In no way is this a scientific experiment, nor am I telling you exactly how many uses you will get out of your canister of fuel. Many variables play a role in how many uses this fuel will last you, including: exact measurements of water being boiled, fuel efficiency of your stove, and altitude. But I have found that tracking how many uses I may get out of each canister has been helpful for me, and has given me a very general idea of how long it'll last. And I wanted to share that with you!
@@BOOSTEDLASER Absolutely. You can weigh anything to find out how much it weighs. My video was about knowing how much use you can get out of the fuel. If you know you have 2oz of fuel left and haven't previously measured how much that weight in fuel could possibly last you with your cooking set up, that doesn't mean you know how many uses you could possibly get. You just simply know the weight in fuel. Happy New Year and have fun out there.
@@BOOSTEDLASER Yeah but how many boils do I have left is the question. I never really know and don't want to take chances, so I have a bunch of not empty cans that I end of using car camping. I think she gave me a general idea. Which is great. You can also do the water trick but that's a whole other can of worms.
I weigh my canisters full. I write that weight on the canister w/ a Sharpie. After each BP trip, I note the number of boils I did, weigh the canister again, and write the weight and amount of fuel remaining. From that, I know how much fuel I use for each boil. I can do some back of the envelope calculation to guess how many boils I have left in a given canister.
@Rosalind ROSSITER You'd only be able to get 'ballpark' figures. That may be enough. Or not. Lots of digital scales out there @ $20 or less in case you're in the market. I use mine all the time.
I do the same thing. I have also found a valve you can buy from a company called Flipfuel, that I haven't bought yet, which lets you tranfer between canisters.
Amy, MSR says that you can put the canister in still water, remove the air bubble underneath the canister by tilting the canister, and then look at the water line on the side of the canister as there is a gauge that gives an approximate amount of isobutane.
The tick marks are useful and a good indication but I just usually just bring two for no worries and try to burn the old before touching the new. Tick mark is a plus. Good work. Oh yeah you ever try to fill them up with a connector and flip one upside down so you pour the used cans into one then to have lots of used cans.
Yep. I use a $5 ebay adapter and refill my cans to 75% (75-80g) Carrying two isn't a bad idea. The 110g cans are incredibly small and if it gives you peace of mind it's worth it.
It was totally useful. It's smart to have a general idea about how long something might last in a wilderness setting. Thanks for doing the leg work for someone who evidently was too lazy to compile the information himself. Lol. Great video, as far as I'm concerned.
Thanks for the video, I've been watching similar videos and the lady at REI only got 12.5 boils x 500ml out of the MSR 110g with a pocket rocket indoors, no draughts so that would amount to approx 25 cups. The Goat mumbler boiled 36 cups from the same set up. And you boiled 48 cups. Interesting and huge variants.
Yeah, it definitely depends on many factors like the stove being used, exact water measurements, temp, and altitude. If I remember correctly, the second canister I tested boiled about 40 cups of water. I definitely don't expect to get an "exact" amount of times from this super simple test haha But I liked that it kind of gave me a ballpark idea. Thanks for watching :)
This was awesome! Thank you! I've never used these types of stoves before so it gives me a really good idea of what to expect on my 4 day kayak camping adventure.
I am just after buying a copy of jetboil for £30 which I will use when I head up the hills on my fishing trips and your video on this size of gas canister will really help me as a lot of the time I carry a twig stove and boil water and cook with it but we do get a lot of rain over here in Scotland so cheers and stay safe 👍 peace and love from Scotland 🏴✊👍
I have a Snow Peak butane lantern and when one of my cannisters gets low,i use up any remaining fuel with the Snow Peak.Obviously,you can use it on a full one but it works really good and suprisingly last long time even when the cannister seems almost out.I use this method for around my house or car camping.
I appreciate your information regarding the number of cups boiled with this fuel canister. As you properly pointed out, there are variables that effect performance and burn-times, but this should give a good general expectancy on usages, These days I don’t do any backpacking, but I’m a wildlife biologist and do spend long days, and sometimes nights sitting in a wildlife blind. I currently use a Colman stove with the 1 lb propane cylinders, and I’m now looking at the stove that use these more compact cylinders. Less to carry from my truck to the blind. Subscribed… 😉 All my best, George
You win! I been thinking to do something similar but with time, never could get myself to remember starting the counter so I've given up. Anyways, a cool trick is to submerge the canister in water (remember to release the trapped air on the underside dome or lust flip it up side down) so the height of water on the outside gives you a fairly accurate indication as to the liquid gas level inside.
that`s going science...when my can is feeling light, I carry a 2nd...lol but you got it right, my jetboil also last me 6 weeks (500ml of boiled water/day)
This is super great information! I am getting ready to go out 3 nights on the AT with my pocket stove. I have 2 canisters that were used and a friend borrowed my gear after that. I weighed my canisters last night, they are still pretty full. Gross weight on one is 199g. But I still wasn’t sure how long that would last. Now I have an approximation and looks like that can will do for 2c boil 8 times. This video helped so much! 🙏🏻 There are definitely people interested in this kind of content, ones who like to be prepared for sure.😊
Awwww thank you so much!! I am so happy this was helpful for you. Your stove may have different fuel efficiency than mine, but it definitely gives a ballpark idea! Have fun out there!
I recently picked up a refill valve from amazon ... there are a bunch of options, most of them made in Korea or China... the one I got is called Sooyeah and it is actually made quite well and only cost 18$. Now I can take all the partially used canisters and consolidate them to fill empty canisters. All you need is an inexpensive digital scale to weight the canister and then fill it until it matches the "gross" weight listed on the canister. Typically the small 4oz canisters weigh around 100-102 grams empty and gross weight is between 200 and 210 grams depending on what brand you use. The msr gross is 210 grams for example. All I buy now when I need more fuel are the large size 16oz MSR or Primus canisters and use those to refill empty 4oz or 8oz canisters. since the 16oz canisters costs so much less per ounce of fuel the whole thing pays for itself over time plus you end up putting less canisters into the landfill.
