A parallax image

Fitting a Regulator to your Gas Cylinder

Posted by Gav Grayston.
First Published Jul 2014; updated May 2023.

Once you have chosen a gas cylinder for camping, you must select the appropriate regulator. This guide helps you find the correct regulator and hose.


This article continues our guide to getting your gas stove set up for camping.


Once you've chosen your gas cylinder, you'll need to select the appropriate regulator.

This article shows you the regulators you need for Calor Butane, Campingaz butane cylinders, and Calor Propane cylinders.

Fitting a gas cylinder regulator

Fitting a gas cylinder regulator

The regulator fits the top of your gas bottle and controls gas release from the cylinder to your camping stove. You connect a gas hose between the regulator and your stove.

There are different types of regulators for each type of gas cylinder.

What gas regulators are needed for camping?

Both Butane and Propanegas bottles and different brands (such as Campingaz) all have different fittings for their gas cylinders. You must get the correct fitting.

You can sometimes get kits that combine a regulator and hose, which can save some money. The only downside I've found with the kits is that the hose can be short when your stove is on your camping table. Your gas cylinder should be on the ground, away from your stove. To work out how long a hose you need, measure the height of your camping table and add more to make it easy to position your stove on the table.

The downside with the kits is that sometimes the hose can be a little short

Remember, if you have a camping kitchen table with a built-in windshield for stoves, which I recommend, these are higher than regular camping tables, so you'll want a longer hose for your gas cylinder.

Here's a good overview video from GoOutdoors:

YouTube Video Thumbnail

The Calor Gas 4.5kg Butane Regulator

This gas cylinder requires a Butane regulator with a Calor screw fitting and an 8mm hose.

butane regulator

This is the butane regulator you need for the 4.5kg Calor gas cylinder

How to fit the regulator to the Calor 4.5kg Butane gas bottle

The Tools You Need

  • A spanner for fitting the regulator;
  • a screwdriver for the jubilee clips on the hose.

The video above from GoOutdoors shows the fitting of the gas regulator.

Fitting the regulator

First, tighten by hand the nut (turning anti-clockwise) onto the gas bottle.

Tightening the gas regulator

Tighten the regulator with a gas spanner (or a spanner the appropriate size). Don't overtighten, though and damage the thread.

Calor Gas 7kg Butane Regulator

The 7kg Calor Gas bottle uses a different regulator than the 4.5kg gas bottle.

The 7kg bottle should last you a while, but as it's larger to transport, it isn't always the first choice for camping.

Calor 21mm butane gas regulator

This is the 21mm butane gas regulator for the Calor 7kg gas bottle.

How to fit the regulator to the Calor 7kg Gas Bottle

The Tools You Need

  • Only a screwdriver for the jubilee clips on the hose.

This regulator is a push-fit onto the top of the gas bottle.

Calor has a video for this.

YouTube Video Thumbnail

As illustrated in the Calor video, first make sure the valve is in the green position on the regulator.

The regulator valve showing green

First, make sure no gas will escape by switching the valve on the regulator so that the green indicator is showing.

Pushing down the regulator

Push the regulator down on the top of the Calor gas bottle until it clicks firmly into place.

Campingaz R907 Butane 2.75kg Regulator

Campingaz R907 Refillable Butane Cylinder

The Campingaz R907 Refillable Butane Cylinder. A popular choice for campers with Campingaz stoves, though the Calor gas does work with these stoves.

This gas bottle requires a Butane regulator with a Campingaz fitting and an 8mm hose.

The regulator screws onto the top of the gas cylinder, making it quick and easy to attach and remove when you go camping.

Campingaz Regulator

This regulator attaches to the top of the Campingaz Cylinders. You control the flow of gas by turning the knob.

How to fit the Campingaz Regulator to the R907 gas cylinder

The Tools You Need

  • Screwdriver for jubilee clips on the hose.

In this short video, we show you how easy it is to connect the Campingaz regulator.

We're using it with a Campingaz R907 gas cylinder and the regulator from the Campingaz Regulator Kit we purchased.

YouTube Video Thumbnail

Calor 3.9kg Propane Cylinder Regulator

Calor 3.9kg Propane Cylinder (ideal for winter camping)

Calor 3.9kg Propane Cylinder (ideal for winter camping)

This gas bottle requires a propane regulator with a Calor screw-on fitting and an 8mm hose.

Calor Propane Regulator

Note that the propane regulators are red (butane are blue)

How to fit the Propane Gas Cylinder

The Tools You Need

  • A spanner for fitting the regulator;
  • a screwdriver for tightening the jubilee clips on the hose connections.

Here's a video from Calor showing you how to fit the gas regulator for their propane gas cylinder.

YouTube Video Thumbnail

As illustrated by Calor in their video, you screw the regulator onto the bottle.

Turning off the gas bottle

First, make sure the gas bottle is turned off.

Removing the cap from the gas bottle

Remove the protective cap from the gas bottle.

Fixing the regulator

Tighten by hand the nut that connects the regulator to the gas bottle

Tightening the regulator

Tighten with a gas spanner, but be careful not to overtighten.

The Calor Patio Gas Cylinder

Calor 5kg Patio Gas Cylinder

The Calor 5kg Patio Gas Cylinder

You can also get the Calor Patio Gas in a green bottle.

This takes a different regulator to the Calor Gas 4.5kg Butane cylinder (a 27mm clip-on regulator).

For camping, typically, one of the other gas cylinders is used.

Hoses for gas regulators

The regulators for the above cylinders (Calor Butane, Calor Propane, and Campingaz) require an 8mm gas hose.

Hoses should be checked to make sure they are not worn. They typically need replacing after a few years of regular use.

Gas hoses have a date printed on them and should be replaced if more than five years after manufacture.

hoses typically need replacing after a few years of regular use

Sometimes the hose on regulator kits may be a bit on the short side (we found this with the Campingaz Regulator Kit), so you may want to buy a longer hose.

2 m is usually sufficient, but you can purchase longer lengths.

Tips for Fitting Hoses

The hoses are simple push-fit connections.

The hoses push onto the end of the regulator and a similar connector on your gas camping stove.

You then fasten and seal the hoses by tightening jubilee clips with a screwdriver.

Unfortunately, you'll typically find that new gas hoses are very stiff and are difficult to push onto the fitting.

To make fitting easier, soak the ends of the hose in warm water first.

This is best done at home, before visiting the campsite.

soak the ends of the hose in warm water first....this is best done at home

If your only means of warming water is your new gas stove, you're into a chicken-and-egg situation, with no means of warming the water unless you fit the hose and no way of fitting the hose without warming the water.

You don't have to undo the hose and clips when camping.

The hose can stay connected to your stove and regulator.

When you get to the campsite, you screw (or clip) the regulator onto your gas cylinder and check that all the fastenings still fit correctly and the hose is not worn.

Top Tip for Checking Hoses are Fitted Correctly

Smear a bit of washing-up liquid around the seal of your hose to your regulator and stove.

If the washing-up liquid bubbles when the regulator is open, your clips aren’t secure enough, and you have a gas leak.

If the washing-up liquid bubbles when the regulator is open... you have a gas leak.

Of course, washing up liquid might shorten the life of your hose.

You can get the proper liquid to test for leaks, such as Calor's biodegradable gas leak detector.

The Gas Spanner

You can get a 'gas spanner' if your regulator requires a spanner.

These fit all Butane and Propane regulators that require a spanner.

Of course, you don't have to buy a special spanner; a normal spanner of the right size works fine.

However, these are cheap, lightweight, and easy to keep with your camping gear.