One of the last things on my list for this year is a fuel bottle for the extra white gas. I just can't bring myself to spend $20 on a 32 oz. MSR fuel bottle. I know one good reason to use one is the large saftey instructions on it and also the vented cap. But can I use a stainless steel water bottle if I label it well? Any inexpensive idea's?
Andy

Solotripper has it right with the potential for leakage, don't forget the residual fuel in stove too. I carry the stoves and fuel bottles in a roll top sealine bag. The bag then gets hung on the pack with a carabiner on the portages and in the boat when on the water. Still run the old MSR bottles as that are remnants to my backpacking days. The sealine was a second that I picked up for a good price. Actually picked a couple of them up 20 years ago and first was finally retired last year as it doesn't hold air any longer. I agree the MSR bottles have gotten expensive, lucky I made the plunge years ago.

solotripper wrote on May 17^th, 2010 at 2:55pm:


I thought of using the 32oz. bottle that the gas came in but I thought that would be a rookie mistake (which I am, not a mistake but a rookie). I bought 2 of the bottles at the Wal-Mart. I used one to fill the stove (coleman two burner) and figured I would leave the other one sealed until I needed it. The bottle shouldn't leak from the cap because of the seal but I could pucture the bottle itself. I'm crossin' my fingers. I know the two burner is way to heavy but I'm young and willing to give it a try this one time. Now, is the full stove and the extra full 32oz. bottle enough gas for a six day trip in a week? It's four people but the other two have their own stove.

I don't see how you could puncture the Plastic Coleman bottle, or any plastic fuel bottle, IF you exercised some common sense.

Marlin55388 has the right idea, if you carry inside of pack.
I take a little extra precaution even in my outside add-on pockets.
I wrap my fuel bottles in thin foam material and secure with duct tape, sort of a fuel bottle Cozy

You could do the same with traditional metal fuel bottles, whether stashed in pack or side pockets. A little extra protection from dings/dents.

I wouldn't worry about the Coleman 32 oz bottle leaking, even after you break the seal. I'm sure they figured you wouldn't be emptying it when you opened it, just refiling a camp stove of some type.

If it still worries you, get some cork gasket material, and make a gasket for the cap. Use the black auto gasket sealer or silicone. That will ensure a tight seal once opened.

Nothing the matter with the two burner stove, but as jjc mentioned, fuel consumption will be determined by usage and cooking habits.
I'd get the odd guy out to carry maybe another 32oz bottle, just in case.
I'd also pick ONE person to run the two burner (YOU)

When I tripped with 3 other guys, we all had our own stoves. Problem was, I could count on at least two of the three too have stove issues, mostly from neglect/old fuel. Invariably, I would my stove and maybe on other one would be the ones cooking the meals and making hot water.

Two of the guys were helpless as far as cooking meals or camp chores.
They would run the stove at FULL blast and eat the fuel up as fast as I could re-fill it. I soon became the sole stove operator. I use a Peak 1 stove. It will run about 1 1/2 hours on full, 5 + hours on simmer. I seldom ever use anything but simmer or low. A few extra minutes waiting for water/food to cook is no big deal to me. Just means a few extra casts or some more firewood collected. The savings in fuel consumption is noticeable and worth the wait IMHO

Android,
I may be the only one who still uses an old two burner Coleman stove.  I bought my stove in about 1974.  Other than getting a new pump for the generator everything still works.  It is heavy, but provides a stable cooking surface and two burners can be convenient.  For a week with 4 guys, I would fill the tank on the stove and bring an extra gallon.  I just use a one gallon plastic gas can you can buy at Wal-Mart, Target or Menards for a couple of bucks.  To portage just carry the stove in one hand and the gas can in the other and a large pack on your back.  You need to bring a funnel to fill the tank.  You don't pack the gas in anything,  Just put the gallon container on the bottom of your canoe.
I highly recommend that you bring two small cigarette lighters and not rely on matches.  I have found that on rainy, damp days that matches are hard to light.  You can still bring matches, but use the lighter to light the match.  Then use the match to light your stove.

The biggest waste of gas is continuing to heat water after it is hot.

Westwood