While starting this business, I've been able to test some pieces of gear that I've wanted to try out but never had a compelling reason to. Some of these experiments have spectacularly failed (avoid the Sleepingo camping sleeping pad). Still, some have been successful enough that I think they move the needle for seasoned campers as much as they do a camping gear rental business.
The green 1lb propane bottles have been ubiquitous in camping for decades. They power all kinds of stoves, heaters, and lights in convenient packaging that can be purchased at gear shops and most grocery stores. One of the challenges of all propane bottles (including the 20lb cylinders) is that it's not easy to determine the fill level. I've tried the warm water method and used the external pressure gauges, but those are both guesstimates at best and fluctuate depending on ambient temperature. Additionally, they are designed for single-use, and most residential recycling bins explicitly state to not put used propane cylinders inside for pickup.
As most weekend camping trips do not utilize a full 1lb bottle due to the migration away from propane lanterns in favor of battery-operated LED lighting, any rental company would be faced with a sea of variously-filled bottles that would either need to be rented out as if they were full, which is unethical or disposed of with propane still inside, which wastes resources. Inexpensive refill adapters have curiously high ratings on Amazon, but in practice, they do not refill the 1lb bottle near enough due to a lack of inversion and a relief valve (both are explained below).
The solution seemed to be the Flame King refillable propane kit.
After several rentals, plus my own at-home experimentation with my propane flame weeder, I can confidently recommend this solution to any propane enthusiast. The kit adapts a regular 20lb barbecue tank onto a 1lb cylinder with a valve that controls the flow of propane into the smaller tank. The 20lb tank is inverted, as propane is heavier than air and will displace the air in the smaller cylinder during the refill. A small Allan screw provides relief for the escaping air, and when cloudy vapor starts to come out of the relief port, the set screw is tightened with the included Allan wrench and the tank is full. Caution: The propane vapor is very cold, and this procedure must be done wearing gloves to avoid frostbite due to mishandling, though that should not dissuade a careful homeowner from using the kit.
As more "game changer" gear is discovered, they will be added to the blog, and the Campsite Prep product mix. If you know of any how-did-I-ever-get-by-without-this gadgets, please let me know in the comments.
-Jesse
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