Hi Bob

> How is it that I've used my oldest Pocket Rocket for about ten years now,
You're careful. Comes with age and experience.

cheers

That article has basically the same findings as reported on thru-hiker.com: http://thru-hiker.com/articles/stoveweight_vs_time_14days.php

I've found that if I all I do is boil water once a day for tea and to reconstitute a home-dehydrated dinner, I'm definitely better off weight-wise with the alcohol stove, even for a trip as long as 10 days. If I'm going to do any actual cooking (i.e. the fish I'm after deign to be caught), the scenario changes considerably. In that case the canister stove, on which I can adjust the heat, uses less fuel as well as being easier to use. If I'm going to be fishing where/when a campfire is allowed, I can of course cook the fish (if any) on the coals and won't need the canister stove.

A small (4 oz. fuel) MSR canister will easily do 6 2-cup boils. If I take a cold (no-cook) meal or two, which I usually do, I can stretch it to 8 days.

Cooking for a group is much easier with a canister stove. Going out with my son and 2 older kids, boiling a quart of water three times per meal (once for reconstituting, once for cocoa and once for sanitizing the dishes), twice daily, the large (8 oz. fuel) MSR canister lasts 4 meals. That's 12 4-cup boils per 8 oz. of fuel. Doing three separate boils per meal, though, is not an efficient use of fuel, and I have gotten a 2-quart pot for next year. I'll be doing some fuel consumption tests on my back patio.

The main problem with the canister stove is inflexibility. Like other canister users, I have a quite a collection of partially full canisters. Next summer I'll be doing several trips in which I car-camp at or near the trailhead, which I hope will help use those up.

Edited by hikinggranny on 02/09/2011 19:19:29 MST.

You are so right about the remainders in canisters. I'm thinking of buying a lantern which can use them up just for base camping. With Coleman white gas at near $10 a gallon even in my dinky Peak 1 lantern turned way down it is beginning to make sense to just use up the canisters without playing remote logistical canister roulette.

Edited by Meander on 02/09/2011 20:08:42 MST.

"With Coleman white gas at near $10 a gallon"

I bought one gallon last week for $12.95 plus tax at an outdoor goods store. Today, I bought one gallon for $8.88 at wally world. I know where to go next time.

--B.G.--

Hi Mary

> The main problem with the canister stove is inflexibility... I have a quite a collection of partially full canisters.

I don't understand. I weigh the canisters before and after so I have a very good idea of how many days are left in a canister. If I have a couple of half-full canisters and one of them is not enough for a particular multi-day trip, I have two options: take both, or earmark them for day walks. Both work. I have a lot of really empty canisters piled up for steel recycling.

My wife and I use one 230 g canister per week, or one 450 g canister per fortnight. Very reliable. All dinners cooked, morning tea and washing up included.

Cheers

One problem of gas cannister stoves has not come up yet.
Although they are very reliable on the long run you face on problem: The thread on the stove will wear out and then you won't be able to screw down the stove onto the cannister tight enough any more. This of course only tends to happen in the middle of nowhere were you cannot get any replacement...

But seriously now: I have had two MSR pocket rockets and they both had the same problem and became useless. I changed to a Snow Peak then and never had this issue again.

But you should keep in mind NOT to screw the stove on too tightly and make sure the thread is not dirty and gets damaged.

Paul,
I've been using the LiteMax this last season, and have really been happy with it. From canoe camping to backpacking, its a great stove, especially for two. I like the flexibility of the pot holder, either unfolding it, or not, based on pot size, and its a very efficient stove. It will also simmer! I took a full cannister, and just boiled water to see what it did for fuel use. Here's my results. I did this with winter cold water out of my tap in Idaho, outside temps in the teens. I did it inside, with no wind, but have experienced almost identical results in the field, making sure to use a wind screen, and to protect the stove; all basic cooking and stove use protocols. One item to remember,(ask me how I found out?) if you use a large cannister, check your wind screen! The stove height off the ground is considerably higher, and your std screen might not even reach the stove flame!
The table shows amount of time to boil, beginning wt of cannister, end weight of cannister, and net use of fuel per boil(in oz.). Obviously its best case scenario, but still a baseline is a good place to start. Hope it helps.

