Canister Stoves

“OK, now that AmyG has us all hot an? bothered with all of her come hither gear talk I have a question. What is the deal with canister stoves and winter? With the close of fair-weather hiking I?m putting away the Esbit stove and am faced with the decision to use my Zip stove or try a gas stove. I?d like to try the canister stoves but am wary of the performance in low temps. So with that in mind educate me brothers and sisters!

· What is the best gas? Mixed?
· How about wind screens? Can you use them or do they make ones that just protect the burner?
· How long will the smaller canisters last?

One stove that has caught my eye is the MSR stove that works with almost all canisters. Can?t remember the name right now.”

“That stove was the MSR PocketRocket.”

“Don?t try to take this to the bank but this is how I understand it:

The gas is contained under pressure and is a liquid because of that pressure. You can hear it slosh around in the can. That liquid has to be converted to a gas to burn. In changing to a gas heat is absorbed (it?s a physics thing, phase change). Have you ever seen the frost on a propane tank. If it is already cold this change to a gas is more difficult and reduces the efficiency of the stove. The gas blends are often designed to reduce this problem. I use a GAZ stove but have no experience with it a temps below 20 degrees. Anyway that is why there is a problem. Now somebody tell us what gas mix works best at low temps.”

“If you are looking at a canister stove, it would behoove you to go with one that uses a mix of propane and butane.

Straight propane requires a heavy, large canister, while straight butane doesn't work so well in cold temps. Most canister-type fuels today consist of a mix of propane and butane (usually in a ratio of 20/80 I think).”

“I've been reading some of the stuff at MSRCorp.com and they say their fuel is good to go down to 10 degrees. 8oz can for $4.99 a shot though. Youch!”

“I have the Peak1 Xpert and I like it a lot (I checked and it uses a blend of 60% butane/40% propane). When it first came out the price started at like $60 but now REI has them for $37.99. It is very stable and I like the fact that the used canisters are recyclable.
The 300g canister is $3.95 and it took 2 trips to drain it. I used it at below-freezing temps on Mt. Adams and had no problems.”

“kleetn, I think you got that backward. The butane does better at low temps that the propane does.

Nigal, I use the Campgaz 270 stove in moderate weather (down to 30 deg.) and a Peak 1 Feather 400 white gas stove for colder temps. Carry along some fire paste or alcohol to boost up the start. In cold weather, the Campgaz starts slowing down long before the cylinder is empty. This is a little aggrevating and seems to waste fuel. A wind screen is necessary with the campgaz, but the peak 1 feather 400 is a blowtorch in any conditions. I like the 400 better than the MSR stuff because it has fewer moving parts, and really doesn't weight that much more when you consider the fuel and bottles and all.”

“Nope, just checked REI's site and they say..."Pure propane works well down to 0ºF. Butane will not work below 32ºF."”

“Dang man, that was the first time I've been wrong this year!

Oh well, live and learn.”

“A windscreen is a must. The Primus Light Stove has one versus the PocketRocket. I took a canister and put in the freezer overnight and it worked fine. I'll try a half empty one.

$38 w/piezo

I got mine without the piezo and $7 cheaper. At high altitude the piezo doesn't work well.

Sierra Surplus PLS”

“Some time ago on a boy scout campout we used an old style butane stove and the temp fell to 25 deg no problem for the scouts, as they learned to make a wood fire very quickly because the stove fuel did not vaporize and came out like someone squeezing a water bottle. Now that was bad enough but some fool was able to light the stream and we had a flame thrower. Of course the stove has been band but every scout remembers the scout master walking around trying not to burn anything while the gas finished coming out.

As for the newer stove thier are tricks one can use to keep them working but usually the propane will burn off leaving you with lots of butane left in the tank which you can not use until it warms up.”

“1 gal. gas, long fuse, short match, fast down hill run. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.”

“Ive been tempted to get a pocket rocket and try it, but about 13 years ago I had a very bad experience with a canister stove that made me absolutely hate them.

There I Was...

