I've been prepping for my Friday entry and I needed a few cans of isopro fuel for my MSR pocket rocket stove. At one time that was an easy task but apparently not any more. Finally found jet boil branded cans at Joes Sporting Goods. When I was at REI they said its been impossible to keep in stock.

I didn't check online, maybe could have purchased it and had it shipped to a store.

If you have a trip coming up and need fuel make sure to start planning ahead.

I was also looking for a new cook set because I lent mine out to someone that didn't return it with the removable handle. Looks like everyone is pretty well picked over on those as well. I guess I'm going to have to figure out a makeshift handle that will get me through the trip, either that or I'll have to really toughen up my fingers in the next few days so I can pull pots of boiling water off the stove with my bare hands.

Good idea to plan well in advance. Same with food items. I started purchasing in April for a late June trip. With some things, I'll start searching next winter for next summers trip!

Thanks for the heads-up. I have a trip in a few weeks. I've been searching since I saw your post, and everywhere I check is sold-out. Ruh roh! Maybe Butthead has a surplus I can buy off of him as he lives nearby :)

EDIT: I found a few left at one local store. It's better than nothing, but I've got a big group and a long trip, so hopefully I can find a little bit more somewhere.

Yes bizarre what they are running short of this summer. I went to buy a new 5 gallon water jug for hauling water to my cabin, and I couldn't find one anywhere, including Amazon. Not sure if people are stocking up for Armageddon or else camping has become that popular.

Thanks for the heads up on Isobutane. I’m going to grab a few Canisters if I can for the rest of the season.

Cabelas has had a bunch

I don't take pot grippers I use gloves

Just ran in to this situation Cabela's and Fleet Farm didn't have any in stock, ended up finding a few canisters at Gander outdoors

The shortage of camping supplies is due to the virus. Try going into a Cabellas or Outdoor store and find fishing rods/reels/tackle. Very limited stock of fishing rods at Cabellas. Fleet Farm fishing had only a few rods left. I asked and they said China is not shipping.

Fishing gear has been hard to find but I've been lucky and was able to get the 2 new reels I wanted plus stock up on anything that I was low on. The reels I had to do some hunting around but was able to find them. Rods and combos seems to be really hard to find.

If you want any type of dehydrated backpacking food that is also really hard to find. I got really lucky and was able to find the last 2 packs of my daughters favorite (Mountain House lasagna) at REI.

After yesterdays scrounging I think i have everything I need for the trip short of the normal grocery store food that shouldn't be a problem. Luckily my neighbor had a cook set that she let me dig through and she had a handle that will work for my cook set. OTherwise i would have gone the glove route like AmarilloJim. Still might bring the glove anyways.

It’s crazy how the outdoor industry is surging across the country. I better think about winter sports like skiing, skating, winter camping and ice fishing now and buy any gear I may need.

Fleet farm had a bunch of isobutane, white gas and MSR fuel bottles, which is actually mind blowing since the shelves are normally bare.

Inmyelement: "Fleet farm had a bunch of isobutane, white gas and MSR fuel bottles, which is actually mind blowing since the shelves are normally bare."

Thats the one place I didn't bother looking considering their shelves are always empty.

After all my scrounging for last minute supplies yesterday my co-leader on the trip called me this morning and said he's on his way to get a covid test after failing his screening at work. His test results won't be back until Friday which is out entry date so the trip has been cancelled for now.

If you're in the Twin Cities, I know that Midwest Mountaineering carries isobutane fuel.

mc2mens: "If you're in the Twin Cities, I know that Midwest Mountaineering carries isobutane fuel."

Finding a place that carries it is easy, finding a place that has any in stock is difficult. The demand is far exceeding the supply that stores are able to get with their supply chains being disrupted. I didn't make it to Midwest Mountaineering to check their supply but I can't imagine they are immune to challenges everyone else is facing.

After talking to people at a few different stores the trick seems to be to hit the store on the right day after they get shipment. Best to call around to see who has it and see if they'll hold a couple bottles for you before going.

I just found a huge supply of my favorite brand and size at Ouray Mountain Sports. I asked the owner about the shortage and he said the front range has been completely sold out for a few weeks. He has cases in the basement and he isn’t price gouging. Check outstate areas or out of the way places.





