UKH

I like to travel and camp in the wild and the one pain in the arse is trying to get some gas for my stove, especially when I go off season. ..like now. I went for a short few days hiking in the Chablais Alps (4days) but I have had to put the start on hold for a day while I wait for the stores to open after Sunday. Even in the high season it is a pain trying to sort out gas. I think multi fuel is the way to go for me in the future.

In reply to goatee:

Yep, you can get unleaded just about anywhere. Only problem comes when you try to bring the set back home. Airlines don't like the smell of petrol in ya luggage! So its either many hrs spent trying to get the dam thing clean, or a new fuel bottle and pump each trip.

In reply to goatee:

Carry a back up, a packet of esbit tabs and/or a lightweight alcohol stove.

In reply to goatee:

Yes. A PITA especially with Sunday flights.

I have often found it easiest to just buy a new stove which you can use with the cheapest local cartridges rather than trying to get specialist cartridges. Camping gaz rip offs are usually cheapest. Often available in hardware stores.

If going to an area regularly, we used to hide a cache of cartridges, camping chairs etc to get us going on the next trip.

In reply to pass and peak:


I've flown with my petrol stove quite a few times and never had a problem without going to any great lengths. After the last use just empty it and leave the lid off whilst you pack the rest of your stuff away, petrol evaporates very quickly. When its time to pack the stove put the lid back on and there's no smell of petrol left unless you stick your nose right up to it. Once its buried in your hold luggage who knows its there anyway?
I've done this on flights to Europe and the US several times without ever being questioned in any way.

In reply to pec:


The person who sees it on the X-ray. And there will be understandable paranoia about stuff in hold luggage at present.

In reply to Neil Williams:


I've had petrol bottles queried in both checked and hand luggage. The time with checked luggage I got called back to open the bag. There was a slight petrol smell from the opened bottle and it was confiscated. Nowadays I rinse the bottle with orange juice and show it at check in and never have a problem.

In reply to Dell:


I'd second that. I've regularly taken a wee solid fuel stove to keep me going till I find gas. Never had a problem carrying it in hold bag.

In reply to Neil Williams:


Just giving my experience which is that I've never had a problem on any of several flights to several destinations all post 9/11 in the new heightened era of airport security. Perhaps I've just been lucky?

In reply to pec:

You must have been. It's supposed to be checked in with the lid off. I rinse mine with cooking oil which makes it safe according to the rules.

In reply to pec:
I was referring to the likely further tightening as a result of Sharm el Sheik.

To be fair though the last several times I've flown I have had a Sigg water bottle in my hold luggage, often full so I can have a drink in the car on the way home without paying a million quid for a bottle of water at the airport. I doubt that is distinguishable from a fuel bottle (empty, of course, I don't want petrol in the hold of any aircraft, thank you very much ) and nobody has pulled everything out of my bag to check.

In reply to pec:
Seconded. Never had any bother but have always cleaned my multifuel, pump and bottle well before flying.

Years ago I was stopped by security on route to the alps with my trangi burner showing up on the machine. I rewashed and it passed. The security guard advised washing and then leaving it slightly damp to better absorb any fuel remnants.

In reply to goatee:

Slightly off topic, but this time last year I was flying out of Newcastle with a lot of electronic kit, radios, sat phone, power monkey etc which was needed at other end, so i decided to pack them neatly in my cabin luggage!
Got stopped at the scanner, which i kind of suspected, but I was surprised to visibly see security backing away from my bag and a very nervous woman asking if i could remove the contents. Apparently my neat idea of coiling all the charger cables around my Sig bottle was not such a good idea! When the showed me the scan pic I could understand why, won't make that mistake again!

In reply to pec:


Had mine confiscated in Zurich a few years back, it was in a checked in bag but they had x-rayed it.