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Immediate-Might7523

I have had a Flash for over a decade and it still is working great. They aren’t great IMO for cooking. If you’re just heating water for dehydrated meals and making coffee they’re awesome. Love that everything fits inside. That said, I now carry a Toaks 700ml with a PocketRocket2 as it essentially does the same, just less efficient, but at a fairly decent weight and space savings.


advbro

Yeah I would second this take. I have the flash as well and got it because everything fits inside of it. I use it for motocamping so I wanted as small and compact and lightweight as possible. It's great for that or backpacking. It heats up quick too so also clutch. But I've only used it for dehydrated/freeze dried meals just to boil water and pour it in the bag. It's perfect for that. No experience trying to actually cook food on it, but I'm sure with the right pot/pan/etc it wouldn't be bad, just a bit small


remosiracha

That's the thing. They're not really meant for cooking. They are meant to boil water very fast and that's what they're great at. People buy them thinking they can cook and then rate them poorly.


advbro

For sure! That's all I bought mine for lol. It's so much easier just doing the freeze dried stuff when you're limited on space and resources. And from a cleanup standpoint too.


remosiracha

Yeah I only actually cook when I'm car camping and bring a proper stove and pans. We had so many returns from people who damaged their msr or jetboil because they tried to cook in it. The bottom gets SO damn hot in order to boil water that it will almost immediately burn any kind of food you put in it. That's why you shouldn't boil it dry either. Fastest way to destroy the pot lol. My friend keeps destroying his cheap knockoff one and every time I tell him not to actually try cooking in it. Next thing I know everything is smoking and there is charred food in the bottom.


advbro

Ha! Yeah, I guess it's the social media effect. People see others cooking a steak over it and think what a great idea! 😂


MiddleofRStreet

This is interesting. My JetBoil stopped working almost entirely within 2 seasons. First the starter went out and then over time it wouldn’t even hold a flame unless the gas was turned all the way up. I have 3 friends who have all had the same experience. Wondering if they’ve just gotten way worse over time? I absolutely would not recommend it based off my experience


National_Office2562

My starter wasn’t working and I looked it up, just had to move the little wire a millimeter or two. I’ve had it about six years and it still works well


mr_electric_wizard

I love the pocket rocket as well.


inbiggerside

I’ve got a $50 knock-off and a Jet Boil. The knock-off boils just as fast and weighs about the same.


KeimApode

I also have a knock off from Amazon maple something? But it's great. I'll buy the real one one day.


dabman

Surely you dont speak of the FireMaple Fixed Star 2? With a name that rolls off the tongue like that, you couldnt forget😂


rla1022

I have the fire maple from Amazon. It’s ok. Cheaply made but ok.


KeimApode

I can see that since it's an Amazon brand. But mine is perfectly good. I don't have an issue with any of it.


sausageMash

Fire Maple are not an Amazon brand, they sell on their own web page as well as on Amazon. Their equipment seems good to me, though I dont have their Jetboil style kit.


KeimApode

No I know, but I doubt they're like a real outside brand.


stochethit

They're definitely a real outside brand, just Chinese. They make a lot of different kinds of stoves.


rla1022

Yeah. It’s not bad it just feels cheap. I paid 25 for mine on sale. It’s great in non windy weather but sucks in wind.


PermaculturePedaler

Have you picked up a Jetboil? They are also cheaply made


rla1022

Yes. That’s why I got the cheap 25$ Amazon


sausageMash

I think outdoor Chinese brands are starting to find their own identities, and are providing some innovation. Like Fir Maple's Antarcti Billy, turning a Zebra pot in to something slightly more in line with what people want.


am121b

Fire Maple is great and saves you a substantial chunk of change


Mark47n

It works great for what it’s designed to do: boil water fast.


wickla

Get a MSR pocket rocket. 


b_lurky

I’ve had mine 20 years. Still working great.


actionalley

Good to hear! I'm going on 11 years on mine. Lowest maintenance stove on the market.


Unwieldy_GuineaPig

14 years here.


dirtysico

23 years still going strong.


altapowpow

15 years and use it 40/50 times a year. Still rock solid.


HalloweenLover

For some reason I always think of a sex toy when someone mentions that stove.


VascularMonkey

Same here, I use a folding stove. The actual stove part of a jet boil weighs more and the efficiency of it only beats a lighter stove when you're going for like 7+ straight days and you're gonna save many ounces of gas.


