Reddit mentions: The best camping replacement fuel

Lol, OP you beat me to it! I discussed this *here the other day and then because data is king I put it all in a spreadsheet. *Edit: Data' in the original post was completely shooting from the hip. Actual measured weights and volumes are contained in the spreadsheet below.

Here is the TL;DR: Alcohol stoves are efficient up to 4 days, after that the fuel becomes much heavier. If you take a half/used gas canister then alcohol effectively has no advantage at all. This is easily shown in the graphs presented here:

Graphs | Spreadsheet

Because alcohol as UL has been ingrained so long, there are some holdouts who might not believe it, but the data is here.

My write-up:

> Alcohol has been the go-to choice for ULers for just about as long as UL has been a philosophy. When comparing stove systems many have for years bemoaned the extra weight penalty that gas canisters impose on hikers and turned their nose up at the idea that gas could be considered "ultralight".
>
> Review sites in the past have typically taken a popular gas stove and pitted it against the lightest alcohol stoves available. For many people this is a cat can stove, aka fan Fancee Feest (Fancy Feast) stove made popular by Andrew Skurka in 2011. It's cheap, light, easy to make, and takes up virtually no space in a pack. As we'll see here, however, the gap between both systems has pretty much come to an end.
>
> I own both a homemade FF cat stove, Jetboil Flash, and most recently, the BRS-3000T. As things go this type of comparison between stoves has occurred and been documented a few times in the past, but more often than not testers/reviewers were not using the lightest gas stove available. In our case, this is the 25g BRS-3000T.
>
> I have put together actual data collected using both the Fancy Feast stove and the BRS stove. The weights I use for fuel are the average from 6 burns on each system. The fuel used for the cat can stove is Klean-Strip Green Denatured Alcohol and for the BRS is Jetboil Jetpower (100g)

> All data is based on boiling two cups of water, twice per day. Two meals basically. The spreadsheet is downloadable/editable to add your own alcohol stove and compare weight savings.

I've been experimenting a bit with steaks in my sous vide, and have had good results with sirloin (although I've had better results with ribeye).

I generally do them at 125 or so (127-128 is supposed to be the perfect temp for medium rare), then blacken them with a blowtorch and a bit of butter.

A few hours seems way, way too long to me: I do them for more like 45 minutes to an hour. If you cook them for hours, you're going to get kind of jellyish squidgy meat (I've done this to pork and chicken while experimenting, and it's pretty unpleasant-- I have no idea what makes anyone give these as recipes).

They come out great at an hour or so at 125-130.

I use one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Iwatani-Torch-Burner-Professional-Cb-tc-pro/dp/B0027HO3XO/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381098080&sr=8-2&keywords=iwatani+torch

with this as fuel:

http://www.amazon.com/Iwatani-Butane-Canister-7-8-Pack/dp/B00CKPXW9Y/ref=pd_sim_k_2

Have you been tent camping before? This may seem like the cheapest way to go, but if you don't already have your camping equipment already this can be an expensive way to go.

Using amazon:

• 2 person tent $45
  
• 2 sleeping bags $44
  
• battery powered lanterns $15
  
• 48 pack batteries $12 (that may be too many but you don't want to buy too few)
  
• single burner stove $25
  
• tank of propane $10 (burner is kind of useless without it)
  
• coffee percolator $12
  
• Camping cookware $18
  
• camping tableware set $28
  
  I'm leaving some stuff out, but you're looking at about another $209 added to the cost of staying at Fort Wilderness.
  
  Let's not forget that if you aren't sure about being comfortable with tent camping, It rains like you've rarely ever seen every day in Florida. Usually for short periods of time, but are you willing to tent camp in a tropical rainstorm over night?
  
  I am a huge advocate of Fort Wilderness. I've loved the place since my parents took me there as a child (with a pull behind RV) in the mid 1970's. I suggest you go to the Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-A-Long, and Movies Under The Stars while you are there. If you can afford it go to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue as well. However, tent camping in Florida is quite different than tent camping anywhere else. Maybe wait a little longer until you can afford to stay at one of the All-Star resorts.

