Jetboil Flash - First impressions

[mountnman]

I got a brand new Jetboil flash for Christmas, and decided to cook some 2 minute noodles on it for lunch today to get feel for it.

Firstly - WOW!!!! I have never seen a stove boil so fast. I even used cold water from the fridge.... I didn't time exactly how long it took, but I can tell you that it's an awful lot faster than my Kovea Titanium stove and 1.5L pot.

Secondly - What is the deal with the handle strap thingy and the cover? Sure I get that it's supposed to insulate it, but there's no point boiling it real quick if you can't touch the thing for a few minutes afterwards! It did insulate it, yes, but not enough to be able to actually hold it.

Thirdly - Efficiency! A canister will now last a very long time! (I was going to use the word "forever"!). A more efficient stove means faster boiling, less fuel, longer lasting canister = less money!

Now, admittedly I did cook them in the backyard where it's 30 degrees and where there was no wind, so what I would call optimum conditions. However I have done the same thing with my previous stove and the Jetboil definitely performed better.

The real test will come when it's cold and wet and blowing a gale. My old stove didn't even reach boiling point after half an hour...........

But overall, I believe it warrants the drooling I've been doing for the past couple of years! (And apologies to the staff of bushwalking shops that had to wipe my drool off the cabinets!)

[wayno]

the cover is part of the system that helps it cook fast, since it insulates it, it reduces the heat lost during cooking, means it heats up faster and holds the temp better without as much heat required from the flame..

[ryantmalone]

I'm actually picking up a Jetboil Sol shortly, just so save a little room in the pack on shorter trips. Apparently you can boil some 12 litres of water per 100gm cannister, which is mind boggling considering that I used to carry 3 cannisters on a 5 day trip with my old MSR Pocket Rocket

[Ent]

Hi

For boiling water my Primus ETA and Jetboil are great but for stuff that requires cooking the Jetboil is a tricky little blighter. The Jetboil has performed well in the zero to below temps where other sit-on-top stoves have stopped performing.

Cheers

[wayno]

i still use a normal stove, i bring dinner to the boil and turn it off. then fire it up later for a few minutes if dinner still needs more work, letting food stand in boiled water without continually boiling it can still have the desired effect and save on fuel..