Amy i too have wondered about just how much fuel i have sloshing around inside the canister after a number of uses .. Thank you this is a good hack , i never would never have thought to do the way you speak about ..well done..I will start doing that the next time i start with a new canister ...You are helping with information like this ..
I use a fuel transfer valve.....I have a couple of small and mid size cannisters that I freeze, and then refill from a Monster size cannister that you purchase at a fraction of the cost per ounce compared to the small units.....and I always go backpacking with a full cannister. Cheers!
@Amy - Yes we all are watching and found it really helpful..Just bought 110g canister and was looking forward to use it for 3 day camping trip... Your video gave me insights.Keep making videos..🤟🏼
G Works Adapter - I just discovered the product which I now have. I top off my small 4oz canister AFTER each trip from a larger 16oz canister. That way I always begin a trip with a FULL 4oz canister. YES, I'm already a subscriber + I rang the notification bell.
I use the flat head in my micro leatherman to scratch the can each use. Because I had the same problem. I'm still seeing how many boils I get out of my 3.9 can. Hopefully I can get close to what you got but with the pocket stove.
I was amazed too! Helps to have a fuel efficient stove. Of course theres many factors that will change how much use you'll get out of each canister. Have fun out there! :)
if you don't care about weight the 1 lb propane ones (2 lbs total weight full) have so many burns it's RIDICULOUS maybe not as good for hiking long distance, but if you're camping or using a basecamp it's worth it because they're so much cheaper. Only downside is propane turns to liquid at higher temps than iso, so it doesn't work very well if it's cold.
The approach is scientific enough for most cases. But like a few have commented, a cheap scale is probably the best approach. I don't know if the cans ever leak, but weighing them will catch this. I suspect the cans rarely leak, but if you want to know for sure how much butane is in the can, weighing it is the way to go.
I have always found it interesting, mostly because I don't want to carry two canisters if one part-empty can will do. True, the variables are many. I don't think altitude makes much difference, and in some cases improves the usage because the ambient pressure is less. More differential, that is. The temp outside, like winter here in the Pacific Northwest, is a big factor for two reasons. The fuel vaporization is slower at a low temperature and what you are trying to heat starts colder and the cold air takes away some heat while cooking. Good video. You sure get a lot out of your fuel canisters!
Great idea to track uses. Yes, lots of variables. But, if you use the same stove, you can get a good “average” of number of uses per canister. I will start keeping track.
I got an adapter off ebay years ago for $5. I highly recommend this as long as you weight you cannisters. I like to fill to 75% to have a margin for stupidity.
Thanks for the video. Absoultely valuable information. At the very least, it's good for all of us to do similar experiments with our setup and places we camp. Like you said, it at least gives you a ballpark. Is it 10? Is it 20? What about 30? Having at lease a ballpark number is good.
Hi, you are great and very informative. it up and get out there while you can. I'm 73 years you and have a lot of camping and hiking stuff over the years. :-)
The canisters definitely last longer than we think they will. I usually eat bars and trail mix for breakfast, tuna wraps for lunch and then boil 2cups of water for dinner. I go every backpacking weekend and have had the same canister for at least 2or 3 months and it still has fuel in it. Crazy how long they last
Really useful info! I have 5 canisters of variable fills and need to figure out how much each will last instead of buying new ones. I will use your method going forward.
Thank you! Yeah, definitely not a scientific experiment but I feel like it gave me a ballpark idea. The second one I tick marked came out a few boils less, I think. But kind of close! Curious to see how many ticks the next one finishes with.
Useful info. No need to worry in the vid about whether people find it useful. Just put it out there and those who find it useful will smash the like button :) I get a lot less than that actually, around 15 in low altitude in CA, which makes me think the contraption on the Jetboil is doing something useful.
You don't have to apologize, hahaha. It's a recurrent question. I made it to myself until I decided to always bring minimum two canisters, the current and a new one. Overkilling, I guess. Personally, I think the main idea behind this concern is running out of gas if you're carrying dehidrated food is a passport to starving, not to mention the absence of hot coffee. Take care, have fun, and keep on hiking.
I have a lot of interest in cooked food and hot coffee. I have two of those little stoves, I use them so much. One is a jet burner and the other is a wider flam. I weigh the fuel and if it's cold I only take full cans. LIKED the video and you
Yes, this is very helpful, and even for a non-backpacking purpose. I am interested for prepping for WSHTF reasons at home due to whatever disaster comes. So you boiled water 42 times on one can. What altitude? I am just starting to look at these mini jet type boilers for small things like coffee at home to be able to preserve my BBQ propane tank as long as possible, so this is a great looking option. Thank you! Cheers!
Since my altitude was so variable for each use, I don't really have a number for you! That's one of many factors that will affect how much use you can get out of these. But I hope it was a ballpark idea! BTW, smart on you to be prepared! I have to admit, there is more I should do, even for common disasters.
Just the info I was looking for! Got a gas one 3.53 canister so it’ll match up decently close. I like the check mark idea and I’ll see if it comes close. Glad to know that those little canisters are small but mighty! Keep it up and yes your info is helpful ! Don’t even question yourself and give us what you got girlfriend 🙌🏼😁
Hi. Great video. I use a gas saver two way valve that allows you to top up a small canister with gas from a larger one. This means you always go on a trip with full canister.
You helped me out, I had no idea how long one would last. Now I know, for a 4 day Backcountry canoe trip (1st time)one of these should be fine, but I will bring one extra anyway thanks.
