The winter stove hack everyone talks about

[@Kevin-ib3io]

My first stove was a whisper lite and I still use that stove more than 20 years on! So for me, its a no brainer. Liquid fuel is better to lower temps, tried and true designs and cheaper to run. Neat to see the other stove though. Thanks for sharing!

[@natea1042]

Wow fast update vid! Couple extra tips. You can use drinking water for your initial startup. Isobutane doesn't begin to cease vaporization until we'll be low freezing so even cold water has energy to warm the canister. Then use a little from your first boil to warm it up further. Second is you want to put a little water into the pot with the snow instead of just pure snow. It transfers heat much better for the first melt and also stops the pot from scorching and giving the water a burnt flavor. This is a good thing to do regardless of fuel/stove. I think the efficiency, in terms of grams of isobutane per liter vs g of white gas per liter, at the end of your trip will surprise you.

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

Yes, but I was showing with no pre-warmed water as a worse case scenario. I typically have warm water in the morning leftover from the night etc which would really get things going. Again, practice the extreme and then everything is easier.

[@p.richter9592]

@@KaneDoesOutdoorsAnother thing you can do is to put the canister in your puffy jacket, and give it a bit of warmth that way. Some have the canister in their sleeping bag over night as well. Lots of tricks to try. In Norway we use Primus winter gas as well. Should be good for - 22 C°, although I’ve never tested it at that temperature. The Reactor is my favorite burner. It works in all sorts of conditions, and it’s bombproof. And, there’s a reason why mountaineers use the Reactor in the high alpine….It works. ATB from Norway 🇳🇴

[@iko5959]

I use medical syringe to "shuffle" water between pot and bowl. It is easy to keep water in bowl bit warmer, resulting in much faster boiling time. Also to speed up process of getting seed water, I use spoon to mash the snow. It helps to remove the air pockets from snow. I do this all the way until I get pot full of water ready to be boiled. I belive it helps a lot, but I never mesured it.

[@davidyummus6259]

I haven't tried it but I always thought a single Hot Hands Hand Warmer under the dome of the fuel can then held with a little foil would work well.

[@CragScrambler]

I have neoprene cover and keep an handwarmer in there, keeps the fuel above 0

[@briandoolittle3422]

Where I backpack doesn't get as cold as the Canadian Rockies. I live in Washington, and usually backpack in the Cascades. In winter, I find a hand warmer under the can is plenty of heat to keep the can going at full strength. I use a windpro II, so I can put something under the can without tipping the pot. I use electric rechargeable hand warmers that only weigh 3-4 oz for the pair and I'm bringing anyway. The Windpro II also gives the flexibility of liquid feed with an upside down can if I run out of charge in my hand warmers and its particularly cold. I also have a whisperlite. I find the normal operation of a whisperlite is more finicky than a canister stove, even in cold weather. But I'm sure can stoves become more of an issue at colder temps. I don't really experience temps below around 0F/-17C the overwhelming majority of the time. Its just not that hard to get the can to work at those temps.

[@jays7318]

Using a handwarmer under the cannister is a great idea. I will do that next time. I bring disposable ones for emergency anyways. They weigh less than an ounce each.

[@briandoolittle3422]

@@jays7318 The Hotones disposable handwarmers that own weigh 1.5 oz per set. Given that I use a set per day for cooking (one in the morning, one in the evening) disposable handwarmers end up weighing the same as electric handwarmers for a 3 day trip. I prefer electric handwarmers because they dont end up with package waste.

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

Agree, lots of little tricks. The hand warmers definitely work, pre warming the can in your jacket or sleeping bag etc helps for a period of time. Having/knowing all these options in your “toolbox” and choosing what works based on preferences/conditions is my approach. For example many people get caught out in the shoulder season and temps drop more than expected. In those situations it’s unlikely that they have brought hand warmers. They are also another thing to pack, and the weight can add up over multi day trips.

[@jays7318]

@@briandoolittle3422 Good point. I typically go out for only 1-2 nights in the winter, so the disposable ones work for me. After one has been used for the cannister, I would use it in my quilt footbox to keep my feet warmer at night since they stay warm for 10 or so hours.

[@krimke881]

Not to forget, your gas canister. it's not a summer-only gas canister. But It's not meant for winter. It's works fine, but the Brown canister from Primus is for Winter. The Reactor also has a valve, which makes you run with even pressure whatever the level is inside the canister. I think the wind burner lacks that valve. But isolation from any cold from the ground, whatever canister you use, is the trick.

[@onebigtruck]

I was watching this and had an idea. They have stick on body warmers. Can you not stick one to the side of the canister to warm it up during use? I don't think they get hot enough to do any harm.

[@connosaurus]

Mark Young has tested this on his channel

[@ifell3]

The better trick is to pee in the bowl 😅

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

🤣

[@romererunamerika9437]

would work for sure then drink it after for electrolytes?

[@steven3557]

Primus makes a winter gas, it has what they call a Vapormesh in the canister that helps it preform well down to -22 C. I have not tried it yet. Gave up liquid fuel 20 years ago.

[@SalmondOutdoors]

That's really neat, good video Kane

[@alaskaraftconnection-alask3397]

I have practiced placing canisters into water for many years... it works, and will often be a game changer in various conditions. It is even a viable option runnig propane outboard motors. That said, there will be more demanding environments with conditions that will make this field expedient a no-go. Here at Alaska Raft Connection, I would never recommend running solo with MSR Reactor stoves as stand alone option and without having a backup little compact canister stove tossed in. That thermal switch meltdown failure is too risky when there is highest stove reliance factored in. Windburner... I would say, know what to use and how to reset its different type of thermal switch that fortunatly can be user reset in the field using leg of canister stand as the tool. Still a good notion to take a backup, even just a micro BRS.

