A cut-away of a Winter Gas canister, showing the Vapour Mesh insert
An innovative new fuel system for campers has picked up the top award at the UK’s biggest outdoor trade show.
Primus’s Winter Gas offers better performance at low temperatures, when conventional fuel canisters are less efficient.
The Swedish brand’s new fuel canisters contain Vapour Mesh, an absorbent paper insert that increases the surface area for evaporation.
Winter Gas won the best overall product at this week’s Outdoor Trade Show Novel Awards, which are judged by experts in the outdoor field.
The Primus product won the award for camping equipment and went on to gain the overall winner accolade.
Primus said: “Everybody who has used a gas cartridge stove in cold conditions knows this: the lower the temperature, the poorer the performance of the stove, even though the cartridge might be brand new. Why? Liquefied gas doesn’t evaporate properly the colder it gets.
“Primus Winter Gas improves the performance of LP gas cartridges at temperatures down to –22C. After 60 minutes of cooking, a Winter Gas cartridge is approximately 9 per cent more powerful than one without Vapour Mesh. After 120 minutes of use it delivers about 15 per cent more power.”
Primus Winter Gas canisters, part of a new colour-coded branding for the three different varieties of fuel
The Swedish company provides its gas canisters in three variations. As well as the new Winter Gas, it offers two versions without Vapour Mesh inserts. Summer Gas is a gas blend of propane and butane, optimised for summer conditions.
At temperatures of 15C and above a conventional gas blend will overpower most stoves making them less efficient, resulting in higher fuel consumption than needed.
Primus’s new Power Gas consists of a mixture of propane and isobutane. The company said it is the most versatile blend, delivering excellent power from spring to autumn.
“Even if the temperature drops below freezing it stills provides sufficient pressure to run a stove. Its versatility makes it suitable for situations where the weather and temperature conditions are uncertain.”
Prices for the Primus gas ranges, for a 230g canister, are: Winter Gas £6.75; Power Gas and Summer Gas £4.
The new range is available in shops from this autumn.
