[dk]

I'm trying to decide which type of stove to buy for some up and coming climbing trips and was wandering if anyone knew what type of gas is readily available in France - Ceuse, Italy - Mello, and Rocklands? At the moment Propane seems to be the best option but I'm not really sure, any advice would be much appreciated

[SA Chris]

In South Africa you would probably need to get it in a camping shop in Cape Town before heading for Rocklands, but I'm pretty certain any gas you want is available. Likewise anywhere in the EU.

[SamT]

is it not so much the gas i.e propane or butane (or a mix of those) but more the canister they come in and thus the attachment.

I've always had 'epigas/coleman/primus' screw on stoves (butane propane mix) and have had no bother getting canisters on the continent for years. (not sure about SA though its probably not an issue)

Camping Gaz have their own proprietary clip on system - almost certainly available anywhere in europe but not sure about other continents.

This page may be useful..
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/expert-advice/guide-to-fuel-and-gas

There's always a good old trangia meths burner ??

[rodma]

I'm pretty sure i was able to get campinggaz cannisters in the wee supermarket in Clanwilliam for the crap little bluet stove

[SA Chris]

There's always a good old trangia meths burner ??

Then in SA you could just buy a bottle of the locally distilled "witblitz" (moonshine) from any bottle store or shebeen.

[dk]

Cheers for the help, another stove related question does anyone know if it is possible to run a propane stove on butane? Would the performance be compromised?

[Muenchener]

In Europe Camping Gaz blue cylinders are easily availbale pretty much everywhere, screw top cylinders are generally only available in outdoor shops.

Edelrid sell a CG-to-screw adapter which I assume works and is safe, Bavarian engineering 'n' all.

[Bonjoy]

Like others have said Campingaz is the best/only international option, all the other bottles and fitting systems are limited to one or a few countries. For my camper van which uses large (7kg) Calor bottles in the UK I always carry a spare Campingaz fitting (these are called regulators BTW) in case I run out. For longer trips it is definitely worth investing in the local bottles and fittings as Campingaz is very expensive in comparison.
Butane and Propane are interchangeable in stoves as far as I know. Propane is a bit less energy dense and you get less burn per bottle, however it works in low temps where butane doesn’t (have had to resort to heating gas bottles in the cab due to wrong gas type on one trip).

[Paul B]

Like others have said Campingaz is the best/only international option

I'd say petrol is far more universal.

We've used a coleman multi-fuel stove abroad and its been great (I've seen plenty of people with clogged MSRs or broken pressure valves).

We've never had problems with a 'minimum delivery' of fuel either, even in the UK (although I have covered myself in petrol on a tesco's forecourt when the pump seemed a little slow to get going).

Bonjoy is right about buying the local bottles in Europe if you can, they're outrageously cheap and if you don't have the correct regulator they often just hand them out. Take a jubilee clip or so and you're laughing.

[Bonjoy]

Yeah, alright smart arse. Actually I'd say dry sticks and friction are the really universal option.