Thank you!! I am so glad I've helped. It's definitely not an EXACT number. Depends on a lot of factors like which stove you're using, how much water you're boiling, and your altitude. But it at least gives a ballpark idea! Have fun on your multiday canoe trip. That sounds awesome
I used to do the tic mark thing but with different amounts of water every time, under different temperature & wind conditions it became difficult to gain much insight from it. I've found some variability in just how much I get out of the little ones. I figure I get at least two full 3 day trips out of one with enough remaining for an overnighter or two. I do the 'float' method - mark the amount left i.e 1/2, 1/4, etc. and on what date, and I also write the approximate number of boils left... When I get back, I cross out the old reading, re-float and re-mark including my guesstimate on remaining boils.
That's definitely a good way of doing it! I am curious to see how different of a result the second go-around will be. Definitely a fun thing to try. I can at least feel confident that I'll have enough fuel for a short trip if I've only got 6 or so tick marks (although I'm sure the "shake" or the float method would also do the trick if there was that much fuel left! hahaha) Thanks for watching
Excellent information and thank you for the work you put into your videos and little experiments like this. Not only is this information helpful and a time saver, but it is interesting to learn. Just wanted to mention that the hard work, thought, and detail you put into videos does not go unnoticed.
Just had a trip to Big Bend in Texas canceled due to high water, bummed out, but to be honest I was a little nervous about the Rattlesnakes and Scorpions. Not sure if you have ever mentioned Rattlesnake or Scorpion danger (desert climate) in any of your videos, but they are my worst hiking phobia.
@@daegudiva Thank you!! I appreciate you :) Ugh I have to deal with rattlesnakes all the time where I live!! I think I only mentioned them in one video? (On a desert trip, of course!)
Seriously, your info helped a lot! I usually only take my stove out for steaming crab on the beach or fishing. But after a full day of crabbing/fishing in the Sun, it would be a huge bummer to make it only part of the way through snacks. Now I don't have to live with that unneeded anxiety of a potentially disappointing experience! Plus, I have a Sharpie with me to record my catch, so the marking system is a no brainer -- all thanks to you! 😁
I appreciate that kind words and I'm glad it helped in some way! This video was meant to be pretty simple and not too serious. Figuring out fuel doesn't need to be that complicated :) I just thought this would be a simple way to keep track of fuel, on top of all the other ways one can do so! Thanks for watching!!
I am new to your channel and the camping experience is just as new. Good to know this information, as I am looking for a good hiking camp stove that takes these canisters. Thanks for being yourself and genuine.
Amy you use a Jet Boil, I would assume it is fairly efficient compared to other stove set ups, but this should help guesstimate how many more boils you could get. Bring a second one with you if you are getting close to the limit. A quick overniter might let you get away with one close to empty. Great idea.
Such good info Amy! I wondered about this and took a brand new one, lit it, and planned to let it go until it ran out. An hour later I gave up and shut it off. It's impressive how much you can squeeze out of them. That still won't keep me from buying a new one before every big trip "just in case" lol. I'll start a museum of partial cans.
hahaha! It is impressive, right? I was surprised. But yeah, I definitely don't blame you for bringing a new one 'just in case.' DEFINITELY not something you want to run out of. It was actually a close call when I ran out on this canister...haha but it all worked out ok. OOPS.
@@AmyRoutt I guess I can't quite congratulate you yet on 1000 subs but you should be there in a couple hours. You're channel is exploding! Don't forget us little people when you're famous :)
@@RUTired Hahaha there's no way I'd ever forget the people that supported me when I was barely anything (I mean, IF I ever get to much more than 1,000 subs hahaha)
Ms. Darling I'm just watching this now of May 2024 but Amazon has several fuel canister transfer devises that allow you to combine fuel canisters. Much easier that way.
Thank you! Many others have pointed this out as well. Back when I made this video, I wasn't aware of them :) The point of this video was more about knowing how much use you can get out of a canister. Thanks for stopping by!
I can not thank you enough for this I saw this when you first published it, this morning I needed to find it again. I subscribe to several channels like yourself and I just knew a young lady did it and I needed to go back and find it this is great starting the Appalachian trail through hike at the end of January and wanted to put this into practice thank you so much going through all your videos today as a reminder of anything else I might want to try to remember a little tips and tricks this is excellent any additional update to this does it still work for you?
I am so happy it has helped!!! I haven't been backpacking as much as I would've liked this most recent year. But I did still do this for a couple more canisters. I forget by now how many cups I was able to boil for those, but they were different (which is to be expected!!) But in the same ballpark as I got with this canister.
@@AmyRoutt It did and it will :-) again thank you so much and I do understand how our desires and our enthusiasm changes over time. Are used to ride a motorcycle a whole lot and do a lot of cross country trips still like doing it yet not as much has happened lately. This dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail has changed some of my desires recently because it’s becoming a reality now and I’ve been focused on it. I understand the tick marks are only a guide yet it’s better than guessing and it’s a good conversational item potentially around camp at night :-)
@@AlongATrail Yeah, life just changes as well. I took in a dog and that has made it harder to get out for overnight trips. But we still do lots of local day adventures! Have the absolute best time on the AT. It seems like an amazing adventure.
Good video, I didn't think the minis would last that long. I recently bought a thermacell that goes.on canisters and I use my canisters for that when I go car camping to get rid of my half ones.
I didn't either! I am hoping my second result isn't VERY different than this first one. I'm really curious! I've also used up the last of my fuel canisters when car camping! It's a good way to do it. That's how I no longer have a giant pile of extras hahaha I've only got a handful now :) Thanks for watching!
You can get a tool that you can, transfer the gas from one canister to another, or you can just learn to refill with you own butane and propane mix.. But that is a great tip, to mark your canister everytime you use it.
Thanks for making and sharing this video. You covered the basics, doing so in a very practical and methodical way. I appreciate it, and used your help to equip my car for emergency scenarios. Thank you!
