Camping Stove Gas availability in Spain

[GeorgieH]

Hi all,

I am heading via the ferry to Santander to spend two weeks exploring the Picos de Europa and Costa Verde on my bike. However, I can't seem to find out anywhere what the most readily available gas canisters for camping stoves are in Spain. I have several stoves (trangia, MSR/coleman screw in variety, and camping Gaz click in type), but I wondered if anyone could advise me which would be the best one to take?

Any other recommendations on this, and also the area would be most welcome too - campsites, routes etc.

Thank you!
George

[bikepacker]

You will be lucky to find a stockist of the screw on Coleman type cannisters. Camping gas click are often stocked in supermarkets and this could be your best choice to take. Otherwise do what I do in Spain and take one of these adaptors and buy the pierceable cannisters widely available. http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ ... aptor.html There are other adaptors available to fit various combinations but buying 190g cannisters is my preference.

[megilleland]

Primus power gas is a popular gas cartridge found in Spain. You can find these in the large Decathlon stores. However in Cantabria where you are touring the only Decathlon store is in Santander on Calle Joaquin Rodrigo.

As stated there are two types of canister (cartucho): resealable screw valve (válvula a rosca) and puncture type (perforable). They are of the 190g size. Campingaz cartridges are availbale in Carrefour (next door to Decathlon) at Calle Joaquín Rodrigo, 2 and at El Corte Inglés on the retail park off Plaza de Nuevo Montana.

Other places where you might get gas cartridges are some campsites (list attached - scroll down to see), ironmongers/hardware stores (ferreterias) and sports shops (tiendas deportes) although these may just sell clothing. I would have thought that a couple of cartridges purchased before leaving Santander would be sufficient for brew ups and the odd time there is no where to eat. There are plenty of places to get meals in the evening and most campsites have a restaurant/snack bar.

[jake]

The adaptor Bikepacker recommends is very good. The pierceable cannisters seem to be the most widely available of all types.

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

You will be lucky to find a stockist of the screw on Coleman type cannisters. Camping gas click are often stocked in supermarkets and this could be your best choice to take. Otherwise do what I do in Spain and take one of these adaptors and buy the pierceable cannisters widely available. http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ ... aptor.html There are other adaptors available to fit various combinations but buying 190g cannisters is my preference.

I can recommend the adaptor. We have used it, carried it in place on single pierce gas cartridges and never had an issue with it.

we used it with our gas adaptor on our trangia stove.

[Sweep]

Question on that adaptor.

Sorry if it seems as if I'm being daft/pedantic.

Do I take it that you can puncture the old/fashioned puncture type blue cartridges (ie not clip-on blue) and then after having finished using the screw on stove, take the stove off, leaving the punctured bottle safely capped/made safe by a valve in the adaptor?.

If so, great way of using the very generally available/cheap puncture cartridges.

On my last bike camping trip I was re-using gear fro m my car campijg days and rather nervously had to carry around a puncture catridge still attached to its stove - no way of removing it of course.

I already have a screw-on stove head.

As I said, be kind with me.

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Question on that adaptor.

Sorry if it seems as if I'm being daft/pedantic.

Do I take it that you can puncture the old/fashioned puncture type blue cartridges (ie not clip-on blue) and then after having finished using the screw on stove, take the stove off, leaving the punctured bottle safely capped/made safe by a valve in the adaptor?.

If so, great way of using the very generally available/cheap puncture cartridges.

On my last bike camping trip I was re-using gear fro m my car campijg days and rather nervously had to carry around a puncture catridge still attached to its stove - no way of removing it of course.

I already have a screw-on stove head.

As I said, be kind with me.

got it in one. The adaptor stays in place until the cartridge is empty and then you remove it. It is rock steady and we have transported quite a few that way in the panniers. Just unscrew the stove and your are sorted. Great little gizmo!

[GeorgieH]

Thanks everyone for advice on this, I have bought an adaptor and am off to Spain on Sunday.

Cheers!
George

[Sweep]

Thanks everyone as well.

I ordered one from Amazon.

Apart from the convenience/flexibility, it should pay for itself after a while.

[Sweep]

Update.

Used that adaptor over the weekend - worked like a dream - every pannier should have one it seems to me unless they are just running a Trangia or something.

thanks again

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Update.

Used that adaptor over the weekend - worked like a dream - every pannier should have one it seems to me unless they are just running a Trangia or something.

thanks again

We have the adaptor for our trangia (they can run off gas and mutli-fuel as well nowadays)

anyhow - glad you found it useful, I know we did.

[Gearoidmuar]

Kovea make an adapter, available on Ebay, for Lindal valve stoves, on which you can use the Click type stoves which is the fitting that all the butane cans (tall cans) for the double burner picnic stoves use. These cans have Lindal fittings in Ireland and the UK, but click type, here in Spain. These are very widely available. I've not seen the screwthread canisters in Spain, except for occasional ones in Decathlon.
What you could also do is carry a liquid fuel stove like a Dragonfly etc., and use Turpentine Substitute/White spirit. You can get this in any paintshop etc.in Spain. I'm a fan of this fuel. It is a bit paraffiney, but does not clog any stove I've used. It's a bit hard to get lighting, and is not explosive, like petrol, but burns well. To get it to light I emit some onto the wicking material on the bottom of the stove, turn the stove upside down and light it with a lighter. When it's going let it burn for about 2 mins and you're off.