Backpacking Gas Canisters 101

What are the mutual canister types out at that spot these days for backpacking use?

Basically, at that spot are 2 mutual modern gas canisters suitable for backpackers, Camping Gaz (non-threaded) together with 7/16ths UNEF threaded canisters.  Generally, stoves built for 1 type volition non operate amongst the other, but at that spot are exceptions such equally the relatively heavy MSR Superfly.  There are too much lighter DIY exceptions such equally the "Super Gnat" that yous tin gather inwards the affair of a few minutes.

UPDATE 28 March 2017:  No, manufacturers don't recommend it, and, yes, at that spot are dangers, but canisters can last re-filled.  See:  Refilling Backpacking Canisters II

A non-threaded CV270 Camping Gaz canister (left) together with a threaded 110g Snow Peak canister (right).

Before I hash out backpacking suitable canisters, let's clear out what's not actually suitable:


Canisters NOT Suitable

Non-Backpacking Canisters:  Now, at that spot are enough of other canisters that yous could purpose for backpacking including the big, heavy steel 16.4 oz/465g 100% propane cylinders equally good equally the "hair spray can" 8oz/227g 100% butane canisters used for tabular array side cooking inwards restaurants, but these are to a greater extent than frequently than non unsuitable for backpacking.  Not recommended.  There are also 100% butane canisters for modest manus blow torches together with the like.  These typically make non gibe backpacking type stoves.  Not recommended.

Obsolescent Canisters:  There are too older formats including the one-time puncture type gas canisters that  have no valve.  There's a precipitous metallic "bayonet" type object on stoves that purpose puncture canisters.  The "bayonet" quite literally punctures the canisters.  Yes, that's right, you're ripping through the metallic overstep of the canister inwards social club to instruct to the gas.  Needless to say, this is an older type canister!  On these one-time trend canisters, the stove must stay inwards house until the canister is fully empty.  There is no valve built into the canister to allow yous to carve upward the canister from the stove (until fully empty) for prophylactic transport.  You tin notwithstanding purchase the one-time puncture type canisters, but they accept been implicated inwards a pose out of accidents together with are non equally prophylactic equally modern canisters amongst valves.  Not recommended.  Note:  In some lesser developed countries, puncture type canisters may last the solely gas canisters available.  Travelers should cheque on what canister formats are available inwards the countries they shout out back to see earlier departure.

Obsolete Canisters:  There are too dozens of one-time canister formats that accept been discontinued including Hank Roberts, Campak, together with PowerMax merely to shout out a few.   Some of these were excellent formats.  However, they are no longer produced.  I'm non going to hash out them other than to get upward that they exist.

Suitable Canisters
Modern Backpacking Canisters:    OK, directly we're to the meat of this post:  Today's modern backpacking canisters.  There are 2 mutual types of gas canisters suitable for backpackers:

  • Camping Gaz Canisters (non-threaded).
  • Standard threaded canisters (with a 7/16ths UNEF thread).

A 230g Camping Gaz canister.
Camping Gaz Canisters:  Camping Gaz canisters are made by, well, Camping Gaz.  Camping Gaz is the solely known companionship that produces canisters to this specification.  The connectors on Camping Gaz canisters are non threaded.  Many people see this a superior type connexion because at that spot are no threads to habiliment out or cross thread.  However, inwards most countries of the world, threaded canisters are the standard.  To my knowledge, solely inwards French Republic is the Camping Gaz canister considered the standard.
A unopen upward of the (non-threaded) connexion on a Camping Gaz canister
Camping Gaz canisters are non necessarily universally available exterior France.  If yous create upward one's hear to purchase a stove that uses Camping Gaz type canisters, yous should construct certain said canisters are available inwards your area.

UPDATE 2016.  Camping Gaz canisters, both the one-time puncture type together with the newer non-threaded valved type are no longer distributed inwards North America.  You tin discovery some one-time canisters sometimes, but in 1 lawsuit those are gone, that's it.  Personally, I would no longer purchase a Camping Gaz type stove amongst the non-threaded connexion unless possibly yous merely desire it equally a collector's item.

Camping Gaz canisters accept a Lindal valve within the connector.  The valve allows the canister to last removed from the stove for prophylactic storage or transport.

Camping Gaz canisters come upward inwards 2 sizes:  230g together with 450g.  A smaller size inwards the 100g arrive at is non available.

Camping Gaz canisters incorporate a blend of propane together with butane.  As such, Camping Gaz canisters are non the best alternative for mutual depression temperature weather.  See What's the Best Brand of Gas for Cold Weather?  for farther information.

Standard Threaded Canisters:  In most of the developed world, the touchstone for gas canisters for backpacking is a threaded canister amongst a 7/16ths UNEF thread.
A touchstone threaded backpacking type canister.  This 1 happens to last made yesteryear Snow Peak.
Standard threaded canisters are made yesteryear dozens together with dozens of companies.  Generally, canisters from 1 companionship operate perfectly fine amongst the stoves of some other company.  Some companies effort to intimate that their detail canisters volition somehow construct their stoves run ameliorate together with that yous should solely purpose that company's detail construct of gas.  That's a bunch of Equus caballus hockey.  All major brands are interchangeable.  The solely fourth dimension yous mightiness instruct into problem is buying some construct that you've never heard of inwards some remote corner of the world.  Otherwise they are all mechanically about the same.  However, the gas contained within isn't necessarily.  For warm conditions (above 50F/10C), purchase whatever is cheapest.  For mutual depression temperature weather, what's within matters.  See What's the Best Brand of Gas for Cold Weather?  for farther information.

Caution!
The 1 exception to the higher upward is Coleman gas threaded canisters. At to the lowest degree for the ones amongst the orangish label Coleman canisters make non work amongst many brands of stoves.

The 7/16ths UNEF threads of a touchstone threaded canister
Like Camping Gaz canisters, touchstone threaded canisters accept a Lindal valve within the connector.  The valve allows the canister to last removed from the stove for prophylactic storage or transport.

Standard threaded canisters come upward inwards 3 size ranges:  small (100g to 113g), medium (220g to 230g), together with large (450g).  The classes tin too last expressed equally 4oz, 8oz, together with 16oz.  Be careful calling a canister "large."  Many stores solely acquit the 1xxg together with 2xxg sizes.  Some people refer to the 2xxg canisters equally "large."  It's best to specify what size yous desire inwards grams or ounces.

There yous accept it, a brief await at the basics of gas canisters.  Hopefully, that's helpful equally yous store for gas or equally yous see which stove to buy.

HJ


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