I have conducted my own survey of stove fuel prices. I thought people might find the results interesting.

I don't list a lot of stores for alcohol for the simple reason that every Tom, Dick, and Harry hardware, paint, and building supply store carries it. To try to list every possible source would require an army of data gatherers that I simply don't have. I have listed some popular low cost sources such as that renowned outdoor supplier, Home Depot.

Fuel Price Survey Results (as of Dec 2011)

Please let me know if this is useful.

Thanks,

HJ

What is the shelf life of an unopened gallon of Coleman fuel? TIA Prices being what they are, if a good deal comes along it may be worthwhile to buy more than is immediately needed.

Officially, the unopened shelf life is 5 to 7 years per the Coleman site. The opened shelf life is 1 to 2 years.


However, I've used 30 year old Coleman fuel that was in my uncle's old Primus 71 stove without any problems whatsoever. YMMV.

HJ

Funny how you pay more for kerosene than coleman fuel, here coleman is about $20 per gallon while kerosene is about $12.

Yeah, I know. Weird, hunh? In rural areas of the US where kerosene use is more common, the price seems lower. Here in the big city, kero use isn't very common, and one pays for it.

HJ

Very good work, Jim. I appreciate all your stove knowledge, and read your posts with interest. I'll be consulting your thoughts for my next stove purchase, I'm sure.

Cool. Glad it's useful.

HJ

Always love your posts Jim. This was especially interesting.

Right now I own only one truly portable stove. Its a large coffee can with semi-strategic holes. I fill it with twigs, one piece of flaming fat wood and off she goes. I should do a boil test on it. I mostly use it for heat, not to cook.

One of these days I will pick "the stove" and it will probably be a result of reading your posts.

Thanks

Hi, Gary,

Stick with what works. If it's doing what you need, then I'd say you're good to go.

For me, there are a lot restrictions on wood fires (generally banned due to high fire danger and dense population), so "chemical" stoves make a lot of sense. I also like not having to gather wood if I pull into camp late. Being able to fire right up even if everything around you is soaking wet is nice too.

HJ

That's what I did...I never used or wanted any kind of small stove until I read HJ's posts and blogs over the last year or so. I now have a Trangia alcohol burner setup, and would have to say it saved the day yesterday. I would have had trouble cooking lunch with a regular fire due to wind.