I was in Hoensfeld (sp?)West Germany (before the wall came down) in February. The snow was measured in feet, the tempreatures we so low the ground was permafrost, the vehicles had permanent coats of ice, and my M113A1's generator and heater were out. We had been left behind and were waiting for mechanics to come rescue us for about 2 days. My CPL was turning Gray (he was a black man) and I (PVT R0ck) pulled out trusty Mr canister stove to make him some coffee and a hot meal. There was absolutely no life to a new canister. I twisted another on with the same result. Short end was I fel back to trusted trioxane to heat some food and did buddy aid to relive his frostbite and hypothermia.”

“i sleep with my gaz's fuel cylinder and it always works great.”

“I've seen people that simply hold the gaz cans in their hands ands and then shake them up a bit and they worked fine. But this is not from personal experiences though.”

“yep, that works, too. or put it in your jacket for a few minutes.”

“Keeping the tanks warm is key. I have a Peak1 xtreme and a Primus micro. On the Peak I use a insulated water bottle holder to keep the canister in while using in the snow. Sleeping and keeping in a armpit works, but with the bottle holder trick, it stays warm longer. I even have set the stove canister on a chemical heat pack.
Windscreens a must but with the screw into the top canister type, they can get a little too hot, so watch it. I like my micro to use if tentbound. I feel safe using it in my vestibule.”

“i am considering buyin a canister stove cant decie between the msr pocketrocket or the superfly i like the superfly because msr says it is compatible with other canisters but reviews i've read on it arent so good. plus the top of this thread says the pocket rocket is compatible with other canisters so i was looking for some clearity in this matter, thanks”

“Check out the Coleman Exponent F1, it is compatable with other canisters, is lighter and more efficient then other canister stoves in it's class.. I love mine.”

“You might want to check out the Jetboil.

www.jetboil.com”

“My Coleman 'Expert' started sputtering recently... I think it needs a tune-up.

(it's a vintage 1998)”

“I have used the Camping Gaz for years now. It is half the cost of competitors (Around 25$),Boils in a hurry, can be easily adjusted to simmer, and the Cartridges are readily available.”

“I am going to use my jetboil for the first time next week in the Smokeys. Hopefully it works out like I expect it to. They are coming out with an attachment this Spring I think which will allow you to use your own pots/pans. Interesting.”

“Yetti, I have the Pocketrocket and it works just fine..my only complaint is stability. its a little flimsy sometimes. I've seen a lot of people using the jetboils on the trail and they seem sturdy and efficient. I like the way everything packs up together including the fuel canister inside the pot.”

“The jetboil hasn't impressed me. So it can boil water quicker than the rest. What are you gonna do but sit there and wait for everyone else to eat.

I can pack my pocket rocket and canister inside of my cookset with no problems. I also use an alcohol stove from time to time.They are extremely lightweight!! There are quite a few threads about using them on here.”

“lol, ewker has a personal vandetta against jetboil”

“lol@sacco”

“hes tired of seeing everyone eat before him..lol ;)”

“Jackstraw has it right.
A quick check with Campmor

Camping Gaz $29.99
Pocket rocket $39.95
Superfly $49.95

All use Butane canisters
GAZ $5.95 (270g~ 8oz) $7.05 (470g ~ 1Lb)
MSR $3.85 (2oz) $8.60 (8oz)

So not only does the stove cost much less the fuel is much cheaper also.

Ask yourself what the MSR has that makes it that much more expensive than GAZ ? then decide if the difference is worth the additional expense.”

“I have a MSR Superfly. Works great and does attach to many different cans. That's the reason I bought it.
The one thing I don't like about it is the optional igniter, mine doesn't work worth a crap. It will light the stove about every 4th click and a few times I couldn't get it to light at all. I have to carry a cig lighter to insure I can get it lit.

Primus makes a little burner that has a great igniter. I'm looking at them with an eye to purchase.
last edited: 3/11/05 9:22:34 AM”

“stovestomper, have you had any problems with the pot supports getting warped from heat and not being able to fold it together?”

