How to Choose a Backpacking Stove

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The Jetboil Zip™ stove system delivers the same great performance and reliability of the original Jetboil at an even better price. It's more compact and lighter weight, too!
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View all Jetboil Backpacking StovesBest Use | Backpacking |
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Fuel Type | Canister |
Fuel | Isobutane-propane |
Integrated System | Yes |
Number of Burners | 1 Burner |
Burn Time (Max Flame) | 60 min. (100 g canister) |
Average Boil Time (1L) | 5 min. |
Dimensions | 4.1 x 6.5 inches |
Liquid Capacity (L) | 0.8 liters |
Liquid Capacity (fl. oz.) | 27 fluid ounces |
Weight | 11.75 ounces |
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When selecting gear for travel, my jetboil is at the top of my list. Its easy to use, light, compact and reliable. My Jetboil has accompianed me on multiple motorcycle adventures and never failed to deliver a piping hot meal at the start or end of the day. Versatile is a word I would use to decribe my jetboil as it can be used with camping pots or not depending on your meal plan. The base legs add to the stability of the jetboil but in my experiance I have not needed to use the additional base support. My experince with this product continues to be very positive.
I bought the Jetboil Zip as a light, cheap, easy to use stove. It succeeds well in each of those areas. My only complaint is the valve that controls the flow of fuel is not stable, and if you don't have the flow at full blast, moving the valve could shut off the flow of gas for just a moment causing the flame to go out. Since it does not have an igniter built in, this can be a hassle. If you want temperature control, this is a problem. If your only concern is the fuel being 'on' or 'off', this isn't a problem. But in the end I decided to stick with the Zip and not return it because it's still a very well built, stable, light, and comfortable cooking companion.
I recently got back into backpacking and didn't want to spend too much on a stove. I bought the Zip based on the reviews here and I wasn't disappointed. I used the stove in almost ideal conditions ... 50F-80F in southern Ohio, no wind. I used it to do what it does best ... boil water. I had all the hot water I needed, FAST! Wow, I was impressed with the speed of boiling. Worked great for dehydrated food packets and coffee. ONE TIP ... it conveniently packs back into the "Cup". The orange plastic stand goes first ... and it really works best if it goes in smooth side down! Great stove and packed well in the cup holder on the side of my pack!
Everything packed up so neatly making it really easy to transport. It boiled water really quickly. Some of the reviews say that's it's difficult to light but that was not my experience--it lights pretty standard. We used it on a backpacking trip to make oatmeal/coffee/etc. The only downside is that the pot doesn't hold a ton of water at one time, so if you are using it for more than one person you have to do a couple of rounds. This is pretty typical for backpacking gear though. Also nice that the stove is detachable so hypothetically you could use it with other gear if you wanted to. I'm very pleased with my purchase.
I've had this standard Jet Boil for several years. It boils water fast (which is all one needs to do on a backpacking trip), but this time we were decadent and brought 6 eggs and used the Jet Boil to make scrambled eggs. My only cons with it is that the igniter doesn't work, so we have to use a lighter to start it. Possibly the ceramic tip is cracked. Maybe newer models don't have this problem. Also, when we use the large fuel canister it's too big to pack in the mug so it has to be taken apart to be packed. The little plastic tripod it sits on is a little tippy. We always look for the flattest possible surface, because it can be top heavy when the mug is boiling full of liquid. I would recommend it just the same.
i like the zip because you can use your light my fire steel to light the stove. this way you won't have to worry about a faulty igniter after years of use. you can also use a bic, match, cigarette etc to ignite the stove. it gets the job done, the plastic cup that goes on the bottom is super cheaply made and doesn't fit tight to the bottom of the cup. its meant mostly from keeping the stove fins from snagging any gear inside your pack. and i do believe that if the zip would be droped on a hard rock from a height of 4 plus feet it'd definitely crack/break the plastic cup. other than that this stove is the best option bang for buck wise.
I have had the Jetboil Zip for 8 years. It was my first backpacking stove and I still use it and have had zero problems other than one time when I tried to use it to start a fire and it melted the plastic stabilizer. (It says not to do that...) it’s compact. The small fuel canisters fit in perfectly. I only use it to boil water though. If you want it to last, then that’s the only thing you need use it for. The only reason that I gave it 4 stars is because of the lack of starter. Some may see that as a win I.e. less parts to break, but personally, I really don’t like having to dig through my pack to find my lighter or matches. I trust Jetboil.
This is a great little cooking system. It boils water almost as fast as a microwave. We used it on an overnight trip and were very satisfied. One of the best things about the Jet Boil is that it all fits together into the cup, making a very compact, self-contained system. The temperature is a little difficult to control... seems it's full boil or off. We didn't try cooking anything requiring low heat but I suspect it might be a problem if we did. We also added on a Sumo cup that this entire system packs into, so we have 2 cups and can each eat straight from the bowl. Ingenious little product.
I have several stoves (gas and liquid), and 2 JetBoils, and while the JetBoil delivers fast boiled water, that's pretty much all it can do. If you are a boiled-water only cooker, this is the way to go. However, if you cook directly in it, it is hard to clean. Also, the stove is basically useless for skillet or other pot use. I range from day trips to week-long backpack adventures, and can choose which stove type I want/need. If you have only one stove, I would not suggest this unless you only wnat boiling water (it's great at that). It's tops at what it does, but it's a one trick pony.
I've used my Zip stove twice since it's purchase. Jetboil is by far the best modular cook system out there. It's lightweight and simple design make it what it is. I bought the optional coffee press (15$) and it's a great addition that packs into the existing stove with no problems. My only con is the temp control is very sensitive and I when decreasing the temp, I put the stove out on a few occasions and had to relight it. not a problem. it heats water and thats about it. Just make sure that if you are at temps below freezing, keep the fuel on you when hikingto keep it warm. I cold gel and not light,