Do Propane Stoves Work At High Altitude?
I spent most of my camping days in the mountains of Colorado, where the elevation is approximately 9,000 feet above sea level. The Coleman Bottle-Top propane stove is my go-to cooking system for high-altitude adventures…
We receive a ton of inquiries about whether propane stoves function at high altitudes throughout the year. This is particularly true at campsites, where many people inquire about the safety of using propane for their stoves. Do you need to worry about the stove working at high altitudes?
You probably envision the great outdoors, the wilderness, or perhaps an exotic vacation when you think of camping. However, “do you know camping can be done at a very high altitude?” That’s right, you can camp in the mountains without worrying about oxygen levels. And YES, you can work at high altitudes, use your propane stoves, and enjoy cooking your food.
But, Do Butane Stoves Work At High Altitude?
When you’re camping or backpacking in a remote area, butane stoves can literally save your life. They provide a simple, reliable way to cook. However, campers disagree on whether or not it is appropriate to use a stove at high altitudes.
The reason being that it has been established that these stoves, which operate at high altitudes, have a number of issues. The stove’s excessive sooty smoke is one issue, but the gas bottle’s failure is another.
For hikers and campers, being able to cook at a high altitude can be very useful. While you may be tempted to use a wood-burning stove. Canisters of butane fuel are the best option if you need to travel light.
Because of how butane is compressed, the canister containing the gasoline is lighter. Butane does not operate well at higher altitudes and is no longer liquid below (28 – 32 degrees Fahrenheit), making it unsuitable for camping in the dead of winter or on a Colorado 14er.
Problems arise because at higher altitudes, air contains less oxygen. Propane and oxygen must be combined in the right proportions for a flame to continue burning. The flame will go out or burn inefficiently if there is too much or too little of either. Without a sufficient flame, your appliance wont work properly.