Backcountry magic trick: Accurately measure the camping stove fuel in a gas can with a hiking pole!

It's hard to tell exactly how much cooking fuel is left in a gas canister when you're out on a trip.

With a little preparation at home, you can turn your hiking pole into a balance scale that can accurately weigh the fuel in a can to within a gram or so.

Costs nothing, weighs nothing, wastes nothing, and takes just a few seconds to use!

For more detailed written instructions: https://backpackinglight.com/forums/t...

[Postscript: An empty fuel can of the type shown in the video weighs about 100 grams *with the cap on*. The little plastic cap itself weighs ~2.4g, so a completely empty can without the cap will weigh about 98g. On the other end, a completely full can weighs about 202g with the cap on, or about 200g with the cap off — but generally you're not as worried about precisely measuring fuel when the can is full.

Finally, I'm using the smallest size of isobutane/propane fuel canister, and buy cans from a small number of manufacturers that use the same type of can. You might use larger cans, or cans that just happen to be made differently and weigh more or less than mine. Look up the empty and full weights of your cans so you know what range to prepare your pole for.]