Iso butane canister availability on Pacific coast

[tombrogan]

Any real world experience on fuel canister availability between Fairbanks and San Diego? I'm looking for real experience, not assumptions.

[FredHiltz]

I just went to the main forum page, where all the groups are listed, and typed canister into the search line. Some of the hits look relevant.

Fred

[tombrogan]

Before I started a new thread I did perform a search on canisters. I found nothing of relevance to my question, hence the new thread. If you found a thread concerning the availability of canisters along the Pacific coast of the US and Canada, could you kindly post a link?

[FredHiltz]

You were smart to search first. So few people do. I did not check further into the posts that looked relevant, but since you asked, I just went back there.

One post refers to http://www.whiteblaze.net/, from which I got to the outfitters. All REI stores sell it, and they have many on the Left Coast. http://www.stromtrooper.com/camping-grub/9671-what-stove-fuel-2.html says "You can get them at any Wal-Mart," but others say only some stores. Amazon will mail canisters to you at General Delivery in any town.

You have probably already read about valve compatibility and the more available alternatives.

I am sorry that I do not have time to pursue your search further for you. This should get you started in the right direction.

Fred

[DU]

Are you talking about iso butane canisters? Are you riding Pacific Coast Route while in the US? If so, then Fred's search doesn't appear to be of much help. Hope the thread continues so you can find some useful answers.

[DU]

Sorry, obviously you were wondering about Iso butane canisters.

[valygrl]

From a Leggett, CA to San Diego you'll be able to find a canister every 150 miles or less, most coastal towns have some sort of sporting goods or camping store.  I haven't ridden from the CA border to Leggett.   I rode in WA and OR as well a few years ago, and my impression is there are plenty of potential sources there as well, but we had a white gas stove that trip, so I'm not 100% sure.  Can't tell you anything about north of the border specifically, but I did travel in the Canadian Rockies and across BC with a butane stove and had no trouble sourcing canisters.  

I generally carry 2 and start looking to buy when I'm down to 1.

Hope that helps at all  - obviously leaves the question open for the more remote sections of your trip.  

Have fun!

[staehpj1]

I haven't ridden all that much of the coast, but did ride a bit of it.  Canisters were pretty available everywhere we went in Oregon coast or otherwise.

I can definitively say that when we crossed the US in 2007 that in the middle of the country the WalMarts did not stock the canisters, so if someone tells you that all WalMarts carry them I'd be inclined to doubt whatever they say about it.  I know that isn't directly relevant to the coast though.

This may be a bit less relevant yet, but in the Sierras we found them to not be any where near as available as we expected.  We wound up using our pop can stove for a a few weeks before we found a canister in Yosemite.

I'd suggest taking a pop can stove just in case.  Our pop can stove added less than an ounce to the load since it shares the same pot and windscreen.

[tombrogan]

Thanks all for the info. I have used canister stoves in all types of mountaineering/climbing adventures in all types of weather and altitudes and didn't want to give up the ease of use and the ability to cook inside the tent in nasty weather. I know that many ultra light types are now going with pop can stoves, but I prefer to use canister stoves if possible.

[FredHiltz]

... Are you riding Pacific Coast Route while in the US? If so, then Fred's search doesn't appear to be of much help.

Some help, probably. It found isobutane canisters at REI stores on or within ten miles of the PCR in these towns:

 Bellingham WA
 Santa Rosa CA
 Corte Madera CA
 San Francisco CA
 San Carlos CA
 Marina CA
 Northridge CA
 Santa Monica CA
 Manhattan Beach CA
 Huntington Beach CA
 Tustin CA
 Encinitas CA
 San Diego CA
 Chula Vista, CA

Fred

[Grumpybear]

I just toured the coast from Vancouver to San Diego last summer and was suprised to find Fred Meyer dept. stores carried them.