BioLite CampStove 2+ review
By Tom Calder
The CampStove 2+ burns twigs and scrap wood in a small fan-forced firebox that also charges an onboard battery with a USB output, so it can boil water and top up a phone at the same time. It is an open-flame wood stove like the Kelly Kettle, so it is strictly for outdoor use on a stable, non-flammable surface.
- Best for
- Cooking on wood while it charges a phone — a genuine two-in-one for a longer power cut.
- Skip it if
- You just want the simplest, fastest way to boil water
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Charges a phone or power bank over USB while it burns — genuinely useful in a multi-day outage
- Burns free wood or biomass pellets rather than a bought gas canister
- Boils a litre in about 4.5 minutes once the fire is established
Worth knowing
- Needs dry fuel and a few minutes to get going, unlike an instant-light gas stove
- Considerably pricier than a simple gas stove for what is, at heart, a wood fire
Out of stock when we checked: our alternatives
Closest in size first, then by our score. None of them was showing out of stock when we last checked.
Best for A featherweight, dependable burner with instant piezo ignition for boiling water and simple cooking in a grab bag or camping kit.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A family or small group wanting one outdoor kit that boils a larger kettle and cooks a hot meal on sticks, with no gas or batteries to buy.
in stock when checked
Best for A household or small group that wants one wood-fired set to boil water, cook and serve from, with no gas, batteries or fuel to buy.
in stock when checkedⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
BioLite's CampStove 2+ is a small wood-burning stove with a fan that makes the fire burn hotter and cleaner, powered by heat from the fire itself. A built-in 3,200mAh battery stores spare power and a USB port gives it out, so the stove can boil water on twigs while it charges a phone or a light.
How it works
You light sticks or wood pellets in the steel firebox. A thermoelectric module turns some of the fire's heat into electricity, which runs a fan blowing air into the fire, giving a hotter, less smoky flame, and charges the internal battery. Four fan speeds let you turn the fire up or down. Once there is charge in the battery, its USB port can power a phone, a light or a small battery. Charge the battery fully from the mains before you store it, so there is power from the first minute.
BioLite's figures
BioLite lists a 3,200mAh battery, a 3W USB output, a boil time of 4.5 minutes for a litre, and a weight of 935g, with a packed size of 127 by 201mm. In the box are the stove, a 100-lumen FlexLight that plugs into the USB port, a stuff sack, firestarters, a USB cable and instructions. The warranty is one year, with lifetime support. Some retailers list a 2,600mAh battery; BioLite's own page says 3,200mAh.
What to expect
The 4.5-minute boil is BioLite's figure once the fire is established, and real boils take longer with damp wood or wind. 3W is a trickle, so treat phone charging as a top-up over a meal, not a fast charge; the battery helps because it banks power while the fire burns. You need a steady supply of dry, thumb-thick sticks, fed every few minutes, and the pot sits right over the flame, so pans get sooty. BioLite sells cookware and a grill for it separately.
Safety: outdoors only
BioLite's instructions say the stove is for outdoor use only, never in tents, vehicles or indoors, because of the carbon monoxide hazard, and the NHS gives the same warning for any camping stove. Use it on level, non-flammable ground, well away from fences, sheds and overhanging branches, never leave it unattended, and burn only solid wood or pellets: no liquid fuels, gels or plastics. Check any local fire restrictions before using it away from home, and keep a bucket of water nearby to put the fire out when you have finished.
How it compares
On the camping stoves page, the Kelly Kettle Scout also burns twigs, boils more water at once and has nothing electrical to go wrong, but it boils water rather than cooks. The Primus Essential Trail and Jetboil Flash are lighter and instant but need gas. A power bank charges a phone far faster than the BioLite. The CampStove 2+ is for someone who wants both jobs from one fuel you can gather. Our cooking without power guide compares the options.
Our verdict
A clever wood stove that cooks and gives a little electricity for a long outage, as long as you have safe outdoor space and dry fuel. Skip it if you just want to boil water quickly or need real phone charging; a gas stove and a power bank do those jobs better.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: BioLite: CampStove 2+; BioLite: CampStove 2 instruction manual (PDF); NHS: carbon monoxide poisoning.
Who shouldn't buy this
You just want the simplest, fastest way to boil water — a basic gas stove does that for a fraction of the price — or you have nowhere safe outdoors to burn wood.
Key specs
| Type | Wood-burning stove, USB charging |
| Fuel | Wood or biomass pellets |
| Boil time | 4.5 min |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
Questions
Can the BioLite CampStove 2+ charge a phone?
Yes, slowly. Its USB port gives up to 3W from a 3,200mAh internal battery charged by the fire, so expect a top-up rather than a full fast charge.
What fuel does the BioLite CampStove 2+ burn?
Solid biomass: sticks, twigs and wood pellets. BioLite says not to use liquid fuels, gels or plastics.
Can I use the BioLite CampStove indoors?
No. BioLite says it is for outdoor use only because of the carbon monoxide hazard, never in tents, vehicles or indoors.
How long does it take to boil water?
BioLite says 4.5 minutes for a litre once the fire is going. Damp fuel and wind make it slower.
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