An axplanation of all the different types of camping gas canisters, plus clever adaptors that let you use them all and special ‘dual fuel’ stoves
Quick links:
Types of gas canister | Gas canister adaptors | Dual fuel stoves
Screw-on canisters | Easy-Clic canisters | Pierceable canisters | Aerosol canisters
Introduction
Having given two talks on camping stoves at recent festivals, one of the key things I realised was that not everyone knows about the different types of gas canisters available for camping stoves.
Even fewer knew that there are several dual fuel stoves and handy little adaptors you can get for your camping stove that will allow it to use any type of gas.
As such, I’ve written a guide.
Guide to Camping Gas Canisters
There are several different types of gas canisters for camping stoves. Working out which you need can be confusing and finding a shop that stocks them frustrating.
This guide gives a simple explanation of the different types of camping gas available, which one you need for your camping stove and where you can find them.
Plus, I’ve included details of some little known adaptors that will allow you to use any gas cylinder on your camping stove and three stoves that will take more than type of canister.
(For a detailed review of gas canister camping stoves, see here)
Types of Camping Gas Canister
There are four main types of camping gas canisters:
The vast majority of canister stoves use screw-on canisters, especially in the US and UK.
However, if you’re travelling through different countries or out in the middle of nowhere, you can’t always find screw-on gas canisters.
If you read the guide below and learn about the alternatives, there are some tricks to get around the problem.
Specifically, with a ‘dual fuel’ stove below or one of the adaptors below, you can use multiple types of gas cylinder, which will maximise your chances of finding gas canisters all over the world, wherever you are. It’s a good way to save money too as the alternatives are often cheaper.
Below is a guide to the four main types of camping gas cartridges used for camping stoves along with details of two other types, just for completeness.
1. Screw-On Canisters
Also called: threaded, C100, C500, CA500, “normal”.
By far the most common type for camping. Resealable due to ‘Lindal valve’. If you’re in a hurry then you can ignore the rest and just focus on these.
Contents:
Butane/propane mix
Sizes:
100g, 250 (220g), 500 (445g)
Availability:
UK, Europe, USA and most of world in specialist camping shops.
Buy from:
Camping shops
Order Online
UK
–
USA
–
2. Easy-Clic Canisters
Also called: non-threaded, clip on, Easy Clic Plus, CV270, CV300, CV470
Identical to screw-on canister except without the thread on the valve (meaning they’re incompatible with each other).
Contents:
Butane/propane mix
Sizes:
270 (230g), 300 (240g), 470 (450g)
Availability:
Europe (mostly northern Europe).
Buy from:
Camping shops
Order Online
UK
–
USA
3. Pierceable
Also called: puncture, dimple, Bleuet, C206, 206, 190g
Cheap but you can’t re-seal it once punctured. It’s never a first choice but in some areas it’s the only one available.
Contents:
Butane/propane mix
Sizes:
190g
Availability:
Sporadically all over the world. Particularly France, east and southern Europe.
Buy from:
Camping shops, DIY/gardening stores, supermarkets.
Order Online
UK
–
USA
4. Aerosol
Also called: nozzle, hair spray, CP250, 220g butane, bayonet, butane bottle
Cheap but usually only usable with an adaptor or for re-filling other screw-on canisters.
Contents:
Isobutane
Sizes:
250 (250g)
Availability:
Sporadically all over the world. Particularly Europe, USA, Korea, Japan.
Buy from:
Camping shops, DIY/gardening stores, supermarkets, gas/petrol stations.
Order Online
UK
–
USA
5. 16.4oz Steel Canisters
These canisters are a bit heavy to carry around in a backpack but might be used for camping from a car or at a basecamp. They’re mostly just mentioned here to highlight another type of canister that might otherwise confuse.
6. Giant Calor Gas Canisters
Big, heavy canisters (4.5kg-15kg / 10-30lbs or more), often made by CalorGas. They’ve still got butane and/or propane inside but are usually used for caravans, barbecues and patio heaters. Mentioned only to avoid confusion.
