cannister stove

“I am thinking about asking for a cannister stove for christmas. Maybe a pocket rocket or a giga peak. Currently if the four of us go for a typical weekend we need 8 esbit bars to get 4 hot meals. we usually boil 2 cups of water twice on each bar - so we get 16 2 cup boils from the 8 bars. I heard somewhere that a cannister doesn't last very long. About how many 2 cup pots of water could we get per cannister ?
dawn”

“I use the SuperFly when I carry a canister stove. Works great. I only use a canister stove if I'm going to need a simmer. Otherwise the esbit and alcohol stoves will suffice.

The small canister has a burn time of "1-2 hours". I can usually boil 2 cups of water in about 3 minutes (or less). I'm not the greatest at math, but me thinks that's about 20 "2 cup pots" assuming you only get one hour out of the cannister. Of course, it could vary either way.

Just be wary of the canister stoves in cold weather. Takes longer to boil. Sometimes near impossible to light unless you keep the canister warm.”

“I have brought from one to two cups of water to a rolling boil about six or seven times and still have not used more than half a canister. The Pocket Rocket is very light, but the cannisters are a little heavier.

I also have used the Pepsi can stove with good results. It's almost a toss-up between the two.

The Pocket Rocket tends to become dysfuntional in cold temps somwhere in the 30s I am told. That is because it is too cold for the gas to vaporize. So I plan to use the Pepsi Can stove in colder weather and the Pocket Rocket in warmer weather.

You can pull up the MSR website and get additional info, also Sgt. Rock's website (so search to get url).”

“Cannisters are real rough in the cold. If you have a frisbie, turn it upside down, put the stove set up in it and through some of the warmer water from the pan into the frisbie. It will perk it up a lot! the cannister cool down when in use and they freeze in cold weather. I have a Ti pot and when I tried to "cook" in it, the pan scorched. Only use that set up if you are going to keep boiling, or buy a different pot. I am looking at an alchohl stove for winter.”

“I don't camp in the winter. On one of the other threads someone said that the small cannisters are good for 5 or 6 2.5 cup boils, while the larger cannister is good for 10. At that rate we would need to bring 4 small cannisters ( not including a spare) just for a weekend. There seems to be alot of people using them - what has been your experiance with them ?
dawn”

“Weekend before last I had great results from the MSR Pocket Rocket with temps just below 20. Just make sure the canister stays in your sleeping bag during the night or stick it in your coat pocket 10 minutes before supper for warmth. However, elevation around 10,000 is another story.”

“5-6 cup per canister? Wow, there must be something wrong with my MSR PR in a good way. A few years ago in MT with temps in the 60s to 40 and an average elevation between 3000-5000, I used an MSR PR/8 oz. canister somewhere around 27 times to boil over a liter in food prep. Not counting the times used to boil a few cups for tea and start the campfire. On our way out before reaching the trailhead we ended up giving an entire unused canister away.”

“Thanks for the advice guys - but I am still undecided.
dawn”

“I think Trailhound's experience is about what you can expect. Like I said, I will carry the Pocket Rocket unless I'm expecting cold temps over several days, then use the Pepsi can stove. The Pocket Rocket seems like a fairly dependable, lightweight, easy to use stove. Plus, it will go down to a simmer.

I will be experimenting more with it over the winter, preparing meals with it and my new titanium pot so I can shake it all down before going out.”

“For cold weather use go with the Msr Whisperlight white gas stove.
Summer go with the Pocket Rocket.

8)”