Points to ponder...

[Sidewinder]

If you are staying with canisters I suggest a remote feed stove where you can invert the canister. I use a MSR WindPro II for that very reasons you mentioned.

S

[BrianWillan]

After spending another winter night out in the bush I have assembled the following points to ponder;
- I still can't get methyl hydrate to burn with any consistency (in a bios type stove), even when kept warm (is HEET the answer?)
- Even my Soto micro stove failed miserably at -16c with a jetboil canister, well not really the stove, it was the gas, and being 4 season gas, I never went out of my way to keep it warm

In winter I prefer to burn wood. I use an Emberlit stove. It works great and I have yet to find a temperature that I couldn't burn dry sticks.

Shug can speak to using an alcohol stove an deep winter temperatures. I believe keeping the stove and the fuel warm is key to success.

Cheers

Brian

[Whiskeyjack]

-16c is crazy cold. I don't think I would work at that temp.

Cold doesn't start until about -25. And even that isn't really that cold.
I'm sure up in Edmonton the mercury drops a long way below that on many days.

[Texico]

- Even my Soto micro stove failed miserably at -16c with a jetboil canister, well not really the stove, it was the gas, and being 4 season gas, I never went out of my way to keep it warm.

The Jetboil canisters are definitely NOT 4 season. All Isopro canisters are best used above ~20f/-7c. The propane tends to burn off first, leaving you with Isobutane which will not boil below -12c. This means no fuel will go to your stove unless you have a remote feed to invert the canister. I've had luck using canisters down to 5f, but I keep it in my jacket or sleeping bag.

As for freezer bag cooking, now that I have a dehydrator I love it! I can make all my awesome food at home, dehydrate it, and then re-hydrate while on the trail. I've made some pretty good meals this way. I agree that the Knorr/Lipton sides are not that great when re-hydrated in a bag, especially the pasta sides.

[gplg]

The Jetboil canisters are definitely NOT 4 season. All Isopro canisters are best used above ~20f/-7c. The propane tends to burn off first, leaving you with Isobutane which will not boil below -12c. This means no fuel will go to your stove unless you have a remote feed to invert the canister. I've had luck using canisters down to 5f, but I keep it in my jacket or sleeping bag.

As for freezer bag cooking, now that I have a dehydrator I love it! I can make all my awesome food at home, dehydrate it, and then re-hydrate while on the trail. I've made some pretty good meals this way. I agree that the Knorr/Lipton sides are not that great when re-hydrated in a bag, especially the pasta sides.

Thought I read somewhere that you have to use special ziplocs when cooking in freezer bags due to the plastic leeching into your food when you add boiling water. Or are you talking about another method?

[Northern Mike]

Cold doesn't start until about -25. And even that isn't really that cold. I'm sure up in Edmonton the mercury drops a long way below that on many days.

Took the words right out of my mouth.