I tend to use my partially used canisters in my van to save carrying part cans hiking. Had been thinking about this yesterday as there was extreme weather were I live on the Sierra Navada Spain. Anyone up there would have had to sit it out in a refugio. Thinking through a strategy I realised the biggest problem would be gas. I did an overnight in a 3000mtr refugio a couple of weeks ago and used about as much gas as I would use over several days in the summer as this time I was having to melt snow. My stove was on for about 3 hours in the evening . Not sure the 230g contents would have lasted through another day/ night .
Absolutely love this channel and all the information I get out of it as soon as I get my car going we can get a group to go with I'll be going hiking again and I'm using your channel to keep me motivated
I literally typed into TH-cam searchbar "how long does isobutane canister last" and I asked myself the same question. thx! I'm going on a 5 day canoe/camp trip today !
Thanks for this video, someone just asked me on my channel how many boils I got with a small canister and my jet boil and I was going to have to say "until it runs out lol".
I refuel mine after each trip. It saves a lot of money especially when I use butane during the summer. I just refill them to the weight I bought it as.
I don’t think you realise how interesting you are & your content! You’ve won me over as a subscriber to help you with your channel. So I look forward to seeing more of your great videos, Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺 and keep smiling, Your channel buddy, Mark 😊
Great content.. I did this a few years ago. Then figured out that my stove (BRS) uses between three and four grams of fuel per two cup boil. An empty canister weighs 110g. If I weigh a canister before a trip, and deduct the weight of the empty, then divide by four (grams per two cup boil) I know ABOUT how many boils are left in the canister. I refill mine, so I can now decide if I have enough, or need to refill before leaving. I can also calculate how many boils I think I will need, then multiply that by four... tells me ABOUT how many grams I need in the canister to make it through the trip...
@@aaalllen You can buy an adapter that allows for refilling. I have used to refill/top-off the small 110's from much larger canisters. Do a search on Amazon for 'G-WORKS Gas Saver Refill Adapter'. And search on TH-cam for instructional vids. Two other adapters worth having are the one that allows you to refill the 110's with straight butane (great for summer) and one that allows you use straight propane. You CAN NOT refill the small 110's with propane as they can't handle the pressure, but you can use your BRS or other canister top burner with the 1lb propane bottles with this adapter. I wouldn't backpack with them but if your pulling a pulk (or car camping) they can be very useful).
Thank you sooo much for the video, I'm a newbe learning all this. sharing info. on youtube is awesome:) wish I would have known it sooner, I've wasted a bunch of money buying all the wrong stuff a few times over. starting to get it dialed in pretty good. Thanks again for the info.
In no way is this a scientific experiment, nor am I telling you exactly how many uses you will get out of your canister of fuel. Many variables play a role in how many uses this fuel will last you, including: exact measurements of water being boiled, fuel efficiency of your stove, and altitude. But I have found that tracking how many uses I may get out of each canister has been helpful for me, and has given me a very general idea of how long it'll last. And I wanted to share that with you!
"The only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down."
YOU KNOW YOU CAN JUST WEIGH THE CAN....RIGHT?
@@BOOSTEDLASER Absolutely. You can weigh anything to find out how much it weighs. My video was about knowing how much use you can get out of the fuel. If you know you have 2oz of fuel left and haven't previously measured how much that weight in fuel could possibly last you with your cooking set up, that doesn't mean you know how many uses you could possibly get. You just simply know the weight in fuel. Happy New Year and have fun out there.
@@AmyRoutt th-cam.com/video/2Hqcsd0bcrI/w-d-xo.html
@@BOOSTEDLASER Yeah but how many boils do I have left is the question. I never really know and don't want to take chances, so I have a bunch of not empty cans that I end of using car camping. I think she gave me a general idea. Which is great. You can also do the water trick but that's a whole other can of worms.
I weigh my canisters full. I write that weight on the canister w/ a Sharpie. After each BP trip, I note the number of boils I did, weigh the canister again, and write the weight and amount of fuel remaining. From that, I know how much fuel I use for each boil. I can do some back of the envelope calculation to guess how many boils I have left in a given canister.
Nice!! That's a good way to do it
@James clark Snidley Whiplash
Thank you! 😊
@Rosalind ROSSITER You'd only be able to get 'ballpark' figures. That may be enough. Or not. Lots of digital scales out there @ $20 or less in case you're in the market. I use mine all the time.
I do the same thing. I have also found a valve you can buy from a company called Flipfuel, that I haven't bought yet, which lets you tranfer between canisters.
I found it really interesting and very helpful. Don’t doubt yourself.
Thank you. I really do appreciate that comment.
*Update: I’ve been marking my 100g canister and I’m up to 12 marks. All my friends are doing it too 😂👍🏼
@@supercraggle Nice!!! hahaha i find it so interesting to keep track that way. Glad someone else does, too! :)
Just watch this video and it was a daaa moment for me so simple ! Definitely going to use the tic marking from now on.
What an intelligent young lady! May not be scientific but very practical. Great video.
Amy, MSR says that you can put the canister in still water, remove the air bubble underneath the canister by tilting the canister, and then look at the water line on the side of the canister as there is a gauge that gives an approximate amount of isobutane.
2 years later and I am getting back into hiking after 30 or years - all the technology has changed - and your video is STILL interesting and useful!
I appreciate that so much!! Thank you!! Also, have fun out there! :)
The tick marks are useful and a good indication but I just usually just bring two for no worries and try to burn the old before touching the new. Tick mark is a plus. Good work.
Oh yeah you ever try to fill them up with a connector and flip one upside down so you pour the used cans into one then to have lots of used cans.
Yep. I use a $5 ebay adapter and refill my cans to 75% (75-80g)
Carrying two isn't a bad idea. The 110g cans are incredibly small and if it gives you peace of mind it's worth it.
