Best Backpacking Stove Systems 2026 Ultralight Fast Efficient
Last Updated: April 22, 2026
By Jaeger Shaw
By Alan Dixon
Article written by humans. Contains affiliate links.
A paradigm shift in what makes the best backpacking stove system
A new paradigm has emerged in the ultralight backpacking stove landscape, and the performance bar is higher than ever. The optimal system now combines a heat exchanger (HX) pot with a wind-resistant, high BTU output, pressure-regulated burner. Together they offer lightning fast boil times, exceptional fuel economy, low weight, and unhindered performance in cold and wind. We call this combo a SuperStove, and if you don’t have one, it’s time to upgrade.
Buyer beware – the marketplace and has not caught up yet. Many brands are still producing and marketing old school systems that are either heavy, bulky, expensive, lack heat exchangers, lack pressure regulation, or are impractically ultralight and incapable of boiling water in cold wind.
Our assessments are grounded in a combination of hands-on field experience, and backed up by controlled performance boil speed and fuel-usage testing in simulated real world mountain morning conditions (35F, 5 mph wind) — conditions in which we believe your stove should be capable of handling.
While you’re here, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to SuperStoves, backpacking pots, backpacking food, freeze dried meals, long handle spoons, mugs, and water filters.
You make Adventure Alan & Co possible. When purchasing through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Here’s why you can trust us.
Best Backpacking Stove System
- Best Overall SuperStove System for 1-2P: MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe + Firemaple Petrel G2
- Lightest/Smallest SuperStove System: Soto WindMaster TriFlex + Firemaple Petrel Pot G3
Best Backpacking Stove Components
- Best Burner (tie): MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
- Best Burner (tie): Soto WindMaster 4-Flex / Tri-Flex
- Best Value Burner: Firemaple Greenpeak 2
- Best for Large Pots & Extreme Wind: Firemaple Polaris Remote
- Best HX Pot For Nesting Fuel: Firemaple Petrel G2
- Best HX Pot For Cooking & Eating Out Of: Fire Maple Petrel 800ml Ramen
- Best HX Pot for Solo Water Boiling: Firemaple Petrel G3
- Best All-Weather, All-In-One System: Jetboil MiniMo
Best Backpacking Stove System Comparison Table
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Note: Our test data set predates the existence of Firemaple Petrel G2 & G3 HX Pots. Retroactive field testing confirms they are as good as the HX pots featured in our test data.
| Make/Model | Price ($) | Weight (oz) | Heat Exchanger | Pressure Reg | Ignitor | Capacity (L) | Boil time 35F (sec) | Fuel per boil 35F (g) | Boil time 35F, 5mph wind (sec) |
Fuel per boil 35F, 5mph wind (g)
|
| MSR PRD + Olicamp XTS | 118 | 10.2 | yes | yes | yes | 1.0 | 1.8 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 7.5 |
| MSR PRD + Jetboil Stash Pot | 235 | 8.5 | yes | yes | yes | 0.8 | 1.5 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 6.2 |
| Jetboil Stash System | 150 | 7.1 | yes | no | no | 0.8 | 4.0 | 5.2 | ∞* | ∞* |
| Jetboil MiniMo System | 170 | 14.6 | yes | yes | yes | 1.0 | 2.0 | 5.7 | 4.0 | 7.9 |
| TD Caldera Alcohol | 80 | 6.4 | yes | n/a | no | 0.9 | 8.3 | 14.4 | 10.0 | 17.6 |
- *Incapable of heating water to boiling point on full heat output, given infinite time, 35F temps, and 5 mph wind
Backpacking Stove Comparative Testing
Ultralight Backpacking Stove Test Results Circa 2021
In addition to extensive backcountry experience with SuperStoves, we tested competing stoves with simulated real world conditions (i.e. a coolish morning with light winds that might commonly occur in a mountain camp), and recorded results against many other stove systems. See more on our testing methodology below.
No Boil Zone: The following stoves were unable to boil water. JetBoil Flash unable to stay lit. These stoves reached steady state temps as follows — BRS 3000 only reached 52 F! ETEKCITY 95 F. JetBoil Stash 160F. Pocket Rocket Kit 190F
Best Backpacking Stove Systems
Best Overall SuperStove for 1-2P Use & 4/8 oz Canisters
SuperStove is our nickname for the combination of any pressure-regulated, wind-resistant, high BTU output burner with a heat exchanger pot. This create an extremely efficient system that outperforms 99.99% of competing stoves, and the current best version is MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe + Firemaple Petrel G2. A SuperStove boils water lightning fast, uses fuel hyper-efficiently, and is barely affected by cold or wind. What’s more, you get all of that for just $120 – a dead average price tag for a complete high end stove system! Nothing else comes close in terms of performance or value. Learn more about SuperStoves in our comprehensive guide.
- Price: $120
- Complete System Weight: 10.6 oz (Petrel G2 pot, lid, neoprene sleeve, MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe, stove bag)
- Heat Exchanger: yes
- Pressure Regulator: yes
- Ignitor: yes
- Capacity to Rim: 1,000ml
- BTU Output: 10,400
- Pros: Optimal system. Very fast boil time. Very fuel efficient time. Performs excellently in cold wind. Neoprene retains heat. Stores small and medium canisters. Great value. Versatile size for 1-2P and eating in pot.
- Cons: Lighter and less bulky options exist, though they’re less effective.
Construction & Features
Starting from the bottom – our go-to SuperStove heats with an MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe. This burner is pressure regulated for performance in cold, features a cupped burner head designed to prevent wind from blowing the flame out/away, and includes a built-in piezoelectric ignitor to speed up the cooking process. The MSR PRD’s arms are very user friendly, offer a bit of give, and fold away neatly when not in use. The entire design feels well-made and long-lasting.
What makes the aluminum Firemaple Petrel G2 special is that it’s designed with a slotted heat exchanger (HX) base and has a wider than average diameter. This slotted corrugated ring speeds up boil time and decreases fuel usage by lowering the pot onto the burner, which concentrates heat, prevents heat drift off, and blocks wind. Its wider diameter base also helps with heat capture/transfer, and makes eating out of the pot easier.
The 1L chassis (though they claim 750 to max fill) is a perfect volume capacity for 1-2 people, cleanly nests small or medium sized fuel canisters, and is wide enough for in-pot eating. At 7.1 oz with neoprene sleeve (6.5oz without) It’s not the lightest option, but you will recoup that weight via improved fuel economy, and appreciate the in-camp time savings of its lightning fast boil. Note, we specifically choose to pair this pot with the MSR PRD instead of Windmaster Tri-flex because PRD’s longer arms balance the wider diameter base better.
Verdict
SuperStoves outperforms virtually all other systems on boil time, fuel economy, and wind/cold resistance, and this is the current best possible version. It’s what most backpackers should use on most trips.
