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Stove recommendation

Calebklyne

Calebklyne

Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
1,117
Hey guys im in the market for a stove and i would like an opinion on which one to get.

I have narrowed it down to a jetboil pcs or an msr reactor. Ive been leaning towards the jetboil as i like the size the fact that it uses a mug and i can get different pots and pans for it, but ive read a few reviews saying it doesnt work well in the cold. Now i have been told that the reactor is amazing and even bushman raves about it on here but i dont love the pot and its the only one that works for it, so i would like to hear from some of those who have used either one and especially anyone that can atest to using a jetboil in cold weather

thank you
Caleb
 
I have camped with folks who have Jetboils and they have all raved about it. It gets a boil rolling very fast, and a lot of interesting accessories are available, as I'm sure you've seen. If your cooking is going to just involve adding things to boiling water, it can't go wrong. I don't think I'd like to cook anything elaborate with one though.

Cold performance - any butane/propane cartidge stove is going to give diminished performance in cold weather. One trick is to sleep with the cartidge in your sleeping bag. I prefer my liquid gas stove for the cold, and consider my cartidge stove a fair weather friend.
 
Foilist said:
Cold performance - any butane/propane cartidge stove is going to give diminished performance in cold weather. One trick is to sleep with the cartidge in your sleeping bag. I prefer my liquid gas stove for the cold, and consider my cartidge stove a fair weather friend.
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MSR, Snowpeak, JetBoil are all pretty similar when it comes down to it- the above is going to be a factor w/ any of them in the cold

Snowpeak does make remote canister stove that the canister can be inverted for cold weather, but it's substantially more than than their other stoves- not worth it unless you plan on lots of winter camping
 
Yeah, I agree about butane stoves in really cold weather...not the best choice despite the convenience. I only have a Jetboil, Snow Peak Giga and Optimus Crux...all are great, but the Jetboil is the most efficient...probably the same as MSR Reactor. There are tricks and my Nova+ stove also uses butane cartridges upside-down to help with fuel flow, but I've never had to use it that way.

The only thing I don't like about the Jetboil is the integrated mug...sure you can remove it and add another size, but you can't use that mug by itself if you want to cook over the fire (like when your fuel runs out or isn't working).

ROCK6
 
I have used my Jetboil for ice-fishing and snowshoeing. Used it with temperatures well into the -30s (Celsius). It does not work as efficiently but if you warm the cylinder and insulate it from the ground, it DOES work. Great system all around.
 
thanks for all the answers so far, i really just wanted to know that it will work in the cold i dont mind if it takes a bit longer to work
 
ROCK6 said:
Yeah, I agree about butane stoves in really cold weather...not the best choice despite the convenience. I only have a Jetboil, Snow Peak Giga and Optimus Crux...all are great, but the Jetboil is the most efficient...probably the same as MSR Reactor. There are tricks and my Nova+ stove also uses butane cartridges upside-down to help with fuel flow, but I've never had to use it that way.

The only thing I don't like about the Jetboil is the integrated mug...sure you can remove it and add another size, but you can't use that mug by itself if you want to cook over the fire (like when your fuel runs out or isn't working).

ROCK6
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that was one reason i bought the MSR Reactor, i can use the pot over coals or over an alky burner or esbit/triox etc.

on the subject of pot size for the MSR Reactor, i have approached Cascade Designs and asked for a mini MSR reactor, for those of us who just want a cup of tea when woods wandering. MSR said they may consider a smaller pot in the future, but wouldn't say for sure. I would love a 1 cup Reactor stove.

BenchmadeBoy hit the nail on the head with using a insulating pad under the canister in very cold temps. I personally have never had issues with my canisters in cold weather.
 
Bushman5 said:
that was one reason i bought the MSR Reactor, i can use the pot over coals or over an alky burner or esbit/triox etc.

on the subject of pot size for the MSR Reactor, i have approached Cascade Designs and asked for a mini MSR reactor, for those of us who just want a cup of tea when woods wandering. MSR said they may consider a smaller pot in the future, but wouldn't say for sure. I would love a 1 cup Reactor stove.
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i would have bought a reactor yesterday especially after reading your review on bf and the mec site but the pot really isnt to my liking as its to tall for a pot imho and to big for a cup, if they were to release more pots or cups i would likely buy one in a heartbeat but i think i will go with the jetboil for now
 
I'm personally not a fan of the canister stoves - I like the simplicity of a plain alcohol or wood burning stove. You can pick up denatured alky at any hardware store, carry it in any size bottle you like, and even burn a variety of backup fuels if you can't get your hands on your usual fuel.


