, it comes with dual dampers for controlling the airflow and, subsequently, the temperature of the stove. It has a glass viewing window in the front for managing the fire, as well as for ambiance.

What Could’ve Been Better?

This wood-burning stove is not only durable but also portable and convenient to use, which makes it perfect for outdoor activities. However, it is quite expensive, which can deter you from getting this stove. But if the price is not a concern, then this is definitely worth buying.

4. PMNY Hot Tent Stove

PMNY is another little-known brand that manufactures efficient wood-burning stoves. And that is why we have included the PMNY hot tent stove in our list. It is lightweight and you can use it in most outdoor environments.

Why Did We Like It?

The PMNY hot tent stove is lightweight and portable, featuring detachable components and foldable legs. It is made of durable cold-rolled steel plates that are welded together for an airtight firebox.

You can regulate the burn rate in the firebox through dampers to provide an even burn for long durations. Thereby, it is an extremely efficient wood stove that you can use in your tent or other outdoor areas. It can easily withstand most weather conditions, so you can safely use it outdoors without any fear of damage or corrosion.

This wood stove comes with a large ash pan on the underside for collecting and disposing of ash from the firebox. Furthermore, the flue pipe of this stove is made of 5 detachable segments, which can help adjust its length. It also features a cooking platform on the top and two side racks for drying clothes and other small items. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

The wood stove provides great value for your money, thanks to its efficiency and quality. But while using it, we noticed smoke leaking out of the chimney seams and through the front door. This can be somewhat inconvenient and can affect the burn rate and airtightness of the firebox. 

5. US Stove Cast Iron Stove

Being one of the oldest and most reputed stove manufacturing brands, you can definitely expect reliable performance from US Stove. And therefore, the US2169E cast iron stove is no exception. It is one of the most heavy-duty wood stove models that you can use for both indoor and outdoor environments.

Why Did We Like It?

The US1269E cast iron stove evokes quite a sense of nostalgia, thanks to its vintage, rustic design and cast iron finish. This cast iron construction also makes it quite cost-effective and grants increased sturdiness and durability to this wood-burning stove.

You can effectively use it for small indoor environments like garages, cabins, and sheds, as well as for outdoor areas, such as your backyard. Thanks to its 54,000 BTU heat output, you can heat up any small area up to 900 square feet.

As an additional convenience, this wood stove comes with a cooking surface of 6.25 inches on the top. And the safety handles are insulated from the heat so that you don’t burn your hands while using the stove.  

What Could’ve Been Better?

Based on the specifications, this wood stove can be considered to be quite sturdy and powerful. However, it is not very portable; in fact, it is quite heavy and large compared to some of our previous options. So, you cannot carry this stove with you on your camping trips.

6. DOALBUN OKL Tent Camping Stove

DOALBUN is a small brand that manufactures camping and outdoor equipment. Their OKL camping stove is therefore made by keeping the aspects of portability and convenience in mind. It is also built to be extremely durable and efficient so that you can safely use it on your camping or hunting trips.

No products found.

Why Did We Like It?

The OKL tent camping stove is incredibly lightweight, which makes it very easy to carry around. Its portability is further improved due to its detachable chimney and 4 foldable legs. The chimney parts can be easily tucked away within the stove, so you don’t need to carry them separately.

Its chimney pipe is made of stainless steel, so it is quite durable and resistant to rust and corrosion. If you wish, you can adjust the length of the chimney pipe, thanks to its detachable segments.

The large glass window helps you manage the flames while providing warmth inside your tent. Furthermore, the side racks allow for drying clothes or storing food and water kettles while you cook food on the top grate. You can conveniently adjust the heat and airflow in the firebox through a fan situated below the glass.

What Could’ve Been Better?

This is undoubtedly an excellent and economical wood-burning stove, save for a couple of issues. The black-painted coating that is used on this stove can flake or wash away easily. Also, smoke can leak through the chimneys and front door, which is very irritating and can cause breathing problems within a closed tent.

7. Guide Gear Large Outdoor Wood Stove

It is easy to see why Guide Gear is one of the foremost brands that come to mind when talking about wood stoves. Their large outdoor wood stove is another excellent choice that you can take on your camping trips. It is a rugged yet portable wood-burning stove that provides great value for your money.