Lightest & Smallest SuperStove for 1P Use & 4 oz Canisters
The smallest, lightest, and best SuperStove for solo-use combines the Soto Windmaster TriFlex with the Firemaple Petrel G3. Compared to the MSR PRD + Firemaple G2, this configuration is two ounces (~20%) lighter, less bulky, and less expensive, at the cost of being narrower, slower to boil, harder to eat out of, and unable to fit medium sized canisters.
- Price: $95
- Weight: 8.6 oz (Firemaple Petrel G3 Pot w/ lid, Soto WindMaster TriFlex, stove bag)
- Heat Exchanger: yes
- Pressure Regulator: yes
- Ignitor: yes
- Capacity to Rim: 800 ml (Firemaple says its max capacity is 600ml)
- BTU Output: 11,000
- Pros: Lightest, smallest, most economical version of SuperStove. Very fast boil time. Very fuel efficient. Performs excellently in cold wind. Exceptional value.
- Cons: Narrower pot diameter squanders some heat. Does not hold size medium canister. Too small for 2p use. Narrow and somewhat difficult for eating out of.
Construction & Features
This version of SuperStove is optimized for soloist who only need to boil water and carry a four ounce fuel canister. The hyper-efficient, high BTU output Soto Windmaster burner is pressure regulated, comes with a cupped head to block wind, and has a reliable Pietzo ignitor equal in virtually every way to MSR PRD. The Petrel G3 comes with a slotted heat exchanger base that, in addition to blocking wind and improving heat transfer, lowers the pot base closer to the flame, increasing balance, blocking even more, wind and further improving heat transfer.
While Soto Windmaster and MSR PRD are virtually equal burners in all regards, the WindMaster burner with TriFlex configuration slots perfectly into the notched heat exchanger slots of Fire Maple Petrel Stove (the best 1P sized HX pot), making them an obvious pairing for solo use.
Of course, Soto Windmaster works great with other pots too, but when not paired with a notched based like Petrel, we recommend substituting the heavier-but-more-secure 4-Flex arms back on, instead of the TriFlex. The biggest downsides to Fire Maple Petrel G3 are that its narrower diameter squanders max heat transfer potential, and makes eating directly out of the pot harder.
We recommend adding the neoprene sleeve, sold separately.
Editor’s note: This system replaces “FrankenStove” as our top solo pick because it isn’t economical enough to buy the complete Jetboil Stash System for just the pot when other HX systems exist.
Verdict
This is the lightest weight, lowest bulk SuperStove, and the two components fit together perfectly. Highly recommend for soloists who want optimal performance and need only to boil water and carry a 4 oz fuel can.
Best Backpacking Stove Components
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is our preferred stove burner. It is fully featured, beautifully made, highly effective in both testing and the backcountry, and has only one equal on the market – Soto WindMaster.
- Price: $85
- Stove Weight: 2.9 oz
- BTUs: 10,400
- Pietzo Ignitor: Yes
- Pressure Regulator: Yes
- Wind Tolerance: High
- Pros: Lightweight. Fast boil. Good fuel economy. Wind resistant. Pressure Regulated. Good arms. Ignitor. High BTU output.
- Cons: Expensive. Slightly lighter and more fuel efficient models exist.
Construction & Features
To begin with, MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is a truly exceptional burner with all of the right features. Its high BTU output boils extremely quickly without sacrificing much in the way of fuel economy. If you want to save fuel, use it at 25-50% output.
It is pressure regulated, maintaining performance in cold temperatures and with nearly-empty canisters. The cupped head prevents flame from immediately blowing sideways or out in strong wind. The convenience of a built-in piezoelectric ignitor makes the cooking process even faster. And the user-friendly arms fold out to offer a ridged, well-balanced pot platform. Basically, everything about this design feels thoughtful and well-made.
While MSR PRD is our team’s favorite, we acknowledge it to be functionally equal to Soto WindMaster, another exceptionally high performing burner.
Verdict
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is one of the two best backpacking stove burners. It has all of the right features, and exceptional backcountry performance in all conditions, and is our current go-to.
Soto WindMaster Tri-Flex & 4-Flex
The Soto WindMaster (4-Flex mode) (Tri-flex mode) is one of the two best backpacking stove burners. It is highly rated, extremely effective in all weather, and built with all of the right features. Its performance rivals our staff pick MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe in virtually every way, but can be even lighter in tri-flex mode, or have better balance in 4-flex mode, albeit at the cost more finnicky arms.
- Price: $70
- Stove Weight: 3.1 oz (with 4-Flex arms)
- BTUs: 11,000
- Pietzo Ignitor: Yes
- Pressure Regulator: Yes
- Wind Tolerance: High
- Pros: Lightweight. Fast boil. Good fuel economy. Wind resistant. Good arm balance on 4-flex. Good weight savings on Tri-flex. Good value.
- Cons: Somewhat finnicky stove arms. Slightly lighter and more fuel efficient models exist.
Construction & Features
Like the MSR PRD, Soto Wind Master has all of the right features and delivers exceptional backcountry performance. Its fuel pressure regulator improves performance in cold, and allows the stove to continue operating at near max until empty. The high BTU output yields exceptionally fast boil times in all conditions, and can also be cranked back when you wish to prioritize fuel economy over speed.
Its namesake wind mastery is due to the cupped burner head (since replicated by MSR PRD), which prevents the flame from being blown out and heat from drifting away. SWM also features a piezoelectric ignitor which further speeds up the start-to-finish cooking process.
Apart from being $15 less expensive than MSR PRD, where this design differs most is the modular arm system. In storage, the arms fold away and separate from the stove body. This makes it a bit easier to store, but a bit more work to assemble for use at camp. Two options are available, known as 4-Flex, and TriFlex.
Verdict
Soto WindMaster is one of the two best backpacking stove burners, has all of the right features, and exceptional backcountry performance in all conditions, and is equal in virtually every way to our top pick, the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe.
Firemaple Greenpeak 2 Backpacking Stove
For just over thirty bucks, Firemaple Greenpeak 2 meets all of our strict SuperStove criteria, and outperforms most other stoves costing 2-3x as much.
- Price: $33
- Weight: 3.4 oz
- Pressure Regulator: yes
- Pietzo Ignitor: yes
- Wind Tolerance: high
- BTU Output: 8878
- Pros: Exceptional value. Better than most stoves costing significantly more. Meets all SuperStove criteria. Fast boil time. Performs well in cold and wind. Clever arms.
- Cons: This is a slightly heavier, slower, less wind-resistant, lower quality version of the two best burners on the market.
Construction & Features
Until Greenpeak 2, SuperStove burners (PRD & Windmaster) cost $70-90, so it’s exciting to find one for less than half that price and only one ounce heavier. Pressure regulators are somewhat rare at all price points, which makes it particularly notable.
Like PRD & Windmaster, it has a cupped head to increase wind-resistance and prevent blow out. Only, they’ve cut gaps into the sides, which will degrade that benefit somewhat. It also has a high BTU output of nearly 9k for fast boiling. But again, slightly less than PRD & Windmaster, both over 10k.
