You may have seen the European outdoor industry show just ended has presented the new MSR Windcooker. It is a canister based infrared (flame-less) repackaging of their Reactor into a more JetBoil configuration. Claims no wind caused heat loss up to 12 mph wind speed. More to my liking is the announcement by Primus of their new Winter Fuel canister. It appears to be the same butane/iso/propane mix but with a "paper" sheet inside to increase surface area to aid evaporation of fuel from the liquid state. Claims to work down to minus 7 F. This should be more winter worthy than I'd ever need. I don't go out when it is that cold.
MSR Spring 2015 Preview And as to the Primus fuel canister .. Why would someone continue to use a canister at such low temps, when liquid fuel does so much better? Ken in NC
Because 1) outdoor retailers probably make more on butane cans 2) consumers are scared of liquid fuel. Just my opinion.
Liquid fuels in cold weather is a classic solution. In expedition settings (lots of snow melting, long duration trips, difficult resupply) liquids win in all situations. For the average recreational stove user, even if backpacking, even if cold, butane can work. I am defining cold as a low of 20 F I know that ain't real cold, but that is all the average recreational camper will put up with according to my reading. Plus canisters are just easier. If you are a camper and not a stovie then easy matters. I admire and have owned some liquid fuel stoves (all gasoline in my case) over the last 30 years, and I appreciate their allure. That is why I joined CCS after all. But for my current trips I choose alcohol or canister. Just back from Eagle Creek in Great Smokey Mountains NP. One night only. My wife and I used 1.4 ounces of canister fuel for the two of use for supper, breakfast and a luncheon mug up.
I'm curious as if those containers would help with 100% butane if they were hypothetically (I advise against doing this, just to make my point) refilled. Like a really modern and ironic* version of a Hank Roberts setup. Just minus excessive thermal feedback. *Long overdue in terms of design... Especially with how inverted feed setups.
12mph that is wind force 2 (Beaufort)! I don't think any classic stove has much heat loss at that wind.. correction, its force 4, I mis read the table. guess you have heat loss at that point. but then the below still counts. use a wind screen. and above you use a wind screen, no need to go crazy with infra-red technology, just a sheet of aluminium. and if its too windy, just cook inside your tent. (take the necessary precautions and use common sense) I'm actually more scared of gas, and pressurised fuel canisters.
Welcome to CCS Reflector. There are quite a few threads here on refilling canisters. Too many for me to search and link to. Also, 100% butane has different flash point than a butane/propane mix. Again, too much information for me to search and post links here. Use the search function here, and a few days after you fall into the rabbit hole you can come out a new man/woman. (I don't know, as you didn't sign a name) Ken in NC