Why Did We Like It?

The large outdoor wood stove is a heavy-duty and efficient wood-burning stove that comes with a durable galvanized steel build. It ensures that the wood stove is highly heat-resistant and corrosion-proof. In addition, the hinged cast iron door is reinforced with fiberglass gaskets so that there is no leakage of smoke from the firebox.

Moreover, the firebox is quite large and has enough firewood capacity to keep a flame going for a long duration. It also implies that you get a large top platform where you can cook food or boil water.

Thanks to the detachable chimney pipe and collapsible legs, you can conveniently carry it with you when you go for a camping trip. The 77.5-inch chimney pipe consists of 4 segments that are easy to attach. Furthermore, it is quite safe and easy to use, thanks to the coiled cool-touch handle on the door that is insulated from the heat. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

While the large outdoor wood stove is portable, it features a large firebox, which consequently increases the dimensions of the stove. As a result of this, the weight also increased. And while it is not extremely cumbersome, you will need to put more effort into carrying it around.

8. OneTigris Tent Stove

If you are a hardcore outdoorsman, then you probably have heard of the OneTigris brand and its high-quality outdoor gear. And therefore, the OneTigris Tiger Roar Tent Stove is a great choice that you can go for. It is a durable and portable wood stove for any outdoor endeavor.

Why Did We Like It?

The Tiger Roar tent stove features a fully stainless steel body, which makes it pretty durable and resistant to rust and corrosion. It comes with a large capacity firebox which can take more firewood and, therefore, burns for longer.

Furthermore, it comes with a detachable chimney pipe of adjustable length, thanks to the 7 pipe segments. In addition, the 45-degree and 90-degree elbow pipes ensure that you can easily vent your tent. The detachable parts can be stowed in the stove body itself.

This wood stove also comes with an ash scraper, pair of leather gloves, and a replacement glass panel for added convenience. As a result, besides being portable, this stove is very easy and safe to assemble as well. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

While this is an excellent stove for when you want to go camping, there is a particular issue that can affect its performance. When using it, we noticed that it does not burn the firewood uniformly and needs to be monitored frequently, which reduces its efficiency.

9. Goture Camping Hot Tent Stove

Goture is another brand that is popular among people who frequently go for outdoor activities. And so, the Goture camping hot tent stove is made keeping the seasoned outdoorsman in mind. This wood-burning stove is durable and multifunctional, which makes it great for use on camping trips.

Why Did We Like It?

We were pretty impressed by the heating efficiency of the Goture camping hot tent stove. This wood stove features double-walled air intake vents, along with adjustable dampers that you can use to control the burn. Two additional fire grates at the bottom further ensure complete combustion to provide heating for longer.

Furthermore, you can just observe the burn through the large heat-resistant glass window. This enables you to manage the fire and provide lighting for your tent. The stove also comes with a detachable chimney, spark arrestor, and side racks for increased convenience and safety. Coupled with the insulated carrying handle, this makes the stove very portable.

There is a top platform for cooking, but you can remove the top plate entirely for barbecuing. Additionally, assembling and disassembling this wood stove is pretty easy and can be done very quickly. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

While this stove comes with dampers and side vents for controlling the burn rate, the stove pipe is pretty narrow, which can obstruct the airflow. Furthermore, the narrow stove pipe can get blocked quickly by smoke and soot and therefore needs to be cleaned frequently.

Best Wood Stoves Comparison Table

Buying Guide For The Best Wood Stove

So, we are guessing that you have gone through our list of the 11 best wood stoves and have decided on what you want to get. But if you still are not able to determine as to which one will be the best for you, then you need not worry.

It is pretty natural to feel confused, given the different types and brands of wood stoves available on the market today. And that is why we have made for you this concise buyer’s guide so that you can decide better.

This buyer’s guide consists of some of the most critical points that you should definitely keep in mind before you make your final choice. It is crucial, or else you may end up regretting your purchase.

So, read on to find out what these key points are.

1. Efficiency

One of the most crucial aspects that you need to keep in mind is wood stove efficiency. A low-efficiency stove will require you to refuel it frequently, which can be annoying. Conversely, efficient wood stoves will require less wood to provide the same heating.