The way the arms expand inward for holding small pots is clever. Firemaple would like to remind you that this stove is not compatible with the Petrel G3 pot, but G2 is good to go.
Verdict
Nothing about this stove is better than Windmaster or PRD, but it’s nearly as good, and far better than most others. All for less than half the price!
Firemaple Polaris Remote Pressure Regulated
At its core, the Firemaple Polaris Remote is a Pocket Rocket Deluxe clone tricked out with a remote fuel line, stable base, and wider arms. It is desirable for group cooking, or whenever windscreens are required.
- Price: $72
- Weight: 6.3 oz
- Pressure Regulator: yes
- Pietzo Ignitor: No
- Wind Tolerance: High (very high if wind screen added)
- BTU Output: 9895
- Pros: Very fast boil time. Fuel efficient. Performs excellently in cold wind. Remote fuel allows for windscreen and canister bath. Larger arms allow for group-sized pots. Specialist. Good value.
- Cons: Heavier and with fuel line bulk, so not worthwhile unless windscreen or large pots are required. Very loud.
Construction & Features
First and foremost, Polaris is a SuperStove burner! It has pressure regulation for use in cold temps and with near-empty canisters; a cupped head for wind resistance; and high BTU output for quick boil times. Essentially, it’s a modified PRD which you would choose for either of two specific use cases.
The first use case is group or gourmet cooking. Its low, stable base and longer arms allow you to safely pair it with larger volume pots like the Firemaple Feast K2 1.5L w/ heat exchanger. As an aside for choosing group pots, we recommend at least .5L per person, so the Feast K2 is good for three people. Size up accordingly.
The second use case is for strong wind and cold. Thanks to distance added by the remote fuel line, you can safely encase the stove and pot in a windscreen, such as Firemaple’s 503 9pc foldable, without fear of overheating (and exploding) the canister. This massively improves performance in strong wind on what was already a highly wind resistant SuperStove. A final advantage to the remote fuel line is that you can soak the canister in a water bath while cooking to keep it relatively “warm,” when temps drop below freezing.
Verdict
This is a specialist SuperStove burner to choose for group cooking and/or extreme weather, but not your daily driver. Add one to your quiver and you’ll be glad to have access.
Firemaple Petrel G2
Firemaple Petrel G2 is our editor’s choice heat exchanger pot and the current best-in-class option. Heat exchanger pots featured a corrugated base ring which traps heat, prevents heat drift, and blocks wind, which altogether speed up boil time and improve performance in bad weather. On top of that, it offers a notched heat exchanger base for improved balance and wind resistance, a neoprene sleeve to keep your food/water warm, a full width diameter which optimizes the in-pot cooking/eating experience, and all that for just $33. The fold up handle locks the wonderful Tritan plastic lid down well.
It fits either a 4 oz fuel canister and your stove, or an 8 oz fuel canister.
Downsides are that its size + heat exchanger base make it a bit bulky, and twice the weight of the lightest titanium options.
- Price: $30 | $33
- Weight: 6.5 oz | 7.1 oz (with neoprene sleeve)
- Volume: 1000 ml to top, (800 ml to max fill line)
- Material: Anodized aluminum pot, Tritan plastic lid, silicone grip.
- Features: Heat exchanger. Siliconized handle. Handle locks down lid. Wide diameter base.
- Nests: 8 oz fuel canister or 4 oz fuel canister + stove burner
- Pros: Lightweight. Great price. Exceptional value. Heat exchanger base adds wind resistance, improves fuel economy, decreases boil time. Notched base stabilizes arms, lowers pot onto flame for increased balance and wind resistance. Wide diameter improves heat transfer, easy to eat out of.
- Cons: A bit bulky. Lighter weight options exist, though they’re less efficient.
Firemaple Petrel G3
Firemaple Petrel Pot G3 was the first standalone heat exchanger pots with built-in stove arm notches that improve wind resistance and balance. Like all of the rest, its heat exchanger improves your stove’s boil time and fuel economy by trapping heat and blocking wind. It features a superb Tritan plastic lid, with a flip up lid-locking handle.
Aside from Jetboil Stash Pot (which can only be purchased as part of a $150 system, Petrel G3 is the best solo option because it is the lightest and most compact HX model. Inside it you can fit a stove and small size canister.
However, it’s held back from maximum greatness by the narrower-than-average diameter, which allows heat leakage out the sides and makes it harder to eat out of directly. As such, we recommend it primarily for boiling water – not in pot cooking.
Pair it with the Soto Windmaster Tri-Flex. The MSR PRD’s angled arms also fit G3’s slots, albeit much more awkwardly. A neoprene sleeve is also available, and we do recommend adding it.
- Price: $25
- Weight: 5.7 oz
- Volume: 800 ml to top, (600ml to max fill line)
- Material: Anodized aluminum pot, Tritan plastic lid, silicone grip.
- Features: Heat exchanger ring. Siliconized handle. Handle locks down lid.
- Nests: 4 oz fuel canister + stove burner
- Pros: Lightweight. Great price. Exceptional value. Heat exchanger base adds wind resistance, improves fuel economy, decreases boil time. Notched base stabilizes arms, lowers pot onto flame for increased wind resistance and balance.
- Cons: Narrow diameter pot shape squanders max heat transfer potential.
Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System
For use in cold, windy conditions, the Jetboil MiniMo is our all-in-one system of choice – though still slightly inferior to multi-component custom systems like a SuperStove. We’ve had great experiences cooking on MiniMo in Patagonia, famous for its intensely windy weather.
- Price: $170
- Weight: 14.6 oz (pot, lid, stove)
- Heat Exchanger: yes
- Pressure Regulator: yes
- Ignitor: yes
- Capacity: 1000 ml
- BTU Output: 6,000
- Wind Tolerance: High
- Pros: Performs great in wind and cold. Fuel efficient. Comes with pot. Super stable — can’t knock pot of burner. Insulated koozie. Wide pot is easy to clean and eat out of. Reasonably fast boil.
- Cons: Heavy. Expensive. Bulky. Customized SuperStove systems perform slightly better.
Construction & Features
The Jetboil MiniMo is the best pre-made, all-in-one, fully integrated stove system for use in challenging weather. This is thanks to its pressure regulator, FluxRing heat exchanger, and overall excellent fuel economy.
Fully-integrated backpacking stoves are always bulkier and heavier than standalones or hybrids, which is why we only use them when necessary. That said, MiniMo does a good job of minimizing this downside. Everything packs down into the pot and the whole system weighs less than a pound. However, that is about twice as heavy as Jetboil Stash or and 50% heavier than a SuperStove.
The Jetboil pressure regulator is a critical benefit in that it allows the stove to perform in cold temperatures when others would falter and reduce heat output. The same is true when using a nearly empty canister. Pressure regulators are of huge benefit to stoves, and well worth a bit of extra weight and cost. Jetboil claims MiniMo can perform in temps down to 20.