[@zarcteryx]

Just use an inverted canister stove. It’s the right tool for the job if you still want to use a canister for fuel in the cold.

[@zedaprime]

For snowmelting also wondering what the advantage of this over inverted canister.

[@stonedapeadventures]

not sure if it would work with the reactor, but an upright canister stove you can wrap the canister with wire or thin ti sheet metal and leave an end of it in the flame of the stove.

[@stonedapeadventures]

I use a small dyneema dog water bowl as well

[@ProSinkro]

I have the MSR Windburner stove, absolutely love it. MSR stoves are made in my home state and I love most of their products.

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

Yep I have the personal and 2 person windburners.

[@mro4056]

Did you have a little water, in your pot, before adding the snow to it or is the point to have a system where you have no water at all, not even for the water bath for the cannister? They should add a little wick inside the fuel cannisters to aid it in cold weather. This might save the cannister from having its more volatile gas from being depleted, just to warm the cannister up.

[@gud2go50]

Hand warmer on the bottom seems to be a better idea. No freezing up or mess.😊

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

It works but they are surprisingly heavy and expensive. I always have a few on me for emergencies, so yes if I have one out I’d use it. The water trick is more sustainable for longer trips though. Ultimately it’s opinion/preference, and as I said in another comment it’s good to have options in your bag of tricks.

[@erwinpranata9527]

Hi Kane, I'm curious about the pot handle that comes off when pouring water, have you ever experienced this? as explained on the official MSR website regarding MSR Recalls. As far as I know your product is the 2024 version (tell me if I'm wrong) which may have been fixed by MSR. I need to know this. Thanks

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

It doesn’t come off there are rivets. Anything selling now isn’t affected by the recall.

[@sYBtyumen]

Russian "water trick" is to get a burner with long hose ang gas pre-heater and put a gas canister into the same water we are boiling.

[@LappDog]

It is no no to melt snow directly without first having some boiling water present. You can damage your pot if you do this..

[@andreameigs1261]

If anyone considers relying on an isopro stove to melt snow, they should really watch John Conte's SOS video and the critique of that incident by the former search and rescue guy.

[@rebeccasilveous8898]

That's the weirdest stove I've ever seen. It's like a grid of sorts that heats up like elements. I've never seen anything quite like it. Where did you buy it?

[@ericflood4738]

MSR Dragonfly… 24 years old… runs the same as the day I bought it.

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

I’ve had my Dragonfly since 1998 - 27 years!

[@deannilvalli6579]

You mention at the beginning that "the boiling point" is at -11°c ??? The boiling point of what, exactly? Of course the boiling point of water is 100°c. The freezing point of fresh water is 0° C. I really have to wonder what you are referring to here. In any case, gas cannister stoves do not function well in the cold, based on the laws of thermodynamics. In the winter petrol stoves (liquid fuel) work much better. You use a hand pump to maintain the pressure in the fuel container, which is not possible with gas cannisters.

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

Isobutane

[@brdbrntrn]

Why not simply using alcohol stove? Yes, it takes longer time to boil. But that's the easiest, lightest and hassle-free option.

[@jays7318]

I did this before. It worked well. Need to keep the alcohol fuel warm in your pocket before use, or it won't start.

[@jeffclark8555]

I use a Trangia for winter, Pocket Rocket the other 3 seasons

[@AaronVets]

Not very good for melting lots of snow though.

[@jeffclark8555]

@@AaronVets True, but I’m predominantly located in the Eastern Woodlands. I’ve never had the need to melt snow. If I was in a situation that I needed to rely on snow I would adjust my approach.

[@CombatBanana]

Do you have any tips for bailing in sub zero (F) temps; what if the car doors are frozen shut, does the car usually start, what emergency supplies do you keep in there, etc?

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

I've never had any problems getting into my car... always have my inReach for worst case scenarios. Some warm clothes and snacks in the car. Nothing crazy...

[@olgaguer6443]

Kelley kettle

[@jorymil]

"Matching equipment between people." I'd be interested to hear about how you make those decisions and what sorts of things wear out and/or need replacing.

[@TomBlanto]

That probably works great in the garden at home... How do you get water in a cold Arctic climate without melting snow with a gas burner?

[@MatoNupai]

Sorry but you can have your fancy stoves. I’ll take an alcohol stove every trip of the train. 2017 I lived off grid in northern Arizona at almost 7000 feet elevation. I ALMOST DIED from hypothermia at 9 degrees Fahrenheit about -12 degrees C. So cold my propane heater stopped working. I was so cold my body stopped shivering. I got up and used my alcohol stove to make hot soup, hot tea and hot coffee to keep my core body temperature up until sunrise. Once you understand how and more importantly why pressurized alcohol stoves work ; the temperature and elevation doesn’t matter. That homemade alcohol cook stove made from two 8.4 oz Red Bull Cans is why I’m still alive 8 years later when propane FAILED.

[@OldtricksForolddog]

My £16.00 stove..is just as good as msr,,over-hyped over priced..

[@Tom_Bee_]

Lol sure it is. You've clearly never been anywhere cold in your life

[@OldtricksForolddog]

@Tom_Bee_ 🤣🤣🤣..back to your bridge..

[@OldtricksForolddog]

@Tom_Bee_ been to your mom's 🐈