I'm trying to figure out the best cooking solution that is allowed in carry-on. My goal is to be able to take an ultralight pack on a plane, and just head straight to a trailhead upon landing. Which means a need for a fuel source that I can take on a plane.

I know you can fill your quart-bag of liquids with alcohol for an alcohol stove, but what are the esbit options? Any other suggestions for simple airline travel with a cook kit?

I'm surprised that you can use your quart-bag for alcohol fuel. Even if it's in the rules the TSA could easily confiscate it if they wanted. Have you considered a wood burning stove as an alternative?

Fuel is prohibited. You could try to sneak it on board, but hexamine (e.g. ESBIT) is a precursor for cyclonite (a high explosive). Let a "sniffer" get a wiff of hexamine, and you'll be in deep do-do. I wouldn't risk it.

I believe TSA regulations allow a certain amount of alcohol if it's a) in the original container and b) still sealed. Check my facts! If my memory is correct, you could buy some Everclear and take it on the plane, and then decant it into a squeeze bottle (or whatever you use) when you get off the plane.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

"I believe TSA regulations allow a certain amount of alcohol if it's a) in the original container and b) still sealed. Check my facts! If my memory is correct, you could buy some Everclear and take it on the plane, and then decant it into a squeeze bottle (or whatever you use) when you get off the plane."

I went through this with TSA, who then referred me to DOT. You can pack 140-proof drinking alcohol in a factory-sealed bottle in checked baggage, not carry-on. Esbit and denatured alcohol are prohibited, period, anytime or anyplace.

For other air-transportable fuels, you are almost limited to wood or wax. You know the little wax-filled wood sticks for fire starting? I had a whole bag of those ready to go. But then, if any inspector sees the word "fire"-anything on packaging, it is prohibited. If out of the package, it doesn't look like anything bad.

I know it's weird.

--B.G.--

You are far better to just carry a simple alchy stove with you. I have had no issues with carrying White Box stoves with me, in my pot. Then when you land you just go to a C-store and get a bottle of yellow HEET.

Esbit isn't allowed even in the Postal Mail!!

Look here:

TSA List of Prohibited Items

You can have a BIC lighter and a book of matches as a carry-on, but not much else.

Oh, hand grenades are prohibited. lol

Yes, I had that discussion with the DOT hazardous materials expert. They started by telling me that anything that was flammable was prohibited.

I pointed out that cargo pallets are made out of wood, which is OK, but wood intended as fuel is not OK. So, take your wood fire starter sticks and mark them "cargo pallet material."

Denatured alcohol is obviously not drinkable, so it must be a fuel, so it is not OK. But high-proof drinking alcohol is drinkable, so it must not be a fuel, so a limited amount is OK in checked baggage.

I pointed out that wax was flammable, yet they said that wax was allowed.

I won't tell you where I saw this, but... some cubes of Esbit fuel were taken and covered in colorful wax so that they look like candies. Those were packed into a package that had candies in it originally. That was carried-on successfully. Then at the destination, the colorful cubes were burned for cooking purposes, wax and all.

I think they must have a lot of lawyers there thinking up this stuff.

--B.G.--

Clothing is flammable.

I have checked esbit survival firestarter in the past and know others who have with no problems. I would not take it in a carry-on.

Edited by jshann on 11/10/2011 13:41:01 MST.

sarbar wrote: > Esbit isn't allowed even in the Postal Mail!!

"What!?"

Say it isn't so.

Perhaps she meant Airmail.

I think Esbit is allowed to go by surface.

--B.G.--

Yes, esbit - and other fuels - can go via ground through the post office, but require a special hazardous material designation. I want to say ORM-D or something like that. The same regulations apply to shipment via common carriers, but my local UPS and fed-Ex offices refuse to accept such packages unless the shipper holds a DOT Hazardous Material Shipping license. Most individuals will not.


Esbit tablets (and other fuels) have been successfully transported without incident by about every means imaginable, without regard to existing regulations; the "It's only illegal if you get caught" philosophy.

Great if it works. Sucks to be you when it doesn't.

Do you really want to risk your hike and your wallet on it? It's your call.

HYOH

Do you really want to risk your hike and your wallet on it?

The restrictions behind mailing/UPS/FedEx is also why canister fuel is so hard to get now unless you buy it from a store in person. It comes down to liability and licenses - of which most of us don't have. And more so Esbit is a FUEL and fuel is banned to be shipped by the average folk. It isn't legal, no matter what anyone wants to argue if you are a person walking in and mailing a box of it. Did you all know that is also illegal to ship via USPS alcohol? Yep! It is required as well that if you ship in even an empty booze box you cover up all logos!

The Post Office has huge posters in the buildings telling you what cannot be shipped. Go look at it sometime.....or here is the boring list from the PO's website:


Many household items can’t go in the mail.
Hazardous materials come in a wide variety of forms and can be chemical, biological, radioactive, or a combination.

The Postal Service's™ definition of a hazardous material includes many common household and consumer products. They may not be dangerous on your shelf at home, but they can become a hazard when shaken or when the temperature or pressure changes.

