jetboil review: fuel efficiency, flame size, etc.

[JV3]

i wrote this reply to a jetboil question from the becker forum but might as well post it here since i have the pics. anyway, just got my jetboil about two months ago and i like it a lot! i haven't used my white box stove since then.

i'm currently testing the 230g fuel canister out of curiosity. every time i boil 2 cups of water i put a sharpie mark on the bottom to keep track of it...so far i'm up to 12 boils now (most of it outside in freezing temps) and looks like it can go another 12 boils (based on the before and after weight difference)...at $6 that's a quarter a boil...that's cheap!




you don't have to run it at full blast. i've tried opening the fuel at half way and have used it to simmer stuff just fine. with the fuel knob opened to the max, the flame shoots up about 7" high:




here's with the fuel knob turned to just before it shuts the fuel off - the flame is about 1/4" high:



these pics were taken seconds apart (my cell phone camera doesn't work well in low light). that's a variable flame size from 7" to 1/4". not sure why i often read (from online reviews) people run it to full blast and complain they burn their food, etc.

[smcclown05]

Set on full blast, what's the run time for a large canister of fuel? I've had an MSR Whisperlite for years. Been curious about the JetBoils.

[AeroNautiCal]

In the UK the JetBoil PCS size gas canisters are about $6:50, so I bought two valve adapters which let you refill the JetBoil canisters from cheap picnic stove cartridges.

The 100, 250 and 500 size canisters can be refilled this way.

The lightweight valve adapter comes on trips, whilst the machined brass version stays at base.

[Erasmus]

Good job on refilling your spent threaded propane/butane cartridges with cheap butane. I've been doing that myself, with a jury rigged apparatus. Your purpose built adaptor looks way better.

Around here, 8 fluid oz. of butane is $1.5, where the same amount in official gas cartridges is $5 or $6.

You get xtra internet points for performing this feat with a cannister that says "bomb" on the side.

[billsch8]

Nice review! I have been using a JetBoil stove exclusively for the last 5 years and I have been extremely impressed with its convenience and durability. I do multi-day (5 -10 day) solo backpacking trips in the Sierras, mostly above treeline where no fires are allowed. I have used the stove as high as 14,000 ft ( tea on the summit of Mt . Langley!) and it has always performed. I am amazed at how fast it boils water ( two cups) at high elevation. I have always ended up carrying more fuel than I needed ( I guess its better to be safe than sorry), since one of the small canisters will usually last three - four days. I should state that I only use it to boil water for freeze dried food and coffee, tea, etc. since I go light on my trips. My only issue has been that the spark-starter is a bit fragile and can get knocked out of adjustment rather easy and/or fail altogether. I just carry a spare with me if it fails. (Easy to install in the field.) Its also easy enough to light with either a match, a flint or a bic lighter if it isn't working.

Great stove!

[AeroNautiCal]

Good job on refilling your spent threaded propane/butane cartridges with cheap butane. I've been doing that myself, with a jury rigged apparatus. Your purpose built adaptor looks way better.

Around here, 8 fluid oz. of butane is $1.5, where the same amount in official gas cartridges is $5 or $6.

You get xtra internet points for performing this feat with a cannister that says "bomb" on the side.

Not my pics, they're the ones that the engineer that made the valve adapters posted on his website.

I too, thought the brand name funny, given the contents.

[JV3]

Set on full blast, what's the run time for a large canister of fuel? I've had an MSR Whisperlite for years. Been curious about the JetBoils.

not sure but going by jetboil's claim of 2 min boil time (in my experience it takes as much as 5 min to boil most times since i've used it outdoors in the winter most of the time so far), let's say 2 min x 24 boilings = 48 min is my conservative guess...i'm betting it will run a lot longer than that though.

[dasilvakev]

They are great stoves and work very well. I think 2 minute boil times would be in ideal conditions. Canister stoves don't work as well in the winter/cold.

I have used one for two people on a 3 day hike with just one canister and had fuel to spare...

