Stove Options (to replace my jetboil)

[Matty427]

I have a jetboil flash stove.

I want to replace said jetboil with something more compact and lighter.

My first choice was the Caldera Keg-F. Super light, but after looking at it more, I'm worried that it is going to take up just as much room as my jetboil.

So I started to consider a Snowpeak 700ml titanium mug partnered with a giga power stove or pocket rocket. Hopefully it would fit in the mug along with the fuel for a nice compact setup. But then I look at the weight of everything and the caldera setup looks more and more appealing.

So I've been going back and forth all night and have decided that my brain hurts and I'm going to bed.

So I'm looking for suggestions for replacing my jetboil - either from the above or something totally new. I hike for about a week at a time 3 times a year. I think I could make a canister last that whole time, but I hate always being unsure of my fuel levels and all the waste they produce (empty canisters). I've never used an alcohol stove but am eager to learn.

Thanks!

[royalusa]

We started out our AT thru-hike with a homemade catfood can alcohol stove, but by the time we got to VT we ditched the stove, pot, fuel and fuel bottle (saving about 2.5 - 3 pounds) and went cookless and have been cookless for all of our hikes since. Less weight, less volume, easier meals. We have always eaten our oatmeal breakfast cold. For dinners we still do stuffing, couscous, mashed potatoes and sometimes mac & cheese. We just add water, soak if needed and eat. The mashed potatoes and stuffing require no soak time. The couscous about 5-10 minutes, the mac and cheese a bit longer, perhaps 15 minutes. We found that eating a hot meal in really cold weather was not a "benefit" as by the time we waited around in the cold for it to cook, then ate and then cleaned up, we were cold again. For hot days, we enjoyed a cold meal rather than a hot meal. Seemed like a win-win for us.

But if you really do want to stay with a stove, we'd recommed the homemade alcohol version - cheap, light and efficient.

[10-K]

My last hike I carried a caldera cone / 1.3 liter snowpeak ti pot and used esbit. Esbit is my fuel of choice because it doesn't spill, require a container (ok, a baggie....) and when it's gone, it's gone - no carrying empty canisters or a fuel bottle that weighs the same no matter how much fuel is in it. My esbit stove weighs 1 gram but in a pinch you can just dig a small hole, light the esbit and set the pot over the hole...

I do take a 700 ml ti pot on short hikes but I like the 1.3 liter pot because I can cram a loaf of bread in it, or other things that are crushable carried loose in my pack.

[Mountain Wildman]

Personally I prefer a hot meal whether outdoors or in, If all you need to do is boil water, I would check out the GSI Hallulite:http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/pdp/halulite_minimalist/cat/
5 oz., .6L pot/mug and about 20 bucks or less.
I have also been looking at the GSI Soloist, about the same weight as the jetboil though, Everything fits in the pot including canister and small stove like a pocket rocket or SP gigapower.

There are some videos on youtube on both of the GSI setups

[bigcranky]

I have the SP 700, and carry a small canister and a small canister stove. My current stove is the Coleman F-1 Ultralight, a <3 ounce blowtorch. It's a good setup for a solo hiker.

[Pedaling Fool]

...but I hate always being unsure of my fuel levels and all the waste they produce (empty canisters). I've never used an alcohol stove but am eager to learn.

Thanks!
No real waste if you throw it in a recycle bin, which shouldn't be a problem givin' your hiking schedule. Just make sure to puncture the canister. If you do stick with a canister stove, can't get much simpler and compact than a pocket rocket. And I've seen a few variations in the design, but never owned one so I can't say how they are.

[Bags4266]

Really need some more info on how and what you cook. If your just a boil water type of guy the link below is a beauty of a alcohol stove. This guy makes quality stoves and is a member here.
http://www.bplite.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3654

I have the one above and many that I made, it fits nice inside my SP 700 w/ a windscreen lighter, spoon all around 8oz. Not bad for hot meals!

[Franco]

Have a look at the Caldera Cone Sidewinder system
http://www.traildesigns.com/caldera-tt-sw.html (http://www.traildesigns.com/caldera-tt-sw.html)
A little less efficient than the full cone but still retains stability and wind performance.
I did some tests with an early version , in my case the shorter cone used a wider pot so it almost evened out.
Franco

[sir limpsalot]

Your right, the jetboil is big and heavy-not to mention a bit challenging to clean food out of unless you have elf-hands. It is, however, very efficient and easy to use. You probably could save space and weight with pocket rocket or giga power and still have the self-contained package setup in the 700 ml cup. Snow Peak has a windscreen that makes the giga power much more efficient- but it's heavy at 2oz. I made a homemade version from a $16 snow peak trek titanium bowl that comes in at .6 oz and is very sturdy. In the first picture, snow peak's production model is on the right
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/2/1/6/4/3/p8300001_thumb.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=42598&catid=member&orderby=dateline&direction=DESC&imageuser=21643&cutoffdate=-1) http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/2/1/6/4/3/p8300004_thumb.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=42599&catid=member&orderby=dateline&direction=DESC&imageuser=21643&cutoffdate=-1) http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/2/1/6/4/3/p8300007_thumb.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=42600&catid=member&orderby=dateline&direction=DESC&imageuser=21643&cutoffdate=-1).

[mykl]

I use Jetboil and love it. When all said and done, I feel that they weight, size, what you get (pot, wind barrier, lid, compact enough), you get a lot for what will save you minimal weight and space with the other option you're considering. Plus Jetboil boils water super fast, way faster than my friends pocket rocket setup.
I don't find cleaning to hard at all, but usually just boil water and don't add food to the cup much.

[Matty427]

oooo - I really like that sidewinder!!! I think that may be my new stove/pot. Haven't found too many reviews online but the ones I have found seem to be pretty positive. Thanks for the feedback everyone!