It was totally useful. It's smart to have a general idea about how long something might last in a wilderness setting. Thanks for doing the leg work for someone who evidently was too lazy to compile the information himself. Lol. Great video, as far as I'm concerned.
Adding a Sharpie to my gear bag. Thanks!
yay! Let me know what the results are!
Thanks for the video, I've been watching similar videos and the lady at REI only got 12.5 boils x 500ml out of the MSR 110g with a pocket rocket indoors, no draughts so that would amount to approx 25 cups. The Goat mumbler boiled 36 cups from the same set up. And you boiled 48 cups. Interesting and huge variants.
Yeah, it definitely depends on many factors like the stove being used, exact water measurements, temp, and altitude. If I remember correctly, the second canister I tested boiled about 40 cups of water. I definitely don't expect to get an "exact" amount of times from this super simple test haha But I liked that it kind of gave me a ballpark idea. Thanks for watching :)
TLDR: 24 times @ 2 cups per time
This was awesome! Thank you! I've never used these types of stoves before so it gives me a really good idea of what to expect on my 4 day kayak camping adventure.
I am just after buying a copy of jetboil for £30 which I will use when I head up the hills on my fishing trips and your video on this size of gas canister will really help me as a lot of the time I carry a twig stove and boil water and cook with it but we do get a lot of rain over here in Scotland so cheers and stay safe 👍 peace and love from Scotland 🏴✊👍
Thank you! Have fun out there! :)
Thank you, don't apologize
I have a Snow Peak butane lantern and when one of my cannisters gets low,i use up any remaining fuel with the Snow Peak.Obviously,you can use it on a full one but it works really good and suprisingly last long time even when the cannister seems almost out.I use this method for around my house or car camping.
I appreciate your information regarding the number of cups boiled with this fuel canister. As you properly pointed out, there are variables that effect performance and burn-times, but this should give a good general expectancy on usages,
These days I don’t do any backpacking, but I’m a wildlife biologist and do spend long days, and sometimes nights sitting in a wildlife blind. I currently use a Colman stove with the 1 lb propane cylinders, and I’m now looking at the stove that use these more compact cylinders. Less to carry from my truck to the blind.
Subscribed… 😉
All my best,
George
You win! I been thinking to do something similar but with time, never could get myself to remember starting the counter so I've given up. Anyways, a cool trick is to submerge the canister in water (remember to release the trapped air on the underside dome or lust flip it up side down) so the height of water on the outside gives you a fairly accurate indication as to the liquid gas level inside.
that`s going science...when my can is feeling light, I carry a 2nd...lol but you got it right, my jetboil also last me 6 weeks (500ml of boiled water/day)
This is super great information! I am getting ready to go out 3 nights on the AT with my pocket stove. I have 2 canisters that were used and a friend borrowed my gear after that. I weighed my canisters last night, they are still pretty full. Gross weight on one is 199g. But I still wasn’t sure how long that would last. Now I have an approximation and looks like that can will do for 2c boil 8 times. This video helped so much! 🙏🏻 There are definitely people interested in this kind of content, ones who like to be prepared for sure.😊
Awwww thank you so much!! I am so happy this was helpful for you. Your stove may have different fuel efficiency than mine, but it definitely gives a ballpark idea! Have fun out there!
That helped me. Wasnt sure how many uses i could get out of it. I just need something for an absolute emergency situation. Thnx a bunch
I recently picked up a refill valve from amazon ... there are a bunch of options, most of them made in Korea or China... the one I got is called Sooyeah and it is actually made quite well and only cost 18$. Now I can take all the partially used canisters and consolidate them to fill empty canisters. All you need is an inexpensive digital scale to weight the canister and then fill it until it matches the "gross" weight listed on the canister. Typically the small 4oz canisters weigh around 100-102 grams empty and gross weight is between 200 and 210 grams depending on what brand you use. The msr gross is 210 grams for example. All I buy now when I need more fuel are the large size 16oz MSR or Primus canisters and use those to refill empty 4oz or 8oz canisters. since the 16oz canisters costs so much less per ounce of fuel the whole thing pays for itself over time plus you end up putting less canisters into the landfill.
Amy i too have wondered about just how much fuel i have sloshing around inside the canister after a number of uses .. Thank you this is a good hack , i never would never have thought to do the way you speak about ..well done..I will start doing that the next time i start with a new canister ...You are helping with information like this ..
Thank you! I am glad you found some value from it :)
I use a fuel transfer valve.....I have a couple of small and mid size cannisters that I freeze, and then refill from a Monster size cannister that you purchase at a fraction of the cost per ounce compared to the small units.....and I always go backpacking with a full cannister. Cheers!
Multiple people have mentioned those! They are such a good idea.
@Amy - Yes we all are watching and found it really helpful..Just bought 110g canister and was looking forward to use it for 3 day camping trip...
Your video gave me insights.Keep making videos..🤟🏼
I appreciate that so much!! Thank you!!
Amy Routt It worked well with 1 canister for about 2 days all meals..Did Caprock Canyon state park,Texas camping trip..Thanks again..tc
G Works Adapter - I just discovered the product which I now have. I top off my small 4oz canister AFTER each trip from a larger 16oz canister. That way I always begin a trip with a FULL 4oz canister. YES, I'm already a subscriber + I rang the notification bell.
It's good to have a close idea of how many pots of water those can boil. Thanks for sharing with us.
I use the flat head in my micro leatherman to scratch the can each use. Because I had the same problem. I'm still seeing how many boils I get out of my 3.9 can. Hopefully I can get close to what you got but with the pocket stove.
I've used alcohol stoves for 20 years but got a Pocket Rocket 2 on sale at REI recently. This is one more way to help me gauge fuel use. Thanks.
I just bought my 1st canister and my first pocketrocket so your video was very helpful. Thank you !
I’m amazed how many times you were able to use a single canister. I used to always take a fresh one. Not anymore.
