The CampStove 2+ Creates Campfires & Keeps Your Phone Alive

If you’ve ever watched your phone drop to 3% battery right as the sunset gets gorgeous, you already know the pain: do you photograph the moment, or do you keep your GPS alive so you can actually find your way back to camp?

The BioLite CampStove 2+ politely asks, “Why not both?” This compact wood-burning camping stove doesn’t just cook dinner and give you a cozy campfire glow. It also turns heat into electricity so you can charge your phone, headlamp, GPS, or other USB gadgets while you’re simmering chili or boiling water for coffee.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll walk through what the CampStove 2+ actually does, how it works in real life, what it’s great at (and where it’s not magic), and who will get the most value from this clever little camping gadget.

Meet the BioLite CampStove 2+: A Stove and Power Bank in One

The BioLite CampStove 2+ is a compact, cylinder-style wood-burning camp stove with a bright orange power module clipped to the side. Instead of using gas canisters, it burns biomassthink dry sticks, twigs, pinecones, and wood pelletsto create a strong flame for cooking and boiling water.

Here’s the twist: as it burns, the stove uses thermoelectric technology to convert heat into electricity. That electricity powers a small internal fan to make your fire burn hotter and cleaner, and it also charges an onboard battery and a standard USB port for your devices.

Key Specs at a Glance

• Fuel: Renewable biomass (sticks, twigs, wood pellets)
• Onboard battery: 3,200 mAh power bank (charges with or without a live fire)
• USB output: Up to 3 watts at 5V for compatible USB devices
• Boil time: Around 4.5 minutes to boil 1 liter of water with a strong fire
• Weight: About 2.06 pounds (935 grams)
• Packed size: Roughly 5.0" x 7.9" (about the size of a 32 oz water bottle)
• Fan speeds: Four settings to dial in flame intensity and heat
• Included: CampStove 2+, USB-powered FlexLight (about 100 lumens), stuff sack, firestarter, USB cable

On paper, that makes the CampStove 2+ a pretty unique hybrid. It’s part wood stove, part lantern base, part phone charger, and part conversation starter the moment you set it up at camp.

How the CampStove 2+ Turns Fire Into Phone Battery

The magic is in the thermoelectric generator. When you light a fire in the burn chamber and flames heat the metal probe inside, the temperature difference creates electricity. That power is routed to three places: the fan, the built-in 3,200 mAh battery, and the USB port you can plug your phone into.

The Smart LED Dashboard

On the side of the power module, BioLite adds a “Smart LED Dashboard” that gives you real-time feedback. You can see:

• How strong your fire is
• How much power is being generated
• Which fan speed is active
• Battery level of the internal power bank

It’s a surprisingly helpful little interface. Instead of guessing whether your fire is “good enough,” you can literally see whether it’s generating enough juice to top off your battery.

Smokeless (Or at Least, Much Less Smoky) Flames

The internal fan pushes air into the burn chamber through small jets, which improves combustion and helps create that classic BioLite “vortex” flame. While no real wood fire is perfectly smokeless, the more complete combustion means less smoke than a loosely built campfire, and more of your fuel becomes usable heat.

With a well-fed fire, the stove can boil 1 liter of water in under five minutescompetitive with many traditional camping stoves, especially when you’re not counting every gram of gear.

Cooking With the CampStove 2+: Real-World Performance

So how does this thing actually cook? Short answer: it’s fun, it works, and it rewards a little bit of attention.

Boil Times and Heat Output

In good conditions with dry fuel and a strong flame, you can expect roughly 4.5 minutes to boil 1 liter of water. For typical camp cookingboiling water for coffee, rehydrating meals, simmering pastathat’s more than acceptable.

Where things slow down is when:

• Your fuel is damp or too chunky
• The fire isn’t hot enough to keep the fan and generator happy
• You’re trying to cook for a big group using oversized cookware

Because the stove has a relatively small burn chamber and footprint, it shines brightest for solo campers and small groups making simple meals and hot drinks. It does best with narrow pots, the dedicated BioLite KettlePot, or the brand’s add-on grill and coffee accessories.

What You Can Cook Comfortably

Think about the CampStove 2+ as a gourmet upgrade to your old twig stove. It handles:

• Boiling water for coffee, tea, and instant meals
• Cooking one-pot pasta or noodles
• Simmering soups and stews in a lightweight pot
• Grilling a couple of burgers or sausages when paired with the BioLite Portable Grill

Heavy cast-iron skillets or wide, family-size pots aren’t ideal here. They make the setup top-heavy and block airflow, which the stove relies on for strong, clean combustion.

