Originally Posted by
spectastic
good tips. I might get the trangia burner. I was looking at that, but wasn't feeling like spending $15 on something I can make for a nickel
but the canister stove idea has me intrigued. you can't modulate it at all right? unless there's a valve on the canister that controls the output, which I don't think there is. how does refilling usually work? it'd be nice to do that, instead of buying a new can every single time you run out.
Yes, canisters are regulated. All of them have a needle valve for controlling the flame. Some stoves like the Primius Omnifuel can use canisters or white gas (aka naphtha) or unleaded gasoline with a jet change. Those have control valves as well. There are lots of canister stoves that have piezoelectric igniters on them so that you don't need a match...the Omnifuel I have doesn't.
The control valve is fine enough that you can boil water in nothing flat or you can simmer rice. In other words, you can cook on one...elaborately if you like.
If you are going to altitude, canister stoves can work very well but they can be difficult to light. Soto makes the
Micro Regulator that works very well in the cold and at altitude. I used one on my trip around Lake Erie this spring and had to start it at some absolutely frigid temperatures (22°F a couple of times) and had no problems.
You can only buy the canisters at camping stores and stores like Walmart that have camping sections.
Getting the canisters isn't that much of a problem if you are touring anywhere in the US (haven't done much loaded touring outside the US). I had no problem finding fuel canisters anywhere on my trip around Lake Erie nor on my trip through southern Appalachia nor even in Mena, OK. I've even found them in Helmarts in Kansas. I was so confident of finding fuel canisters that I just took my Soto on my trip this summer and left the heavy Omnifuel at home.