I’m sorry you had to cancel your trip nofish. That must be disappointing. I hope you find something else fun to do.

nofish, If you still need a pot graber I have one for my MSR Adonized aluminum kit. You're welcome to take it, or the whole kit if needed. I'm located in the twin cities.

GickFirk22: "nofish, If you still need a pot graber I have one for my MSR Adonized aluminum kit. You're welcome to take it, or the whole kit if needed. I'm located in the twin cities. "

I appreciate the offer. Sadly the trip got nixed this morning when my trip partner had to go in for a covid test after failing his work screening this morning. His results won't be back in time for us to make our entry date. Even if he has a negative test he still had a low fever so something isn't right.

Brutal, I hope your friend's test is negative and his health returns. I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip too! Offer stands if you end up figuring something out!

I was thinking about this the other day with all of the newbies buying outdoor gear this year just think of all the new slightly used equipment that will be for sale in the next couple of years

A bent tip needle nose pliers works as a pot grabber too.

Nofish, sorry that your trip had to be cancelled. Hope your tripping partner tests negative and feels better quickly.

Did you check Wally World ? I purchased white gas there, and they seemed to have a lot. Of course, that was about a month ago. Like Jim, I just use a leather glove for hot kitchen items. Guess you won't need to, though, I just read your trip is a no-go. Sorry to hear that.

mc2mens: "If you're in the Twin Cities, I know that Midwest Mountaineering carries isobutane fuel."

I got mine from there a week and a half ago after striking out at several other places. They had piles at the time but that may have changed. They were very helpful when I called to ask

Piragis and Duluth Walmart were well stocked two weeks ago. Also freeze dried food...campchow.org and packitgourmet.com had plenty of food in stock with fairly quick shipping. Was also highly impressed with the food quality of both.

I checked Sportsman's Warehouse in Ankeny, Iowa on Saturday and they do have quite a few canisters of the mix fuel. They also had a huge selection of Mountain House freeze dried meals, if you are interested. I know the freeze dried meals were hard to find the past few months.

Funny I just saw this thread last night, then today made a planned stop at REI in Roseville. I got the second to last cans of white gas on the shelf. They had some iso canisters, but the food section was next to empty. Literally there were two entrees there, and a few oatmeal’s And granoloas and puddings.

PatrickE: "Piragis and Duluth Walmart were well stocked two weeks ago. Also freeze dried food...campchow.org and packitgourmet.com had plenty of food in stock with fairly quick shipping. Was also highly impressed with the food quality of both. "

I was at Piragis on Saturday. They got all kinds of everything. I've never seen their retail (and outlet) so jammed with clothing and equipment.

Mike

I've been in a handful of stores, some multiple times and it very much seems to depend on what day you are there. If you're a day off you might walk in to empty shelves, if you walk in the day of or day after shipments you'll walk into a well stocked store.

For those following the thread and my cancelled trip, looks like we could have gone. Trip partner came back with a negative test. Not sure what was causing his initial fever that caused him to fail his work screening but he's been in good health since. We're looking to reschedule for September when hopefully crowds quiet down a bit.

Glad that this got posted as we are entering this weekend. Went looking around two days ago, and Fleet Farm in St Cloud was completely out of fuel (and out of many other things, it’s been the worst store for inventory). Scheels must have just received a shipment because they had a lot. The kid at the register said that about every fifth person was buying fuel, but I didn’t think to clarify if that was all backpacking canisters or if he was also counting the larger green propane canisters.

Glad to know that more people are getting outdoors, but I’m still skeptical that many will stuck with it. Hopefully this outdoor surge at least launches a few more of the next generation than would have otherwise gotten out.

Another reason to have multiple stove types. I have both isobutane and white gas stoves. I can always use unleaded gas in my MSR stoves if I can't find white gas (never had to do so, but it's an option, as well as Jet Fuel and Kerosene!). The canisters are convenient, but I find myself using white gas 9/10 times. I always grab a gallon of Coleman or Crown when I spot one in Fleet Farm or Wal Mart (I go in one about once every 5 years, and always look for a can!).

I have a pot grabber you could have.