Best fuel for winter camping in 2023: + expert recommendations
Our round up of the best fuel for winter camping
Winter is in full swing and we’re all getting ready for the upcoming camping season.
There’s nothing like a little time in nature to get your mind off of things and recharge your battery, but when it comes to winter camping there are some extra considerations you need to make.
One of these is finding the best fuel for winter camping.
When it comes down to it, you want something that will keep you warm while also providing ample light without having too much smoke or fumes (to avoid attracting unwanted attention).
The best choice by far is white gas because not only does this liquid-based fuel burn cleanly with minimal smoke, but it also produces more heat than charcoal briquettes!
In a hurry? Here’s our top picks for the best fuel for winter camping.
Highest-performance white gas on the market
- clean burning
- no dyes or additives to prevent clogs
- 100% pure
- 32-oz
Liquid gas by trusted camping company
- made from high quality materials
- liquid gas
- child-lock cap
- 32-oz
What gas do I need for winter camping?
When camping in winter, you want fuel that burns cleanly and can provide sufficient heat to reliably power your stove.
That’s why liquid fuel is the best fuel choice for winter camping, period.
It’s important to note the difference between burning wood and liquid gas when camping in deep winter.
While both can deliver an intense flame, liquid gas offers one big advantage: you are able to regulate its pressure with a pump at low temperatures so that your stove remains powerful regardless of weather conditions.
Is propane or butane better in cold weather?
Propane is a better fuel choice for winter camping than butane.
It offers a lower freezing point than butane. Unlike propane, butane will convert to a liquid at 6°F. This means that if the temperature drops below 6°F, your butane fuel can freeze!
Propane on the other hand will stay in gaseous form until it is down to -50°F so you don’t have to worry about it freezing.
Is white gas better than butane or propane in the cold?
White gas is better than butane and propane because it is able to resist the cold better.
White gas has a low point of evaporation, as cold as -50°F, which makes it more suitable for winter camping
Although you can use white gas in an unpressurized stove with no problems, we do recommend using a small pump as this will provide more consistent pressure at lower temperatures.
Best fuel for winter camping
1. MSR Superfuel White Gas
Your winter camping journey starts with one pack of MSR Super Fuel White Gas because you never know when the cold or snow will get the best of you.
This premium white gas is easy to store for your long winter hikes and won’t leave any fuel residue like other less-than-ideal materials.
Burn it all day or night without issue; let this white gas keep you warm through whatever blizzard might come at you.
This 100% pure fuel ignites quickly and burns clean with no additives or clogging – even with regular use or in extreme temperatures it will still ignite easily with just a few priming pulses of the pump.
2. Coleman Premium Camp Fuel
Winter camping just got easier, safer, and more efficient.
From cozy evenings to chilly mornings, all you need is your Coleman Liquid Fuel to get the most out of your camping experience.
With a flame that’s easy-to-light in windy conditions or extremely cold weather, high performance prevents messy spills, and child-resistant caps make it family-friendly for everyone who wants to get outside this winter!
Recommended accessories
MSR Liquid Fuel Bottle
MSR Liquid Fuel Bottles are specifically designed for use with MSR liquid fuel stoves, but can also be used as extra fuel canisters.
MSR has designed their bottles to be leakproof, reliable and lightweight.
The aluminium is impact-extruded for maximum durability while also being pressure resistant so that you can cook with it at high altitudes or extreme weather conditions.
MSR Dragonfly Portable Camping and Backpacking Stove
If the information provided in this article has made you realize you don’t have the right stove for liquid fuel or winter camping.
We’d recommend the Dragonfly for ANY cold weather camping trip. Particularly if you are hiking or backpacking due to its small size.