–
Gas Canister Adaptors
For a few pounds/dollars, you can buy small adaptors for your stove that will allow you to use different types of canisters. They only weigh a few grams/ounces but can be really useful when travelling abroad. They can save you money too.
All of the adaptors below will attach directly to a screw-on canister stove. They will allow you to use Easy-Clic canisters, aerosol cartridges and puncture canisters.
The only other adaptor I’m aware of is for 16.4oz gas stoves, which allows you to use screw-on canisters: Greyhost gas adapter.
You can either search for imported products on Amazon and eBay or go straight to Mercator for branded Kovea products.
Aerosol
Aerosol
Kovea Aerosol
Kovea Easy-Clic
Pierceable
Pierceable
Easy-Clic
16.4oz
UK: Search Amazon.co.uk / eBay.co.uk | USA: Search Amazon.com / eBay.com
–
Dual Fuel Stoves
Most camping stoves are just compatible with screw-on canisters and some are just compatible with Easy-Clic canisters. However, there are a couple of special stoves that will allow you to use either type of canister: screw-on and Easy-Clic.
The following stoves are all compatible with both screw-on and Easy-Clic canisters. They will still need one of the adaptors above to use either aerosol canisters or puncture cartridges.
67 Comments
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Giovanni mugliett
Does anybody know what type of gas canister are easy to be found in south east asia!!! Especially in Cambodia?!!
Tim Moss
Hi Giaovanni, we cycled across Cambodia a couple of years ago but I think we mostly just bought food, because it was so cheap, rather than using our camping stove.
However, my hunch is that ‘piercable’ canisters will be the easiest to find. But, if you find a camping shop (e.g. in Phnom Penh), I suspect it will be ‘screw-on’.
Do let me know how you get on.
Tim Moss
Update: I asked on Twitter and was told that ‘aerosol’ canisters are the most readily available in Cambodia.
You can see the exchange here.
To use an aerosol canister, your best bet would probably be:
– Get a free-standing stove (i.e. one that sits on the ground and attaches to the canister with a hose: like these)
– Get an adaptor (like this one on Amazon or this one from Mercator Gear)
Sandie
Hi, Tim. I have been sold a bleuet 206 plus with cv 300 canisters. Surely I can’t use easy clip canisters instead of the 260 or 260 plus pierceable ones the manufacturers recommend? Thanks!
Tim Moss
Hi Sandie,
I don’t think so, no.
The adaptors let screw-on stoves used other types of canister. But with a piercable stove, like the Bleuet 206 Plus, you are stuck with piercable canisters.
Good luck!
Tim.
Sandie
Thanks, Tim, all the wiser now. :-)
Haakon Stubstad Henriksen
Hi Tim! Really informative article.
Normally when I camp/hunt/hike, I like to pack really light (for obvious reasons) and the Primus Omnifuel is my companion. However, I’ve recently looked into a more base-camp type stove, and have landed on the Camp Chef Everest. This product is not sold in Europe (certainly not Norway, where I live), and thus is fitted for the 16.4 oz gas canister. We usually only get the screw on canisters here in Norway, so could I for example buy the Kovea adaptor in order to use screw-on canisters for this stove? Any answer is appreciated.
Best regards
Haakon
Tim Moss
Hi Haakon,
The adaptors allow screw-on stoves to use other types of canister (clip-on, aerosol and puncture). They don’t work the other way around i.e. they don’t let you use screw-on canisters with other types of stove.
I’m afraid I don’t know of any that work the other way around.
Good luck!
Stuart
Hi Tim,
I can’t quite see if there is a thread on this. It looks like it is a clip on though like the Easy-Clic?
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1S_oYMXXXXXc6XVXXq6xXFXXXj.jpg
Could you let me know which cannister to buy?
Thanks!