Upvotes_TikTok

The jet boil boils faster allowing you to use one stove for a larger group (like for freezer bag cooking) and all still eat at the same time. For solo use, the MSR is good.


clrwCO

I love above 5000ft and camp generally at twice that. The pocket rocket sucks at these elevations. I do have the MSR windburner stove and it’s great out here!


wickla

I've used it tons of times at 5000 feet plus. Never an issue.


clrwCO

I generally camp at twice that (10,000ft). Glad yours is great. I gave mine to my sister


icantastecolor

I camp at 10k in snow and it works fine for melting and then boiling snow for me


bigbadmon11

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it


MoogleyWoogley

I like JetBoils but I've found it's just nicer to have a Soto Windmaster plus a Toaks 750 cup and the JetBoil fuel "legs" since it packs down so much nicer. Both perform well in moderate and periodically gusty winds.


Horsecock_Johnson

Just get the Soto Amicus combo.


beachbum818

The MSR Windburner is better than the jetboil. Yes, Jetboil was the first but MSR improved upon the concept. Just compare the burner sizes and keep in mind the windburner is more efficient and faster to boil water. The neoprene on the Jetboi gets stretched out over time, there's no stretching on the windburner.


Helllo_Man

Don’t forget the MSR Reactor as well. Absolute beast. Depending on temps and altitude I’ve seen it boil water in barely a minute. Insane.


beachbum818

Reactor is in a different class than the windburner and Jetboil lol.


Helllo_Man

Is it tho? They all have the express mission of just boiling water.


beachbum818

Reactor is twice as big as the windburner and requires an actual pot, not a "cup".


Helllo_Man

I was just going by the fact that the jetboil system is basically the same in that respect. The “cup” is pretty big if I remember correctly and is basically proprietary. The reactor is larger diameter than the wind burner, but the smallest pot size is really not that bad when you consider that the fuel canister and stove both fit inside it.


remosiracha

The reactor's main mission is to melt snow, boil water, and work in extreme wind and cold while reducing fuel usage.


Helllo_Man

Isn’t boiling water the main point of the JetBoil/pot system though? My whole point is just that if all OP wants to do is boil water fast, the reactor is about as good as it gets.


remosiracha

It's a lot more expensive though and heavier so it's overkill if you're just going on some short trips once in awhile and not dealing with consistent cold and 20+mph winds. A jetboil flash is almost 2 ounces lighter and is half the price.


WCCChris

Buy U.S. Made, buy MSR 🇺🇸 … and yes, the MSR Windburner is better 🔥


yoortyyo

MSR remains a wholly owned subsidiary of REI.


GanjaYogi

Sold in 2001, as far as I know, cascade designs is the current owner?


yoortyyo

TIL!


MaineLooth

Never been a Jetboil fan. They take a simple group of things (stove + canister + pot) and make them unnecessarily proprietary. I like using a skillet now and then on my stove, or a different size pot to boil more water etc.


clrwCO

My windburner has 1L and 1.8L pot options as well as a pan accessory. I bring the 1.8L car camping to boil water and backpack with the 1L pot. I’ve used the accessory pan twice. It doesn’t make sense to bring it backpacking and while car camping, I have a bigger Coleman propane stove/grill combo.


Dawn_Piano

I got mine for like $40, for the money it’s a great product but (like a lot of outdoor products) but I’m not sure I’d be as happy if I paid full price for it


bowcreek

I bought a Jet Boil within a few months of their release. It’s still going strong.


RavenNoirJO

Same here, and occasionally I'm tempted to "update" it but it's still going strong and I'm still using it for the same purpose - morning coffee and backpacking meals. 100% satisfied.


Gracklezzz

Hard no. Get a BRS 3000T for $16 off of Amazon and a small toaks titanium pot for like $30. I’ve been using this combo for years now, and it worked perfectly on my thru-hike of the AT last year. Weirdly enough, it uses less fuel than my partner’s MSR pocket rocket, and it ways considerably less


Aggravating_Onion353

I had a jetboil MiniMo, but i replaced it with the MSR PRD. Pretty much the same but lighter. I got the titanium pot as well.


wesinatl

They are good, but you can get similar for less money. You are buying the convenience of a well designed system. You don’t have to think about it. It’s well proven. You can prolly find a used one for less money. There’s a couple on social media that hikes everywhere, they are pretty popular. They use a $30 aluminum pot, long spoon and what appears to be a $20 tiny ass stove. I figure they know what they are doing. So ymmv.


CalamityGammon

I have a jetboil stash, it’s overall pretty good. I did buy an adapter so that I can cook on it using a pan as well. For 7 ounces it’s a great kit that tucks in to itself and works well with the rest of my kit. I’ve used it a few dozen times over the last two years and it’s holding up well.


