More Gas, Less Trash: This 5-Lb. Propane Tank Is My Best Camp Upgrade in a Decade

The Ignik Gas Growler was there when I cooked dinner in a blizzard next to a wall tent 3 years ago. It was there last weekend when I cooked some lake trout caught just minutes before, near my campsite. And it’ll be there for every camping trip I take in the foreseeable future.

Simple, efficient, and vastly cheaper over time than disposable green propane canisters, the Ignik Gas Growler is one of the few products that I actively promote to my friends on darned near every camping trip.

In short: The Ignik Gas Growler is a 5-pound propane tank. The kit includes a hose adapter and a carry case. The carry case is nice for packing, and the hose works great. It replaces five disposable tanks in a single fill, which costs less than $5 each time and lasts me most of a summer.

Ignik Gas Growler Review

This is going to be a short review. The Gas Growler is great. It carries 5 pounds of propane, which is a great size for camping. You can refill it at any propane refill station, such as hardware stores or U-Haul locations.

At $160, including the tank, carry case, and hose, there are cheaper options. You can grab a 5-pound tank at Home Depot for about $55 and an adapter hose for 1-pound appliances for another $20. And there are plenty of carry case options. If you decide to go that build-it-yourself route, great.

But the Ignik tank, carry case, and hose package is simply efficient. The padded carry case protects both the tank and other items in your vehicle during transport. And it gives you a place to store the hose. It’s a nice case, and has been entirely reliable and durable during dozens of camping and hunting trips.

To use the Gas Growler, just unzip the case, pull up the tank a bit to access the threaded valve, and screw the hose on. Connect the other end to a stove, and open the valve.

Why I Love It

I love the Ignik Gas Growler because it gives me a reusable alternative to the 1-pound green gas tanks that have annoyed me for decades. Yes, there are refillable options for them, too, but to me, 1 pound is just too small. And the reality is that most of them wind up in landfills.

Plus, they cost about $25 for 4 pounds. Compare that to the less than $5 it cost me to fill up the Ignik the last time, and suddenly the investment in a larger tank that I never need to worry about running low feels pretty smart.

So whether you pick up this pre-made package, or cobble something together for less money, a 5-pound propane tank is awesome. It’s been several years since I switched from the old 1-pound disposable tanks. Yeah, I’ll still carry a greenie as a backup in my truck. But for my primary camping fuel, I’m never going back from my 5-pound tank from Ignik.