How much white gas should one bring on a trip? I don't know that I can give you a one-size-fits all answer since so much depends on the individual and conditions, but I've got some ideas that may help you get a handle on the issue.



Please join me as I briefly examine How Much White Gas Do I Need?

HJ

Nice article Jim.

I use a SVEA 123 stove. A ml of gas weighs .75 grams. I use between 2 and 5 grams of fuel to heat two cups of water. 5 at lower temperatures and 2 at warmer temperatures. The amount used is less if the stove is filled to the proper level. It is also important to let the primer heat it enough before lighting it. Failure to do this will result in a sputtering flame which uses more fuel.

I learned this from weighing the stove many times before and after heating the water.

I cook 6 times a day.

350 ml gives me plenty for a week for 2 people.

Wow. That's phenomenally efficient. Basically, you could go for a week with 2 people with one tank of gas in your Svea without refilling. Unheard of! What's your secret?

HJ

I typically use 1 - 1.5 fl. oz of white gas per day. I heat about 1.5 pints of water in the morning for coffee, cocoa and tea and about 1.5 - 2.0 pints in the evening for soup and dinner. I start the stove three times in the morning and twice in the evening so the priming fuel consumption is higher than it would be were I to just heat one batch of water for each meal. When I plan a trip I use 1.5 oz per day in my calculations.

The above figures are for my Svea 123. My Snow Peak Giga canister stove burns about 28 gm (1 dry oz) per day doing the same job. I am not particularly economical with fuel nor am I inclined to be; I'm sure that other hikers can get by on half the fuel that I use. I mostly use the Snow Peak stove now.

Not exactly. The stove burns most efficiently when almost full. So that fuel is kind of dead weight. I guess I should have included that in the number.

It is real important to get a good light on the stove. To do that, I fill the ring with lighter fluid and dribble a little down the side so I can light it with the windscreen on.

Just before the lighter fluid would go out, I turn on the stove. A bit sooner if it is warm weather or if it has been sitting on the sun.

I put the food in the water first and heat it that way. I prefer my food hot, so I do not like the plastic bag method. I find it easier to clean the little pot than bags.

When turning off, make sure to turn the key left to clean the hole and then to the right to turn it off. If it's left in the left position some vapor will leak out using a surprisingly high amount of fuel.

Next time I use it at home, I'll put it on the scale and take a video. I can likely do that tomorrow or the next day.

If you get a chance to put it on a scale, I'd be interested in hearing your results.

350ml is about 12 fl oz. Stretching that for 2 people for a week is good, but I guess that's not quite as phenomenal as it first struck me. I think I was reacting to 2g to boil 2 cups. THAT is amazing even in warm weather.

Anyway, what ever your results are, I'd be interested in hearing them.

HJ

Interesting to compare this with our experience with our Pocket Rocket. We figure one 8oz canister per week for the two of us (a liter of water for breakfast, a liter and a half for dinner.) Andmy guess is that the fuel containers are about equal in weight?

I went to the park today to cook breakfast. It was oatmeal and fixin's cooked in a two cup pot.

The temperature was 52. Winds were calm. About perfect conditions.

The stove used 9 grams. I can't explain the difference from what I found in the past, but I think the 9 grams is accurate.

I took a video, but for some reason I can't get it off my camera.

OK, 9g sounds a little more reasonable. 2g borders on the miraculous.

HJ

350ml of white gas weighs about 260g. An 8oz canister of gas has a net weight of 227g.

HJ

Now we pretty much agree on our estimates. I never cut it that close though. I have a 325 ml bottle, but I'd use the 591 ml bottle for a week. Maybe both for two people. I don't want to feel like I have to limit my coffee.