Furthermore, it burns the firewood or wood pellets incompletely, which is harmful to the environment and your health. So before you buy, make sure that it is an efficient stove.

2. Heat Output

Another crucial factor you must consider is how much heat the stove can output. Heat output is often measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs).

However, to determine the most suitable heat output for your stove, you need first to decide how you want to use your stove. If you’re going to use it for small areas such as tents or open backyards, lower heat output may suffice.

But if you want to heat a medium to a large room, then you need to ensure your stove has a high BTU for good heating. That will ensure you have uniform heat throughout the room.

3. Design

The design of the wood stove encompasses different aspects, such as size, building materials, and usage type. It also covers other convenience features and add-ons that are necessary for a wood stove.

If you want to use your wood stove for outdoor activities, you need to ensure that it is of small size and made of lightweight materials. But if you want a fireplace insert stove for your indoor rooms, then you need a large wood stove. This will ensure that your wood stove’s heating capacity is sufficient for the entire house or at least the room.

In addition, several convenience features such as a cooking platform, side trays, and glass windows provide additional value to the wood stove. So, you should always look for these features before purchasing a wood stove for added convenience.

4. Price

Price is a prominent factor that you need to consider before choosing a wood stove. In this regard, you should keep in mind that additional features can drive up the price considerably. However, you should not opt for extremely cheap wood stoves either, as they can have poor build quality.

Wood Stove's FAQ's

Is burning wood in wood stoves safe?

Typically, burning firewood in enclosed spaces can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. But, most of today’s wood stoves are EPA certified and come with safety measures to prevent that. So if you follow all the instructions for handling, firewood selection, and ash disposal, they are relatively safe, both for you and the environment.

What kind of fuel can I use for wood stoves?

As the name suggests, firewood is the most common fuel for wood-burning stoves. But you can also use compacted wood pellets, dried leaves, or dried grass.

How long does a wood stove last?

Most wood stoves are built to be durable and can typically last for 10-15 years. However, the actual lifespan is determined by usage and maintenance.

What kind of wood should I burn in a wood burning stove?

Hardwoods, such as oak, maple, birch, and ash, are generally recommended for burning in wood stoves. Hardwoods tend to burn longer and produce more heat compared to softwoods like pine or spruce. It’s crucial to use well-seasoned firewood with low moisture content to maximize efficiency and reduce creosote buildup in the chimney.

Can I use a wood burning stove for cooking?

Some wood burning stoves are specifically designed for cooking and can be used for food preparation. These stoves often have a flat cooktop surface or a dedicated oven compartment. However, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s guidelines and specific model features to ensure safe and efficient cooking.

Are there regulations or restrictions on using wood burning stoves?

Yes, there may be regulations or restrictions on using wood burning stoves, depending on your location. Some areas have emission standards, burn bans during certain times, or restrictions on the type of wood burning appliances allowed. It is important to check with local authorities or consult local regulations to ensure compliance before installing or using a wood burning stove.

Conclusion

A wood-burning stove is a perfect solution to keeping yourself snug and warm on some of the coldest days of the year. With the costs of electricity rising, it is all the more practical to use a wood stove than an electric heater. 

Whether you want to explore the great outdoors or snuggle up cozily beside the traditional fireplace, we’ve got you covered. This comprehensive review-based guide helps you choose the best wood-burning stove models from the different available options. And we hope that after reading this, you have been able to make up your mind.

With that, we come to the end of this article. But before we go, let us reiterate our top picks. The Guide Gear outdoor wood-burning stove provides the best possible features at the best price. But if you want a more affordable solution, the Fltom FL-785 should be your choice. However, if the price is not a constraint, the WINNERWELL tent stove offers the most features.

Having said that, it is time to part ways for now. Take care!

Related Articles

6 Best Wood Stove Fans

11 Best Rocket Stoves for Camping and Survival Enthusiasts

27 Insanely Cool DIY Rocket Stove Plans for Cooking With Wood

10 Best Small Pellet Stoves | RV & Tiny House Compatible

13 Best Furnace Filters

Where Can You Rent a Log Splitter?