Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Jetboil stove great concept but is it really? Any campstoves recommended?

I just picked up a jetboil cooking system at REI. I really liked the idea the way it saves so much fuel because of its efficient heat transfer. Boils a cup in 30 sec. woohoo! It also won the editors choice 2004 in backpacker. Insulated cookpot, integrated with the stove, easy to light. So now I read a few things on it and am getting buyers remorse. I gave it one test run and the piezo sparky quit working, great for firy explosions when it does occasionally spark, which may be common from what I read. Also if any food boils over you cant remove the pot from the burner so you have to turn the gas screw down through your bubbling soup or oatmeal overflow as it runs down your fingers. My last time at trail camp my trusty blue campingaz burner worked great while my friends small lightweight also iso/propane gas stove would barely burn. The cold temps I guess but mine worked fine, it has a large burner. The answer is obvious right? Replace my worn out heavy stove with a similar unit, or maybe there are some other suggestions.

I like my MSR whisperlite. You can turn down the flame and simmer.

My first impression when I saw the jetboil was that I wanted to break out the wheelbarrow.

Seriously, I suppose that it is a good solution where weight of stove is not an issue, but fuel is, such as a month long trip. However, it seems like this device is a solution in search of a problem.

There are just a huge number of stoves available now....I was on a trip this weekend with a fellow who had just bought a cannister type, with piezo, for $20. There are a number in the 3oz range.

I think the issue with the lightability has more to do with the particular fuel than the stove. This year sees the appearance of a number of mixtures designed for altitude/cold, so I think it is less of an issue.

I've just never been a fan of the exploding bombs know as MSR's

I'm showing my age, but my 1975-vintage Svea 123 (not even the self-cleaning 123UR model!!) works just fine.

Only trouble is, when I have to fly somewhere, I can't take it or my fuel bottles with me any more (even empty and aired out). Thank you very much, Osama...

I bought an MSR "Pocket Rocket" canister stove on sale at REI MemDay weekend. We'll see how it works when we head out to UT/ID this summer, but I'll miss my trusty Svea...hope it doesn't get insulted and decide to quit on me the next time I use it...

I like my MSR Dragonfly. Burns practically any fuel, works at any altitude, very reliable and can go from low simmer to very high boil (great for melting snow in the winter). I noticed that Ken called MSR's exploding bombs, which they can be if you don't know how to use them. You just need to prime it for a couple of seconds - longer will assure a big flamer. The only thing that determines how high the flame goes is the amount of fuel you put in the wick before lighting the match.

The MSR flaming bombs are usually user errors, I know mine were.

I use a canister stove these days on all three season weekend trips. If it's cold the canister goes in the sleeping bag for the night...no problems.

I'll take my canister stove/ti pot set up over the Jet Boil, more versatility.

Bill

Another vote of confidence for the msr dragonfly. A couple years into it and no problems or complaints.

I just bought a Snow Peak Gigapower stove, and it seems to work great. Couldn't stand my MSR Whisperlite. All that priming and pumping takes valuable time.

I've been using my trusty MSR XG for years. Every time I decide to go lighter and get something new, I realize that it just works too well to switch just to save a few ounces. It always delivers and is a dependable workhorse, especially on long treks with multiple people along. On the other hand, canister types seem to work better for me when going solo. Guess to be prepared you have to have both types. Another toy- Don't tell the wife.

Sorry, my MSR is also a dragonfly, not a whisperlite. I meant to recommend the dragonfly.

Great info, I see that just like me, you guys have tried several stoves. I am going to try my jetboil at least on this trip but exchange it for one with a working piezo lighter. I need to stop by REI anyway since it looks like nasty weather is coming in on our summit day June 9th. I need to get some better crampons for my wife anyway.