Some common hazardous materials include…

Perfumes
Nail polish
Flea collars or flea sprays
Aerosols
Bleach
Pool chemicals
Paints
Matches
Batteries
Fuels or gasoline
Airbags
Dry ice
Mercury thermometers
Cleaning supplies
Items previously containing fuel
Glues
Fireworks

Not sure if what you’re sending is hazardous or prohibited?

Just call 1-800-ASK-USPS or your local Post Office.



PS: When I ship alchy stoves out of the US I cover up the logo on the boxes. Causes way less issues with the customs. And folks? People do actually inspect the mail, mostly due to the rampant abuse of Media Mail.....

Sarah,

I think you might be misinterpreting postal regulations. For example "Items previously containing fuel" would mean that no stove or fuel bottle that had ever contained fuel could be shipped. I don't believe that's the case.

Also, there are no special licenses required by the USPS (UPS, yes, but not USPS) for shipping gas canisters. You have to mark them as "ORM-D, Consumer Commodity, Surface Only," but you're able to ship them as long as the total volume is less than a liter. Take a look at USPS Publication 52. Whenever I've shipped such items, I've never had any trouble. Some postal employees don't know every regulation, chapter and verse (who could?). Sometimes you have to print out the regs and show them.

You definitely cannot ship gasoline though!

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

Edited by hikin_jim on 11/11/2011 16:57:13 MST.

Esbit is fuel. Whether or not one wants to admit that, it is the truth. The same with denatured alcohol - whether or not you can drink it is a moot point, it is still banned. And on fuel canisters - again, it is FUEL which is banned. FUEL IS BANNED.

People choose to do things they shouldn't. And if one gets caught then they pay.

On the other hand one can ship live chickens. We have a guy in town who gets those all the time.....perfectly legal.

Sarah:

In general, you're right, but my point is that there are exceptions. From USPS Publication 52:

342.22 Mailable Gases

The following are examples of mailable gases: [emphasis added]

Butane. Butane (UN1011) and Receptacles, small (UN2037) with butane or butane mixtures are Division 2.1 flammable gases. Butane gases that can qualify as ORM–D materials are acceptable only in domestic mail via surface transportation when properly prepared under 342.3 and Packaging Instruction 2A in Appendix C.

b. Metal Containers. Mailable nonflammable and flammable compressed gases are acceptable in metal primary receptacles that have a water capacity up to 33.8 fluid ounces (1 liter or 61.0 cubic inches). The liquid content of the material and the gas must not completely fill the primary receptacle at 130° F (55° C). Additionally, the following apply:

1. A DOT 2P container must be used if the internal pressure is from 140 psig to 160 psig at 130° F (55° C).
2. A DOT 2Q container must be used if the pressure is from 161 psig to 180 psig at 130° F (55° C).
3. A container with an internal pressure over 180 psig at 130° F (55° C) is prohibited from mailing.
4. Packaging Instruction 2A or 2B, as applicable, must be followed.

c. Flammable Gases. A mailable flammable compressed gas is restricted to 4 fluid ounces in a nonmetal primary receptacle or 33.8 fluid ounces (1 liter) in a metal primary receptacle per mailpiece Packaging Instruction 2A must be followed.

I believe esbit tablets are allowed in checked luggage for air travel. They're solid and stable so they are no more "flammable" than clothes or other ordinary combustables. In other words, they'd have to be exposed to a flame before they burn, again just like your clothes, so they are safe.

Susan:

You are correct that ESBIT is no more dangerous than clothing, but hexamine is a precursor chemical to explosives like cyclonite. If an airport "sniffer" (canine or mechanical) where to detect the ESBIT... Well an uncomfortable situation might ensue.

For US Mail, I would think ESBIT would be OK, but I haven't been able to find anything specific. I did find a specific exception for butane canisters (see above post earlier in this thread).

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

Edited by hikin_jim on 11/12/2011 10:23:46 MST.

It is easier to administer and execute a policy that does not allow exeptions.

Therefore "fuel" applies to any flammable liquid, gas, or solid intended for that purpose. The actual risks associated with each type does not matter. For example, Esbit can not spontaneously combust, evaporate to form hazardous vapors, or leak; the box they comes in will burn before the tablets do (as will many other things in the aircraft), and you have to hold the ignition soutce against the tablet for at least 5 seconds for it to ignite. None of this matters to the policy. The tablets are still fuel (aka flammable substances") and are forbidden aboard aircraft.

It is only slightly less hassel to mail them under the ORM-D regulations. Forget trying UPS or Fed-Ex.

The above addresses the LEGAL means of shipping from point A to point B.

Here at home, I keep my unopened esbit tablets in an OP sack and there's no detectable odor outside the sack even months later.

Break the law at your own risk. You're the one who has to face the consequences.

Edited by wandering_bob on 11/12/2011 10:45:58 MST.

Ever consider buying a cheap duffel bag, filling it full of newspaper and Esbit tabs, checking it and then just ditching it at your destination.

You'll get 10 years to life for that. (eyes bug out)

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

"I believe esbit tablets are allowed in checked luggage for air travel. They're solid and stable so they are no more "flammable" than clothes or other ordinary combustables."

This is not true. First, you need to read over the MSDS sheets on these items. Then have the discussion with the DOT hazmat expert. I have. The expert did not budge.

Now, everybody knows that one Esbit cube might fall into a checked bag by accident and not be detected. But I won't visit you in jail if it is detected.

--B.G.--