We are setting up basecamp on Red Rock Lake for 6 nights and wondered how many fuel canisters we should be taking to last us through the trip. We will boil water each morning for oatmeal, lunches will be no cook items, and then for supper we will need to fry fish and boil water for the freeze dried sides. I was thinking 1 can per day would be enough but just wondered if that would be accurate or to much?

When we go in for 4 days and 3 nights we use 1.5 8oz MSR propane. Thus we bring in 2 8 oz size just in case. That is for a party of 4. We cook on a small pocket Rocket type Stove. We like to travel light.

burgydancer: "When we go in for 4 days and 3 nights we use 1.5 8oz MSR propane. Thus we bring in 2 8 oz size just in case. That is for a party of 4. We cook on a small pocket Rocket type Stove. We like to travel light. "

I've never seen a 8 ounce propane canister. That would be 14 or 16 ounces for propane. Your talking iso-butane canisters, a different fuel type.
With the exception of a Coleman Peak I Expedition 2 burner that used PowerMax canisters all the Coleman 2 burner stove I know use Propane or liquid gas.

loneranger, sounds like your use both burners moderately often so 1 16 ounce propane can should work per day. I'd bet you do not go thru it all but the times I have used a propane 2 burner 1 16 ounce would not last for 2 days. I can accurately peg fuel use for myself with either liquid gas or iso-butane, but cooking with a single burner is hard to compare with a double. I think a double propane will burn thru 16 ounces in an hour with both burners cooking full. The white gas 2 burners hold between 24 and 32 ounces of fuel and burn for 2 hours.

butthead

Butthead is the expert!! I use a suitcase stove for cabin camping and cook breakfast for large groups on it. For only the one meal (2 burners going for pancakes and bacon and hashbrowns), I am sure I only need one can for 3 days. So, you'd be good with a can a day for sure IMHO.

Good luck! Keep track so you know for the next time.

Six 16 oz cans for six days will be twice what you need. Manage your cooking time and temp, use old dish clothes as cozies to retain heat off burner, use a wind shield, etc. Three cans will be plenty.

"Good luck! Keep track so you know for the next time." Very good advise as only you will determine your use.

butthead

I’d maybe knock off one can anyway. First and last days usually are minus at least a couple main meals between the two. Keep track, but also maybe play around at home with how you manage your fuel. Some people boil their water before drinking is one example of a practice that could consume more then the average. I have a Colman two burner that takes forever to cook with. Love my gas one for glamping.

"We are setting up basecamp on Red Rock Lake for 6 nights"

That is either no portages or it is 2 short into Red Rock Lake. Take plenty and you will figure out your useage in a personal way.

butthead