Thank you
I was amazed too! Helps to have a fuel efficient stove. Of course theres many factors that will change how much use you'll get out of each canister. Have fun out there! :)
if you don't care about weight the 1 lb propane ones (2 lbs total weight full) have so many burns it's RIDICULOUS
maybe not as good for hiking long distance, but if you're camping or using a basecamp it's worth it because they're so much cheaper.
Only downside is propane turns to liquid at higher temps than iso, so it doesn't work very well if it's cold.
The approach is scientific enough for most cases. But like a few have commented, a cheap scale is probably the best approach. I don't know if the cans ever leak, but weighing them will catch this. I suspect the cans rarely leak, but if you want to know for sure how much butane is in the can, weighing it is the way to go.
A great method to learn what your particular needs will be for this.
I have always found it interesting, mostly because I don't want to carry two canisters if one part-empty can will do. True, the variables are many. I don't think altitude makes much difference, and in some cases improves the usage because the ambient pressure is less. More differential, that is. The temp outside, like winter here in the Pacific Northwest, is a big factor for two reasons. The fuel vaporization is slower at a low temperature and what you are trying to heat starts colder and the cold air takes away some heat while cooking.
Good video. You sure get a lot out of your fuel canisters!
Great idea to track uses. Yes, lots of variables. But, if you use the same stove, you can get a good “average” of number of uses per canister. I will start keeping track.
That was kind of my thought as well! Thank you for watching :)
Helpful and quick to the point. Thank you.
You should try out refilling them too with the cheaper butane canisters and see how many uses that gets compared to the blended fuels!
I got an adapter off ebay years ago for $5. I highly recommend this as long as you weight you cannisters. I like to fill to 75% to have a margin for stupidity.
Thanks for the idea..never thought to mark it
Thanks for the video. Absoultely valuable information. At the very least, it's good for all of us to do similar experiments with our setup and places we camp. Like you said, it at least gives you a ballpark. Is it 10? Is it 20? What about 30? Having at lease a ballpark number is good.
I really appreciate that Vic! That was kind of how I was thinking of it as well!
Very good video and the comments have helped me better manage my bag of used canisters.
Hi, you are great and very informative. it up and get out there while you can. I'm 73 years you and have a lot of camping and hiking stuff over the years. :-)
Thank you!! :)
The canisters definitely last longer than we think they will. I usually eat bars and trail mix for breakfast, tuna wraps for lunch and then boil 2cups of water for dinner. I go every backpacking weekend and have had the same canister for at least 2or 3 months and it still has fuel in it. Crazy how long they last
Same! I usually do a dry lunch, too. I also don't eat/cook breakfast. So they last a long time for me as well.
Really useful info! I have 5 canisters of variable fills and need to figure out how much each will last instead of buying new ones. I will use your method going forward.
Thank you! Yeah, definitely not a scientific experiment but I feel like it gave me a ballpark idea. The second one I tick marked came out a few boils less, I think. But kind of close! Curious to see how many ticks the next one finishes with.
This might be an option for you...
th-cam.com/video/I_8C-yExnxM/w-d-xo.html
Nice, useful video. Glad you quantified the usage of boiling 2 cups of water, which gives an easy frame of reference.
Useful info. No need to worry in the vid about whether people find it useful. Just put it out there and those who find it useful will smash the like button :)
I get a lot less than that actually, around 15 in low altitude in CA, which makes me think the contraption on the Jetboil is doing something useful.
Thank you. I appreciate that a lot! :)
You don't have to apologize, hahaha. It's a recurrent question. I made it to myself until I decided to always bring minimum two canisters, the current and a new one. Overkilling, I guess. Personally, I think the main idea behind this concern is running out of gas if you're carrying dehidrated food is a passport to starving, not to mention the absence of hot coffee. Take care, have fun, and keep on hiking.
Worthwhile, I just got a MSR stove and was curious roughly how long it would last. Thank you
I have a lot of interest in cooked food and hot coffee. I have two of those little stoves, I use them so much. One is a jet burner and the other is a wider flam. I weigh the fuel and if it's cold I only take full cans. LIKED the video and you
Makes sense! Definitely don't want to run out of fuel out there. Gotta have that coffee. Thank you for watching and for the like! :)
Useful tip. I will give this a go myself.
Yes, this is very helpful, and even for a non-backpacking purpose. I am interested for prepping for WSHTF reasons at home due to whatever disaster comes. So you boiled water 42 times on one can. What altitude? I am just starting to look at these mini jet type boilers for small things like coffee at home to be able to preserve my BBQ propane tank as long as possible, so this is a great looking option. Thank you! Cheers!
Since my altitude was so variable for each use, I don't really have a number for you! That's one of many factors that will affect how much use you can get out of these. But I hope it was a ballpark idea! BTW, smart on you to be prepared! I have to admit, there is more I should do, even for common disasters.
if it's for home use/disaster use a 5-20 pound propane tank because it's more realistic for family cooking and will last much longer
Just the info I was looking for! Got a gas one 3.53 canister so it’ll match up decently close. I like the check mark idea and I’ll see if it comes close. Glad to know that those little canisters are small but mighty! Keep it up and yes your info is helpful ! Don’t even question yourself and give us what you got girlfriend 🙌🏼😁
Ugh! I appreciate those words so much. I need them sometimes! Have fun out there :)
I'm new to hiking and found your video helpful.. Thanks.
Yep...marking the side is a great idea. Thanks
1/4 lb refillable propane canister from flame king. You can top up at home or at a gas station if theres one in the park youre hiking through.
Im glad someone covered this!
Interesting. That’s why I’m here. Thanks.
Thank you Amy!
Hi. Great video. I use a gas saver two way valve that allows you to top up a small canister with gas from a larger one. This means you always go on a trip with full canister.
Thank you! I've been hearing about those. Have yet to check it out for myself though
@@AmyRoutt I've used one for years. Buy a large 500g canister and save save save.