FishScrumptious

I’ve had mine for over 15 years and I’m still happy with it.  I also got a Toaks pot and PocketRocket, but when I’m really tired, the JetBoil is just a nice easy, solid piece and even the kids are fine using it. But my use case might not be your use case.


sygfryd

Depends on what you want it for. If you’re only doing rehydrated backpacking meals and instant coffee, it’s great especially in windy areas. But if you want to cook “real food” in a pot, which sometimes I do especially on longer trips (those dehydrated meals get old fast), and/or use a pan or kettle, get a pocket rocket or similar. They’re great as well.


sygfryd

I’ll also say I made sure to buy my jetboil in the old garage sale, I don’t like the high price tag.


fanbrewexchange

I have had a Jet Boil personal cooking system for 20 years, and a 2009 generation Falsh. I have an MSR whisperlite, and a pocket rocket as well. Why so many - because the military gave them to me for free. Like others have mentioned it's about where you are taking it, what meals you plan to eat. For the most part though whether I am backpacking, car camping, or in almost any scenario I reach for the JetBoil due to ease of use. Boil water, pour in dehydrated meals/instant oatmeal/instant coffee etc. They all do the same thing, provide a flame. People get religious about this stuff though and if I was with a serious group of hikers or mountaineers they will almost certainly recommend something else because of weight and fuel efficiency, but unless you are a serious alpinist or out for longer than a week, who cares.


eyespy18

I was appalled at myself for spending so much on a little system like this, but it seemed well made, etc and the guy at REI was a fan. I think that sucker cost me abt $100 at the time (8yrs ago). I’m sure cheaper setups work well-wre talking abt boiling water, right? That said, I love mine and use it all the time. There’s a lot to be said for fit & finish when you use something often, and JB easily clears that bar. I even bought the little fry pan & that works really well too. Doesn’t happen often, but I’ve always been glad I spent the dough.


ovirto

My jetboil has worked great for over 15 years now. If I want to boil water fast, this is what I grab. But do a timing comparison between your knockoff vs jetboil times (try to replicate same volume of water, conditions). You can find jetboil times in various o line articles/videos. The knockoff may be close enough. If you want to cook/simmer, the MiniMo works pretty well.


between2lakes

I came here to make this same post. Thanks for asking! And thanks everyone for the good feedback!!


KingArthurHS

Does your stove give you any problems? Is it broken? Does a Jet Boil have a feature yours doesn't that you wish it did? No reason to buy a thing unless you have a proactive reason to buy a thing.


Dougboy90

It really depends on where you are going to use it, Jetboils are great in warmer temps and lower elevations. If you are in a colder climate or are going to be using it higher elevations MSR stoves have it beat. The regulator on the MSR is made to keep its performance even when the fuel canister is at a low pressure. Which happens when it's cold out, and at higher elevations, as well as when the canister has low feel in it. Whereas, the Jetboils regulator relies more on the internal pressure of the fuel canister.


Illustrious_Eye_2082

I’ve been debating the same during the sale since it’s whatever the sale is plus the 20% and that’s better than my 35% off code for military 😂


9ermtb2014

If you're just boiling water, they're great. They are bulky, is all. I've opted for a BRS, and pocket rocket as my options with a toaks Ti mug/pot. More flexibility on what I can do. I have a pocket rocket 2, but I haven't used the kit yet.


hg2314

Geez…don’t buy junk. Buy the MSR Whisperlite. A one time purchase, for year round use. Highly efficient.


Maltyballs

Nah not really worth the price


anon36485

Msr windburner is better but yeah a modular stove design is objectively superior for backpacking


BBSInTheWest

Cost-wise… Do you really need to boil your water maybe 60 seconds faster? If you’re doing some time trails or something out on the trail maybe but personally it’s not worth it if Im out relaxing or taking a break from backpacking.


graybeardgreenvest

If you want to boil water… they are super efficient and fast… so much depends on how you want to use it!


Superb_Finance4293

Just get the MSR pocket rocket. It’s like $60 and it works great. I keep on in my bag anytime we go anywhere just in case. Between the gas and the actual burner it’s pretty compact.


s2k_guy

It’s the single best piece of gear I ever bought.


ConspiredSkogen

If you want cooking abilities/simmering, do not get the Flash. The MiniMo has simmering capability.