“nice price and has a nicely dispersed flame for my needs :)”

“I'm thinking that at some point this year, I'm going to bite the bullet and get a canister stove for summer use. I was in my local EMS the other day and saw this stove:
http://www.ems.com/products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442587318&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302848959&fromTemplate=navigation%2Fsubcategory.jsp&bmUID=1121444783698

Has anyone had any experience with this stove? It weighs the same as the Pocket Rocket, but folds up smaller and combined with my teakettle, it is lighter than the Jetboil. Is this thing worth the money or is it a piece-o-crap?”

“I don't have any exoereince with that stove, but I use and suggest the Snow Peak Gigapower stove. i have the steel model at 3.5 oz. It's more stable than the Pocketrocket and has a little wider flame.

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=870048&parent_category_rn=4500453&vcat=REI_SEARCH

The titanium one is 3oz I belive.”

“I own a snow peak too and just purchased the Primus Micron....Wow! that little stove Rocks!”

“I have the Primus Micron have had no problems using it. It folds down small and fits easily in my small snow peak cook set.”

“This is the canister stove I use. Great for weekend hikes and those trips where you'll only need a stove to boil water for instant meals/drinks. Also inexpensive.

http://www.rei.com/product/27975.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC


On winter trips, or longer warm weather trips, I'd use a liquid fuel stove (better heat output for the weight).”

“Lum:

I believe that Northern Lights stove is one that has been marketed under a number of names like Kovea, Markhill Hot Rod, and Vaude. I researced it a couple of years ago as I was thinking of getting one. It seems it was made by Kovea in Korea. Backpacker mag. had a review of the Vaude stove a couple of years ago. I know a guy who has one and it seemed like a decent stove, but the piezo igniter stopped working after a while.”

“That stove looks exactly like the markill hot rod titanium. same weight and fold up features, you might check out the parent company, markill is owned by vaude sports.”

“I do have the hot rod and there are reviews on this site, it has a slower burn boil rate than the pocket rocket (which I also have) but is more stable and folds up smaller. It is a bit tempermental at times but is a good stove. I've used it for 6 or 7 three day trips and a week in glacier with no serious problems.”

“I've used the camping gaz for years its a great stove and the cartidges are readily available. And come on $25 bucks , Shucks!”

“I have the MSR Pocket Rocket and like it a lot, but a buddy of mine has the Snow Peak Ti Gigapower and I have "stove envy" every time I see it. Performancewise, I can't justify the additional cost, but it is one fine piece.”

“OK TT engineers and general smarties I have a question for ya. How warm do you need to get a canister before it blows and/or over pressurizes? I was wondering if a person were to put one of those little hand warmers under the canister in the concave area to warm the cannister while it's running would cause it to over pressurize and thus blow my head off? I think the hand warmers are like 140 degrees?”

“Sounds like an expiriment!!!!! :)


I like blowing things up :)”

“Just put the canister in your armpit to warm it up you wimp j/k”

“If his underarm has a little perspiration in there, and the canister is REALLY cold, would it be like the ol' tongue on the metal post trick?

Please videotape your experiment, Nigal. Thank you.”

“Well the armpit thing does sound awesome but I'm looking for a way to keep it warm while it's running. Even taking a canister that has been in your sleeping bag all night (why anyone would do this?) it's still going to get cold. I normally do the pan of water thing but I want the ultimate solution to the problem. OK, the second best solution cause the best one is a Svea 123. :)”

“Well we are dealing with propane/butane and you are talking about the BLEEVE or overloading the safety. I do not believe that the hand warmer will give you enough heat. Since you can hold it in your hand...and I think I have left canisters in a car in the summer (by accident)....so I don't think you can reach Ignition temp with that.”

“A tip From my good friend MarkO - Use the toe warmers they are concave shaped and have sticky on them so as to stick to the bottom of the canister.”

“Yep I've used toe warmers and hand warmers, they work well. I've only burnt off all my hair 3 or 4 times.”