Jetboil vs Alcohol Stove

[shelb]

I have only used a Jetboil in the past. This requires me to "freezer bag" cook.

Please advise on how an Alcohol stove works and the merits of one. What model would you suggest for a solo? (I realize I could make one out of a pop or tuna can, but I prefer to purchase one so I don't screw it up..)

Thanks in advance!

[blackbird04217]

I made a pepsi can stove myself, without any confidence mind you. I just watched some youtube clips, and then set off on my own project. Watching it light the first time (at home) was an amazing experience and I knew it was the stove I'd be taking along with me. If it were to get destroyed, I had everything needed to rebuild one except the cans- and pretty much weightless minus fuel. You will likely want to continue freezer bag style cooking with it to conserve fuel and, at least with a self built model, the heat isn't really adjustable.

[Nitrojoe]

Ive used a VARGO alcohol stove on my thru hike and was very happy with it. Check out alcohol stoves on line and you will come across a wide assortment of them. The only draw back on them is the slow process of setting up the stove,pouring the alcohol and waiting 3 to 5 minutes to boil your water. Its somewhat lighter than a jetboil if your weight conscious,but the new jetboil sol ti comes very close to near even weight. One other draw back is the availbillity of buying fuel for the jetboil. During my PCT thru a couple of hikers could not buy any fuel for there jetboil in some of the towns along the trail, but the denature alcohol was readily availiable.

[wwbriggs]

I have both an alcohol stove and a JetBoil. I use them differently. If I want to lighten my load I either go without a stove (hardly ever), or I go with the alcohol stove. However, I find that 95% of the time I really like the speed and convenience of boiling with the JetBoil. There is now a lighter Titanium version too. It is a little pricey, but I have to say this is a solid setup with no complaints from me.

[SmokeEater]

I love my JetBoil Ti. Not as light as ur small stoves but but it boils water so so fast. No wind screen needed. Most simple stove I have used.

[Papa D]

I have a bunch of stoves: liquid fuel, canister, alcohol, esbit, even a little wood burner - my least favorite is the jet-boil. I use it in my office for making soup and coffee and it's ok on a road trip or to loan to someone but I think it is really limiting as compared to other stoves.

[Grinder]

I have alcohol stoves and wood stoves. I get "jetboil envy" every time someone fires one up in camp.

Pack on the back, I don[t miss it nearly as much.

the road to light(er) weight is littered with such decisions.

[q-tip]

I have a Jetboil--moved to a Soto Stove (3 oz.) using canister gas. My favorite--my Jetboil now collects dust.

[RWheeler]

Making a soda can stove (pennystove persuasion) isn't all that difficult. If you use a full can to stretch the bottom cup and take your time while fitting the halves together, it's a very quick and simple process.

Also, I found it to be much more beneficial if you score deeply while the razor is in the book. Then all you have to do is press along the line and everything pops apart cleanly.

For holes, I used a pushpin. The size seems perfect, it's not too long, so I don't need to worry about puncturing anything else, and the plastic knob really makes it easy to pop the holes where I need them.

I see you're from MI, so the whole "they're free to make" isn't as true for you as it is for many others due to the deposit on the cans. Being from CT, I had the same issue - each can I tear apart is effectively 5 cents. For you, it'd be 10. But you only need 2, so that's still pretty darn cheap.

[amac]

take a look at the SuperCat stove. IMO, it's the easiest of the alcohol stoves to make. I've been using one, exclusively on all my hikes for over 2 years. My hiking buddy has a jetboil, it is very loud. Mine is nearly silent. Yeah, it takes about a minute longer to boil, but it takes no time to setup or take apart. The only con I'm aware of is that it doesn't simmer or cook. It's really only good for boiling, although there are designs to make a SimmerCat, I haven't made one.
http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html

[BrianLe]

+1 to the supercat type of stove; costs almost nothing to make, easy, effective. I like Skurka's description of this; the supercat article above is great, but Skurka summarizes it well, a lot less to read through to get something that's just dead easy to get right the first time (unlike, for example, a pepsi can stove, which might or might not work out well for you on the first try):

http://andrewskurka.com/how-to/how-t...alcohol-stove/

[Papa D]

I did a section hike (about 100 miles) with a jet-boil a few years back - being a jet-boil novice then, I did a few things wrong - like expecting to be able to actually cook things vs just boil water. Another mistake that I made (hilarious) was that I brought a short spork so I couldn't reach the bottom of the pot. I ended up finding a tent stake that I duct taped to my spork to reach the bottom of the jet-boil. I really think that a pocket-rocket and a 1 qt TI pot is much more useful.

[bamboo bob]

I really hate liquid fuel so I switched to the Jetboil. No muss no fuss.

[Papa D]

I really hate liquid fuel so I switched to the Jetboil. No muss no fuss.

There is no doubt that if you JUST want boiling water to pour into freezer bag style meals or a mug of coffee, tea, etc., that the JetBoil is the tool - I like boiling water and cooking IN my pot - I also use my pot for water collection, and other stuff so having it as a separate unit is important to me - I guess before you settle on a stove, the most important thing to define is what you like to eat / drink and how you like to go about preparing it.

[get wayaway]

Pocket rocket uses canisters that can't be refilled, right? So, when you spend the fuel, you have to chuck the canister. But, as I understand it, you can't landfill them because they are pressurized. What do you do with the spent canisters? And, from what I've read, you probably get about 16 "meals" - boiling water out of a canister. Is that what you've experienced? Thanks for the input.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Pocket rocket uses canisters that can't be refilled, right? So, when you spend the fuel, you have to chuck the canister. But, as I understand it, you can't landfill them because they are pressurized. What do you do with the spent canisters? And, from what I've read, you probably get about 16 "meals" - boiling water out of a canister. Is that what you've experienced? Thanks for the input.

To recycle them as recycleable steel, hook them up to your stove, open the valve to make sure there is no gas left in the canister, and puncture with a can opener(<$1.00). church key.jpgOr you can buy a can opener tool from the canister maufacturers for $6.00 plus.JETBOIL-CrunchIt-2.jpg

[PaperCrane]

It really depends on what you want to cook with your stove. Whether its a jet boil or an alcohol stove you'll probably just be boiling water. I would start by just making a few of the simpler alcohol stoves being that they are almost free to build, then buy a jet boil if your not happy with the results. The number one thing I like about alcohol stove is the cost and availability of the fuel. If the apocalypse were to come tomorrow the first place I would go would be the Meijer gas station up the road and grab as many bottles of heet and th Meijer equivilant as possible.

[dalemc]

How about outside temps?? Is there a certain temp where you ditch the alcohol stove and bring the jetboil?

[sheepdog]

I have both an alcohol stove and a JetBoil. I use them differently. If I want to lighten my load I either go without a stove (hardly ever), or I go with the alcohol stove. However, I find that 95% of the time I really like the speed and convenience of boiling with the JetBoil. There is now a lighter Titanium version too. It is a little pricey, but I have to say this is a solid setup with no complaints from me.

plus one....

[Hoop]

"Please advise on how an Alcohol stove works and the merits of one. What model would you suggest for a solo?"


Merits include unpressurized fire, quiet, and ease of set-up. Not as fast as a JB but what's the rush. Take a look at Caldera Cones / Kegs by AntiGravityGear for an efficient well-engineered kit.