How cold is too cold

[susquehannaslim]

I recently took a 2 day hike on the AT at the Delaware Water Gap when the temperature dipped down into the teens. My Jetboil cooking system couldn't hold a flame and boil water at that temperature (although it worked fine the next morning, when I brought it indoors). Does anyone know the lower limits that I can expect these type of cooking systems to work and if there is a better cold weather alternative.

thanks

Slim

[Mountain Mike]

Sleep with canister in your bag & prewarm it inside your parka before dinner on last few miles of a hike & it will work better. No clue on tem ratings. Best suggestion is look for manufacture specs

[Papa D]

Yep - when the mercury goes down low for a sustained amount of time, the old MSR WisperLite International gets called up and the pocket rocket stays home. I also carry a decent size fuel bottle in case I get snowed in, roads close and I bivy an extra night or two. I would personally never consider long distance hiking with a jet-boil (unless I had to) - I use mine on road trips for making a quick cup of tea or soup -- certainly not the tool of choice for a winter hike.

[leaftye]

Slim, was your fuel canister brand new?

[grateful 2]

This post is the most informative I have found. http://www.adventuresinstoving.blogspot.com/

[susquehannaslim]

yes - it was brand new. I popped the seal at the camp site

[bigcranky]

Below freezing the canisters start to have issues. In the teens it's very hard to get a top-mounted stove to function.

[BlackCloud]

For true winter, I can't peal myself away from carrying the tried and true Peak 1. It'll start below zero. Been there; done it.

[The Cleaner]

Svea 123....

[Feral Bill]

Svea 123....

Always!....

[Cookerhiker]

Svea 123....

Always!....

Wish I still had mine.

[The Cleaner]

Always!....

Bought my 1st Svea in 1976 and after 4K miles&26 years the blowout valve finally blewout.Quite a shock!I paid 36$ for it and I got a second one at Amazon.com for 89$ 2 years ago.I like the fact that the temp control key doubles as a tool.I've heard good reviews about the MSR Simmerlite but I didn't like the "repair kit" with all those small parts& O rings.I never did anything to my Svea but fill&light.BTW it's was always nice to see new users&various methods to prime it.That explains a lot of burn marks on tables at shelters...

[johnnybgood]

Svea 123....

Wish I still had mine.

Can this stove no longer available to purchase ?

[johnnybgood]

Geez , I need to edit . Is this stove available to purchase ?

[The Cleaner]

Geez , I need to edit . Is this stove available to purchase ?

I think so,but there was some kind of change in manufacturer company structure ? Check or Google the Optimus stove site....

[Cookerhiker]

Haven't looked for it explicitly but I haven't seen it in outfitters' stores for at least 20 years. My Coleman Exponent canister works pretty well at least to 20 degrees and I also have the Peak One, a white gas burner. The Svea would be a nice option but don't want to pay the price for an on-line sale.

[The Cleaner]

Just checked,Amazon.com has it for 92.99 w/free shipping...

[The Cleaner]

Haven't looked for it explicitly but I haven't seen it in outfitters' stores for at least 20 years. My Coleman Exponent canister works pretty well at least to 20 degrees and I also have the Peak One, a white gas burner. The Svea would be a nice option but don't want to pay the price for an on-line sale.

Before I got my Svea I bought a Coleman Exponet 442 featherlite at the Coleman outlet in Pigeon Forge.It works but will not simmer or burn at less than full on and weighs more than the Svea.I guess the outfitters don't sell them because they last too long and are not UL....

[Summit]

No need to sleep with a canister all night. Just set it close by your bag and when you wake up grab it and slip it in the bag and place either between your legs or under an arm pit for quick warming. Fifteen minutes and you can remove it and immediately light it and should work fine. I've done this in the single digit temps. Not sure about below zero.

[LIhikers]

.....I've heard good reviews about the MSR Simmerlite but I didn't like the "repair kit" with all those small parts& O rings....

The Simmerlite is the go to winter stove for me and my wife.
Once a year, at home, I disassemble, clean, and replace o-rings. That has prevented any problems in the field up to this point, which is about 10 years.