View Full Version : Stove/Fuel?
Im gearing up for a thru hike and not sure what kinda fuel is easy to resupply at the different stops. Im looking at the MSR Pocket Rocket stove on the REI web site...it uses isobutane fuel. Is that something that would be easy to find? Does it have to be brand specific because of unique canister/stove coupling? Thanks in advance!
Easy to find canister fuel, but not as easy as white gas or alcohol. It's not available in every town and you usually can only get it at outfitters and hostels but considering that one will last a couple of weeks you should be able to pick one up somewhere along the way before you run out. Snow Peak/MSR/Jetboil/threaded canisters all work. As long as they have the same threaded Lindal valve they will work. Camping Gaz does not work, but you don't see it much. Pocket rocket is very popular, but I think that they are all about the same. I think about the only differance is the pot stand. I like the Snow Peak ones because of their flatter pot stands.
Canister fuel is growing in popularity. There are enough places to get canister fuel on the trail that you should not run out. You can always carry a spare small canister for backup. You can also call REI on the phone and have them mail you a canister to any post office.
Panzer
mtnkngxt
01-07-2009, 09:54
Rock the canister fuel, its great. Some people will say it doesnt work in winter blah blah blah wind blah blah blah. Just Hike your own hike. I use a pocket rocket in the teens and it does fine. At night I do throw my canister in the foot box of my sleeping bag, but even if I didn't the thing would still kick up in the morning. Now obviously you don't want to set it directly in the snow or stick it out in the pouring rain because performance will be diminished. I'm a light hiker, but I hate alcohol so I carry the canister. My current setups are Jeboil canister with a pocket rocket for the lower center of gravity which lasts me 4 days of making breakfast and dinner, or a Jetboil PCS with Jetboil canister which lasts me 5 days. Do yourself a favor and no matter what canister you buy, get a Jetboil canister support. Its a folding tripod that makes any canister into sturdy cooking surface. As far as pots go rock Ti or Aluminum I love the SnowPeak 900 setup, with a custom made neoprene cozy. Other than that just trial and error my friend.
Alcohol - very easy, available at most hostels, outfitters, hardwares, convenience stores, gas stations.
White gas - easy, available at most hostels, hardwares, outfitters. In a pinch, can use unleaded gasoline from any gas station.
Canisters - not quite as easy, must plan ahead a little. Available at outfitters, some hardwares, some hostels, some "camp stores".
Blissful
01-07-2009, 15:30
The pocket rocket is a nice stove.
No real problems buying canister fuel in all honesty. We only had to mail the canisters to ourselves a few times. Like to Duncannon, PA and Unionville, NY. Possibly Kent, CT too as the outiftter there didn't know what a fuel canister was when we were there in '07 nor did they have any - hopefully that has changed (?) (there's likely a few more places you might need to mail. Not sure about Franklin anymore since I think the outfitter there is gone- any new one? Ron might know). I think we did one time in Maine too. Check the ALDHA companion or Thru hiker handbook for updated availability.
Be sure if you mail any to give yourself plenty of time since it goes by surface. The PO will give you a sticker to go on the box that has a symbol to show it cannot go by plane. And no matter what a PO says (some get testy) they CAN go by mail! We did it.
Also, use Snowpeak if you can. MSR is worse in cold.