Canned Heat
Brunton has taken the decades-old concept of canned heat and added a couple crucial modern twists. The company's new line of GreenHeat fuel canisters, which are being marketed to backpackers, climbers and anyone else who needs to pack as light as possible, are filled with a special concoction of gelled and highly-flammable vegetable oil.
The concept is bone simple: Pop off the can top, throw in a match and cook. (Or boil water or melt snow.) Healthy, hot-burning flames will stir and whirl from the magical green goo inside the can for up to 80 minutes, and Brunton says in optimal conditions you'll be able to boil a liter of water in as little as seven minutes.
Despite the fact that my test liter of water took about 22 minutes to boil in a slightly breezy, 65-degree setting -- a common backcountry venue -- I was impressed overall with the product. The small, inexpensive GreenHeat cans are a no-nonsense and much-needed upgrade to the Sterno-brand canisters I've intermittently used over the years.
A hotter flame is their No. 1 asset. Brunton also pushes the environmental angle with GreenHeat, as the flammable gel is vegetable-oil based and does not give off noxious fumes. Another advantage: GreenHeat canisters come with lightweight sheet metal pot holders that quickly and conveniently let you set a cooking pot over the flame.
Brunton sells the GreenHeat products in two configurations: The Standard version is a 6.4-ounce canister that will burn for up to 80 minutes at 4,700 BTUs, according to Brunton. Packs of two Standard GreenHeat canisters with the pot support cost $19.
Standard GreenHeat canisters...
For the fast-and-light backpacking crowd, the company's smaller Fastpack GreenHeat canisters weigh about 3.2 ounces and provide a flame for up to 45 minutes, which also burns at 4,700 BTUs, according to the company. They come in packs of three with a single pot holder for $10.
Fastpack GreenHeat...
After use, the flame in a GreenHeat canister can easily be blown out and re-capped. They can be used over and over until the fuel runs out. The thickly concealed gel will not freeze and has an indefinite shelf life, according to Brunton. It's also a non-pressurized, non-explosive fuel, so some airlines may allow it to accompany travelers on their way off to an adventure.
Beyond cooking, Brunton is promoting GreenHeat as an emergency firestarter. Stowed away in the bottom of your backpack, a Fastpack canister weighs less than a jackknife but will burn steady for more than 40 minutes. In an emergency, light the can, throw on some dead pine bows, leaves and a few dry sticks and a roaring warmth will soon ensue.
Contact: Brunton, 1-307-856-6559, www.brunton.com.
The concept is bone simple: Pop off the can top, throw in a match and cook. (Or boil water or melt snow.) Healthy, hot-burning flames will stir and whirl from the magical green goo inside the can for up to 80 minutes, and Brunton says in optimal conditions you'll be able to boil a liter of water in as little as seven minutes.
Despite the fact that my test liter of water took about 22 minutes to boil in a slightly breezy, 65-degree setting -- a common backcountry venue -- I was impressed overall with the product. The small, inexpensive GreenHeat cans are a no-nonsense and much-needed upgrade to the Sterno-brand canisters I've intermittently used over the years.
A hotter flame is their No. 1 asset. Brunton also pushes the environmental angle with GreenHeat, as the flammable gel is vegetable-oil based and does not give off noxious fumes. Another advantage: GreenHeat canisters come with lightweight sheet metal pot holders that quickly and conveniently let you set a cooking pot over the flame.
Brunton sells the GreenHeat products in two configurations: The Standard version is a 6.4-ounce canister that will burn for up to 80 minutes at 4,700 BTUs, according to Brunton. Packs of two Standard GreenHeat canisters with the pot support cost $19.
Standard GreenHeat canisters...
For the fast-and-light backpacking crowd, the company's smaller Fastpack GreenHeat canisters weigh about 3.2 ounces and provide a flame for up to 45 minutes, which also burns at 4,700 BTUs, according to the company. They come in packs of three with a single pot holder for $10.
Fastpack GreenHeat...
After use, the flame in a GreenHeat canister can easily be blown out and re-capped. They can be used over and over until the fuel runs out. The thickly concealed gel will not freeze and has an indefinite shelf life, according to Brunton. It's also a non-pressurized, non-explosive fuel, so some airlines may allow it to accompany travelers on their way off to an adventure.
Beyond cooking, Brunton is promoting GreenHeat as an emergency firestarter. Stowed away in the bottom of your backpack, a Fastpack canister weighs less than a jackknife but will burn steady for more than 40 minutes. In an emergency, light the can, throw on some dead pine bows, leaves and a few dry sticks and a roaring warmth will soon ensue.
Contact: Brunton, 1-307-856-6559, www.brunton.com.
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5 Comments:
Hey Steven,
They say that it "resists spilling" is it really viscose? That would be my biggest concern while in the back country, spilling my only source of fuel because I kicked it over. Also how would it perform in really cold temperatures?
It's pretty gooey. If you kicked it over, it might slowly ooze out, but I don't see that being much of a worry. I have not tested it in cold weather, but the company says it will not freeze. For winter use, I wouldn't recommend depending on this product to melt a lot of snow, say on a mountaineering trip. It's not really intense enough for that purpose. It's more appropriate for making a cup of tea or cooking some camp food. I also like the emergency fire-starter angle, as you have this instant flame in a can. Best part is, they're cheap -- like $3 each for the small canisters -- so I'd recommend buying a couple and testing them at home before trekking off into backcountry.
Sounds like they could be good for an emergency kit too.
Interesting product, do you know if Brunton is still making them? I see no mention of them on their web site, and www.basegear.com lists them as discontinued.
Here's the official word. Note from a company spokesperson: "Brunton's retailers are still selling the GreenHeat, but I think they've removed it from their website as it wasn't a great seller for them."
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