The “Tending the Fire” Factor

Unlike a gas stove where you turn a knob and walk away, the CampStove 2+ is hands-on. You’ll be feeding it small sticks, adjusting the fan, and babying the flame a bit. For many campers, that’s part of the charm. Gathering twigs and tending the fire becomes an experience, not a chore.

If you hate the idea of monitoring your stove, this may not be your favorite primary cooking system. But as a campfire + cooking + charging hybrid, it’s hard to beat for pure outdoorsy satisfaction.

Can the CampStove 2+ Really Keep Your Phone Alive?

Let’s talk about the part that makes this stove internet-famous: its ability to charge your phone in the middle of nowhere.

USB Output and Charging Reality Check

The CampStove 2+ offers up to 3 watts of output at 5V through its USB port. In plain English, that’s a slow-to-moderate charge compared with a modern wall charger, but perfectly adequate for keeping phones and small devices topped up.

The internal 3,200 mAh battery can be used in two ways:

• Charging while you cook: Plug in your phone while the fire is going, and the stove will route power directly to the USB port and battery.
• Charging later: Use the CampStove 2+ like a small power bank even when there’s no firehandy overnight in the tent.

With a strong flame and a decent burn session, you can add a meaningful bump in battery lifeenough for extra photos, a couple of hours of GPS, or a night of music by the fire. For lightweight USB headlamps, action cameras, and compact speakers, the stove’s output feels even more impressive.

What It’s Great For (And What It’s Not)

Where the CampStove 2+ shines:

• Preventing your phone from dying, rather than charging from 0% to 100% in record time
• Keeping smaller gadgetsheadlamps, GPS units, rechargeable lanternstopped up
• Acting as a backup power bank during emergencies when grid power is out

Where it’s not the hero:

• Fast-charging power-hungry tablets or large battery packs
• Powering laptops or high-draw devices
• Replacing a dedicated high-capacity power bank if your main concern is pure mAh per ounce

If you see the CampStove 2+ as a combo of “cooking system + backup power + endless campfire entertainment,” you’ll be impressed. If you expect it to be a full-time off-grid charging station for every device you own, you’re asking too much of a tiny wood-burning stove.

Who the CampStove 2+ Is Perfect For

Car Campers and Van Lifers

For car camping, overlanding, and van life, the weight penalty is much less important. You’re not counting ounces; you’re collecting experiences. In this context, the CampStove 2+ makes a ton of sense:

• It doubles as a compact fire pit when open fires are allowed.
• It gives you USB power without running your engine or draining your main battery.
• It’s a fun conversation piece around camp that actually does something practical.

Backpackers with a Gear Geek Streak

At just over 2 pounds, ultralight purists will probably skip this stove. But for backpackers who love clever gear, plan shorter trips, or want a multi-function tool instead of multiple separate items, it can replace:

• A small canister stove
• A compact fire pit or twig stove
• A low-capacity power bank
• A camp lantern base (thanks to the included FlexLight)

If you already carry a stove and a power bank, the math may work outespecially when you add in the fun factor of cooking over a real wood fire.

Preparedness and Emergency Kits

The CampStove 2+ also has a strong case as part of a home emergency kit. In a power outage, you can:

• Boil water and cook simple meals
• Charge your phone for emergency communication
• Use the FlexLight to light up your cooking area

As long as you have access to dry sticks, wood, or pellets, you’ve got both heat and power in one compact device.

Sustainability: Goodbye, Empty Gas Canisters

Traditional backpacking stoves rely on fossil-fuel canisters that you buy, carry, and eventually throw away. The CampStove 2+ flips that script by burning local biomasssticks, twigs, pineconesthat would otherwise just rot on the forest floor.

This has a few advantages:

• You’re less dependent on buying fuel before every trip.
• You reduce waste from empty steel fuel canisters.
• You’re more self-sufficient on longer adventures or in remote areas.

Of course, responsible fire use still applies. You should always follow local fire regulations, observe burn bans, and use the stove only where wood fires are allowed and safe. The CampStove 2+ is more efficient and contained than an open campfire, but it’s still fire.

Tips for Getting the Most from Your CampStove 2+

1. Start With Dry, Small Fuel

The stove loves small, dry fuelthink pencil-thin sticks, dry twigs, and wood pellets. Bigger chunks don’t burn as efficiently and can smother the airflow. Build the fire gradually and resist the urge to overstuff the chamber.

2. Let the Fire Get Hot Before Plugging In

Give the fire a couple of minutes to really catch and heat the probe before you rely on it for charging. Once the Smart LED Dashboard shows strong output, that’s your cue to plug in your phone or gadget.