In our testing, Jetboil MiniMo boiled water quickly and easily in cold windy, bested only by FrankenStove, SuperStove, and its slightly bulkier, heavier, and much more expensive peer – the MSR Reactor.
With MiniMo, you’re getting a conveniently short and wide 1L sized cook pot. It can even store a 230g fuel canister! It is wide and excellent for cooking and eating out of. However, if you will always be cooking solo and mostly not eating out of the pot, it might make sense to instead choose it’s slightly smaller sibling, the Jetboil MicroMo backpacking stove. MicroMo weighs two ounces less and has a narrower, 0.8L sized pot.
Verdict
The Jetboil MiniMo Stove is the best blend of price, effectiveness in cold/wind, weight/bulk minimization, and fuel economy among all-in-one system. That being said, it is too heavy to be considered for use as a daily driver, and slightly less effective than a SuperStove. But if you love an all-in-one, go for the MiniMo.
FrankenStove
Our test winner and first ever SuperStove, but no longer recommended because standalone HX pots approximately equal to Stash can be purchased for 20% of the price.
FrankenStove combines the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Burner with a Jetboil Stash Pot to create the most optimal SuperStove configuration possible from a performance stats perspective. No other system in our testing boiled water faster, few best its fuel economy, and FrankenStove even outperforms mountaineering-specific designs in cold, windy weather. It is marginally more effective than our default SuperStove configuration, but costs more than twice as much. We generally only recommend FrankenStove to those who already own a Jetboil Stash Pot. Learn SuperStoves in our comprehensive guide.
- Price: $235
- Weight: 8.5 oz (Pot, lid, stove, stove bag)
- Heat Exchanger: yes
- Pressure Regulator: yes
- Ignitor: yes
- Capacity: 800 ml
- BTU Output: 10,400
- Pros: Fastest boil time. Excellent fuel economy. Lightweight and packable. Best performance in cold/wind. Rattle-proof.
- Cons: Potentially hazardous burner-pot combo according to manufacturer. Very expensive. Mainly for boiling, cooking requires great care. Only fits small canisters. Pot is slightly too small to nest the burner in addition to a fuel canister.
Construction & Features
The idea for FrankenStove was born on a whim out of obsessive testing and gear-hacker curiosity. Running each stove system through a gauntlet of cold/wind boil speed and fuel-usage tests, we determined that the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Burner, in combination with the pot from Jetboil Stash, was the most effective combination possible in challenging real world conditions. Here’s why:
To begin with, MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is a truly exceptional burner with all of the right features. Its high BTU output boils extremely quickly without sacrificing much in the way of fuel economy. It is pressure regulated, maintaining performance in cold temperatures and with nearly-empty canisters. The cupped head prevents flame from immediately blowing sideways or out in strong wind. The convenience of a built-in pietzoelectric ignitor speeds up the cooking process. And its user-friendly arms fold out to offer a well-balanced pot platform. Basically, everything about this design feels thoughtful and well-made. While MSR PRD is our team’s favorite, we acknowledge it to be functionally equal to and interchangeable with Soto WindMaster, another exceptionally high performing burner.
As much as we love the MSR PRD, the 5.1 oz aluminum Stash Pot shines even brighter, and is even more best-in-class. This pot is truly unequaled, and further separated from its peer group in terms of performance above replacement level. It’s 31% lighter than the second best pot – Olicamp XTS, and yielded a slightly faster boil time and slightly better fuel economy when tested on the same burner. And that’s to say nothing of how much better it is than a minimalist titanium model (way, way, way better). On top of that, the Stash Pot nests a 110g fuel canister upside down in its lid, which prevents rattling and also holds a lighter. Jetboil Stash Pot is the best backpacking cookware to have ever been designed.
All that said, there are downsides. First and foremost, the Jetboil Stash Pot is only approved for safe use with the Jetboil Stash Burner, a low BTU output unit. While we have yet to see this, it’s theoretically possible that the relative 2X heat output of MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe could damage the pot or the heat exchanger fins, and it definitely increases the likelihood of burning food on the bottom of the pot while cooking. See more in the safety warning below.
Furthermore, FrankenStove is very expensive. Assembling this combo requires purchasing the entire Stash System, only to chuck the burner and replace it with an MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe. The only stove system more expensive than FrankenStove is the MSR Reactor. One final and minor downside is that the MSR PRD is just enough larger than the Stash Burner that it cannot fit nested inside the pot alongside a canister.
Safety Warning
The Jetboil Stash Pot was designed exclusively for use with the Jetboil Stash Burner. Using the Jetboil Stash Pot with any other burner is hazardous, voids the warranty, risks product damage due to overheating, and personal injury. Please read Jetboil Stash System User Manual for more information about proper and safe handling of this cooking system and other risks associated with operating the stove. Anyone using the Stash Pot in any way other than exactly as intended by Jetboil acknowledges the risks they are taking, and is wholly responsible for their own actions and safety. Please refer to our terms and conditions of service for more information about use of this website and the content therein.
Verdict
FrankenStove is lightweight, highly packable, fuel-efficient, and boils water faster than any other stove system. It is so effective in cold and wind that it even outperforms mountaineering all-in-one stoves. For all of the above reasons, FrankenStove is our editor’s choice award winner for being the most effective stove system possible. However, it is highly expensive, and combines two products that were not meant to be combined in a way that the manufacturer considers to be hazardous. Proceed with caution!
Firemaple Polaris Remote Fuel for large pots and pans
Best Backpacking Stove Pro Tips & Buyer Info
What is a SuperStove?
A SuperStove is the combination of a heat exchanger pot (e.g. Olicamp XTS), with a wind resistant (cupped head) and pressure regulated burner (e.g. MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe). A SuperStove outperforms all other stove types in all conditions by a large margin. Key performance improvements are 1) it has exceptionally fast boil times, 2) is highly fuel efficient, and most importantly 3) cold and wind have very little effect on its measurable performance (boil times and fuel efficiency). The vast majority of conventional backcountry stoves choke in cold and wind — many not able to boil water at all. Learn more about SuperStoves in our comprehensive guide.
Criteria For Choosing A Backpacking Stove Burner
- Fuel Efficient (very important)
- Weighs 2-3 oz (very important)
- At least 3 arms, fold down for storage (very important)
- Pressure Regulated (very important in cold)
- Cupper burner head (very important in wind)
- Boils Quickly (important)
- High BTU output (important)
- Output ranging from simmer to full blast (important for cooking)
- Titanium construction (nice to have)
- Piezoelectric Ignitor (nice to have)
- Four arms (nice to have)
How To Choose A Backpacking Pot For Your Backpacking Stove
What follows are our recommendations for choosing a pot to pair with your stove. See more in our guide to the best backpacking pots.