Tim Moss
Hey Stuart,
That looks like it is threaded to me. You can see an Easy-Clic fitting here: https://goo.gl/images/WpTU85
If nothing else, 90% of camping stoves use screw-on canisters so the odds favour that.
Thanks,
Tim.
Daniel
Thanks for this – we were recently caught out in the alps by a lack of screw canisters (despite looking in a number of shops in both Switzerland and Italy), and I was searching for some reliable information on adaptors so we have a back up in future. Thanks for providing it.
Tim Moss
Glad you found it useful Daniel. You only need to get caught out once for it to be a real pain! I hope you managed to source some adaptors.
Simon Hopper
I’m travelling in Africa next year with my lady, two up by motorbike. What’s the best kind of stove to use there (we’ll be riding down the west coast route north to south)?
If I am to keep her happy, I must be able to make tea each morning!
Tim Moss
Hi Simon,
I’ve not been to west Africa but I suspect you won’t be able to reliably find camping gas on sale. If so, your best bet will be a stove that burns petrol instead, because you can get that every time you fill up your bike.
See this article: Comparison of Multi Fuel Stoves
An MSR Whisperlite, MSR Dragonfly or Primus Omnifuel are all safe bets.
Thanks,
Tim.
John Gallacher
As I am desperate for information, I thought you might give advice. ! I have come accross some small gas canisters in my late parents house. They will be about 10 yrs old but not too rusty but I need to dispose of them. They are small, red ¨Gaskartuche¨ gross weight 290 grams (Butane 180 grams) Have tried recycling centres and outlets to retun them. No one is interested as they are full. Problem is that I do not have the fitting to empty them and I am apprehensive about puncturing them. They would have been purchased in the Canary Islands (Spain)
Tim Moss
Hi John,
That certainly sounds like a bit of a pickle. Does it look like any of the canisters in this article? You’d be welcome to send me some photos, in case we can find a stove that would fit them.
Thanks,
Tim.
Andrew lloyd
Hi tim hope you can help me i have gas stove at my allotment for last four months been using two types of makes of 227g gas for the summit gas stove but lots of gas is left in canisters double checked stove cleaned jets ect but it still happen is it to do with tempreture i know its cold sometimes down there what can i do
Tim Moss
Hi Andrew,
That does sound like it could be temperature related.
When gas canisters (which actually contain liquid, not gas) get cold, the liquid sinks to the bottom of the canister. You can test this by shaking the canister or warming it up (e.g. with your hands or down your top) before you use it. If it burns better after you’ve done those things, even if only briefly, then it’s probably the cold.
Some stoves have a “pre heat tube” that means the stove still works with the canister turned upside down, which means it works better in the cold. See my article ‘Comparison of Gas Stoves‘ for details.
I hope that helps.
Tim.
Tia
Hi Tim,
Thank you for an informative article. Great for a gas novice, like me. I have always used fuel stoves like Trangia, but recently got a Jetboil. Is there any difference between gas cartridges e.g. GoSystem vs. Jetboil. Jetboil gas seems to be more expensive, but is it worth it?!
Tiia
Tim Moss
Hi Tia,
Thanks for the question and apologies for the slow reply. I didn’t know the answer so I put it on Twitter and got some interesting responses.
You can read all of the responses here but here’s the summary:
I hope that helps.
Tim.
Allan
Great overview, particularly the tips on carrying adapters to improve your odds of finding fuel.
For what it’s worth, the aerosol-type canisters were very prevalent on my trip to southern Chile this year — they seem to be associated with the cheaper-looking stoves imported from China and elsewhere. I also noticed folks putting mini-blowtorches on top of them to toast their bread!
Tim Moss
Thanks Alan. That’s useful to know that aerosol canisters are well-stocked in Chile!
Pat
Hi Tim, I have an old Campingaz heater that uses the pierceable canisters that are hard to find in Canada. I contacted Campingaz to see if they have an adapter so that I could use the screw on canisters like the Number 5 example you show that are readily available in various sizes here. I looked at your adapters but I am not sure which of these might work. Any help finding a solution would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Tim Moss
Hi Pat,
I’m afraid I’m not aware of any adapters that allow you to use other canisters on a pierceable stove. The adapters only work for the more common (and safer) screw-on stoves.