My personal go-to stove right now is a Clikstand with a Trangia burner. If I keep the brass burner inside a coat pocket or my sleeping bag to stay warm, it will burn in very cold temperatures, and if I absolutely can't get the alcohol to burn, the Clikstand also works as a small wood stove, although I haven't yet had to use it as a wood stove except for trying it out as a proof of concept.

See more info on trying it out as a wood stove here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=698740
 
The two types of butane in these canisters stop evaporating at 33 and 11 degrees F. Propane will evaporate down to -43 F. When buying canisters, look for those with the highest percentage of Propane. You can shield the stove/canister combo so that the heat from the stove warms the fuel. This takes some practice and care. The canister should be warm to the touch, not hot. In extreme cold, I use a White Stag single burner stove that will screw onto the 1 lb propane tank.
 
Calebklyne said:
i would have bought a reactor yesterday especially after reading your review on bf and the mec site but the pot really isnt to my liking as its to tall for a pot imho and to big for a cup, if they were to release more pots or cups i would likely buy one in a heartbeat but i think i will go with the jetboil for now
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yea i hear ya. I love the pot (yea yea i live in BC i now i know :D ) on mine for making meals for one, its perfect for that (mac/cheese etc) but for a simple cuppa of coffee its a too much. I carry my GI cup/stove/esbit for that duty instead of the stove.
 
well i plan on using it when i go snowshoeing, hiking, backpacking or if i ever have a job again to make lunch at work, and i want it to do everything from making hot chocolate to making lunch/dinner for my wife and i while camping and i would like it to do so effectively and possibly even quickly. and as far as where i would like it to work from low to high altitudes

i also do not plan on doing any of these things in any less than -20c
 
Calebklyne said:
well i plan on using it when i go snowshoeing, hiking, backpacking or if i ever have a job again to make lunch at work, and i want it to do everything from making hot chocolate to making lunch/dinner for my wife and i while camping and i would like it to do so effectively and possibly even quickly
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I use a canister stove for hiking 14ers in Colorado with a Brunton Raptor - apx $25 with a piezo ignition, and wind screen. The key is the canister fuel - not so much the stove itself - try JetBoil four season or MSR 4 season.

I use it for boiling water for freeze dry foods etc. Get a couple of pots and a thermal mug and you are set.

Read this.
http://www.wintercampers.com/2009/09/22/canister-stoves/
 
thanks for the link dexter

and does anyone know if you can use other companies fuels on either of these?
 
^ yes they are interchangeable. I use jetboils cans, MSR cans, optimus cans etc on my MSR.

as long as they all have the newer Lindal valve (any canister sold after 2006 has them) your good to go.
 
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I've personally never really liked the stoves with proprietary pots. I understand the efficiency, but hate being locked into an accessory having to be bought from the same company at three times the price its worth.

Also never liked the idea of cannister fuel bottles that have to be bought and may not be easily located. As far as I know, the cannisters can't be purchased on-line because you can't send fuel by mail. So if you don't have a store near you that sells them you are out of luck. If you run out of fuel on trip and can't find a specialized outdoor place to sell you your cannister, you are again out of luck. You can't fly with the things so don't take your stove on a trip.
 
kgd said:
I've personally never really liked the stoves with proprietary pots. I understand the efficiency, but hate being locked into an accessory having to be bought from the same company at three times the price its worth.

Also never liked the idea of cannister fuel bottles that have to be bought and may not be easily located. As far as I know, the cannisters can't be purchased on-line because you can't send fuel by mail. So if you don't have a store near you that sells them you are out of luck. If you run out of fuel on trip and can't find a specialized outdoor place to sell you your cannister, you are again out of luck. You can't fly with the things so don't take your stove on a trip.
Click to expand...

You are correct on both points - mostly it is a weight issue. You can have a stove and a 110gm canister for around 10oz
 
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