[eomeo]

Great tip about refilling canisters here. Thanks!

[remmmm]

I've had mine for about a year but have only used it a few times. So far so good. When I saw the pic of the person drinking out of it with the stove and canister still attached, I had to have one. I've even heated up soup in mine with no problem, you just have to stir frequently and keep the heat down. It does take longer to heat soup in the jetboil than it would in a pot with a larger bottom surface, but it's still completely doable.

[AeroNautiCal]

The new titanium JetBoil Sol Ti looks good. An 0.8 litre ti cup and half the weight of the PCS.

[Erasmus]

Fast boil times are just a bonus for Jetboil users. The real benefits are ease of boiling and fuel economy. It is screamingly easy to get near instant hot water in the middle of nowhere, coupled with impressive fuel miserliness.

I've played around with my old school Jet Boil PCS bought for $40 at an REI scratch/dent melee, I mean sale, and it cooks just fine. Thick goopy foods are seriously annoying to cook with it. The more watery dishes are better for this system.

I like the look of the new low capacity cups in titanium at about .8L, but personally, I like better having the 1L deep aluminum beaker to cook in. When your boiling/foaming food suddenly goes crazy and the volcano erupts, you'll be glad your cookpot is deeper than .8L

Hey, it simmers rice, no problem.

[storl]

I've been using a PCS since they first came out and can't say enough good things about them. With all the parts together, it is compact and lightweight, and stupid easy to use. It is a lazy camper's dream.

I recently switched over to the Flash since we don't stock the PCS and have been really happy with it as well. I find the temperature sensitive gel on the side incredibly useful, since I invariably overheat water when warming some up for hot cocoa, tea, etc.

I will echo an above poster's comment that cooking stuff in the Jetboil is kind of a hassle and I honestly never do it. I boil or warm water and then pour that into the dehydrated meal or cup. I tried cooking ramen in my PCS once and just wound up with a starchy mess all over the place.

If you get the larger pots like the one that comes with the Group Cooking System, doing actual cooking instead of just boiling is a lot easier.

[AeroNautiCal]

The JetBoil Sumo Companion Cup (1.8 litre) also looks good, shown here with the Sol 0.8 litre cup.

[cwardell]

May I ask you where you got the adapters? I would love to get my hands on one or two of those brass ones!

Thanks!

In the UK the JetBoil PCS size gas canisters are about $6:50, so I bought two valve adapters which let you refill the JetBoil canisters from cheap picnic stove cartridges.

The 100, 250 and 500 size canisters can be refilled this way.

The lightweight valve adapter comes on trips, whilst the machined brass version stays at base.

[CWL]

Here is a blog about refilling gas canisters, including how to buy the valve.

http://adventuresinstoving.blogspot....refilling.html

I have always hated canister stoves because I find empty canisters thrown into shrubs by A-hole campers/backpackers who don't care about leaving the outdoors clean, but this idea about refillable canisters seem like a good idea. Just be aware that there are inherent dangers to refilling them.

[remmmm]

Had my flash for three years now and zero problems. I think I'll stick with just buying the canisters vs. refilling. I don't like messing around with gas. I use the small size canister and carry an extra and always pack out everything including canisters. I will say I'm more likely to use a kettle and build a small fire whenever possible because, well, building fires is more fun One downside for me with the jetboil is that you can't hang just the jetboil cup over a fire, at least not without some modding that I haven't been willing to do. Because of this, I've carried both a kettle and the full jetboil rig together so I wouldn't be screwed if the jetboil somehow failed. However, that's obviously a huge waste of space and some weight.

[hunterjrg]

I've had my jetboil for a few years now and I love it. I was turned on to it by my Colorado fishing buddys. I use mine for lunch at work and cook breakfast or lunch on my duck boat. Beats the old gas system a hundred fold. I don't care how long a canister lasts-i can walk to my truck for another one. I would not be without one. I also put the pot on the pan to use.