- Approximate capacity of 0.8-1.0 liters, best all-around size for 1-2 backpackers
- Weighs 4-7 oz, nests fuel canister, fold-out handle, siliconized grip
- First Choice: aluminum body with heat exchanger. Improves boil time, fuel economy, blocks wind. Best all around
- Second Choice: titanium body minimizes weight, maximizes durability. Best for very short, fair weather trips
- Third Choice: aluminum body, no heat exchanger, 1.3L. Best for in-pot gourmet cooking for 2P, least likely to burn food
Cold Weather Usage Tips For Isobutane Fuel Canisters
When you see canister fuel advertised as “4 season,” take it with a grain of salt. There is no way to get around vapor pressure, and pressure regulated stoves can only do so much. This kind of fuel may have slightly higher propane levels that will burn off first, but it is not cold-resistant. When it’s cold, the best way to burn your fuel most efficiently in the backcountry is to baby it.
When walking all day, store the fuel canister up against your lumbar in your pack. This way, your body temperature can trap some heat inside your pack and help keep the canister warmer. Don’t store it in any external or pockets. As soon as you arrive in camp, put your canister in your puffy jacket or another insulating layer to warm it up before cooking. When it comes time to cook, put the fuel canister in shallow, 32+ degree water to keep the temperature right at freezing. You’ll get optimal performance and efficiency this way.
At bedtime, slip the fuel canister into your sleeping bag. It might not be the most comfortable snuggle buddy, but it will save you time heating up water for your morning coffee or tea. Create or find your own windscreen to protect the burner from wind — e.g. shelter the stove behind natural objects, such as logs and rocks. But be very careful not to contain/concentrate heat around the stove’s fuel canister, e.g. a ring of aluminum foil. That’s a big safety hazard and all stove manufacturers have huge warnings NOT to do this.
Liquid Feed, Inverted Canister Backpacking Stove Systems
In really cold conditions, an inverted feed stove like this Soto Fusion Trek performs wonderfully. The inverted liquid feed takes vapor pressure out of the equation, and because the burner is separated from the pot by a feed line, you can put a full windscreen around the burner without risk of overheating the canister.
Pot Size Relative to Group Size
For optimal group camping, we find it best to have one complete stove system for every two backpackers. This speeds up the cooking process when everyone is hungry at dinner time, adds redundancy, and reduces collective gear bulk (in the sense that it’s more space-efficient to pack two 1L pots than one 2L pot). However, some situations may require deviating from this logic, such as complex menus, odd numbered groups, or a disproportionate ratio of children to adults.
Recommended pot size relative to group size
- 800 ml capacity – Optimal for 1p-use, acceptable for 2p-use
- 1000 ml capacity – Optimal for mixed 1-2p use
- 1300 ml capacity – Optimal for exactly 2p use
- 2000 ml capacity – Optimal for 3-4p use*
*Better to bring two stoves and two 1L pots, but some situations/group dynamics/menus may warrant a larger pot.
Titanium Pot vs Aluminum Pot For Use With A Backpacking Stove
Both materials have their merits, and neither is strictly better than the other.
- Pros of aluminum: Accommodates heat exchanger base. Lightweight. Durable. Affordable. Good heat transfer. Even heat distribution. Better for cooking. Our first choice.
- Cons of aluminum: Heavier and less durable than titanium – but still light and durable in the grand scheme of things.
- Pros of titanium: Ultralight. Very Durable.
- Cons of titanium: Does not accommodate heat exchanger base. Expensive. Poor heat transfer, uneven heat distribution. Our second choice.
Aluminum Pot with Heat Exchanger vs Titanium Pot Without Heat Exchanger
In cold and windy weather, we always recommend bringing a pot with a heat exchanger base. However, in warm, calm, and otherwise fair conditions, the weight savings of a minimalist ultralight titanium pot could be more advantageous and desirable than the thermal efficiency of an aluminum heat exchanger base pot. Based on our testing, a heat exchanger base saves 0.2 oz of fuel for each pint of water boiled compared to a minimalist titanium pot. So depending on the length of your trip and how much cooking you intend to do, a heavier pot with heat exchanger could save weight, even if the pot body is 2-3 ounces heavier to start with. But for short trips (2-3 days) in fair weather, an ultralight titanium pot is slightly more weight efficient even after accounting for reduced fuel economy.
Best Backpacking Stove Test Data & Methodology
In addition to extensive experience testing stoves in the backcountry, we also tested them in a controlled environment at home which simulated challenging real world conditions. We used the following methodology:
- Outside in 35F/1.5C temperatures
- Tested with and without 5 mph wind made by box fan, measured with an anemometer
- At sea level
- Stoves turned to max heat output
- Boiling 16 oz/.5L of water
- Measured time to reach 212F/100C, same thermometer each time.
- Weighed fuel canister before and after each boil test to record fuel expenditure. Scale accurate to 0.01 g.
Note: FrankenStove’s measured boil time decreased in wind test due to minor variances in real world testing, margin of error, decimal rounding, and FrankenStove’s inherently excellent wind resistance.
No Boil Zone: The following stoves were unable to boil water. JetBoil Flash unable to stay lit. These stoves reached steady state temps as follows — BRS 3000 only reached 52 F! ETEKCITY 95 F. JetBoil Stash 160F. Pocket Rocket Kit 190F
Best Backpacking Stove Conclusion
Thank you for reading this guide to the best backpacking stove, where we hope you found your next backcountry cooking system. We’re absolutely confident that we have identified the best and most efficient stoves on the market for boiling water and basic food prep. In summary, we recommend assembling a SuperStove, which means pairing a heat exchanger pot with a pressure regulated, cupped-head burner for optimal fuel economy, boil time, and weather-resistance. Happy hiking, happy camping, and bon apetite!
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I took some needle nose pliers and adjusted the upper arms of my Pocket Rocket Deluxe to align with the center of the stove, so that they fit perfectly on my FireMaple G3 pot. It was not difficult at all, and only took a few minutes. The arms fold nicely.
Clever gear hack!
How important is it to have the stove arms to fit notches in the heat exchanger? I’ve seen at least improved windworthiness as large part of the value for heat exchangers and I am wondering whether it is signficantly reduced if the arms do not fit notches.
On another note, I think the new Primus Lite Ultra looks extremely interesting.
Hi Henri!
I don’t think it’s critical to have the stove arms fit into HX notches, but I definitely think it is advantageous and worth having in terms of a moderate wind resistance increase. It also helps the pot from sliding off small stove arms. If you are shopping for a new system, i would definitely choose one w/ slots.
That primus looks interesting, and very “jetboil.” Will have to check it out, thanks for the tip!
Great review! Is it possible to replicate the testing at say 7,000 ft or even 10,000 feet? I’m also curious about the Primus.
Thanks for all of your work!
Thanks Scott! My hypothesis is that all stoves would be affected approximately equally as you raise altitude, but I can’t say with certainty. Still need to track down a Primus Lite Ultra.
