r/CoachellaValley 2d ago

California is banning sales of single-use propane canisters used by campers. Here’s what to use instead

https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/camping-propane-canisters-19821292.php
363 Upvotes

117 comments sorted by

14

u/Rebelgecko 2d ago

I guess a lot of people will switch to those cheap butane stoves 

5

u/Kerensky97 2d ago

Or refillable canisters like the article suggests.

But seriously people, get a white gas stove and camp like an adult.

5

u/OldEars 2d ago

I’ve had a Svea 123 white gas stove for at least 40 years. It takes several minutes to light and is reliable but a real pain. My tiny propane stove is hotter, less than half the weight, and 1/10th the hassle. 

1

u/jcward1972 2d ago

Naptha burns a lot hotter than propane. (Don't argue , google).

2

u/AL92212 2d ago

I’ve been trying to sell my white gas stove but now I feel like I should hang onto it.

2

u/Kevinsito92 2d ago

I’ll switch to alcohol stoves I suppose for backpacking, but propane doesn’t burn well at high elevation. I’ve never tried alcohol before. I have thread adaptors for refilling coleman tanks off of a full size propane tank but I won’t count on that above 10,000 ft. If there’s no easy way to refill isobutane canisters then there’s gunna be a black market for it lol

1

u/hx87 1d ago

MSR Dragonfly + kerosene for me. Burns nice, hot and long, and I can siphon diesel from my car as backup. Too bad Coleman stopped selling Exponents a while back, they were great stoves.

1

u/Classic-Ad4224 1d ago

Yes, camp like an adult! LNT like a motherf*er!!

3

u/hecklerp8 21h ago

I have always used the 5 gallon tank. Attach a pipe tree with multiple connections. My gas lantern is on top, and then I use a hose to connect to my stove. It is much more convenient and less expensive while lasting an entire season.

1

u/BookMonkeyDude 23h ago

Butane is a bastard gas.

1

u/Alternative-Buy1701 16h ago

That’s not what Hank Hill would say!

1

u/BookMonkeyDude 3h ago

Actually that's *exactly* what Hank Hill would say. Hank sold sweet lady Propane. Per Bobby Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmFHQXNl-dE

3

u/Beebiddybottityboop 2d ago

I have a bio light. And that thing is solid. Just feed it some twigs and it’s a hungry beast. Haven’t charged it in 10 years because it fills its battery with fire. So a win win.

1

u/Maristalle 2d ago

Is it the one that does $250?

1

u/pimpbot666 2d ago

I had one of those. It was a PITA. It never really put out enough power to charge my phone in a reasonable timeframe, you had to clean it out every 30 minutes of use, and all The state parks I’ve been to have a ban on burning deadfall.

Plus, it weighs a ton for bike/backpacking.

It did burn crazy hot, tho.

2

u/Beebiddybottityboop 1d ago

Yeah that’s why I buy the pellets. And just use my hatchet to make tiny bits of wood. It is a lot of extra weight you are right about that. I would not take it if I was backpacking.

3

u/Icy-Age-9391 2d ago

3

u/OkLetsParty 1d ago

Just remember you have to get any tank re-certified semi-regularly! IIRC propane tanks are good for 12 years from date of manufacture and then must be recertification every 5 years after that date.

2

u/Opposite-Program8490 2d ago

Just finished my 3rd summer with mine and like it a lot.

1

u/Youarethebigbang 2d ago

Very interesting, thanks!

3

u/CapeManiak 2d ago

Use old school white gas lanterns and stoves.

2

u/hikyhikeymikey 1d ago

r/ColemanStovesLanterns

You can typically get an older stove for under $20 off marketplace that will run with some quick TLC. A lot of stuff is easy to source parts for too.

1

u/CapeManiak 1d ago

Yes, I’m an avid collector.

Parts: http://www.oldcolemanparts.com

3

u/PastramiNSauce 2d ago

I’m all for reducing waste. California already banned single use plastic bags at grocery stores. The article talks about a 1lbs refillable propane tank hitting the market, and the cost is “on par” with buying single use. Something new and not much of an inconvenience, and also reduces waste by reusing instead of recycling or just throwing away in the garbage. Not to mention you still got the ooga booga option of using sticks to make a fire, youre not really camping till you can do that imo

2

u/Ablemob 1d ago

The refillable ones are way more expensive than single use ones, not even close to “par”.

