Flying with a Camping Stove
Flying with a camping stove can be trickier than you might think. Don’t waste time, fuel or lose your stove. Follow these steps and check up with TSA to make sure you’re flying right with your backcountry stove!
TSA Rules
You are allowed to bring a stove in a carry-on or checked baggage, but ONLY if you take the time and care to empty it of all fuel and clean it so there are no vapors or residue left. If you do not clean the stove thoroughly flammable vapors can remain, and those can lead to confiscation. We recommend storing your clean, dry stove in its stuff sack in your checked bag.
TSA does not allow you to carry IsoPro™ canister fuel on an airplane. However, you can carry a fuel bottle for a liquid fuel stove if you take the proper precautions. First, make sure you clean the bottle the best you can. Use soap, a brush and plenty of hot water to remove the smell of fuel. Take your time and do a good job before you check in—otherwise, you’ll be looking for a new bottle when you get there. When you pack the bottle, make sure it is dry inside and out, with no scent of fuel. Remove the cap or valve so that the bottle is open and TSA can see that it’s empty.
Sometimes, less-experienced TSA employees will confiscate a fuel bottle because of the red paint and warnings on the outside. We don’t recommend removing or painting over these important warnings, but there is something you can do to protect your bottles. Wrap each bottle in a piece of paper and cover it with a rubber band (remove the paper before using the stove, of course). We recommend printing the TSA travel document included with this article and using it as a bottle wrap. Leave another copy of the document in your luggage. Include a summary of the stove, bottle and parts so the agents have a good idea of what they’re looking at.
There’s no guarantee your stove or fuel bottles will make it on the plane with you. Before you fly, make a contingency plan. Figure out where to buy replacements when you land, or who you can borrow or rent gear from.
If you have the luxury, we recommend that you ship the empty fuel containers directly to your destination in advance just so you don’t have to worry about it. In some cases, it is possible to ship fuel itself, but this usually comes with additional fees and hassle. It is almost always better to find it at a local retailer.
For more information on traveling with camping gear, you can visit the TSA website. It’s also important to check the policies of your particular airline as well; they may differ from TSA’s.
See attached file: TSA Travel Document.
Related Posts:
- Which Stove Should I Bring? Best Stoves for Any Adventure
- A Guide to MSR Backpacking Stoves
- How to Get the Most Out of Your Fuel Canisters
Updated. Originally Published July 6, 2017.
