Comments on: Quick Tip: Green soda bottle for alcohol fuel

By: LAZERDEATHKILL

LAZERDEATHKILL — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:44:44 +0000

I used a little soda bottle for a while. Then I had to become like the rest of the consumerist slaves and bought a squeeze bottle with a closing top. Like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Vargo-T-304-Alcohol-Fuel-Bottle/dp/B001OPKH6M

Mainly for safety, partially for practicality, and really because it’s closer to stupidproof.

When you knock over a squeeze bottle, your 4 days of fuel doesn’t go everywhere. All but a few drops stay in the bottle and if those catch on fire, they burn off in seconds. Though it’s easy to remember to put the cap back on the soda bottle, I have somehow forgotten to do it and lost days of fuel twice. Both times I just ended up mooching off my buddy’s fuel and luckily didn’t end up burning any of my nylon/poly/down everything.

A comment on my posted brand of squeeze bottle; would not recommend. The cap and its folding closure are way too close to the edge of the top of the bottle. When sliding lengthwise down into a stuffed pack, I’m always afraid the closure will catch on something and open. I think nalgene makes a fatter volume equivalent bottle that would work better.

Good idea for a post:
‘How to use an alcohol stove without burning down Appalachia’ Second tip would be: when cooking something on your alcohol stove in a shelter with section hikers in the pouring rain. Make sure everyone in the shelter knows that if they kick, knock over, or decide to pick up and vigorously shake your stove, it’s gonna burn down Appalachia. Or if your stove catches on fire but not in a good way, don’t try to move it rather move yourself and your thousands of dollars of hiking equipment from its demonic fire spittings. Maybe put an inverted pot over it.

By: Fred Maxfield

Fred Maxfield — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 01:38:23 +0000

Packfeather.com sells a cap and filler kit for use on soda bottles

By: Angelfire

Angelfire — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 02:15:44 +0000

I always use a bottle that originally held a dark-colored drink so that anyone tempted to take a swig will instantly recognize that the liquid inside is not Sprite or 7-Up. (I also mark “fuel” all over the bottle and on the cap.)

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 19:10:42 +0000

I know that it works, but I still don’t like the idea of putting fuel in a bottle that one held a drink. I prefer the Trangia alcohol fuel bottles. I know that no matter what you do, it is always possible that someone that someone will try to take a drink. I’ve used SIGG style fuel bottles for white gas for years and then they came out with water bottles that looked just like the fuel bottles. Of greater importance is the durability of the bottles. The aluminum bottles have been very durable, but I’ve had problems with the threads on the plastic caps and the O-rings on some of the Coleman/Peak1 fuel bottles. On the plus side with the soda bottles, you can use one for a while and replace it for next to no money.

By: Ker_Thwap

Ker_Thwap — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 18:17:33 +0000

I put a few seam sealer stripes along the fuel bottle, so I get the immediate touch sensation that something isn’t right. I like the green idea as well. Guess I’ll switch from Pepsi to Sprite.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:06:11 +0000

My green soda fuel bottle also doubles as my duct tape holder for trips.

By: JP

JP — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 03:59:11 +0000

I use 7-Up bottles – green with red tops. I also put tape on it marking with skull & crossbones. Will have to look at adding a cord – I like the tactile backup, but the 7-Up bottles also have the contoured profile, so I may not need that.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:55:08 +0000

In reply to Colter. Excellent ideas! Thanks for sharing.

By: Colter

Colter — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:40:16 +0000

Brilliant minds think alike. I’ve used the 12 oz. green soda bottles as well. I take four more easy precautions:

I use a marker to make the Mr. Yuck face on the white cap.
I write “poison” on two sides.
I tie a short cord tightly just beneath the cap. Even if I’m not looking at the bottle I can feel it’s my fuel bottle when opening it.
At night I set it beyond reach of my sleeping bag.