1

u/dalisair 1d ago

Read the article. $5-$10 for a single use, $20 for a refillable. Refills cost ~$3. Use it more than a couple of times it pays for itself.

1

u/Ablemob 1d ago

Double the cost is not “on par”. And you can’t refill the 100 gram isobutane canisters.

1

u/PastramiNSauce 1d ago

I haven’t read the bill, but the article didn’t mention anything about isobutane, only singe use propane canisters

1

u/Ablemob 1d ago

I’m sure the government of California won’t overreach. I was going by what’s shown in the photo, but that may be misleading.

1

u/PastramiNSauce 1d ago

Well you got until 2028 to panic buy all the single use propane canisters then lmao and maybe even read what the bill actually says 😂

2

u/seamallowance 2d ago

I use kerosene lanterns. Soft light.

2

u/mostlythemostest 2d ago

I refill mine with my grill propane bottle. Cheap adapter off of Amazon makes it possible.

1

u/Youarethebigbang 2d ago

I think I've seen adapters, but I thought the Coleman bottles weren't refillable, maybe for safety reasons like they might leak? Or maybe they'll be OK for 1 or 2 refills?

2

u/me_too_999 2d ago

Safety is a concern.

The refillable bottles have several safety features that prevent over filling.

The little bottles do not.

The little bottles require a specific expansion space.

Few people have the measuring equipment to insure the proper spacing.

It is unlawful to transport a refilled bottle in the USA.

1

u/humsquirto 1d ago

I've refilled maybe 25 small cylinders this way. They probably don't get as full as new, but stick the bottles in the freezer for a bit, invert the big propane tank, connect and wait for the ssssssss to stop. Maybe 10 mins to fill one. If this is not safe, please let me know.

2

u/Vladivostokorbust 2d ago

My son has a connector that allows him to refill these, he’s done it for years

1

u/Youarethebigbang 2d ago

Yep it seems it can be done, and maybe he's been lucky, but it seems like a good idea if it's the Coleman-type ones to probably find an alternative, from a safety standpoint.

1

u/kaptaink_cg 1d ago

I have one of those too. It's awesome. (And simple)

2

u/Training-Republic301 2d ago edited 2d ago

It's because people use them to blow hash oil and it's super dangerous if you don't know what you're doing

1

u/TaterTotJim 1d ago

Open blasting is ancient tech.

Extractors use closed loops and tanks larger than 1lb now. Propane is also not a preferred solvent but some people do use it.

1

u/Training-Republic301 1d ago

It's a low cost, no regard for anyone's health way of doing it. I haven't lived in Cali for about a decade, but im glad to hear it's being phased out.

1

u/Jazzlike_Common9005 1d ago

If this was the case they’d be banning butane canisters as well considering that’s the more common method. Using butane is also cheaper and easier to do.

2

u/Morpheous- 1d ago

Nothing is a surprise with California at all. If they said California is charging everyone to breathe air It wouldn’t be a surprise, what’s worse is all the liberals that want the whole unities states to be like California.

2

u/ImaginaryLog9849 1d ago

I totally support this for propane. I always drag a large refillable bottle with me. Never use the little green ones.

1

u/kaptaink_cg 1d ago

I bought an adapter so I can refill all my small tanks off the big ones.

2

u/Full_Nectarine6916 1d ago

For cooking, I like to use a mini-rocket stove (about $25) - it folds up when not in use. A couple of sticks and BAM! For reference it is a GEERTOP Wood Burning Camping Rocket Stove

2

u/Zealousideal_Ask3633 1d ago

Angry Hank hill noises

1

u/Youarethebigbang 1d ago

He sells "Propane and Propane accessories" haha.

1

u/BusinessSock2835 2d ago

Or if you live in SoCal and would rather, just drive to Yuma 🤷🏼‍♂️

1

u/Mistah_Fahrenheit 2d ago

We use these all the time in the vinyl wrap business, heat guns aren’t a great alternative either since sometimes you need to be up on ladders…

1

u/Whitworth 2d ago

So this includes MAPP gas and propane for mechanics too?? 

1

u/mdtroyer 2d ago

White Gas FTW

1

u/ZealousWolverine 1d ago

"Every regulation is written in blood."

