Wondering if anyone has had any experience with Jetboil ? http://jetboil.com/ . I checked one out at EMS; the saleswoman took me out front and fired it up. It boiled the cup/pot in no time. I tend to shy away from canister stoves, but this one had a lot of whiz bang appeal.

Biscuits

I don't know what "wizz bang appeal" is, but it does look "sexy" !!!

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I saw it at REI. I think it's too specialized for camping, but it might be great if you need some hot water regularly, away from electric power sources or your kitchen. Like, perhaps at a construction site for your tea.

It would be absolutely perfect for me and would take care of quite a few different problems I encounter in the field, but I would like to know more about the fuel, as I am not a huge fan of canister stoves either. The main question I have is if it takes Jetfuel or whatever only, or if I can use other types as well.

Garrett

Campmor sells them, and their catalog states that the fuel canisters are not available by mail order. So, if your local store doesn't have them (and chances are they won't), I wonder how you are going to get more fuel???

Funny that you brought this up just as I'm researching a couple of new stoves, specifically gas (as opposed to liquid) stoves - in the course of which I ran across the Jetboil last week.

No experience and have not seen one first hand. But I ran across some discussions of it - sorry I didn't bookmark them. IIRC, I read zero negative reviews - all were positive, although one reviewer did note that using the container with an included sipping lid a la communter mug was not their cup of tea.

As for the cannister fuel - again, IIRC - it is the standard (except GAZ and Powermax) 7/16" - 30tpi threaded connector with a Lindall (SP?) valve that all such cannisters are - any should fit. And those containers are shipped surface anywhere in the States - just can't go via air shipment. Most everyone says "YOU MUST USE OUR BRAND XYZ CANNISTER FUEL", but that is less than accurate for other stoves and may be the case with this as well. Again, IIRC, one reviewer has used it with other (larger) butane-propane cannisters, with the caveat that it no longer packs as neatly because the fuel cannister doesn't fit inside the cup.

There are - or can be - air-fuel mix and velocity considerations to swapping fuels. For example, stoves designed for isobutane (several MSR stoves) will not reach design BTUs with butane-propane mixes - isobutane has a higher heat value. And stoves designed for butane-propane mixes MIGHT (depending on the stove) see abnormally large flames, possibly standing a distance away from the burner head, when fed pure isobutane at full throttle. But they all work if the cannister threads onto the stove and the nut on the flame control valve isn't too loose (the operator). It all made sense at the time I read it.

Agin, all this is my recollection of things I have read recently, not my first-hand knowledge.

BTW, it sure looks like Coleman now owns Le GAZ / Bluet and I saw a couple of non-US marketed stoves that looked interesting during my research. In any event, Coleman sells the 270 and 270 HPZ stoves now. Personally, I'm probably going to try out a PowerMax Xtreme stove and my wife will try out a GAZ 270 HPZ and the standard 270 - we can get such good prices on these right now through Coleman's non-profit group sales. The winner becomes the stoves of choice for the BSA Venture Crew we advise... or maybe a Feather 442. Hard to wean me off of white gas; pardon my cold weather bias...

I predict the PowerMax will ace the cold weather testing - it supplies liquified gas to the burner where a heat exchanger (generator, if you like) gasifies the fuel - there is a clunk-type pick-up in the tank for liquid fuel, like a chainsaw or model airplane fuel tank. Using butane-propane conventional cannisters in below freezing temps appears to involve some arcane mutterings and secret hand wavings to avoid burning off the propane and leaving the butane sitting there doing...nothing. I have not pased the 35th level of secret gas stove usage yet, so this is pure speculation on my part... but we'll find out this winter.

...anyway, ALL of these fuels and more are on-the-shelf locally, so shipping isn't an issue.

PS - Google Jetboil. This is a quick one: http://thehowzone.com/how/Jetboil including a video and photos showing it happily running along on an MSR cannister.

HTH,

Tom

I bought the Jetboil to test it out from REI.

It's still targetted at the US market and not for international use as it uses the threaded valve.

You'll have a problem using it in other parts of the world as the non threaded valve Campingaz is much more easier to find.

You'll need an adapter to use it with the non threaded valve.

HTH.

That thing looks pretty cool. I've wanted a stove for a while and this may be it.

Any idea how much it costs? What about the fuel carts? And what are the biggest compatible cartridges I can get, and how much do they cost, if I don't care about stowing the fuel cart inside the cup? Thanks.

The campingaz C206 piercable gas canister is readily available here. However you need to buy an adapter from Europe to use it for the Jetboil as it uses the threaded valve.

Markill adapter from Germany


Transform a puncture-style gas cartridge into a re-sealable cartridge(EN417). Will work on most Camping Gaz® type non-resealable canisters easing your worries about obtaining re-sealable canisters in far flung places.

Karrimor Go Gas power pak adapter from UK.

I went to the REI website and they do sell fuel for the stoves. AND its not Jetfuel. Its something else. They recommended it though, so I guess it cant be too bad. I am going to ask for one for christmas.

Garrett