How small? Iso canister stoves are basically the standard for hiking - something like this as a small, cheap and light stove, which screws straight on to a fuel canister like this. You can also opt for white fuel stoves like this one if international fuel availability or extreme cold weather performance matters. They use refillable fuel bottles that come in various sizes to meet your need. Finally, alcohol stoves are fairly popular as a lightweight, if slower, option - I have this one, though plenty of people make their own from aluminum or tin cans. Fuel can be carried in pretty much whatever, since you just pour some into the stove before use.

A camping stove like this can heat up water or food quite nicely and is ultra portable. This is a two-pack, so get two JetBoil propane tanks like these to have enough fuel all weekend and beyond. Bring a couple of medium to small pots and pans, and maybe a teakettle like this to just heat up water (coffee pour-over, ramen noodles, etc). Bring some butter cooking spray, and you can quickly make a grilled ham n cheese sandwich, scrambled eggs, etc.

I use the esbit gram cracker (BGET) w/TD Sidewinder or tinfoil and a zelph support for short <3day trip. I have been using these FUNEW tabs I got off amazon because they claimed no weird smell, and they were right. Almost completely odorless.

The system is light weight and just really easy to use for short trips, toss a few in and your good. You could say the same for Alc for <3 day as well bring a 8oz and your good, but the esbit is lighter for that and the tabs listed above light very easy compared to esbit brand.

REI usually has them for like $5-6
I tried to find the link but they're not available on their website... Have to go in to the store to find them... here's an Amazon link for 3x the cost.
3.53oz/100g
(Nests perfectly in my toaks 550ml and 650ml)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NMAMOO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HkvSCbJEQ9YW2

Order this and this...I use this for my sears and it works just fine. Honestly, it's as safe as anything, and you don't need to buy insurance because you have that in your flat. Just be smart about using it (i.e. don't set it down while still burning, don't put the cans in the microwave, etc...

For the cost of the supplies to make your DIY, you could just buy a camping stove.

It'll be more sturdy (you can put a whole pot on it), safer, and easier to carry:

$7.99
JOYARD Camping Stoves 1-3 Person Backpacking Portable Windproof Stove Burner (Boil 1 L Water In Just 3.5 Minutes) with Piezo Ignition for Outdoor, Backpacking, Hiking https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0781JC17V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QzMWAb5MXT3EF

$13.99 (reviews state this item is cheaper at local stores. More expensive on amazon due to related shipping)
Jetboil Jetpower 4-Season Fuel Blend, 230 Gram https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GCVJ4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wCMWAbCMMG4FH

Great trip report and photos. Grab some hexamine tablets for easy, reliable fire starting - https://www.amazon.com/Expedition-Solid-Fuel-Hexamine-Tablets/dp/B07FM775B1/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543290577&sr=8-2&keywords=expedition+hexamine+tablets

> MSR Dragonfly

Nice. The Dragonfly is solid; there's a reason they keep producing it 20-years on.

You can buy [a damper](http://www.amazon.com/QUIETSTOVE%C2%AE-SILENT-MUTER-DAMPER-CAP/dp/B00ZO4T3UU
) for it if you want to quiet it down. In the demos I've seen, it cuts the sound at least in half.

If you want to burn LPG canisters, keeping one of these in your pocket is a nice backup:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01077AGC2

For Coleman propane bottles, there are these adaptors.

Sorry to say I don't have any experience other than day-dreaming of the day I can install one at my house.

Might want to check with your local utility to see if any natural gas lines are near your property. If you were to roll it into a bigger project, such as converting your heat from oil to NG, you might get some sort of utility rebate or sharing of the gas line construction cost. (total speculation here)

The generators can also run of LP gas, so you could run it off a large(ish) refillable tank instead. If you look at the specs of the generators it will say how many gallons per hour it consumes at 50% load. For the 9kW model its 0.87 gallons/hour. Which means a 100lb tank would last a little over 1 day of continuous use. A 420lb "100 gallon" tank would last about 4.5 days at half load. Something else to consider.

We fly in so our set up is a minimal single burner arrangement. We're not cooking feasts, but it's plenty for bacon and egg bagel sandwiches every morning.