Would love to see a comparison of the Fire Maple Greenpeak, Greenpeak Pro, and Greenpeak II, which I’d expect to not be at the same level as the PocketRocket DLX and Soto Windmaster, but could perhaps be great budget choices? Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback! Next up I’ll be testing the Firemaple quickboil pro system.
This guide is looking great, especially the updated take on the Jetboil Stash. Dropping it makes sense given how poorly the burner does in wind, and the SuperStove pairings you recommend now line up really well with what Gear Skeptic showed in his testing.
One thing that might be worth calling out more directly is how burner height affects heat transfer. The Pocket Rocket Deluxe works great with wider pots like the Petrel G2, but can miss some heat on narrower ones like the G3. The WindMaster’s lower burner sits closer to the pot and does better with smaller diameters.
Also appreciate the note about the Petrel’s notched HX base. That pairing with the WindMaster TriFlex really is solid for both stability and efficiency. I’m going to recommend that to friends looking for a new stove system.
Love that you’re doing cold + wind testing now. That’s such a key piece that a lot of reviews overlook. This feels really dialed in.
Thanks, yeah! We love stash, but it hasn’t aged well as the HX pot marketplace matured.
For the sake of flexiblity/backup
Can I use an alcohol stove without damaging the pots?
Or a wood fire (rocket stove)?
Do you mean backpacking pots generally (in which case yes, both are fine) or specifically heat exchanger base pots? I don’t believe Alan or I have tested alcohol or twig stoves with an heat exchanger. To my knowledge, isobutane fuel burns hotter than alcohol or wood fuel, so it would probably be okay. But no guarantees and not something we can endorse based on experience.
Alan-
Since this was written, another factor to consider, is that there has been some changing views on the fire dangers of alcohol stoves and the fact that they may not even be permitted in some areas. It’s tough to balance with the canister stove recycling issues vs the increased wild fire dangers and prohibition of non canister stove systems. Seems like a topic that should be included in the discussion when you update this page. Also, for UL cooking systems, it seems like the canister/BRS3000 and homemade wind protection (like a sit pad or finding a spot with rocks/trees) has become the gold standard vs the Jetboil. BRS Stove 0.88oz, Toaks 550 mL pot w no handle 1.5oz, DIY foil lid 0.1oz , 4 oz fuel canister 7.4oz, pot grabber–use buff or gloves, wind protection 0 oz for a total of 9.88 oz which allows easy boiling of water for re-hydrating meals. Thanks for all the great info on your site!
Sorry for the late reply Brent. Yes, with hotter summers and more fires in the West, Parks are going to look at ways to reduce fire hazards from backpacking stoves, no doubt! But FWIW I don’t think that the Kojin, TD is any more of a fire risk than a canister stove. Case in point, I know that SEIKI that has very strict fire restrictions but does allow alcohol stoves. They consider them in the same category and canister stoves. And FWIW the Kojin stove can be put out just as easily as a canister stove. You can blow it out like a birthday candle and cap it, essentially reducing it to a non-burning fuel container no different than a canister stove. And once the fuel is in the stove, even uncapped it will not spill. That being said, you must ALWAYS comply with park regulations.
As to your BRS system, it does some disadvantages vs. the Jetboil or the TD Caldera. 1) it lacks a heat exchanger so not as fuel efficient. 2) the pot can easily be knocked off the stove. 3) the 550 ml pot is quite limiting both in the amount of water you can boil and it is hard to simmer or cook a meal in the pot as their isn’t sufficient volume to contain the food and stir. In comparison, I can easily cook for my wife and I in the 900 ml Toaks TD Calera system. But to each their own. Wishing you a great year of trekking. Best, -alan
Best, -alan
Thank you Alan.
Randy
Hi Alan,
My brother and I are walking for 6 days on the AT the last week of October. How much alcohol fuel would you take for trip of this length? I am thinking 14-16 oz..
I have a homemade kit weighs 10oz, I use a zelph stove. I also thinking of using my pocket rocket with a small canister kit weighs 14 oz..
Thank you for your Help,
Randy
Randy sorry for the late reply. Have been out guiding for the last few weeks. My rule of thumb is about 0.5 fl oz of alcohol for every pint boiled in my Trail Designs Caldera System. That being said, it could be cold in Oct so some margin over this would be prudent. And remember that if you are doing “hot” drinks like hot chocolate at night or Via in the morning you can use treated water and only heat to 130-140F. That will save you some fuel. Wishing you a great trip. Warmest, -alan
Awesome info here, thanks so much for putting it together!
What I’m a bit lost about is:
– how do the trade-offs change when cooking for two, and heating up 1qt in a GSI tea kettle, for example. Does that take forever in a caldera cone?
– is it at all feasible to saute something on an alcohol stove, or does it only really work if everything is well closed? And the diameters of the cone&pot/pan/kettle are perfectly matched?
– I see that TD has simmer rings for the 12-10, do they work and are they worth it?
Hi Thorsten, good questions. Here are some responses
Finally, I am just wondering what your interest in simmering is. For the most part, people interested in ultralight stove systems are usually interested in boiling water and either do cook-in-bag meals, or like Alison and I might do a 1-2 minutes simmer after boiling to complete hydration. That is, these ultralight systems are not designed with gourmet trail cooking as a first priority.
Hope this helps, Warmest, -alan
> I am just wondering what your interest in simmering is.
Good question! Wanting to pack light doesn’t necessarily mean one has little time to cook. I was thinking about a risotto, for example. It’s light, easy, tasty. Also, it can be nice to stir the pot for 30 minutes while it cooks. But I assume the real issue it the fuel weight this adds.
I’ve been reading more about the fire restrictions in California and that is seriously dampening my excitement about alcohol stoves, sigh.
I think better gas options have become avaliable since this was written, the msr wind burner for example has a regulated burner and is as impervious to wind as the caldera (I own both).
Yes Rob, there have been impovements. And yes, I intend to update this with some of the better options. But note that none of the canister stoves (even the best ones) will be as light as an alcohol stove. Warmest -alan
Thanks Alan the wood thing looks like more time and work. I have a small light weight alcohol kit that works great.
Randy
Alan,
Really like your website! I have used your advice a lot, my pack is so much better.
I have done some research on the solo stove and was wondering your thoughts on using a wood burning stove?
Thank you
Randy
Hi Randy, excellent Q. For me, wood burning stoves just take too much time — time I’d rather spend on other things. You have to find small pieces of wood, then likely break them into smaller pieces, and then feed them into the stove over time. I guide clients with stoves like this and I’ve eaten my dinner and washed up by the time they finally get enough of a fire going to put their pot on the top of the stove. And weight savings is negligible vs. an alcohol stove on most trips. Finally, most of the places I like to backpack have a ban of fires which includes wood burning stoves. That being said, I know some people who immensely enjoy the fire thing and are more than happy to dedicate some time to it. So if fires aren’t banned, then by all means have some fun with a small wood burning stove. Wishing you a great year of hiking. Warmest, -alan
I think the best feature of the cone, if its titanium, is the ability to burn wood if out of alcohol.
