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A medium backpacking gas canister may be labelled 227g or 230g depending on the product. Neither label tells you how many days it will last without knowing the stove, menu and group size. Use the figures as planning evidence rather than a universal trip duration.
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Check which performance figure you are reading
Continuous burner runtime and total water boiled answer different questions. The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe specification lists 60 minutes of burn time and 17 litres boiled per 227g IsoPro canister. These are manufacturer figures for that system, not an independent result from UK Camping Gear.
Compare the PocketRocket Deluxe on Amazon UK if you need that style of burner. Check the approved fuel connection and cookware limits before buying a cartridge or pot to accompany it.
Turn your menu into a water and cooking budget
Count the water needed for drinks and meals across everyone travelling. A 500ml dinner boil and two 300ml drinks already total 1.1 litres for one person, before breakfast or washing needs. This example is an arithmetic exercise, not a recommended daily drinking-water allowance.
If you cook pasta or simmer a sauce, boiling-water figures alone are incomplete. Add the cooking time and any further reheating. Repeated small boils can also create a different routine from heating one shared pot.
Allow for field conditions
Cold water, wind, a different pot and the stove’s operating setting can change fuel use. Follow the approved wind-protection method and use a suitable lid where directed. Do not surround a canister-mounted burner with an improvised screen to chase the test figure.
Check whether an already-opened canister contains enough fuel. If estimating remaining fuel by weighing, you need the correct empty-container mass for that actual canister design. A full canister’s total weight is greater than its stated gas content.
Use your own trip record
Record the menu, approximate conditions and fuel used on a short outing. That gives a more useful starting point for your next similar trip than another camper’s claim that a medium canister lasts a week.
Pack a reasonable reserve for your route and access to resupply, with food that remains usable if cooking is interrupted. Never heat or refill a disposable canister to stretch the remaining supply. Keep fuel compatibility and safe operation ahead of trying to achieve a particular number of meals.
Continue with our camping gas guide.
Reviewed 10 September 2026. This guide is based on published specifications and guidance.