Bushwalking gear and paraphernalia. Electronic gadget topics (inc. GPS, PLB, chargers) belong in the 'Techno Babble' sub-forum.
Forum rules
TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.
Recently had my jetboil minimo gas valve fail, I contacted The Australian distributor sea to summit and they want $120 dollars for the replacement, this is just for the valve not the burner or cup retainer.
Seems a little ridiculous considering a complete new unit is only $ 220 with full warranty
It is a few years old but not used that much is say about 50 boils.
So looking for alternatives ie, boil and small cook I can’t justify the cost per boil of the jet boil unit has returned.
Recently had my jetboil minimo gas valve fail, I contacted The Australian distributor sea to summit and they want $120 dollars for the replacement, this is just for the valve not the burner or cup retainer.
Seems a little ridiculous considering a complete new unit is only $ 220 with full warranty
It is a few years old but not used that much is say about 50 boils.
So looking for alternatives ie, boil and small cook I can’t justify the cost per boil of the jet boil unit has returned.
Thanks Wildwander, I emailed sea to summit and articulated my disappointment, 50 boils is $4.4 per boil which is a completely unacceptable.
I doubt I will get a response and I could log a complaint with the ACCC but they won’t care much, I could of course push further with a legal letter but hardly with my effort,
Chances are the jet is blocked but you haven't described what is actually happening. I have no experience with Jetboils but I expect you can strip it down like almost every other gas stove and remove the jet. Clean it with a very fine copper wire - smaller diameter than the hole in the jet. I find some electrical flex has suitable copper strands.
I have a jetboil Ti that is few years old. Still good but the piezo died a while back.
I tend to use a soto and ti pot now. Fits better in my pack and I like to cook these days rather than dissolve those awful packet dehyds. I recommend a soto and vargo bot.
I’ll definitely look into those other brands suggested, the MSR wind burner looks good
As for my jet boil, no gas coming out, I am a plumber have experience with gas appliances, so I dismantled what’s able to be pulled apart to no joy.
-Valve out -Jet out
Screwed into 2 cans and nothing, there is a slight possibility something microscopic has lodged in the inlet which is too small to clean ( doubtful though ) or the diaphragm/ reg has packed it in ( likely )
Guess now it’s rubbish I can brake the riveted reg cover and look closer at the cause
Soto Windmaster is rock solid. People say BRS $20 titanium UL are good, but I found them flimsy, less efficient and poor simmer control - not that I really cook on the track.
I’ve also been very pleased with the performance of my Soto Windmaster, so far it’s been very reliable & the inbuilt piezoelectric ignition makes it super easy to use, no faffing around with matches or a lighter!
I like the Jetboil as I only ever boil water (meals in a bag, porridge for breakfast). Had to replace the piezo and it's still temperamental, often use a lighter to start it.
My son has had the MSR Windburner for a couple of years and loves it for Tassie weather, but he got it for about half the Aussie price on a USA trip.
50 boils is not good enough. Consumer Affairs are helpful.
I love my jetboil 1.5L pot, it's had around 100 days use, 3-6 times/day.
But the jetboil burners - nuh. I've found jetboil burners to be a PITA. The piezo stuffs up, they can't be easily used with any other pots, they're bigger and heavier than they need to be, and having plastic parts on a gas cooker is asking for problems.
I use a simple, very robust Kovea stove with my jetboil pot - the supports fit neatly within the flux ring. However I note the MiniMo has a skirt around the flux ring that might make this not feasible (wonder if jetboil put this skirt on there to make it impossible to use another stove?)
Unless you like to dismantle and play with things, post it back to the manufacturers address (not distributor) with a brief complaint letter. Cut your losses and pick up a Soto Windmaster.
If you are lucky they may step up and send you a new one.
Unrelated. Sometimes I feel like returning a dud product, saying I don't want a refund and here is how to improve your design.