Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Jetboil Stoves

I bought one at Bass Pro for $99. It's a big metal mug with a neoprene cover. The stove, a small fuel canister, legs, and an adapter to sit pans on all fits inside. I unpacked the thing and thought "what a cheap piece of crap this is." I sat it on the table and kind of stared at it when I passed by. Well, last Sunday, a hurricane hit us. They downgraded it to a tropical storm, but 70 to 80 mile winds blew down trees everywhere in town. We lost power for 4 days. I went to my Mom's house to take care of her and her 4 sisters. Little old ladies and no power for 4 days. The power went out at 7am and they are all wondering what they are going to have for breakfast. Coffee, toast, oatmeal? I'm looking at my little Jetboil.

I set it up and filled the mug with a quart of water. I turned the gas on and hit the little button. Whoosh. Off goes half the hair on my right hand. I jumped like a little girl, then stood there and watched the little thing. It brought that water to a rolling boil in two minutes. I made everyone tea. Then I boiled water for oatmeal. Tea and Campbell's soup for lunch. I made toast, and grilled chicken during the storm on the patio grill! I did use the little Jetboil 3 times a day for 4 days and what a neat little piece of gear. It's thin metal and plastic. You probably don't want to drop it too hard, but if you can keep it safe, what a nice thing to have along in your pack. I've had a MSR Whisperlite for 20 years and I like this better. No muss, no fuss, and no smell of Coleman fuel in your gear.

That's an awesome story! I love my jetboil too, eventhough it is tough to fit a trout in there! It has always worked for me in windy weather and at high altitude, 14,000 feet. I also like the compactness of it along with the lack of "coleman fuel smell". It's simple, quick and easy to use.

I bought one 2 years ago for a trip that never happened so I tossed it in the plastic tub of survival [bleep] I carry behind the truck seat in case I get stranded. I pulled it out a couple weekends back for a hiking trip since we were going into an area where campfires were absolutely banned due to fire danger.

The little SOB works great, just like you said ... boiling water for Mountain House and for oatmeal in no time. I'm really impressed.

My hiking partner has a smaller stove yet but it takes bigger fuel cannisters and requires use of separate pots. With just the jet boil and a sierra cup, I was able to get by fine and my gear netted out smaller and lighter than his 'cause I didn't have to drag along my mess kit.

Tom

Get the coffee press and you're in high cotton. We keep one in our camper. I also have the pan that goes with it. A bit on the pricey side, but last trip I was able to cook spanish rice, fry bacon, and scramble eggs. No complaints here....

I think they are impressive, but too heavy for my tastes. My stove weights under 2 ounces.

I always have my toy hauler set up for emergencies. I have cooked the neighbors breakfast on more than one powerless morning. It is simple to move out of the house and into the self contained world.

Does that include fuel and a pot to cook in?

Thanks for sharing that with us Rob. I've been doing a lot of research on stoves lately and spent a lot of time reading reviews. Your story seems to go hand in hand with most of the experiences that I've come across.

I think I need to give this stove some very serious consideration. The other one high on my list is the Snow Peak LiteMax...

I just sold my old Svea and my old whisperlite, was thinking of getting the MSR international since it even runs on unleaded...but I wonder if the jet boil is a better alternative...

Hmmm....

WildwhatsayyouAlaska ��2002-2011

Wild, still have my 36 yo Svea as well as an MSR Simmerlite and Snow Peak Giga.

Have used the Jetboil for 5 years now and it's replaced my other stoves... well, it did until the new Jetboil Ti cam out. Now it's replaced my 1st Gen Jetboil. Boils faster than the original, is lighter and smaller.

All hail the Jetboil!

Never leave home without mine.

Guess I got lucky, I picked up an older model Jetboil at Academy Sports earlier this year for $49. Seems to work fine at lower altitudes and I hope it performs as well at higher altitudes.

No but the fuel is the small cartridges and the one pot I carry is light too, though a lot bigger than the ones on the small jet boils.. I like to have a fairly large quantity of hot or at least warm water during meals.

I am just saying I handled them in the REI store a few times, and my subjective feeling was they were heavy. Maybe on a long trip they would work out if they are efficient and save fuel weight.

I would like to install one in the wheelhouse of my trimarran. hot water fast for the one duty watch would keep them out of the galley.

I'm sure no expert. My hiking prior to this last trip has all been late fall, winter, and spring, where fire danger was no issue and it was ok to build a fire. I like the little jet boil; I need some of the accessories so I can cook a trout if I manage to find one dumb enough to bite.

They are a tad heavier but actually using one in the field and its tuff not to become a believer,i was the first of my buddies to buy one they had used pocket rockets t they all went and bought jet boils after seeing mine in action on the mountain

I leave mine in the truck... Great stove. just bulky for what it is. I carry a Optimus Crux lite and a 233 grammer of fuel in a Ti cup I've had forever and it still weighs less and is half the size.

You might have to give the jetboil an advantage in wind

But it goes on a lot of fishing trips down the river

I'm on my second season with mine, only stove I use while out hunting now. I usually just eat freeze dried food on my trips and it works perfect for that.

Should be noted, the JB Sol and SolTi pretty well change the disadvantages you mention regarding your older model.

A piece of aluminum foil and a very small grill will take care of that problem. And a smidgen of butter or cooking oil.

The Jetboil SOL Ti that I recently used on my goat hunt in Northern BC performed amazingly. We brought it as a backup and with 3 of us we ended up using it as our 'main' stove. It boiled water SUPER quickly and did pretty good on the fuel for a trip of 10 days.

I'm sold...I love this thing!

Rack, the SOLti boils water noticeably quicker than the original IMO. Incredibly miserly with fuel and decent in the wind...