Bottom Line
The Snow Peak LiteMax is one of the lightest and most compact backpacking stoves on the market. This tiny powerhouse can boil a liter of water in right around six minutes, and then it folds away nicely to fit into pretty much any cookpot when you’re done. In addition to its lightweight and compact size, it’s stable and has exceptional simmer control. Snow Peak has really done an excellent job at squeezing lots of features and a durable design in an ultralight package, thus landing it a well-deserved spot on our list of best backpacking stoves.
The Litemax is at the higher end of the cost spectrum for canister stoves on our list. But since it’s made with high-quality titanium, it’s no surprise that this stove is priced at a slight premium over other canister stoves. We put it through hundreds of miles of use and it held up great.
Quick Specs
Snow Peak LiteMax
Ultralight Canister Stove with a Tiny Packed Size
CleverHiker Rating: 71.8/100
Price: $50
Weight: 1.9 oz.
Fuel Type: Isobutane/propane canister
Boil Time: 6m 5s
Burn Time (8 oz. fuel): 60m
Pros
- Ultralight
- Compact
- Durable
- Simmer control
Cons
- Not great in wind
Convenience
Although it lacks the cushy features of some more luxurious options, the LiteMax is thoughtfully designed to get the job done. The fold-out arms of the pot support angle up in a way that sort of ‘hugs’ the pot to keep it in place, and the notches add friction and accommodate pots of varying sizes. Overall, we’re satisfied with the stability of the LiteMax.
It doesn’t have an igniter switch, which isn’t a big deal as we always make sure to bring a lighter with us just in case. Ultimately, the lack of an igniter switch is one of the things that keeps this stove light.
A thoughtful feature that we really appreciate is the bit of rubber grip added to the flame control valve. On other stoves, the valve can get quite hot, so it’s nice to know that the valve handle will always be cool-ish to the touch.
Weight & Packability
The 1.9-ounce LiteMax is one of the lightest stoves on the market, and its titanium construction offers a great balance of strength to weight.
We also love the clever design of the pot support. The arms fold in and then swing around to stack on top of each other, effectively collapsing down in two directions as opposed to one. The burner vents out of the sides instead of the top which allows for a smaller burner head. The whole stove easily folds up small enough to conveniently fit inside even small pots along with an eight-ounce fuel canister and a mini Bic lighter. We had no problem fitting it inside our 550ml pot.
Power & Efficiency
The LiteMax leaves a bit to be desired in the power and efficiency department. Because the burner head is so small, heat is primarily directed to the center of the pot which means it takes a bit longer to heat up. It’s a little less fuel efficient than some stoves as well. We found that the boil time for one liter in good conditions was around six minutes, which is longer than average for similar canister stoves. In that time, it used a half ounce of fuel.
The wind performance of the LiteMax isn’t the best either. The small burner head is exposed, so any amount of wind will have an impact on the flame. If conditions aren’t too gusty, we typically find that blocking the wind with something, like a sit pad, remedies most of the wind’s effects.
Precision
The Snow Peak LiteMax offers great cooking versatility with its simmer control. Because the flame is slightly more removed from the bottom of the pot (especially larger pots due to the design of the pot support), you’re less likely to burn food while simmering. However, the flame can be quite weak, so keeping a close eye on the flame is important when it’s on a low setting to make sure that it hasn’t blown out, wasting precious fuel.
Should You Buy the Snow Peak LiteMax?
For those who value weight savings and compact size above all else, the Snow Peak LiteMax is the way to go. It’s small but mighty, and it gives you full control over your flame for precise cooking. It’s difficult to find another stove that has done as good of a job as the LiteMax at striking a balance between weight and durability.
While it isn’t as efficient as some of the other canister stoves, we often take it on solo ultralight trips when keeping size and weight low is the top priority. For an ultralight option, it performs well and is constructed to last.
On the other hand, if high efficiency and fancy features are more your bag, other stoves fit that description while only adding a couple of ounces.
What Other Backpacking Stoves Should You Consider?
MSR PocketRocket 2 Review: The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 easily falls into the ultralight category and for a little less than the Snow Peak LiteMax. It’s slightly heavier but it’s notably more efficient and isn’t hugely affected by the wind.
BRS 3000T Review: If ultralight is your thing, the BRS 3000T is even lighter than the Snow Peak LiteMax. In fact, it’s almost half the weight. In return, you’ll be sacrificing a bit of efficiency and a significant amount of durability and stability.
SOTO WindMaster Review: Maybe you really want a higher-performing stove and don’t mind carrying more weight. The WindMaster performs better in the wind than any other canister stove we tested, is highly efficient, and weighs just an ounce more than the LiteMax. It is a bit pricey, however.
