Backpacking Gas Canisters 101

What are the common canister types out there these days for backpacking use?

Basically, there are two common modern gas canisters suitable for backpackers, Camping Gaz (non-threaded) and 7/16ths UNEF threaded canisters.  Generally, stoves built for one type will not work with the other, but there are exceptions such as the relatively heavy MSR Superfly.  There are also much lighter DIY exceptions such as the "Super Gnat" that you can assemble in the matter of a few minutes.

UPDATE 28 March 2017:  No, manufacturers don't recommend it, and, yes, there are dangers, but canisters can be re-filled.  See:  Refilling Backpacking Canisters II

A non-threaded CV270 Camping Gaz canister (left) and a threaded 110g Snow Peak canister (right).

Before I discuss backpacking suitable canisters, let's clear out what's not really suitable:

Canisters NOT Suitable

Non-Backpacking Canisters:  Now, there are plenty of other canisters that you could use for backpacking including the big, heavy steel 16.4 oz/465g 100% propane cylinders as well as the "hair spray can" 8oz/227g 100% butane canisters used for table side cooking in restaurants, but these are generally unsuitable for backpacking.  Not recommended.  There are also 100% butane canisters for small hand blow torches and the like.  These typically do not fit backpacking type stoves.  Not recommended.

Obsolescent Canisters:  There are also older formats including the old puncture type gas canisters that  have no valve.  There's a sharp metal "bayonet" type object on stoves that use puncture canisters.  The "bayonet" quite literally punctures the canisters.  Yes, that's right, you're ripping through the metal top of the canister in order to get to the gas.  Needless to say, this is an older type canister!  On these old style canisters, the stove must remain in place until the canister is fully empty.  There is no valve built into the canister to allow you to separate the canister from the stove (until fully empty) for safe transport.  You can still buy the old puncture type canisters, but they have been implicated in a number of accidents and are not as safe as modern canisters with valves.  Not recommended.  Note:  In some lesser developed countries, puncture type canisters may be the only gas canisters available.  Travelers should check on what canister formats are available in the countries they intend to visit before departure.

Obsolete Canisters:  There are also dozens of old canister formats that have been discontinued including Hank Roberts, Campak, and PowerMax just to name a few.   Some of these were excellent formats.  However, they are no longer produced.  I'm not going to discuss them other than to mention that they exist.

Suitable Canisters

Modern Backpacking Canisters:    OK, now we're to the meat of this post:  Today's modern backpacking canisters.  There are two common types of gas canisters suitable for backpackers:

• Camping Gaz Canisters (non-threaded).
• Standard threaded canisters (with a 7/16ths UNEF thread).

A 230g Camping Gaz canister.

Camping Gaz Canisters:  Camping Gaz canisters are made by, well, Camping Gaz.  Camping Gaz is the only known company that produces canisters to this specification.  The connectors on Camping Gaz canisters are non threaded.  Many people consider this a superior type connector because there are no threads to wear out or cross thread.  However, in most countries of the world, threaded canisters are the standard.  To my knowledge, only in France is the Camping Gaz canister considered the standard.

A close up of the (non-threaded) connector on a Camping Gaz canister

Camping Gaz canisters are not necessarily universally available outside France.  If you decide to buy a stove that uses Camping Gaz type canisters, you should make sure said canisters are available in your area.

UPDATE 2016.  Camping Gaz canisters, both the old puncture type and the newer non-threaded valved type are no longer distributed in North America.  You can find some old canisters sometimes, but once those are gone, that's it.  Personally, I would no longer buy a Camping Gaz type stove with the non-threaded connector unless maybe you just want it as a collector's item.

Camping Gaz canisters have a Lindal valve inside the connector.  The valve allows the canister to be removed from the stove for safe storage or transport.

Camping Gaz canisters come in two sizes:  230g and 450g.  A smaller size in the 100g range is not available.

Camping Gaz canisters contain a blend of propane and butane.  As such, Camping Gaz canisters are not the best choice for cold weather.  See What's the Best Brand of Gas for Cold Weather?  for further information.

Standard Threaded Canisters:  In most of the developed world, the standard for gas canisters for backpacking is a threaded canister with a 7/16ths UNEF thread.

A standard threaded backpacking type canister.  This one happens to be made by Snow Peak.

Standard threaded canisters are made by dozens and dozens of companies.  Generally, canisters from one company work perfectly fine with the stoves of another company.  Some companies try to intimate that their particular canisters will somehow make their stoves run better and that you should only use that company's particular brand of gas.  That's a bunch of horse hockey.  All major brands are interchangeable.  The only time you might get into trouble is buying some brand that you've never heard of in some remote corner of the world.  Otherwise they are all mechanically about the same.  However, the gas contained within isn't necessarily.  For warm weather (above 50F/10C), buy whatever is cheapest.  For cold weather, what's inside matters.  See What's the Best Brand of Gas for Cold Weather?  for further information.

Caution!
The one exception to the above is Coleman gas threaded canisters. At least for the ones with the orange label Coleman canisters do not work with many brands of stoves.

The 7/16ths UNEF threads of a standard threaded canister

Like Camping Gaz canisters, standard threaded canisters have a Lindal valve inside the connector.  The valve allows the canister to be removed from the stove for safe storage or transport.

Standard threaded canisters come in three size ranges:  small (100g to 113g), medium (220g to 230g), and large (450g).  The classes can also be expressed as 4oz, 8oz, and 16oz.  Be careful calling a canister "large."  Many stores only carry the 1xxg and 2xxg sizes.  Some people refer to the 2xxg canisters as "large."  It's best to specify what size you want in grams or ounces.

There you have it, a brief look at the basics of gas canisters.  Hopefully, that's helpful as you shop for gas or as you consider which stove to buy.

HJ

Related articles and posts:

• Cold Weather Tips for Gas Stoves
• What's the Best Gas for Cold Weather?
• Gas Stoves: How Cold Can I Go?   <==Most comprehensive article on canister gas and cold
• Canisters, Cold, and Altitude:  Gas in a Nutshell
• Canister Stoves 101:  Thread Care
• Gas Blends and Cold Weather Performance.  (Why not just use propane?)
• The "Super Gnat"  (Camping Gaz or threaded canisters with one lightweight stove)
• Backpacking Gas Canisters 101
• Gas in Extreme Cold:  Yes or No?
• Gas in Cold Weather:  The Myth of "Fractioning"
• Stoves For Cold Weather I (Upright canister stoves) – Seattle Backpacker's Magazine
• Stoves for Cold Weather II (Inverted remote canister stoves) – Seattle Backpacker's Magazine