Do let me know if you find otherwise but I think you would either have to track down some pierceable canisters or buy a new heater.
Sorry not to be of more help.
Tim.
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Gremlin
Please can you tell me of there is an alternative to the CV270 Campingaz canister for use with the Campingaz Bleuet CV270L lantern. The adaptor won’t work because of the canister shroud attached to the top half of the lantern.
Tim Moss
Hi Gremlin. I’m afraid I’m only aware of adaptors that fit onto screw-on stoves. I don’t know of any adaptors that fit onto CV270/EasyClic stoves or lanterns.
rachel A
Very excited that you might be able to solve my 3-hour slog through the interweb. We have a US stove that is built to use the 16.4oz canisters as shown above. If I follow the link above for the different types of adaptors will the 16.4 adaptor shown allow me to use small UK style screw ones? ( ie ‘regular UK screw on canisters / lindal valve? This would be very exciting (and cost effective!) many thanks!
Tim Moss
Hi Rachel, I may be able end your slog but I’m afraid it’s not the answer you’re looking for…
I have never seen an adaptor that allows a “16.4oz stove” to use other types of canister.
I have to admit that I’ve not looked for one specifically but the only adaptors I know fit onto screw-on/lindal stoves.
Sorry! Screw-on stoves come pretty cheap though: Here’s my review of camping stoves
rachel
hi there! Thanks for taking the time to reply – just in case anyone else finds this thread – I bought the following and it screws in both ends (one to the stove attachment and one to the new UK type canister) and it works a treat! https://amzn.to/2YcAhIy
Tim Moss
That’s really helpful. Thanks Rachel!
Belen
Hi Tim. Can I use a pierce able stove bleuet 206 with a cv470 easy click canister?
Tim Moss
Hi Belen. Piercable stoves only work with piercable canisters I’m afraid. The adaptors only allow screw-on stoves to use different types of canister.
Ruud vd Wouw
Hi Tim,
On our vacation in France we’ve searched al lot for the CV campingaz canisters.
I should have done more research but I’ve bought a Campingaz 400 CV partygrill.
Is there a adaptor which allows me to make the the party grill connect with a larger Canister as the campingaz R907?
thanks in advance !
Kind regards, Ruud vd Wouw
Tim Moss
Hi Ruud
Thanks for the comment. I’ve not used that stove or those canisters, but when I look up the Campingaz 400, it says it’s compatiable with the Campingaz R907 canister. Am I missing something?
Tim.
Ruud
Thanks for responding. Some of them are indeed. There are two kinds of 400 stoves. I’ve got the one with the easy click system.
Therefore I need a adapter.
Kind regards
Tim Moss
Apologies Ruud, now I understand.
Unfortunately, I don’t know of any adapters for EasyClic stoves. From the amount of comments on this article though, it seems as if there might be a market for them!
Sorry not to be of more help.
Tim.
Alice Sumner
Hi Tim, god i hope you can help me!
I’ve bought a Campingaz Camping Chef folding stove and i bought the appropriate regulator to go with it. I’m going on a driving/camping trip across france for a few days. According to everywhere i’ve looked, it recommends that i have to use the larger refillable gas cylinders (3kg or larger) however i have now bought a screw-fit regulator and would prefer to take a few of the smaller cyclinders on our tripto france, as we’ll only be using it for a few days to cook breakfast. Is there any reason that I can’t use smaller screw cannisters with a stove that claims it can only run on large refilable cylinders??? I don’t wnat to fork out the initial £30/£40 to buy an empty cylinder and then pay a further £30/£40 to have it filled, if i can spend £30 all in! I really hope i can use the smaller screw on cannisters!
