Camping stove using fuel allowed to transport on airplanes

Question

Is there a camping stove that works with fuel you are allowed to take on a plane?

Often I fly somewhere without possibility to buy any fuel for my stove after landing. In those cases I take an Esbit stove with me. The Esbit tablets are not allowed on a plane, but don't stand out when going through the scanner so they almost always pass without a problem.

However, illegal is illegal and I would feel better having an option that will not get confiscated when detected. Does such an option exist?

I realise that there is a very bad fit between the words "flammable" and "airplane", but hoped that someone knows an option that I didn't think about.

Border condition: regular commercial flights where you have to go trough a security check at an international airport. Liquid fuels and camping gas are usually mentioned in the pictograms with forbidden objects. The time that my Esbit tablets were caught the discussion was over when the flammable icon on the package was spotted.

Problems that I've encountered with gas/diesel:

• I usually depend on public transportation. A pump is often not exactly within walking distance of the airport. Especially troublesome if you have a limited connection time to get the bus or train.
• Pumps often don't like filling my small bottle. They want a minimum amount (usually solved if you pay for that minimum amount) and I've had cases where filling a metal container was not allowed. I've solved that by buying a bottle of some drink, drinking it, filling the bottle and pouring from drinking bottle to fuel bottle.
• Messy to get rid of the remainder when flying back. The best way to do that would be another question.

By taking my fuel with me I basically want to eliminate a factor that is largely out of my control, not always predictable and a potential time sink. I often fly somewhere for 2-4 days and then you don't want to burn that time running errands.

Answer 1

The short answer is "not really". At least within the US, liquids with an alcohol content of 70% or greater are not permitted in checked bags or carry-on, and those are the most likely of the fuels you might have been able to get through. (Gasoline, kerosene, etc. are certainly not permitted.) You may wish to experiment using 65% ABV beverages to fuel an alcohol stove.

However, there are two non-standard options: wood or twig burning stoves, and ethanol. (Yes, I know ethanol is an alcohol, bear with me...) A twig burning stove can be fueled on-site if you're in a forest, and you can similarly carry large amounts of "fuel" on the plane with you. The ethanol option will be available to scientific researchers. To quote from the FAA's Pack Safe site regarding "Biological specimens, non-infectious, in preservative solutions":

Quantity limits: No more than 30 ml of free liquid solution in each inner packaging and no more than one liter in the entire outer package.*

Inner packagings must be placed in a heat-sealed plastic bag.

Heat-sealed plastic bags must be placed in another heat-sealed plastic bag with enough absorbent material to absorb all of the contents of the inner containers. That bag is then put into a strong outer packaging with sufficient cushioning material.

The outer package is suitable marked "Scientific research specimens, 49 CFR 173.4b applies."

For complete packaging requirements and options see 49 CFR 173.4b(b).

See the regulation: 49 CFR 175.10(a)(22) and 49 CFR 173.4b(b)

*Liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on baggage are further limited to 100-ml (3.4 oz) containers at the TSA security checkpoint.

As you can see, this is likely far less convenient than attempting to find fuel locally.

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Finally, one other point you should be aware of. Fuel vapors are cause to reject a stove or empty fuel container, meaning if the screener smells white gas, out it goes. Using denatured alcohol to clean the container and leaving it in a warm spot to "bake" dry may help. For a stove, running it for a time on butane might similarly help, as mentioned in this thread.

An alternate option to consider is shipping fuel to your destination ahead of time, particularly if you'll be staying at a hotel upon arrival. Having someone at your destination who can obtain or hold the fuel for you is also useful.

ref: http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/hazmat_safety/

Answer 2

I would avoid man-made fuel based stoves all together and just use a titanium wood burning stove. They are also great for areas were large fires are prohibited, but you just want the comfort of a very small well contained fire. They may not work well in some areas that are low on wood or other burnable resources (e.g. dry leaves, tinder, paper, etc.), or where those resources may be prohibited from use (i.e. protected areas). I've traveled once on a commercial and once on a private aircraft with a titanium wood burning without any issues.

Here is an example from REI: https://www.rei.com/product/829302/vargo-titanium-hexagon-backpacking-wood-stove

Answer 3

Fuels tend to be prohibited on commercial flights, by definition.

There are a variety of solid fuel stoves which are popular with bushcrafters and day campers although these tend to be relatively heavy and bulky and rely on you being able to find suitable fuel at your campsite. Their major downside is that they may not be allowed in some areas depending on local definitions of an 'open fire' and they are certainly not as convenient as most liquid or gas fired stoves.

Multi-fuel stoves are a good option for this sort of problem as you can get ones which work with gasoline, diesel and kerosene eg the priumus omnifuel. These generally work very well and are light and convenient and you can get the fuel pretty much anywhere (although obtaining small quantities can sometimes be a problem). One downside is that if you use automotive fuel the smell tends to permeate everything and for obvious reasons gasoline needs to be handled with some care. Although the stoves which connect directly to the fuel bottle are a lot better in this respect. Any stove which works with gasoline should also work with naptha ie lighter fluid (expensive as stove fuel but easy to find) and in larger quantities it is used as panel wipe by automotive paint shops.

Another option is alcohol. Something like a Trangia is very reliable and not at all expensive so even if it gets confiscated on the return flight its not too painful. The traditional trangia set is very bulky but all you really need is the burner, a cooking pot (or mug) and something to support it and you can get aftermarket lightweight supports and heat shields. In most places some suitable fuel is reasonably easy to obtain either as denatured ethanol (methylated spirits in some countries) or isopropanol (aka rubbing alcohol).

Answer 4

Sorry I'm late to the party, the Ember Mug 2.0 (£150 in nov 2024) can heat water to 68 degrees C (154 degrees F), it takes 45 minutes to do so (458ml), and you can do this one time (almost 2) on each charge. The mug looks really pro is cabin bag flight safe, pretty sure. The 68 degree figure is safe in environments that dont allow boiling water too. There are some battery powered flask models that can boil water aswell (I havent checked if these a flight safe for certain but i think they are). You can get a USB C converter lead for the charging dock (USB C to 20V DC 5.5 * 2.1mm 50w+), so you can use it many more times (3/4 more times) with a 99wh (max flight legal size) 100w output USB C battery (or two) but you are limited on the number of spare batteries you can take in total. 68 degrees is JUST enough to denature potato and most other veg, it will cook/heat sealed foods like noodles for up to 30 mins (after 45 mins heating up) on the internal battery. It might not kill bacteria, im unclear on this, but its certainly good for a few coffees, and I have cooked stews in it.

Answer 5

If it is going to produce enough heat to cook, a plane is going to have problems with it. A solid fuel is very stable and not likely to cause a problem. For sure don't cheat with a compressed gas like propane or butane that could go pissss at low pressure.

A liquid fuel like white gas in a high end bottle is a safe bet but may still be confiscated. Put wine in two and hope they don't check the third? Sneak with a plastic container is a no. Sneak is no - they may put you on a dangerous passenger list.

There are multi fuel stoves like a MSR® XGK. If you are dropped in the middle of now where with absolutely no fuel I would hope you would have a sympathetic pilot to white gas.