How to Light a Camping Stove Safely — With and Without Piezo Ignition

Getting the Flame Going Right the First Time

Lighting a camping stove should take seconds, but first-time campers often find it surprisingly nerve-wracking. The combination of gas, flame and unfamiliar equipment creates hesitation. This guide covers the correct technique for every common ignition method — piezo, matches and lighters — so you can light up confidently on your summer 2026 camping trips, whether you are using a Campingaz, Coleman, Jetboil, Trangia or Go System stove.

Lighting a Stove With Piezo Ignition

Most modern stoves from Campingaz and Coleman include a piezo igniter — a spring-loaded mechanism that generates a spark when clicked. Here is the safe sequence:

• Ensure the stove is on a stable surface with no flammable materials nearby
• Attach the gas canister securely. For CP250 piercing types, press and twist until you hear the puncture click. For CV470 valve types, screw until snug. For EN417 screw-thread, hand-tighten firmly.
• Turn the control valve to the lowest setting (some stoves require the valve to be at a specific mark for ignition)
• Press the piezo igniter button firmly. You should hear a click and see a spark. If the gas is flowing, it will ignite immediately.
• If it does not light on the first click, turn the gas off, wait 10 seconds for any accumulated gas to disperse, then try again
• Once lit, adjust the flame to the desired level

Piezo igniters can fail over time — the ceramic element cracks or the wire corrodes. Always carry a backup lighter or matches.

Lighting Without Piezo — Using a Lighter or Match

Budget stoves like the Go System Fly and many older models lack built-in ignition. The technique is slightly different:

• Prepare your lighter or match before turning on the gas. Have it lit and ready.
• Hold the lit flame close to the burner head — within 1cm of the gas outlet
• Turn the gas valve on to a low setting. The gas should ignite immediately on contact with the flame.
• Light first, then adjust the flame upward. Starting on low reduces the initial flare.

The key safety point: always have the flame ready before the gas. Never turn on the gas and then fumble for a lighter while unburned gas accumulates around the burner. Even a few seconds of gas flow without ignition creates a flammable cloud.

Long-Reach Lighters

Standard pocket lighters work but put your fingers close to the burner. A long-reach BBQ lighter or a long fireplace match keeps your hand 15–20cm from the ignition point — much safer and more comfortable. These cost a few pounds and are worth adding to your camp kitchen kit.

Lighting a Trangia Spirit Burner

Trangia burners use methylated spirits rather than gas, and the lighting technique is different:

• Fill the burner cup to no more than two-thirds full with methylated spirits
• Place the burner in the Trangia windshield base
• Light the meths with a match or lighter — it ignites easily but the flame can be nearly invisible in daylight. Look for heat shimmer above the burner.
• Place the pan support ring and your pot on top
• To adjust heat, slide the simmer ring partially over the burner opening
• To extinguish, slide the simmer ring fully closed. Do not blow on meths flames — it can splash burning fuel.

Lighting a Jetboil

Jetboil systems with built-in igniters are straightforward: attach the cup, turn the gas on low, press the igniter. The FluxRing cup should be in place before igniting — lighting the burner exposed and then placing the cup on top wastes gas and risks burning yourself on the initial flame.

Troubleshooting Ignition Problems

• No spark from piezo: Try cleaning the igniter tip with a dry cloth. If still dead, use a lighter.
• Spark but no ignition: Check gas is actually flowing — you should hear a faint hiss. The canister may be empty or improperly connected.
• Flame is yellow and lazy: Partially blocked jet or insufficient air supply. Clean the jet with a needle after the stove cools.
• Flame blows out immediately: Wind. Use a windshield or reposition the stove.

Find stoves with reliable ignition systems in our camping stove collection and stock up on gas and fuel for summer 2026.