Gas cannisters when touring in Europe

[bikepacker]

Having previously given advice on the availability of gas canisters for camping stoves, I did some further checking while on tour in France a few weeks ago.



Enquiring at 2 Decathlon stores, 2 Intersport and 1 Sport 2000, there were no screw top canisters to be had. The manager of one of the Decathlon stores told me they no longer stocked them. This means your gas camping stove will need to take push-on Camping Gaz or puncture style cannisters. If you do have a screw thread stove take with you one of the Edelrid (formally Markhill) adaptors. They do one to convert puncture style canisters and one for push-on.



If you have difficulty obtaining either adaptor, Mark at Ultralight Outdoor Gear http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/home.html tells me, in future he will carry both in stock and dispatch them post-free.

 

[andym]

Having previously given advice on the availability of gas canisters for camping stoves, I did some further checking while on tour in France a few weeks ago.



Enquiring at 2 Decathlon stores, 2 Intersport and 1 Sport 2000, there were no screw top canisters to be had. The manager of one of the Decathlon stores told me they no longer stocked them. This means your gas camping stove will need to take push-on Camping Gaz or puncture style cannisters. If you do have a screw thread stove take with you one of the Edelrid (formally Markhill) adaptors. They do one to convert puncture style canisters and one for push-on.



If you have difficulty obtaining either adaptor, Mark at Ultralight Outdoor Gear http://www.ultraligh...co.uk/home.html tells me, in future he will carry both in stock and dispatch them post-free.

IIRC I did see the screw-on type in a Decathlon in Spain - so what you were told may not be the official position for Decathlon. BUT I've never seen the screw-on type in campsite shops or supermarkets in either France or Spain - or for that matter the push-on campinggaz stoves. My advice would be to go for a stove (or adapter) that uses the puncture type.

Oh and while we are on the subject, Eurostar confiscated my gas cylinders on my way out even though I've travelled with them in the past. So taking them with you is only an option if you are going by ferry.

 

[psmiffy]

Having previously given advice on the availability of gas canisters for camping stoves, I did some further checking while on tour in France a few weeks ago.

Many moons ago I made a list of Gas availability in Europe which I have updated since my trip last year - attached below (I hope)

If you do have a screw thread stove take with you one of the Edelrid (formally Markhill) adaptors. They do one to convert puncture style canisters and one for push-on.

Markhill Adaptor - robust and easy to use

 

[Brains]

France is very pro the old pierce type of gaz container, if possible take all you can with you.

The screw top ones are available in France, but not at normal French camping shops.

The places to find the screw top ones are hardware stores as many blow lamps and similar use them, also industrial catering shops, as the stoves they make flambee with by the table also use them.
You may also find them in campsite shops with a high proportion of Northern European/British campers

 

[rich p]

I used the push fit, CV Gaz and had a fair bit of trouble locating them. Once in a asmall Casino shop and again in a garden centre.
Bricomart(?) and Mr Bricolage didn't have them, nor Intermarche etc

 

[psmiffy]

I used the push fit, CV Gaz and had a fair bit of trouble locating them. Once in a asmall Casino shop and again in a garden centre.
Bricomart(?) and Mr Bricolage didn't have them, nor Intermarche etc

Nah - I must disagree - In France Blue CV is dead easy Mr Bricolage is where I would almost guarantee finding the blue Gaz CV - also the Intermarche Bricolage (normally next to the supermarket)

 

[andym]

Nah - I must disagree - In France Blue CV is dead easy Mr Bricolage is where I would almost guarantee finding the blue Gaz CV - also the Intermarche Bricolage (normally next to the supermarket)

Well maybe. If you pass through larger towns then yes maybe Mr Bricolage could be an option. But travelling in Brittany and Corsica I don't recall ever seeing one (which of course may be my memory at fault). Personally if I did need a gas cylinder I would want a type I could have a reasonable prospect of finding in a supermarket in a village or small town, or in a campsite supermarket. i don't want to be spending any time whatsoever in a french industrial estate looking for a M Bricolage.

Blowtorch cylinders are all very well if you have a stove that will work with cylinders in a horizontal position but otherwise I don't fancy trying to balance a pot of boiling water on a stove on top of a blowtorch canister.

 

[andrew_s]

I've had no problem finding Blue CV in village/small town supermarkets (Alps/Tarn/Ardeche). In about half of the ones I looked in.

To use a blowtorch canister horizontally, you need a remote canister stove that has a preheat loop passinf through the flame (MSR Windpro, Edelrid Opilio, SunnGas Alpine etc). Not all remote canister stoves have the preheat loop, and no canister top stoves do so you can't use a remote adapter.

If you want to use a blowtorch canister with a screw on canister top stove like the MSR Pocket Rocket, you are best off using some string and 3 or 4 tent pegs to guy that canister upright. It will probably raise the burner too high to use under a tent fly, but should be OK otherwise.

 

[rich p]

It must be very variable then for the CV as I had real trouble for the last 2 weeks travelling through small town southern France. There was a variety of other brands available in both pierce and screw but CV was a rarity.

 

[vernon]

It must be very variable then for the CV as I had real trouble for the last 2 weeks travelling through small town southern France. There was a variety of other brands available in both pierce and screw but CV was a rarity.

All of this uncertainty could have been avoided if folk took Trangias with them and used alcool a bruler.

 

[rich p]

All of this uncertainty could have been avoided if folk took Trangias with them and used alcool a bruler.

I may look into it further!

 

[andym]

All of this uncertainty could have been avoided if folk took Trangias with them and used alcool a bruler

Indeed or any of the other alcohol stoves that are available. Or a wood-gas stove. But if you want to go to france/spain and cook with gas then I think the options are either buy a stove that works with the camping gaz puncture -type canisters; or buy the adapter; or be prepared to have to improvise/search around.

 

[bikepacker]

All of this uncertainty could have been avoided if folk took Trangias with them and used alcool a bruler.

I used a Trangia for many years and now I have discovered the ease and cleanliness of gas, I would never go back.

If you want a one item solution take the adaptor for the puncture style cannisters as they are abundantly available.

 

[rich p]

I used a Trangia for many years and now I have discovered the ease and cleanliness of gas, I would never go back.

If you want a one item solution take the adaptor for the puncture style cannisters as they are abundantly available.

Is that an adaptor forom CV to pierce? For some reason I assumed it was from Screw to pierce?

 

[psmiffy]

Is that an adaptor from CV to pierce? For some reason I assumed it was from Screw to pierce?

I would of said pierce to screw - not much use if you have a CV stove - I took an epigas one to Greece with me a few years back because i thought that I would not be able to find CV/or screw on canisters - actually only used it once before I found CV canister (karki in Greece not blue) - The adaptor was OK - had a valve so that you could seperate the "base" and the burner - the little piercable's do not last long though and are at a lower pressure than the screw on or the CV.

Personally I think the best bet (probably because its what I use) is a screw on stove - primus et al and an adaptor for CV to screw on - using this setup I have never been without a cup of coffee first thing in the morning anywhere in western Europe

I must reiterate (is that legal) that finding CV gas canisters in France is easy (see my list above for where it is not so easy)