Gas Canisters - all you need to know

Typical ‘backpacking’ gas canisters contain a mix of propane and either butane or isobutane. Gas canisters are easy to use and often fairly cheap, but knowing which one to buy can be a little tricky. This article will decipher the code and help you buy the perfect canister.

What size gas canister do I need?

You’r going backpacking and want to cook your own meals, you want to buy a gas canister that is big enough for your trip but you don’t want to buy a canister too big that will be bulky and unecessary. Here is a guide to answer your questions:

1. How many boils will you be doing on your trip?

   For a 2-night backpacking trip, you may want to boil water for two dinners and two hot drinks in the morning.

   Check your food packet, how much water do you need per boil? (typically approx. 500ml)

2. How long does your stove take to boil water?

   Check your stove and how quickly it boils water. Better, more expensive stoves such as the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 or Jetboil can boil 500ml water in 2 - 3 minutes.

   Typically, boiling water for 2-3 mins will use around 10g of fuel. (this is dependent on weather conditions of course!

   Boiling water in colder, windy climates will use more gas so take this into account!

3. What size gas canister to buy?

   Do the maths - for 2 nights, 4 boils, you may use around 40 - 50g of fuel. Therefore, a small 100g canister is plenty.

Gas canisters offer good flame control and allow the user to adjust the intensity of heat in the stove.

REI.com provide a useful video for more information:

Available sizes of gas canisters

Depending on your store of purchase, gas canisters typically range from 100g to 500g (and more).

Decathlon offers a useful range of gas canisters - click the link here for more.

Types of gas canister

Screw-on

Screw-on gas canisters are most widely used for backpacking and hiking - most stoves will be compatible with them - but do check your own stove!

These types of canister are very easy to use and provide a safe solution to heating water and food whilst in the backcountry.

Easy-Clic

Less common but will require an adapter for most backpacking stoves.

Other

Other gas canister types include pearcable and aerosol canisters. Pierceable canisters are cheap but can not be re-sealed once opened. Aerosol canisters often require an adapter before using on most stoves.

Temperature

Not all gas canisters will offer you the same performance in cold weather. For most ‘summer’ trips in Europe, this should not be of concern, however if you are planning a trip outside these months, then considering a ‘lower temperature’ option may be essential.

If you want a reliable gas canister in the winter, you want to maximise the proprtion of Propane with a mix of Isobutant instead of Butane. High end canisters can have a ratio of 80% isobutane to 20% propane.

Butane is cheaper but has a boiling point of -1°C, in comparison to Isobutane, with a boiling point of -12°C.

Other tips

1. Boil the minimum amount of water required.

   Don’t waste valuable fuel boiling water you know will go to waste. In addition, re-use hot water if possible.

2. Store the canister within your pot.

   Find a canister that will fit into your pot. This will space space within your rucksack.

3. Don’t bring on a plane

   Sounds obvious but if you are going on an international hike, check where canisters can be bought in the country. For popular trails, I have asked in a Facebook group of the trail and been informed within hours where to buy a canister.

4. Create a wind-barrier

   When heating water in strong winds, creating a physical barrier will drastically help you save fuel.

5. Insulate the canister from the ground

   Using a non-flammable barrier will keep the underside of the canister slightly warmer and more efficient.