I am wanting to do a PIF with some new 220g Campingaz canisters, but have never tried to mail them before. Has anyone any experience in this matter?

I think you can only mail a couple at a time and by ground only. You need to have an ORM-D disclosure or something like that. Print out the regs and bring it to the post office because there are too many postal employees that don't know this and don't care to look it up.

Yeah, by surface mail (e.g. UPS Ground). Considering the added cost and all... maybe donate them to your local scout troop?

There's no extra cost to mailing gas canisters over and above normal mailing costs if you use the US Postal Service. You can only have a maximum of 1 liter capacity, which is basically two 220g class canisters, per package. You have to mark the package "ORM-D, consumer commodity, surface only."

HJ

Howdy, Jim! I meant the extra cost of mailing -- versus just donating locally.

Anyone notice that REI no longer sells gas canisters on the Web? Here is their disclaimer:

"We’re sorry. Due to Department of Transportation restrictions, REI can no longer ship butane fuel canisters. While butane fuel canisters are no longer available for purchase on our websites or over the phone, REI stores continue to carry a full selection."

Curt P recently posted gas canisters FS on BPL and he's shipping a whole bunch of them to me in one package via UPS. He may be the current expert on shipping regulations. With luck he'll respond in this thread...

Yep - just sent a box with 21 or 22 canisters from Seattle to Virginia. It was a huge pain in the rear trying to get someone to give me a straight answer. In the end, I had to get a document from Coleman (they were Powermax canisters) - which fortunately is on the web - and give UPS a transportation code for the specific fuel canisters. My local USPS just flat out said they wouldn't ship them. My guess is they weren't clear on the regs and didn't want to deal with hunting them down.

Once I had the data sheet on the fuel, I talked to a specialist on the phone who walked me through how to label and ship. The UPS counter person had told me they don't know how to do it and I need to talk to a specialist. In the end, it was actually pretty straightforward. Canisters have to be under a certain size (pretty much all backpacking fuel canisters are) and label them with a specific diamond-shaped label. Cost was the same as anything for that size and weight, so no extra fees.

I have the diamond label image UPS sent me as an attachment. If anyone wants it just send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward it along.

I have to agree with Ben.
Buy them locally - saves you a pain in the *** and really: even the very remote resupply places (eg. Muir Trail Ranch in the Sierra Nevada) have a variety of gas cans. Of course they are more expensive than at REI but you save the shipping costs...