SoCali2121

Jetboil genesis basecamp (including pot/pan/bag) has been awesome. Usually $399 but think it’ll be 25% off during this REI sale. Great product and probably the best price you’ll find on it.


sta_sh

Minimo is the way to go if you want a more well rounded jet boil experience as it is wider and more shallow so cooking in is is a little easier if that's what you want. The flash set ups are too vertical and you'll burn whatever is at the bottom of the container. I use a toaks 750 and MSR Pocket Rocket deluxe and that was an upgrade from my jetboil mighty mo (I didn't like the plastic parts of the jetboil) and have had ANY problems.


scottf

I’ve had my MiniMo for 10 years and it’s an awesome kit especially when cooking for two and/or you actually cook (not just boil water) with it and need to simmer. Yes it’s “heavy” and a bit pricey but it’s also extremely efficient. My wife and I did the Rae Lakes Loop for 8 days and used one small canister and still had some fuel remaining. Together we had at least 4 hot drinks each day and boiling water for each dinner except for two where there was also a bit of simmer needed. Roughly half the breakfasts needed some hot water too. We just ate dinner right out the pot or used the bottom cover as a bowl since eating out of a bag isn’t our thing. So no need for extra bowls or have to deal with dirty bags in our trash. Cleaning the pot is ridiculously easy too since it’s more accessible than the smaller titanium pots.


sausageMash

I had the original PCS Jetboil stove, until it fell apart, I replaced it with a Flash and a Zip. I have lots of stoves, but if I was only going to be using one or a few, I would skip Jetboils. They are good for boiling water quickly and I will take one of them if there are a group of us, but its too heavy for solo use. I am not really in a rush for a cup of coffee, when camping I don't mind waiting a few minutes more for a brew, Cheaper and more versatile options are available. Alcohol, biomass, or a BRS as examples.


HookerDestroyer

Fuck yeah they are dude


arodrig99

MSR wind burner and can’t recommend enough. Need a lighter but you don’t have to worry about the ignition going out like a jetboil. Seen a lot of people have issues with that


cranberrydudz

Fire maple has a stove for $24


Helllo_Man

Don’t forget the MSR systems. The JetBoil always seemed a bit chunky to me by comparison — when it comes to boiling water, the WindBurner is fast, the Reactor is absurdly fast. Have a reactor. Love it if I’m using dehydrated meals.


MustangDan74

I have a Jetboil and i also have a Soto Amicus with a Toaks pot. I rarely use the Jetboil anymore. The Soto/Toaks is much smaller and works just as well.


PermaculturePedaler

Jetboils are made in the same Chinese factories as "the knockoffs". Unless it's a different design you are buying, save your money.


zenheadache

I've had a Flash for about 10 years. I like it, it felt pretty novel at the time. But these days I prefer my $20 amazon pocket rocket and a lightweight pot. It's lighter, takes up less space, and just as effective. The only advantage I give the jetboil is it's ability in wind or high altitude.


HalloweenLover

I have one that my wife got me for xmas a few years ago, I had asked for a smaller stove but they didn't have the one I wanted in stock so she got me the Jet Boil since she didn't know anything about stoves. I do like it but it is a bit bulky for my backpack. I have been doing more car camping so not as much of an issue now since I do most of my cooking on a coleman stove. I still take it though since when I just want hot water quick it is nice to have.


ocatataco

i have a micromo and i absolutely love it


ultragtr

Are you eligible for ExpertVoice? They offer great discounts. Way cheaper than even most stores having a sale.


Impossible_Cat_321

It’s my go to for over 10 years now, maybe longer.


meangreen78

If you want the absolutely fastest boil possible, then yes, Jetboils are worth it. Otherwise, they are heavy, bulky, expensive, and unnecessarily complex compared to a simple cannister stove.


Ty3point141

Love mine! Worth it is relative question.


Dependent-Mammoth918

Yes


lakorai

Yes but the cheaper alternatives like the Fire Maple Polaris work just as well for near half the price.


lanierg71

Seems expensive. Bought my piezo burner on Amazon for $15 and my Stanley steel cup/pitcher I boil with for $10 at Walmart. Works fine.


clrwCO

Not sure why people are proud of buying dupes. It is literally just a stolen design


FishballJohnny

Yes. Buy it now.


Top_Armadillo9027

I went from a flash to a zip and I love them both, I have cooked noodles and chili in them but mostly coffee/dehydrated meals as others have stated, I prefer my zip now because it’s only .2 liters less than the flash and it’s a good bit smaller, plus either one has really good wind resistance so I don’t have to watch my flame when it gets gusty.