What canister mix has best cold weather performance with BRS?

[saltysack]

Been stove less for a while but want to try out BRS stove I recently bought for winter bartram trail hike. Other than keeping canister insulated Inside pack, sleeping bag etc what other cold weather hacks help with performance.


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[Hikingjim]

For the mix, msr (what I mostly use) and snow peak have worked well for me a bit under freezing. If you grab fuel in a pinch, avoid primus/coleman
Would be interested if others have other cold weather hacks! If it's well below freezing, I switch to my windpro inverted canister stove

[SkeeterPee]

Not sure how cold you are camping, but I keep the tank on an inside jacket pocket to warm it up before using. also just putting warm hands around it increase the gas flow. This seems to work down into the 20's. I have thought a water bath around the tank would probably help, but have not tried that.

[Mouser999]

You could try one adding a chemical toe warmers to the insulated bag you have the canister in.

[Cheyou]

Moulder strip.

thom

[renais]

You can see the details of the Moulder strip on a number of threads at backpackinglight.com, but it is basically a piece of copper whose top is in the edge of the flame, and whose bottom is in contact with the gas canister. I've used just a thick piece of copper electrical wire instead of the more common copper strip because I could just go to the hardware store and purchase a 1 foot piece for practically nothing. A Moulder strip in reasonable contact with the gas canister can keep me going well down to at least -10 or -15 F. It probably still works below that, but at those temperatures I'd rather not be out to see.
Renais

[JNI64]

You can see the details of the Moulder strip on a number of threads at backpackinglight.com, but it is basically a piece of copper whose top is in the edge of the flame, and whose bottom is in contact with the gas canister. I've used just a thick piece of copper electrical wire instead of the more common copper strip because I could just go to the hardware store and purchase a 1 foot piece for practically nothing. A Moulder strip in reasonable contact with the gas canister can keep me going well down to at least -10 or -15 F. It probably still works below that, but at those temperatures I'd rather not be out to see.
Renais

Yeah, my preferred method as well keep it simple. I also use alcohol down to these temps and beyond thanks to ole shug

[CalebJ]

Here's some fun moulder strip reading:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/...se-at-21f-29c/

[zelph]

Here's some fun moulder strip reading:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/...se-at-21f-29c/

Best advice for cold weather, use the Moulder Strip. Use windscreen 3/4 ways around stove/pot

[CalebJ]

The problem with alcohol is energy density. It's fine for heating up a cup of coffee, but if you're melting snow you quickly cross over the point where it makes sense to carry it. Too much fuel required because it's half the energy by weight compared to liquid or canister fuels.

[JNI64]

Yep, I go both ways and don't take that the wrong way we're talking stoves. I made a alcohol stove out of a tomato paste can fancy feast can and carbon felt burns for about 45 minutes melts snow nice.

[CalebJ]

Very nice. I do like the idea of alcohol stoves in general, especially for solo use. If I felt like cooking more often I'd probably use one quite a bit. These days I usually just keep it simple and don't carry a stove at all outside of the winter.

[nsherry61]

The BRS works great with the Moulder strip and even if not so cold it's required, it still helps maintain consistent flame whenever it's cold.
Also, the BRS is super wind-sensitive, so some kind of shield from the wind is extremely helpful.

20170124_072506.jpg

If you look really closely, you can see my copper strip at the back left of the burner in the above picture and, of course, the windscreen that both allows room for the copper strip to pass through it and also shields the canister from the burner heat.

Also note, the dusting of snow on the ice in the cup, so a before-breakfast morning picture. :-) This image was taken at the edge of a shelter in the Adirondack High Peaks area a couple Januarys ago.

[Kaptainkriz]

Yep, the Moulder Strip is what I use too. It is pretty much a permanent part of my winter kit. I use a silicone wristband to hold it to the canister:
canisterstrip.jpg
I've got a youtube video up showing it working.

The BRS works great with the Moulder strip and even if not so cold it's required, it still helps maintain consistent flame whenever it's cold.
Also, the BRS is super wind-sensitive, so some kind of shield from the wind is extremely helpful.

20170124_072506.jpg

If you look really closely, you can see my copper strip at the back left of the burner in the above picture and, of course, the windscreen that both allows room for the copper strip to pass through it and also shields the canister from the burner heat.

Also note, the dusting of snow on the ice in the cup, so a before-breakfast morning picture. :-) This image was taken at the edge of a shelter in the Adirondack High Peaks area a couple Januarys ago.

[saltysack]

Yep, the Moulder Strip is what I use too. It is pretty much a permanent part of my winter kit. I use a silicone wristband to hold it to the canister:
canisterstrip.jpg
I've got a youtube video up showing it working.

Nice video....I’ll head to HD try to round up some copper flashing


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[saltysack]

Yep, the Moulder Strip is what I use too. It is pretty much a permanent part of my winter kit. I use a silicone wristband to hold it to the canister:
canisterstrip.jpg
I've got a youtube video up showing it working.

Didn’t see small pieces of copper flashing on HD.com, did you buy at a roofing store?


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[Kaptainkriz]

My local hardware store carried it (copper step flashing). I see them on amazon for $7.99

Didn’t see small pieces of copper flashing on HD.com, did you buy at a roofing store?


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[saltysack]

Damn....after reading that -21!!!! F that! I’m only talking winter in southeast....I think the MSR canister would be fine alone..I’m talking 20*+.....I had a bad experience several years ago using a litemax with a partial canister...can’t recall brand....around freezing wouldn’t stay lit but think lot had to do with mix and partial canister...Moulder strip looks interesting.....I’ll likely cook Inside duomid do wind shouldnt be an issue if so I’ll just use a ccf pad already carry as e wind screen...thx all...

Zelf I do love my energy drink (venom)stove but don’t like alchy with dogs I case of spill etc...

[Starchild]

Snowpeak as mentioned has the best mix.

[peakbagger]

IMHO, some brands may start out with good low temp performance but let the tank run down to less than a 1/3 and the performance at cold temps goes south with any brand fuel. The light easy to vaporize ingredients in the mix boil off faster and that means what is left is hard to vaporize. Someone with a heat shield and reasonable stove technique can get 14 days at 2 meals per day. Most folks resupply every 4 to 5 days so some just ditch the canisters half full in a hiker box (or trash) and then they dont worry as much about performance at low canister levels. The folks that are on tight budget that run their cans out or live off of half full cans found in hikers boxes usually figure out the tricks to get low temp performance or run alcohol and deal with its limitations.