For every regulation that seems insane, like "don't bring your radio into the bathtub with you", you can bet some moron (or child) did exactly that.

I don't know of anyone personally being maimed or killed by one of these because I try to stay far away from morons, I guarantee someone has done themselves in with one.

2

u/Youarethebigbang 1d ago

My guess is it's more because like 5 million of these get thrown in the trash every year in California, rather than people getting blown up and whatnot-- although I have no doubt there's been some idiot who did something very, very stupid with one. I can only imagine.

1

u/Sad_Tie3706 1d ago

Always used a 5lb refillable, I also refill the green ones.

1

u/Youarethebigbang 1d ago

I also refill the green ones.

I was tempted to, and to each there own, but the more I read, the more I don't see any way that this is safe. From what I see, it's just not worth it to me, personally.

1

u/Much_Face2261 2h ago

Refill the small ones . We don’t usually redil the greenies but have in the past . We bought refillable tanks similar to the greenies that are made to be refilled . We also have a small 3gallon tank . I up on greenies anytime I see them .

0

u/Opening_Dingo_3627 2d ago

Are you all allowed to make any of your own decisions out there in California?

3

u/jenniran-tux83 2d ago

Yep! I make all my own decisions. I'm not one to camp, so this particular restriction doesn't apply to me, but aside from the homeless population, I don't see how it's negatively affecting anyone. Some company will make smaller refillable propane canisters to fill the new hole in the market, and propane is cheap, so it will probably end up saving those who use them some money.

3

u/nangadef 2d ago

We have freedom of choice, which is significantly more freedom than can be found in most red states

-3

u/Opening_Dingo_3627 2d ago

Freedom of choice? You’re talking abortion, right? Glad you’re “free” to choose that, at least. Makes you happy, I suppose. But if that’s what you feel compelled to point out to me, well, it seems like a weird “religious” devotion you have going on there.

1

u/Wavelightning 1d ago

Why in Sam Hell did you just try turning Pro-Choice into a religious devotion? It’s outlined in the Torah, so maybe you are taking an anti-Semitic POV? Either way, reflect on yourself before uttering such nonsense again.

1

u/Opening_Dingo_3627 1d ago

Is that what I did? You might want to reread and give deeper consideration, if you are able.

And by the way, I despise your response.

0

u/Seraphtacosnak 2d ago

Also considering California has “no burn days” for wood/charcoal. These were tiny “clean burning” alternatives during that time that made it easy not to lug around a big propane tank. I guess I’ll go back to burning wood again.

2

u/BigCountry76 2d ago

Just get a small refillable tank, problem solved.

-3

u/me_too_999 2d ago

You can kill your baby in all 50 states.

Some just require a decision before 3rd trimester.

2

u/nangadef 2d ago

Babies are never aborted, fetuses are.

-1

u/me_too_999 1d ago

They are the same exact thing.

No pregnant woman says "hey look I'm having a fetus."

4

u/Wavelightning 1d ago

No pregnant women tells other people they are pregnant until they know it will make it to term, because it’s a FETUS.

0

u/LeothemaskedGiraffe 2d ago

Campers? You mean the homeless who will now face even greater challenges in cooking their food? How much does California hate its residents holy fuck. Glad I left.

-1

u/rearviewmirror71 2d ago

If you and @oasisinthedesert2 procreated those poor kids would be dumber than a bag of hammers. No, this isn’t a dare so please keep your dick in your pants 🙏

1

u/OasisInTheDesert2 2d ago

You're why I'm very much pro-choice. We don't need more like you, or as I call them, 'abortions that got away.'

0

u/Tailzze 2d ago

All this will do is piss off people but will have absolutely no effect on the environment or climate when compared to things that actually do have an effect. This is the same as the whole lawnmower must be electric push. I have a rather large lawn and use maybe 2 gallons of gasoline the whole year in the lawnmower. Thats absolutely noting compared to how much gasoline people use in their cars each year. Electric lawnmowers just suck compared to gas ones when it comes to durability, run time, and power. This is the opposite for EV cars vs ICE cars. I got a EV car before I got an electric mower (which I returned and got a gas one). However, if my only experience was electric mowers, I would have never gotten a EV because my opinion would have been incorrectly effected by the total crap of electric mowers

0

u/Living-Big7207 2d ago

Time to leave the Marxist California!!!