You helped me out, I had no idea how long one would last. Now I know, for a 4 day Backcountry canoe trip (1st time)one of these should be fine, but I will bring one extra anyway thanks.
Thank you!! I am so glad I've helped. It's definitely not an EXACT number. Depends on a lot of factors like which stove you're using, how much water you're boiling, and your altitude. But it at least gives a ballpark idea! Have fun on your multiday canoe trip. That sounds awesome
Yes! This does help and your 'tick-mark' idea has me asking "Why didn't i think of that?". Thx, adding a .3oz Sharpie to Kitchen & Cook System!
Scratch the can each time no need for a sharpie.
I used to do the tic mark thing but with different amounts of water every time, under different temperature & wind conditions it became difficult to gain much insight from it. I've found some variability in just how much I get out of the little ones. I figure I get at least two full 3 day trips out of one with enough remaining for an overnighter or two. I do the 'float' method - mark the amount left i.e 1/2, 1/4, etc. and on what date, and I also write the approximate number of boils left... When I get back, I cross out the old reading, re-float and re-mark including my guesstimate on remaining boils.
That's definitely a good way of doing it! I am curious to see how different of a result the second go-around will be. Definitely a fun thing to try. I can at least feel confident that I'll have enough fuel for a short trip if I've only got 6 or so tick marks (although I'm sure the "shake" or the float method would also do the trick if there was that much fuel left! hahaha) Thanks for watching
Excellent information and thank you for the work you put into your videos and little experiments like this. Not only is this information helpful and a time saver, but it is interesting to learn. Just wanted to mention that the hard work, thought, and detail you put into videos does not go unnoticed.
Omg, thank you! Your kind words don't go unnoticed! Seriously thank you for taking the time to watch my video and give me feedback. :)
@@AmyRoutt Mine was the easy part. Lol. Thank you. Take care.
This is actually very valuable information. This did actually help. Thanks Amy!!!
Just had a trip to Big Bend in Texas canceled due to high water, bummed out, but to be honest I was a little nervous about the Rattlesnakes and Scorpions. Not sure if you have ever mentioned Rattlesnake or Scorpion danger (desert climate) in any of your videos, but they are my worst hiking phobia.
@@daegudiva Thank you!! I appreciate you :) Ugh I have to deal with rattlesnakes all the time where I live!! I think I only mentioned them in one video? (On a desert trip, of course!)
That's a lot of boils! Jetboil is definitely one of the most efficient stoves out there. With my Amicus, I always get blank amount of boils.
Seriously, your info helped a lot! I usually only take my stove out for steaming crab on the beach or fishing. But after a full day of crabbing/fishing in the Sun, it would be a huge bummer to make it only part of the way through snacks.
Now I don't have to live with that unneeded anxiety of a potentially disappointing experience! Plus, I have a Sharpie with me to record my catch, so the marking system is a no brainer -- all thanks to you! 😁
I appreciate that kind words and I'm glad it helped in some way! This video was meant to be pretty simple and not too serious. Figuring out fuel doesn't need to be that complicated :) I just thought this would be a simple way to keep track of fuel, on top of all the other ways one can do so! Thanks for watching!!
Thanks. That’s a great idea. I just got my first pocket rocket stove.
I am new to your channel and the camping experience is just as new. Good to know this information, as I am looking for a good hiking camp stove that takes these canisters. Thanks for being yourself and genuine.
Thank you for watching! :) And good luck and have fun on your upcoming adventures.
Amy you use a Jet Boil, I would assume it is fairly efficient compared to other stove set ups, but this should help guesstimate how many more boils you could get. Bring a second one with you if you are getting close to the limit. A quick overniter might let you get away with one close to empty. Great idea.
Such good info Amy! I wondered about this and took a brand new one, lit it, and planned to let it go until it ran out. An hour later I gave up and shut it off. It's impressive how much you can squeeze out of them. That still won't keep me from buying a new one before every big trip "just in case" lol. I'll start a museum of partial cans.
hahaha! It is impressive, right? I was surprised. But yeah, I definitely don't blame you for bringing a new one 'just in case.' DEFINITELY not something you want to run out of. It was actually a close call when I ran out on this canister...haha but it all worked out ok. OOPS.
@@AmyRoutt I guess I can't quite congratulate you yet on 1000 subs but you should be there in a couple hours. You're channel is exploding! Don't forget us little people when you're famous :)
@@RUTired Hahaha there's no way I'd ever forget the people that supported me when I was barely anything (I mean, IF I ever get to much more than 1,000 subs hahaha)
Great idea marking the canister with how many uses, Thanks for the tip
Glad you found it useful! Thank you for watching :)
Ms. Darling I'm just watching this now of May 2024 but Amazon has several fuel canister transfer devises that allow you to combine fuel canisters. Much easier that way.
Thank you! Many others have pointed this out as well. Back when I made this video, I wasn't aware of them :) The point of this video was more about knowing how much use you can get out of a canister. Thanks for stopping by!
I can not thank you enough for this I saw this when you first published it, this morning I needed to find it again. I subscribe to several channels like yourself and I just knew a young lady did it and I needed to go back and find it this is great starting the Appalachian trail through hike at the end of January and wanted to put this into practice thank you so much going through all your videos today as a reminder of anything else I might want to try to remember a little tips and tricks this is excellent any additional update to this does it still work for you?
I am so happy it has helped!!! I haven't been backpacking as much as I would've liked this most recent year. But I did still do this for a couple more canisters. I forget by now how many cups I was able to boil for those, but they were different (which is to be expected!!) But in the same ballpark as I got with this canister.