This is our burner. The carrying case is the size of your palm, perfect for flying. Then we stop at Dick's in Palm Desert and buy a few Primus canisters.

They typically run on the 230gm canisters easily found on amazon. I'm not really sure what would be available in the Philippines.
Example here

I have mini propane bottles. Portablity is a pro and the con is you need to refill more often. Make sure you always have a backup.

We’re going to be flying in and can’t take our butane tank (for our stove) on the plane. Will they sell butane canisters on site?

We’re looking to buy something like this: JetBoil Jetpower Fuel - 100g https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IHSIC6K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Hlr5AbDWSJDBX

Any of the usual isobutane canisters. They look like this

I was dead-set on a JetBoil MiniMo. Walked into REI with a more experienced buddy and we put this setup together...its smaller and lighter than a mini-mo and way more flexible for the future:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BKJNYchiEo

parts list:
Snow Peak 700 - https://smile.amazon.com/Snow-Peak-Trek-Titanium-Cookset/dp/B000AR2N7Q

4oz fuel - https://smile.amazon.com/Jetboil-Jetpower-4-Season-Fuel-Blend/dp/B000NMAMOO

jetboil base - https://smile.amazon.com/Jetboil-Fuel-Can-Stabilizer-Size/dp/B00MUYUDC4

BRS stove - https://smile.amazon.com/BRS-3000T-Outdoor-Camping-Cooking-Ultra-light/dp/B072N82R83

bic mini lighter - https://smile.amazon.com/Lot-Mini-Ebony-Black-Lighters/dp/B00863W71I

MSR french press - https://smile.amazon.com/MSR-Windburner-Coffee-Press-Kit/dp/B00YOBML2Q

Vargo folding spork - https://smile.amazon.com/Vargo-T-217-Titanium-Folding-Spork/dp/B004R1LYEO

PackTowel UL face towel - https://smile.amazon.com/Packtowl-UltraLite-Face-Towel-Clay/dp/B017W4M7N4

dish soap - https://smile.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-Wilderness-Ounce-250ml/dp/B0029W1394

Hey, just wondering do you carry one of these bad boys around? if so how do you make a custom kydex holster for it, my first game with my G5 was pretty fun, but carrying the tank really slowed me down.

Link to amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-110371-Fuel-White-Galon/dp/B0049HOR6I/ref=pd_aw_sbs_200_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0049HOR6I&pd_rd_r=342454ae-d4b7-11e8-8519-db044f09735a&pd_rd_w=vYh26&pd_rd_wg=yMZxn&pf_rd_i=mobile-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=926ebe02-3236-40c6-ac63-01ad178f498a&pf_rd_r=C2DFC3EAFBZTQ85P1PA6&pf_rd_s=mobile-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=C2DFC3EAFBZTQ85P1PA6

https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Max-500G-Propane-Torch/dp/B00282LP34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542209334&sr=8-1&keywords=roofing+torch&dpID=3103D4nMAQL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

​

With

​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DMICFQ4/ref=sxts_kp_tr_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=8778bc68-27e7-403f-8460-de48b6e788fb&pd_rd_wg=NYalm&pf_rd_r=7KV1MT8QCVRF9GMFY594&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00DMICFQ4&pd_rd_w=5b3jF&pf_rd_i=propane&pd_rd_r=4013d02b-f02a-427d-b777-440aa0d49392&ie=UTF8&qid=1542209378&sr=2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Primus-PowerFuel-Liter-liquid-fuel/dp/B002CETMI8

Just get this, this is naphtha.

I think you mean 100-pound propane tank. Here's the exact one I bought when I bought my house:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FPZAA6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1416970911&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

As my stove runs off propane (it's actually the only thing in my house that does). I only have to take it to get it filled about once a year with regular cooking habits for a single 32 year old guy. It equates to about 23-24 gallons of propane, $135 for the empty tank, and it costs me about $45-$50 to get filled when I need to.

Edit: added some more info.

I've done it. But you're going to need something bigger than one of those tiny cooking torches. I picked up one of these professional torches and some butane fuel to go with it.

Using a real culinary torch instead of a poor, tiny substitute makes a world of difference when searing a steak too.