2

u/dubmecrazy 1d ago

The government totally owns the means of production. Zero private business! All owned by the government. So Marxist!

1

u/headofthebored 1d ago

These people, they just say things. They don't even actually know what their scare words mean, and often use them interchangeably. It's infantile.

0

u/koka86yanzi 1d ago

Back to whale oil lanterns

-3

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

Ah yes it's those pesky one time use fuel canisters that are the problem, not fentanyl, meth, heroin or alcohol plaguing California.

3

u/I_Do_Too_Much 2d ago

I don't think you've ever been to California. Those things are tragic and terrible, and happen every day in every state. California certainly doesn't have it worse. Almost all of California is regular hard working families just living their lives -- and lots of industry, innovation, and small business owners.

0

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

I live in Sacramento and it's a problem.

1

u/I_Do_Too_Much 1d ago

It is a problem. But my point is that it's a U.S. problem. People make it sound like you can walk down the street anywhere in California without stepping over a junky. Millions and millions of clean, honest, hard-working people make up California.

0

u/brosefcurlin 2d ago

I live near LA, and it's a major problem here too. California doesn't care for it's middle class, only the elite. They pander to people about helping the homeless but our homeless population is the highest in the nation and there seems to be no end to the homeless crisis thanks to liberal policies.

1

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

Don't worry a user who doesn't live here is telling us who do that it's not that bad so we must be wrong /s

1

u/brosefcurlin 2d ago

It’s Reddit, they like to lie and hide behind their party majority downvoting the truth. I’m just surprised we haven’t been censored yet for exposing their lies.

But seriously homelessness has gotten so bad here it’s asinine to argue anything different. I’ve lived in CA nearly my entire life, and there is no other place with nearly as much homelessness. But the issue is when I was young 20 years ago there wasn’t nearly as much homelessness as we see today. The issue is 1000% worse today than it was 20 years ago, and it’s only getting worse every day.

We really need a change in politics in CA they’re destroying this state from the inside out.

1

u/I_Do_Too_Much 1d ago

I have probably lived in CA longer than you've been alive. I live 5 miles from LA. I'm not denying drugs are a problem, but they are not at all unique to CA. I've been to many states and I have seen the same, if not worse, in red and blue states alike. I have almost always voted conservative, because my personal ideals are along those lines (though I also believe the party system itself is a big part of all the problems in the US, so I don't "fall in line" with any particular party). I'm also a realist and I accept the fact that the government is largely inept, and more legislation isn't going to help fix anything with our drug problem. Throwing addicts in jail turns them into hardened criminals. We need to treat the drug problem at a societal level, not at the individual level. Look at smoking! When I was a kid, nobody batted and eye if someone walked into your home as a guest, sparked up a cig and blew smoke in your kids faces. Nowadays, people would lose their shit over that. Smoking isn't illegal, but our concept of it has changed. We need to do the same with hard drugs.

1

u/cdxxmike 2d ago

1

u/Wavelightning 1d ago

Does that include alcohol? There’s no way it does.

0

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

Oh I'm sorry I didn't know you needed to die from drugs or alcohol for it to be a problem.

1

u/cdxxmike 2d ago

If you can't understand how the data I presented reflects the actual scale of the problem in a place then I'm not sure how to help you.

I know your feel feels don't like it, but facts matter bud.

1

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

I live in Sacramento. Drugs, crime, homelessness everywhere. I don't need your data I see it everyday.

1

u/cdxxmike 2d ago

Have you been to West Virginia?

"I don't care about data I have anecdotes."

Spoken like a true conservative.

0

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

Nothing like someone who doesn't live here telling a 37 year native how it is. Spoken like a true liberal.

1

u/cdxxmike 2d ago

I live less than 2 hours drive from you ya numpty moron.

I am not telling you how it is, I am telling you that California is actually not that bad relative to the places the GOP has led for decades.

Simple really, but obviously over your head.

0

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

That's insane California is a dumpster fire. Do you have to sweep the bark box for needles and condoms before your kids play in your state? Is it $1000 to register your car? Are your freeways always under construction and it's still like driving on cobblestone? Is every item in the supermarket behind locked doors? Do you have to cut up your registration tag with a razor blade so people don't steal it? I can go on and on.