Best feature of an alcohol stove is, IMO, the easy of finding fuel. Drug store, grocery store, hardware store, camping store.
Yup, good points Gary. Warmest, -alan
Ditto on the compliments for the great site. I also have a range of stoves and vary depending on the trip and companions, including trips with my children where I might do more ‘interesting’ food. I find I often use the Solti pot with the newer Jetboil stove that has the regulator, but have swapped the cup for a Toaks 400 ml cup that fits on the bottom of the stove – I can have coffee in this while meals are cooking, or more water is on the boil for freezer bag cooking. I think I read somewhere that the Evernew cup fits a little better. If travelling with one of my children, they might have a small titanium frypan to eat out of but also to offer options like omelette in the morning. Of course, all of these are options with wood, alcohol or Esbit stoves but I must admit if carrying the kids gear I usually have less energy to ‘fiddle’ with cooking. I find that the choice of meals for a trip and how many are being cooked for directly influences cookware, but also inevitably the stove option . In any case, it is important to consider that any additional participants in the meals should add flexibility to cooking options by using additional cookware options where appropriate, rather than just eating. Of course those options must fit with the stove choice and other requirements such as expected fuel usage and environmental considerations such as weather, shelter and altitude to cook your meals. I think you have successfully pointed out that there is no one size fits all approach.
Thanks Chris. I need to checkout the Evernew cup. Warmest, -alan
Great site and info Alan. Been running with a Vargo Decagon titanium alcohol since 2009 and have never looked back. In my youth (I started this adventure in 1967 on the Appalachian Trail) it was a good old camp fire but I eventually graduated in high school to a SEVA 123 which at the time was the cats meow. Later it was the new MSR whisperlite international stove because I like the option of not only burning white gas i.e. coleman fuel but in a pinch could use unleaded gasoline or kerosene. Never fancied the canister fuel option because of the half spent can dilemma and the hassle of disposing of the expired cans (HAZMAT) so I have steered away from that option. Generally speaking denatured alcohol is readily available in just about town with a hardware store and in a pinch I have used isopropyl alcohol but I don’t recommend this because of the lack of BTU’s generated using isopropyl vs. denatured. Takes forever just to warm, not boil, warm up a coffee mug of water. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your wisdom and vast knowledge. Swagman
The Caldera Cone System comes with the 12-10 stove. If I go with your suggestion to use the Zelph StarLyte instead, any thoughts on what to do with the 12-10? Or can I save a few bucks and keep the 12-10? This will be my first alcohol stove, so I don’t have a reference point. Thanks for your advice.
The 12-10 is faster, so I would probably hang on to it for times when you want a quicker boil. And to make sure, you are getting the standard Starlite with the larger burner area, yes? Enjoy your new cooking setup. -a
Do you find that fire restrictions affect your use of an alcohol stove? I am trying to decide whether to buy a Caldera or a Jetboil. Coming from Southern California where there is ongoing drought, it seems that alcohol stoves are not permitted in many forest areas. Per the PCTA website (http://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/backcountry-basics/fire/) it looks like many fire restrictions are much more lenient towards canister stoves.
Will, you are correct, fire restrictions are much kinder to canister stoves. The most conservative choice if you are buying only one stove, would be a canister stove like the JetBoil. I have both types. The TD alcohol stove is my first choice, but I sometimes have a canister stove as a backup in the car in case of last minute reg changes. That being said, there are far more times when I get to use the alcohol stove. Have a great hiking season, -alan
I always leave out with a full can and save the partial full can for car camping. Some through hikers on tight budgets appreciate these as donations. Avoid leaving very empty cans in donation because this is more of a problem than a help. Please be considerate.
Here’s a solution for the half full canister issue:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ULA45JG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Sounds like a good idea. Only comment is that the propane usually burns of faster than the butane. So guessing that after a few transfers you’ll have mostly butane and little or no propane. Not the end of the world.
But having only butane fuel (rather than a Propane/butane mix) does have cold weather implications since Propane with its higher vapor pressure is the fuel of choice in cold Wx. The only reason is that backpacking canisters are not all Propane is that the strength/weight of a canister to contain 100% Propane (much higher vapor pressure) would be way too heavy to take backpacking. Weigh a 100% Propane fuel canister and you’ll see what I mean. Best, -alan
Hi Allen! I’ve been using the refill adapter for years with never a problem or complaint. It takes less than 10 minutes to pull the gear from it’s storage space, fill a can as needed (easy to use a scale and fill only what I need for a specific trip) and put it all away. A definite must for any canister stove user. Since the can doing the filling is inverted and draining liquid fuel, I wonder if the gas separation is an issue?
P.S. I’m a huge fan of your site, it’s the first place I point folks to when they have backpacking questions. Thank you!
A great competitor to the JetBoil is MSR’s WindBurner. It’s essentially the same weight, does MUCH better in the wind, boils faster, holds heat longer, and has an overall “built well feel”. Having used both, I’m sold on the WindBurner.
As for the canisters… It’s probably not the best UL thing to do, but I’ll typically bring 2 canisters when I know one is close to empty. I record the weight after every trip in marker so I have a pretty good idea how much fuel per day I’m using and whether said canister needs a backup. Once empty, the crush-it key from JetBoil works like a charm.
Alan, I have and use both. (Caldera Cone/Kmart Grease pot ~7oz, Jetboil Sol Aluminum ~10oz) For short two and three day trips, I prefer the alcohol stove. For 4-5 day trips it really doesn’t matter. For up to 11-12 day trips I usually bring a canister. This is the max I can go on one 230gm canister. For longer, I go with an old WG stove that weighs about 17oz. I agree completely, half full canisters are NO fun.
The Caldera sheet metal cone is nicely designed but has sharp edges which could cut you or cut fabric. Spend 3 minutes sanding the edges with medium grit sandpaper and it will make it much smoother.
A point of clarification: the Jetboil Sol Ti is still available on Amazon even though it’s been discontinued by the manufacturer. The melting issues as I understand were occurring because people would start the stove without first filling it with water! Very silly to do with any stove but with titanium the abrupt expansive forces will snap the fins off of the base. It’s unfortunate when good (in this case great) products are dropped because people don’t use them properly.
Without the legs and soup cup (both unnecessary) mine is in the 8 oz range (plus fuel). I used to carry a fancy feast alcohol stove but have found that the Jetboil system with canisters actually weighs less on trips of more than three days due to the much energy density of isopropyl. That and I can boil ~3-4 cups of water in the same time as 1 using alcohol.
+1 on the partial canister comment. Although a very accurate estimation of remaining fuel can be made by measuring full and empty canister weights then interpolating the current weight.
