There are generally two types of gas in use for outdoor stoves: Butane or Propane.
These are both types of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), which is often used in camping gas stoves.
If you’re looking at buying gas cylinders in the UK, you’ll notice some are blue (butane) and some a red (propane).
But what’s the difference between butane and propane?
Propane works when it gets cold. Unfortunately for Butane, the gas condenses when it gets cold and won’t flow (no early morning brew!). So, if you are planning on any winter camping, propane gas is the only way to go.
But if propane works all year round, why bother with butane? Well, butane burns more efficiently, so you can get more gas out of a smaller butane bottle than a bigger propane one, plus propane cylinders tend to be heavier, making butane easier to transport when you have lots of camping gear.
You must also check your intended camping stove to see what gas it officially supports. Stoves such as the Campingaz 400 ST work with both Butane and Propane.
We go camping earlier and later in the year than most families in the UK, but we’ve gone for butane gas and had no problems in spring or mornings after a slight frost, but that’s pushing the limits of butane.