Thanks so much,
Alice
Tim Moss
Hi Alice,
I’m better with the smaller, lighter camping stoves/canisters rather than the bigger ones, so I’m afraid I’ve not tried what you’re suggesting.
However, if the regulator you’ve bought is compatible with the smaller screw-on canisters then I imagine it would work just fine. At least the small canisters are only a few pounds if you wanted to test one.
Sorry not to be of more help but do let me know how you get on.
Thanks,
Tim.
Eric
Hello Tim, thanks for the great article, it’s really helpful. It’s possible that this question has already been answered but if it has I can’t find the question or response. I have a portable grill that uses easy click but all my canisters are screw type. So unlike the normal conversation to screw solution I need the other way around. Didn’t see anything in your examples obvious to that would work. Any suggestions (other than by easy click canisters) ?
Thanks
Tim Moss
Hi Eric, I’m afraid I don’t know of any adapters that fit onto easy-clic stoves. Sorry!
Steina
hi eric. have you found a solution? I have the same problem. I need a ckick-adapter for the stove to use the screw canister.
Gosia
Hello Tim! This is probably the only comparison I came across, haha!
Question: I know CampingGas and GoSystem have different diameters – one could fit into my TOAKS and the other didn’t!
It would be lovely and probably helpful if you could maybe help out how to match canisters with cookware, so we can maximize space-saving?
Any help in that matter would be appreciated!
Tim Moss
Hi Gosia
That’s an excellent idea. It’s really annoying when you get canisters that don’t fit inside your pans.
I don’t have that information to hand but I’ll add it to my ‘to do’ list!
Thanks for the suggestion.
Tim.
Gosia
Dear Tim,
I’m glad you think so! I was quite annoyed at that, haha. Your article also helped me figure out where to get certain systems, so that was very helpful, thank you!
I also did some research yesterday :-) It might be helpful about the canisters, that most small ones are 9cm diameter, however not all. There might be a difference between the UK, USA, and the rest of the world. However, for me, if Amazo says the pot is 9,4 cm I don’t believe the canister will fit, haha! I guess there is a lot of trial and error, I’m still on the lookout for a higher pot to fit small canister, smallest stove, and a lighter. And as the light ones are extremely expensive, one doesn’t want to test it…
Thank you and looking forward to new articles!
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Will Z
Tim,
I have 12 days to solve a problem. I use, and love, the Campingaz Bleuet stove and lamp. My son and I are flying from Pennsylvania to Utah & Yellowstone. USA air travel forbids us from transporting gaz canisters, and of course you can’t buy CV470 & 270 in the USA. Even the Post Office and FedEx Ground won’t ship them. From your previous questions, it doesn’t seem like there are adaptors, so I can use another fuel source that I could buy at my destination.
We’re biking, and I considering trying to sneak the canisters in the bike box. Do you have any more rational suggestions?
Tim Moss
Hi Will
Apologies for not replying to your question in time. I got a bit behind during lockdown.
In truth, I think you’d pretty much reached the conclusion already: I don’t believe there are any adaptors or alternative fuel sources for Campingaz Bleuet style stoves. They are an old and very simple design that just isn’t compatible with the more modern (and safer) alternatives.
Anyway, I hope you managed to find an alternative stove (didn’t try flying with a gas canister)!
All the best,
Tim.
Will
FYI, with more digging, I learned that small propane/butane canisters CAN be shipped, ground only, by the US Post. One post office here declined anyway, but I showed the policy to another, and they took it. Shipped to our first campground, and the ranger had the canisters waiting for us.
Mission accomplished. I didn’t want to bother shipping the remaining haf-canister back home, so I abandoned it in Montana. It’s near-impossible to get new campingaz gas over the Atlantic, so I retired my sentimental attachments and bought a new stove–two, actually (Optimus & a slick one called Fire-Maple).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tim.
Tim Moss
Hey Will,
Thanks for taking the time to come back with that. Hopefully it will save someone else doing the research!
Enjoy the new stoves!