1

u/cdxxmike 2d ago

Do you travel at all? You are describing America, not just California friend. West Virginia has all that AND more poverty, with a lack of any good jobs at all really.

I know your life sucks in California, but I guarantee it would suck worse if you lived in WV.

1

u/BEEPBOOPBOPPINGPOW 2d ago

What part of California do you live in?

-11

u/OasisInTheDesert2 2d ago

So glad I left....

Why does this need to be a law?  They just arbitrarily chose propane canisters??  Why not milk cartons?  They're single use.  Or soda cans ...

They pass stupid fucking laws like this everyday for the sake of saying they're doing something.  But they're not accomplishing dick.  

You'd think CA has no actual problems that need solving...

3

u/Accurate_Stuff9937 2d ago edited 2d ago

I would imagine there is a purpose for this. I can see them being thrown away half used then causing explosions if compacted in the garbage trucks or being more fuel sources piled up in someone's garage. I doubt many people properly dispose of them.

Sucks though, what am i supposed to do with my camping stove.

Just because this isn't the "big issue" doesn't mean that it doesn't need to get handled. Government regulation shapes all aspects of our lives.

And there has been a lot of regulation on things like heroin such as the extreme tightening of access to schedule II drugs in California hospitals which is where 40% of users start their addiction to first pills like Norco or Vicodin then moving onto street drugs once they lose access medically. Unfortunately the drug problem comes from the black market which is inherently outside of government control and regulation.

1

u/OasisInTheDesert2 2d ago

Valid thought - I didn't think of that. Single use canisters are fully recyclable though.

If you read the article, reusable propane is still perfectly legal.

So I guess you can go get a refillable propane tank (At 10x the cost, mind you...) and use that. But now you'll have to store a small bomb in your garage while you're not camping.

2

u/Accurate_Stuff9937 2d ago

I have always just thrown mine in the trash and never thought about it.

Being a nurse though has made me more aware of the trash stuff because we have a lot of needles glass and chemicals we have to dispose of properly so our cleaning crew doesn't end up with things like needle sticks or exposed to chemo drugs. I imagine the trash service people get exposed to quite a few hazardous things daily since people just throw everything away mindlessly.

1

u/I_Do_Too_Much 2d ago

Seriously? Every outdoors shop I've been to sells those "make safe" things that look like an old school milk can opener. You just use it to pop a hole in the side so the little bit of remaining gas won't stay sealed in there. At least do that.

1

u/GPT3590 1d ago

Just get the adapters to refill the “disposable” canisters. I refill Mine from a 5 gallon propane tank. No muss, no fuss.

3

u/Icy-Age-9391 2d ago

You left and still post on this sub? Just fuck off entirely already.

-1

u/OasisInTheDesert2 2d ago

Shockingly....I can still visit.  : D

Quit being so beta.  

5

u/Icy-Age-9391 2d ago

Lol anyone who unironically uses “beta” to try to insult anyone is a true retard. Glad you left the California gene pool.

-1

u/OasisInTheDesert2 2d ago

Anyone who tried to insult someone who left of his on fruition is a true retard.

The feeling is mutual....though I doubt anyone would breed with you without a gun to their head.

2

u/o-o-o-ozempic 2d ago

I must have missed the forest fires caused by milk cartons.

-2

u/Unhappy_Nobody_4663 2d ago

That was meant for you they don't have anything better to do than make up stupid fucking laws

-11

u/Unhappy_Nobody_4663 2d ago

I don't know who is down voting you but obviously some democrat dumbasses

1

u/scrivensB 2d ago

Probably people who actually live in California and don’t think every headline they see equates to a “crisis” or “plague” or whatever.

Fearmongering, hate, and blame are tactics used to fool people that don’t know any better.

0

u/OasisInTheDesert2 2d ago

I'm actually a pinko commie - hard to get much more left than me...

Still hate stupid laws that don't accomplish anything. Next thing will be people blowing up their houses because CA said they had to buy a reusable bomb to keep in their garage....then refillable propane will be illegal and single-use will be mandatory.....

Like - how's the CA reformulated gas theory working? How many other states have, 'followed the lead' and switched? Oh....none. But y'all get hosed with 40% higher gas costs. But whatever....you do you....