I am planning a CDT thru next year and I want to take my TriTi with me, but I am concerned about burn bans prohibiting alcohol stoves on one hand and the logistics of refueling canister stoves on the other. So I was wondering if I could find a compromise. I was thinking I would supplement TriTi with a tiny canister stove (like a MSR Pocket Rocket), using the canister inside the cone as a windscreen/pot stand if and when burn bans affected me. To keep pack weight down, I would not carry the wood-burning kit with the TriTi, relying on alcohol, with the canister as my backup fuel, to cook.
Sound reasonable?
Good contemplations Clay.
Hope this helps and have a great hike, -alan
Alan, thank you again for your priceless site and valuable feedback. I’ve been doing a lot of research – two years worth. My Ti-Tri Sidewinder w/ Toaks has been ordered and should be in the mail any day now. I’m curious as to why you didn’t make much–if any–mention of Esbit/hexamine? Is it just that you prefer the ‘Greener’ fields of denatured alcohol, or am I missing something?
Nothing wrong with Esbit. It is ligher than alcohol (same energy/per weight as canister fuels–so double that of alcohol). I personally find the Esbit smell slightly nauseating and it puts me off my feed for dinner which is why I don’t use it. But others do not feel this way.
Major downside is that if you need to do air travel, Esbit is very difficult to purcahse when you land. -a
I noted that you use the original Zelph stove instead of the “modified” Zelph stove which is supposedly better-suited for use with the Caldera system. Any particular reason?
Actually the original is better for wider diameter pots in the 0.9 to 2 liter range like TD’s Toaks. It works just fine in the Caldera. The standard Zelpf burns faster than the mod’ed one but has the same fuel efficiency. So you get your coffee or meal faster but don’t waste fuel. (And FWIW these large diameter pots transfer heat better and are more fuel efficient than small diameter “pots” like the SnowPeak 600 ml mug, and beer can pots. They are also a lot easier to cook in and clean.)
The mod’ed burner was created for low volume, small diameter pots like the SnowPeak 600 ml mug, and beer can pots. It has a smaller concentrated flame for the smaller bottom of these pots. And because you aren’t boiling all that much water the slower boil time is not as big a deal.
While I do like alcohol stoves, I have recently been working on backpacking dinners (curry chicken, chicken alfredo, beef stew) that require some simmering to come out well. For me the JetBoil Minimo at a fairly light weight (14.6 oz) (personal base weight is nearing 8lbs) does the trick. Also found it on sale at $90. So I am willing to sacrifice some weight to be able to boil water for coffee, and simmer my slightly better than most option dinners. Just a thought and it has taken me a ton of time to figure out how I want to eat while hiking.
Good info. I am only about 8 trips into my JetBoil Flash. I love the efficiency and speed and the only concern is that the piezo igniter is not that reliable (I am afraid it will fail totally and soon). I am reading up on the igniters and they seem to be a problem for others, too.
Gary, I would suggest always bringing some other form of ignition. Piezo igniters are notoriously unreliable. Not just JetBoil but most stoves. Not really sure why they are on stoves to begin with. All the best, -alan
Alan……thanks so much for the thoughtful review! A few notes …..possibly a little down in the “nits”…..but thought I would pass them along:
1) The rig you evaluated is called the Ti-Tri Sidewinder…..and being our Ti-Tri (Titanium 3-fuel) it will also support a wood fire! Good fall back option at minimum should you run out of fuel…..though we have many customers that use wood as their primary fuel completely eliminating carried fuel weight
2) We do have a “Caldera Sidewinder” that is just an alcohol/esbit solution….aluminum cone instead of titanium…..and as such comes in at a price point about 1/2 of the Ti-Tri system you reviewed. Here’s a link to our Caldera Sidewinder Solo: https://www.traildesigns.com/stoves/caldera-sidewinder-solo
3) The quoted price of $120 includes the pot. That’s a fair thing to bundle into your price as you’re comparing it to the JetBoil that includes a pot. To your and Jeff’s comments, the pot and the cone are titanium, and as such come in at a slightly higher price point. The system is also available without the pot for $79.95.
Thanks again for the great review!
Rand :-)
All good points Rand. Will revise accordingly.
Have both, love both. Have had no problems with either.
There is no determining factor as to which I’ll use during an outing, but I do like the increased speed at which the Jetboil operates. Sometimes hotter faster is what I want…….. Plus the ability to fry is so much better using my Jetboil…….. And I haven’t any problem with the empty canisters. And yes, I do use them up, if not on the trail, then I use them up in the field during working hours, or simply by having a cup of coffee in the backyard. Puncture the empty and toss. And I never leave the country so not finding fuel has never presented a problem for me ……… yet.
But in all honesty, most times I lollygag about and don’t mind just hanging out with my Caldera Cone. Plus, which is a big plus, no noise to speak of….. love that. No jet fighter noise to deal with. So comforting….. Late in the evening, or up early in the morning boiling water for my cocoa, coffee, or tea…… just listening to the wonderful world in the wilds. I probably use my Caldera Cone close to 70% of the time.
Thanks Dave, my experience as well. I either have the time for the Caldera to boil, and/or I have plenty of camp tasks to do. I rarely, if ever have lost time waiting for a boil. Quiet is good.
It’s certainly possible, maybe even probable that Jetboil is playing games with advertised weight. I usually leave the tripod at home, and I don’t find stability to be a problem with the shorter Sol. I’ve heard some people also leave the bottom measuring cup/cover at home, and use something lighter for the lid. Of course, that goes beyond the scope of your discussion. I would worry about the Titanium fins being unprotected in light of reliability reports, but maybe I could see leaving behind the bottom cup with the Aluminum Zip or Flash Lite.
My biggest gripe with any canister stove is the collection of half-full fuel canisters which I am somehow loathe to take on my next trip. :-)
>My biggest gripe with any canister stove is the collection of half-full fuel canisters which I am somehow loathe to take on my next trip.
Amen!
You can lighten your JetBoil significantly by picking a different model. Although it has now been discontinued, the JetBoil Sol Ti is my all time favorite. I don’t have direct measurements handy, but online search quotes the Sol Ti weight at 9.9 oz minus canister. That puts it within competitive range to the Caldera Cone. I think they discontinued the Titanium products due cost as well as reliability issues (online reports of the heat exchanger fins melting off the cup).
The current JetBoil Flash Lite has a quoted weight of 11 ounces.
I also found the boil time of the Sol Ti to be on the low end of the 3-4 minutes you quote. When boiling water for 2-3 people, the fast boil time made a big difference, especially for the person who was last in line to get their water boiled.
Thanks Jeff, good point that fast boil times are certainly a major strength of the JetBoil. Especially when boiling large amounts of water as you point out. And yes, sad that the lighter JetBoil Systems were discontinued (altho even at 10 oz the whole system would still be almost 1/2 pound heavier than the Caldera). I carefully weighed my very current JetBoil Zip in at 12.5 oz. That included the tripod, pot lid, and bottom pot cover. Possibly JetBoil is not including those on their spec’ed weight?