3. Use the Fan Strategically

Higher fan speeds mean hotter, cleaner burnsand faster boil timesbut they can also chew through fuel more quickly. Use low or medium fan settings for simmering or when fuel is limited, and crank it up when you really want the power and heat.

4. Pair with the Right Cookware

Stick to pots and kettles with a base that roughly matches the stove’s burn chamber size. The BioLite KettlePot is designed specifically for this stove, but any lightweight camping pot with a reasonable diameter (under about 10 inches) will usually work well.

5. Treat the Battery Like a Bonus, Not the Whole Point

Remember: the CampStove 2+ is first and foremost a wood-burning stove that happens to charge your gear. Think of the USB power and internal battery as a very cool bonus that keeps you off the grid a little longer, rather than the only reason to buy it.

Campfire Stories: Real-World Experiences with the CampStove 2+

Specs are nice, but what does life with the CampStove 2+ actually feel like? Here are a few experience-based snapshots that bring this little powerhouse to life.

Breakfast at the Overlook

Imagine rolling out of your tent at a backcountry overlook. The night was chilly, but you slept well. You grab a handful of dry twigs you collected the night before, drop them into the CampStove 2+, and spark the included firestarter. Within minutes, a swirling, concentrated flame is heating a compact kettle of water.

While the water climbs toward a boil, you plug in your half-dead phone. The LED dashboard shows the fire is strong, the battery is taking a charge, and live power is flowing to the USB port. By the time your coffee is ready and your instant oats are hot, your phone has enough extra juice to capture the morning views and keep your offline maps running all day.

There’s no hiss of gas, no metal canisters rolling around, and no panic-searching for an outlet at a trailhead visitor center. Just crackling wood, hot breakfast, and a quietly charging phone.

Rainy Weekend, Cozy Lantern

On a drizzly campsite weekend, open campfires are messy and smoky. But under a well-placed tarp, the CampStove 2+ becomes a small, controlled flame that pairs perfectly with the FlexLight. You set the stove on a stable, fire-safe surface, feed it pellets, and clip the LED light into the USB port.

The result? A glowing little “camp fireplace” that throws enough light for a card game or late-night story session, while your Bluetooth speaker and headlamps sip power from the USB port. Outside, the rain patters on the tarp. Inside your little bubble, the combination of warmth, light, and the soft whir of the fan makes the campsite feel like home.

Backup Power in a Blackout

Picture a summer storm that takes out power in your neighborhood. The food in your fridge needs attention, your phone is creeping toward low battery, and there’s no telling when the electricity will come back.

You head to the backyard with a bag of wood pellets and the CampStove 2+. In short order, you’re boiling water for instant meals, heating a simple one-pot dinner, and giving your phone a survival-level recharge so you can call family and check updates. The FlexLight helps illuminate your improvised “kitchen,” and the stove’s battery keeps your phone alive even after the flames die down.

Is it a full replacement for a giant power station or a gas generator? Of course not. But as a compact, renewable backup that you can store in a closet and forget about until you need it, the CampStove 2+ earns its spot in many preparedness plans.

The Social Gadget at Camp

One last experience: this stove is a conversation magnet. Set it up at a campground or festival and within minutes someone will wander over and ask, “Wait, is that thing charging your phone with fire?”

It’s a surprisingly fun way to teach friends and kids about energy, combustion, and renewable resources. You can literally show them how heat becomes electricity in real time: they toss in a stick, the fan kicks up, the flame flares, and the power indicator climbs.

Camping is already about simple pleasuresgood company, fresh air, and food that tastes 10 times better outdoors. The CampStove 2+ adds one more layer of enjoyment: turning your campfire into a tiny, off-grid power plant that keeps your essentials alive while you unplug.

Final Thoughts: Is the CampStove 2+ Worth It?

The BioLite CampStove 2+ is not the lightest stove, the fastest charger, or the cheapest way to cook outdoors. But that’s not really the point.

What it does offer is a unique blend of:

• Real wood-fire cooking in a compact, efficient package
• Practical off-grid USB charging for phones and small devices
• A built-in battery that works even when the flames are out
• Reduced reliance on disposable fuel canisters
• A genuinely fun, interactive campfire experience

If you want a purely utilitarian backpacking stove, you might be happier with a tiny gas burner and a lightweight power bank. But if you like the idea of your fire doing double dutycooking meals and keeping your phone alivethe CampStove 2+ is an incredibly appealing piece of gear.

For campers, car travelers, van dwellers, and preparedness-minded households who love clever design and off-grid independence, this little orange-and-steel stove delivers exactly what it promises: campfires and charged phones, all from the humble power of sticks and twigs.

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