1 liter of water reaching at least 200 degrees using GSI Soloist pot and lid

1 liter
9 min 7.1 6.3 0.8
7m 45s 6.3 5.8 0.5
7m 36s 5.8 5.5 0.3
7m 55s 5.5 4.9 0.6
8m 4.9 4.4 0.5
7m 25s 4.4 3.9 0.5
8m 16s 3.9 3.4 0.5
4m 20s 3.4 3.0 0.4

Total Burn Time 60.28m
the last burn only reached 130 degrees before the cannister ran out.

Total Burn Time 60.28m, using the 4.1 cannister. 3.88 net fuel wt.

I've found that with partially used cannisters, I just weigh them when I get home, mark on the can with a sharpie how many more "boils" I can get, and use that can for a trip where that amount of fuel is applicable.

final note:after each boil I rinsed the pot in cold water to start each new boil with cold and "new" pot temps.

Edited by idahosteve on 02/10/2011 08:30:13 MST.

Our high altitude fuel is of two types. Above 7000 metres/23,000 feet we use imported propane/butane 250 gramme canisters.

" Below 7000 metres/23,000 feet we refill the canisters with propane gas."


I noticed this at Summitclimb.com, and was wondering if anyone has info or necessary valve for doing this stateside.( I know this is considered unsafe and against the law) I would like to try this out.

Edited by khumbukat on 02/10/2011 09:05:32 MST.

You would need to know what canister type (valve type) they are refilling. Some RV people refill the 1 lb propane canisters (also dangerous), I think with fittings from Cabelas.

I have been refilling 1 lb. cylinders for years. Works great. They only fill about 60% of new, and I only refill them about 10 times before they go to recycle or shooting range as targets. I figure the valve will start leaking at some point.

stephan

"Pocket Rocket - very focused flame, burns food. Pot supports fragile/bendy. Stove too high and unstable."

Roger, we've heard that many times from you.

How is it that I've used my oldest Pocket Rocket for about ten years now, and the pot support arms are just fine? Mine doesn't seem to burn food, and it doesn't seem to tip over? What is it that I'm missing?

I admit, I always carry it in the red plastic box for protection.

--B.G.--

It is not effecient, however, if you keep your canister warm or insulated while cooking. Keeping it warm only helps to get it going in the cold.

If you fly into Reno, there is an REI within walking distance of the airport.

"Our high altitude fuel is of two types. Above 7000 metres/23,000 feet we use imported propane/butane 250 gramme canisters. Below 7000 metres/23,000 feet we refill the canisters with propane gas."

I noticed this at Summitclimb.com, and was wondering if anyone has info or necessary valve for doing this stateside.( I know this is considered unsafe and against the law) I would like to try this out.

!. set full canister in water and note water line (tilt to purge air from concave bottom)
2. mark water line of full canister
3. repeat process with partially used canister to find approx. remaining fuel

This is the most effective FIELD method I know.

As Christine wrote:

> The thread on the stove will wear out and then you won't be able to screw down the stove onto the
> cannister tight enough any more.
Yup, happens. Like in the middle of one of my European 3-month-long walks.
Fortunately, when that happens the system is fail-SAFE. The stove no longer works the valve in the canister.

Cheers

As Jim wrote:

> If you want to refill using propane, I think you're doing something really dangerous.
Make that really, really dangerous.

The canister is rated to a certain pressure (by law). You need a safety margin to handle the odd bit of bright sun and knock. Fill with 100% propane and you are pushing the ultimate pressure limit, not the far lower safety limit. The potential is there for a terminal experience.

(Note: if you could be absolutely sure that the canister would never get above 0 C it might be a tolerable risk, but remember that this game does not permit weasel words or political hedging.)

Also read http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/exploding_gas_canisters_the_hazard_of_overheating.html

Cheers

"One of the arms on my PR got bent. They do bend pretty easily. I don't normally keep my in the red plastic box."

You just outlined the very fault.

--B.G.--