[pct-l] comparative stove weights

[go4ahike at verizon.net (Brian Bowlsby)]

David, 

I don't think anyone has responded to your questions yet, so here
goes...

The smallest canister that I've found, the Snow Peak - 110g (4oz.) Full
weighs 7oz.

Most canister stoves will fit on just about any canister. MSR works on
Snow Peak fuel and vise versa... MSR fuel is probably the most common
fuel you'll find for canister stoves. I have a Primus Micron stove and
use the snow peak canisters!

I don't know of any way to tell how many boils you have left other than
packing a scale with you and weighing the fuel left, but this is not
practical. I've found that with my stove, the small canister mentioned
above lasts about 6-7 days, but I only use it to boil water for dinners
and an occasional breakfast though.

Practice will tell you how long one will last for you and depends on
elevation and temperature used.

Good luck,
Brian


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Plotnikoff,
David
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 11:21 AM
To: 'pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net'
Subject: [pct-l] comparative stove weights 


Greetings (and happy holidays) from a longtime list lurker and section
hiker. 

As part of my planning for next year's section hikes (Peavine Creek to
Willamette Pass), I'm re-examining a lot in my packing list, including
stoves. I've had good luck with MSR Whisperlites over the years, but am
looking at other options. (I took a fair amount of ribbing from the
thrus in Sierra City last year over the weight of the whisperlite. You'd
have thunk I'd had a cast-iron skillet lashed to my pack...) 

In addition to building the Cat and Pepsi stoves, I'm also considering
the MSR Pocket Rocket or the comparable Gigapeak gas stove. (My stripped
down whisperlite with 6 oz of fuel is 20 oz. The Pocket Rocket with its
smallest cannister may be a tad less than half that.) Being unfamiliar
with this fuel type, I was hoping someone could tell me: 

What's the true weight of the smallest possible cannister these stoves
will accomodate? 

Are the gas stoves now standards-based so the cartridges are
interchangeable? 

Short of shaking the can and guessing, how can I estimate how many boils
I have left in a can? 

And, finally, any other pro or con experience that might help me make an
informed decision.

Nine months of planning and scheming is how I stay sane between my times
on the trail.... 

Many thanks.  


David Plotnikoff
San Jose Mercury News
(408) 920-5867
dplotnikoff@mercurynews.com

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