High Sierra Topix

I just read that a California law has (passed or being considered?) that bans one-time-use gas cans in 2028. Although it sounds nice environmentally, would that mean a heavier container? Who would re-fill them? At what cost to refill? I cannot imagine what you would have to pay to refill a small cannister. So are we going back to liquid fuel stoves?

Or are we just going to buy our gas cannisters in Nevada? I already stop in Minden to get gas at a dollar per gallon less.

I read it doesn't apply to the small isobutane canisters, just the larger propane ones more common for car camping and coleman-type stoves. Would love to have someone confirm that.

The bill bans canisters 1 pound or more. The backpacking canisters are 12 ounces gross weight.
John Schmidt

The large cannisters, that I use for longer trips or if I have to melt snow for water, weigh 1lb 7oz. They have the same fuel as 2 medium cannisters, but weigh a bit less and are considerably cheaper than 2 medium ones. I doubt I would even be able to do a long trip in 2028 since I would be too old!

The law would likely impact larger mountaineering expeditions. But unless it becomes a national law, you just buy the gas outside of California. And perhaps in 4 years, someone will come up with some new stove technology. I am not going to get too worried about it.

Have not heard of the new law being proposed. Even though isobutane canisters are not supposed to be refilled, I have an adapter that has worked great to transfer gas from one to another. I have about 4-5 16oz MSR tanks that I use to fill my smaller 4 & 8oz canisters. It really helps prevent having a bunch of canisters with varying fuel levels.

I do know they also have an adaptor for the green propane tanks to be refilled from a larger one but I do not have one.

Both types of canisters state they are not to be refilled due to the potential danger but that has not really stopped anyone from building and selling transfer valves and being bought by consumers.

The brief article I read (on Apple News- Outdoor section) sounded like the legislation had passed and had a picture showing a backpack cannister. Maybe not yet signed into law by Newsom. And maybe the article was simply wrong regarding the picture. I notice that nowadays a lot of photos attached to a particular article do not really apply.

The bill is SB 1280, and Newsom has signed it into law, but it only applies to non-refillable propane canisters (i.e., the 1-lb green ones). No other gas products are explicitly called out in the bill. So this should be a non-factor to just about anyone in the backcountry whether hiking or overlanding.