Tim.
josep maria
hi Tim
I find your Guide to Camping Gas Canisters very interesting. I wanted to ask you if you know an adapter to connect a campingaz 907 cylinder to an outwell stove that uses an EN407 cartridge.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE. I have been researching on this topic for several weeks and I have not found any solution.
Tim Moss
Hi Josep,
I don’t I’m afraid.
I’m better on the smaller, backpacking stoves/canisters than I am on those large canisters.
Do let me know if you find something.
Good luck!
Tim
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Frankie
Hi Tim,
I have an Ozark Trail two burner camp stove which I bought from Walmart in 2016 when travelling in America. I managed to bring it back to the UK and now keen to use it camping here. It is propane and BTU 14,000 – what gas canister do I need to get and do I need a converter?
Thanks
Frankie
Steve
Anyone know of a base fkr screw on burners that allows a screw on canister to be used remotely rather than have the burner screwed directly to the top of a canister?
Direct mount is ok on short canisters. But on tall ones…. erm… not so much.
I was expecting to do a quick search and find loads. But so far nothing but converters from one type of canister fitment to others.
Tim Moss
Did you find a resolution to this Steve? I might have misunderstood but, rather than buying an adaptor, could you not just buy a new (remote canister) stove?
Chaz
Hi Tim,
I also have an old Easy-Clic Canister stove. Looks to be a dead end but, I have a Easy-Clic Canister that is about 2/3s or more full. However, it is about 25 years old! Do you think the fuel will still burn? I guess I can hook it up and try it.
thanks,
chaz
steina
hi I have a campinggaz grill for a click on tank, but they are so super expensive so I want to find an adapter to use a srew-on tank. is there an adapter for that? I have found several that are the other way around. But none that would fit the grill.
Tim Moss
Sorry Steina, I’m not aware of an adapter that works that way around.
ian
Hi Tim
Thank you for the article. We have just purchased the Outwell Jimbu stove which works with an En417 gas cartridge / canister.
But on searching online / Amazon I cannot see any cannisters directly related to that En417 number. Searches bring up similar looking models like the Coleman C300 or 500. Is this the same thing?
Best
Ian
Tim Moss
Hi Ian,
I’d not heard of EN417 before but Wikipedia says:
“EN 417 is a European Standard concerning non-refillable metallic cartridges for liquefied petroleum gases”
And:
“The term is used colloquially to refer to cartridges with the 7/16″ UNEF threaded valve used on disposable butane and butane/isobutane/propane mix cartridges used in some backpacking stoves.”
That suggests you need normal screw-on cartridges, such as the C500 you mentioned.
Cheers!
Tim.
Gigi
Hey Tim, I just wanted to thank you (and your commenters) for this great post. I have spent days trying to sort out an issue, and your site finally gave me the complete answer I needed to hear (I believe). I live in the US and recently purchased a small copper still for distilling essential oils. The nature of the burner is totally unrelated to camping stoves, BUT the setup comes with a burner from Germany and requires pierceable gas canisters. I didn’t realize there would be an issue until after I received the setup, so I’ve spent an ungodly amount of time figuring out how to get around this situation. I thought I would be able to 1. find pierceable cartridges somewhere or 2. come up with an adapter. However, it appears impossible to adapt a burner such as this (one requiring pierceable cartridges) to use threaded canisters. I believe I will have to scrap that portion of my setup and purchase a new burner that takes a more readily available canister. If, by any chance, I’ve somehow misunderstood the information above and you know of a solution, please do let me know. Otherwise, consider this a “thank you” note, and I hope you and your readers continue to have safe travels.
Tim Moss
Thanks for the note Gigi.
Unfortunately, I think you have indeed reached the correct conclusion: you can’t adapt a piercable burner to use different cartridges.
Best of luck finding an alternative solution.
Tim.
Grassblade
Why has no-one done a female screw in to easy clic…or has Camingaz got some patent strangle hold on this way round? Not that I would ever see far eastern manufacturing allowing that to stop them!