Butane Stove and Cold Weather

[Mannlicher]

Here in Florida, this is not a real issue, but a few weeks ago, out while camping and hunting in Wyoming, I learned that cold weather just sucks the life out of a Butane gas stove.
I just ordered a duel fuel single burner. I like Butane, but this one came with a hose and regulator so I can use one pound Propane canisters if needed.
Gas One 3400P. Will use it this weekend while camping and paddling in middle Georgia.

 

[lambertiana]

Some canister stoves, like the MSR Windpro, allow you to run it with the canister upside down. That way you don't get evaporative cooling of the gas, and you can use it as low as zero F. The choice of canister makes a big difference, too. Isobutane has much better cold weather performance than n-butane. A number of brands are propane/isobutane mixes, and that is the only thing I will use.

For really cold use, I prefer a liquid fuel stove. I have an Optimus Nova (original issue from 2005, not the cheaper stuff being sold now) as well as a Primus Omnifuel, and both work like a champ in really cold weather.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I've BBQed down to -30C with propane, so that should be a very workable plan for you. In future, if you do find yourself needing to use the butane can in the cold, there are a few things you can do. Heating the can slightly is totally safe, if you can hold the can, its safe. So even pouring slightly warm water adds enough energy back into the can to help keep the butane going. Warming the can with body heat can work if you have two cans to rotate between, or even something like a chemical heat-pack works. As odd as it would seem to use the stove to heat water to heat the canister to cook, its been done, and water has a lot of thermal mass, so its an easy way to keep the can warm enough to keep that butane flowing.

 

[pinnah]

This is the time of year I switch from alcohol to white gas. My Svea 123 runs fine in winter, so long as it has a plywood base under it to insulate from the cold.