@@AmyRoutt It did and it will :-) again thank you so much and I do understand how our desires and our enthusiasm changes over time. Are used to ride a motorcycle a whole lot and do a lot of cross country trips still like doing it yet not as much has happened lately. This dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail has changed some of my desires recently because it’s becoming a reality now and I’ve been focused on it. I understand the tick marks are only a guide yet it’s better than guessing and it’s a good conversational item potentially around camp at night :-)
@@AlongATrail Yeah, life just changes as well. I took in a dog and that has made it harder to get out for overnight trips. But we still do lots of local day adventures! Have the absolute best time on the AT. It seems like an amazing adventure.
Good video, I didn't think the minis would last that long. I recently bought a thermacell that goes.on canisters and I use my canisters for that when I go car camping to get rid of my half ones.
I didn't either! I am hoping my second result isn't VERY different than this first one. I'm really curious! I've also used up the last of my fuel canisters when car camping! It's a good way to do it. That's how I no longer have a giant pile of extras hahaha I've only got a handful now :) Thanks for watching!
You can get a tool that you can, transfer the gas from one canister to another, or you can just learn to refill with you own butane and propane mix..
But that is a great tip, to mark your canister everytime you use it.
Thanks for making and sharing this video. You covered the basics, doing so in a very practical and methodical way. I appreciate it, and used your help to equip my car for emergency scenarios. Thank you!
I tend to use my partially used canisters in my van to save carrying part cans hiking. Had been thinking about this yesterday as there was extreme weather were I live on the Sierra Navada Spain. Anyone up there would have had to sit it out in a refugio. Thinking through a strategy I realised the biggest problem would be gas. I did an overnight in a 3000mtr refugio a couple of weeks ago and used about as much gas as I would use over several days in the summer as this time I was having to melt snow. My stove was on for about 3 hours in the evening . Not sure the 230g contents would have lasted through another day/ night .
Very useful, thank you for your time.
Exactly what im looking. Thanks!
Thanks Amy! Yes it was helpful info!! Blessings.
Good to get an idea of how many times you can use the large canister for meals. Take care.
Absolutely love this channel and all the information I get out of it as soon as I get my car going we can get a group to go with I'll be going hiking again and I'm using your channel to keep me motivated
Do it!! Have a great time out there :)
I literally typed into TH-cam searchbar "how long does isobutane canister last" and I asked myself the same question. thx! I'm going on a 5 day canoe/camp trip today !
Have the most fun!! :)
Very helpfull, just to get an idea anyway. Thanks very much!
Thanks for this video, someone just asked me on my channel how many boils I got with a small canister and my jet boil and I was going to have to say "until it runs out lol".
hahaha! I mean, that wouldn't be wrong! :)
Useful to me - thanks for taking the time!
Thanks for that, Russ! I appreciate you! Have fun and be safe out there :)
Good information to add to my base knowledge set. I appreciate the effort you put into tracking this. Thanks.
This is the exact answer I was looking for. Thank you!
I refuel mine after each trip. It saves a lot of money especially when I use butane during the summer. I just refill them to the weight I bought it as.
You helped me!! Thank you 😊 keep having fun 🤩
very useful...many thanks for posting
I appreciate that! Thanks for stopping by :)
Was very helpful. Just what I was looking for. Thanks.
Thank you! I'm glad it helped in some way :)
Thank you very kindly for the informative video . Just curious also , are the trees spruce ?
Yes! It is a blue spruce
It IS very helpful information.
Thanks for helping.
Thank you! I'm glad it has been helpful :)
I don’t think you realise how interesting you are & your content! You’ve won me over as a subscriber to help you with your channel.
So I look forward to seeing more of your great videos, Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺 and keep smiling, Your channel buddy, Mark 😊
Hi Mark, I really appreciate you taking the time to say that! Seriously! Thank you very much and I hope you enjoy my future videos :)
Thank you
Thank you Amy. I am doing the same from now on... Keep posting videos with your great ideas.
Thank you! I'm glad you found this video useful :)
This is the EXACT information I was looking for. Thank you!
Great content.. I did this a few years ago. Then figured out that my stove (BRS) uses between three and four grams of fuel per two cup boil. An empty canister weighs 110g. If I weigh a canister before a trip, and deduct the weight of the empty, then divide by four (grams per two cup boil) I know ABOUT how many boils are left in the canister. I refill mine, so I can now decide if I have enough, or need to refill before leaving. I can also calculate how many boils I think I will need, then multiply that by four... tells me ABOUT how many grams I need in the canister to make it through the trip...
Nice! That is so helpful! I should definitely do that as well
I go w/ the kitchen scale in grams, too. Then write the total on the bottom.
How do you refill them?
@@aaalllen You can buy an adapter that allows for refilling. I have used to refill/top-off the small 110's from much larger canisters. Do a search on Amazon for 'G-WORKS Gas Saver Refill Adapter'. And search on TH-cam for instructional vids. Two other adapters worth having are the one that allows you to refill the 110's with straight butane (great for summer) and one that allows you use straight propane. You CAN NOT refill the small 110's with propane as they can't handle the pressure, but you can use your BRS or other canister top burner with the 1lb propane bottles with this adapter. I wouldn't backpack with them but if your pulling a pulk (or car camping) they can be very useful).
@@michaelmarziotto8105 Great lead and information. I have the propane and butane adapters, so this makes an excellent addition.
@@AmyRoutt My little bit giving back. I love your vids!!
Really useful for me, many thanks.
Thank you for watching! I'm glad it was useful for you :)
Thank you sooo much for the video, I'm a newbe learning all this. sharing info. on youtube is awesome:) wish I would have known it sooner, I've wasted a bunch of money buying all the wrong stuff a few times over. starting to get it dialed in pretty good. Thanks again for the info.
Nice! I have learned so much about different things on TH-cam haha Have fun out there! :)
great idea!!!...….I always buy and carry excess canisters for the same reason..thank you so much1
hahahaha! I am glad I inspired other people to try it out as well! Thanks for watching :)