Canister Stoves

The stove minus the canister folded up for storage.
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A canister stove.
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Another type of stove that is can be used for bicycle tours is the canister type of stove. Steven Arbogast uses one when he tours. He describes these stoves in the next section.

"One type of camping stove available is the canister fuel variety. Instead of having a fuel bottle, the stoves run on compressed butane/isobutane/propane mixtures. There is no loose fuel to handle, and these stoves could not be easier to use. While not as cheap or light as some alcohol stoves, nor as heavy or expensive as most liquid fuel (white gas) stoves, the primary selling point for canister stoves is the ease of use and light weight.

The model I own is the Micron, made by Primus. Other manufacturers include MSR, Snowpeak, Gaz and Coleman's Exponent line. The Micron weighs as little as 3.5 oz/109g, and packs down very small, making it a good choice for bike touring. The piezo electric igniter makes lighting the burner as easy as can be. Just turn on the gas and flick a switch to make a spark and I have a flame. Some stoves do not have the piezo igniters but rely on matches or lighters instead.

The one large drawback of canister stoves is their performance in cold conditions. Because they rely on fuel pressure provided by the compressed gas, temperatures around 32/0deg f/c (or below) can cause a drop in performance. This drop is amplified if the canister is nearing empty. To prevent the drop-off it is possible to keep the cannister warmer, such as in your sleeping bag. I have also just cupped my hands cupped around the fuel to warm it up.

The stove stowed away in it's cooking pot.
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The fuel costs me about $4.00US, and I have gotten nearly a week of breakfast and dinner duty for one out of a single 225g canister. The heat output is similar to the stove at home, and it is similarly adjustable. I carry the stove (folded up) and a fuel canister inside of my 1 liter pot. This gives me a small and lightweight cooking package. The canisters are available from severel different maufacturers and can be purchased at most stores where backpacking gear is sold."

Submitted by Steven Arbogast

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