I see Alpkit have their Brukit jetboil copy back in stock. This times well with me considering a new stove. This will be the 'goldilocks' stove - MRS Whisperlight will still be the go to on properly winter trips (or overseas remote trips if they happen anytime soon), a pocket rocket and ti pot on lighter weight adventures, and a kelly kettle when I want to get my Ray Meers on (without the Brexity aftertaste and love handles). The jetboil, or rip off, will probably do the longer multiday stuff trudging around with DofE groups and the like. I get to do 20-30 nights of this a year so it kind of feels worthwhile.
So which one to go for - pretty much exclusively for boiling water rather than cooking, and always as a solo.
The jetboil zip with a bit of a DofE or other discount is about the same price as the Alpkit, the other fancier ones get a bit pricey.
I did a side-by-side with my Jetboil minimo vs my pal's brukit with the same volume & starting temp of water (think it was 500ml). The minimo was about a minute faster than the brukit - it felt like a long time given how fast the Jetboil was. THat said, it's not like the brikit was really that slow.
Bit of an n=1 there, but it does bear out the slightly nicer build quality on the jetboil seems to translate to a performance difference. I don't know if that difference is worth the cash - I guess the advantage is less burn time means using less fuel. With my Jetboil I found I could comfortably supervise a Silver DofE with a small gas cannister, and would be OK on Gold if I was careful.
Ray Meers on (without the Brexity aftertaste
Balls, just did some googling, didn't know he is on GB News now.😐
Sorry for going ot!
Fire Maple x2 is another option which can be had for £60 and, IMO, is potentially better due to the excellent foldable handle design. I love mine.
I find the fuel economy of the jet boil outstanding but I would assume the copies are similar? I used 750 grammes of gas on my long tour - thats 2 pots of coffee every morning camped for around 70 nights camped and maybe 40 dinners cooked. Its also robust and reliable
I did a side-by-side with my Jetboil minimo vs my pal’s brukit with the same volume & starting temp of water (think it was 500ml). The minimo was about a minute faster than the brukit – it felt like a long time given how fast the Jetboil was. THat said, it’s not like the brikit was really that slow.
Bit of an n=1 there, but it does bear out the slightly nicer build quality on the jetboil seems to translate to a performance difference. I don’t know if that difference is worth the cash – I guess the advantage is less burn time means using less fuel. With my Jetboil I found I could comfortably supervise a Silver DofE with a small gas cannister, and would be OK on Gold if I was careful.
Did you weigh the canisters after the test to see which had used more fuel? The jetboil may well have a higher flow rate hence the quicker boil time. Might need multiple tests to consume enough gas to measure the difference
Don’t discount the MSR version too (think mine is called the Windburner). Boil times equal to a Jetboil from memory and nice compact set up.
I bought a brukit and sent it back. Boil times were acceptable if unremarkable on a full gas cannister but under half full and it wouldn't actually bring a full pot to a rolling boil.
I'm not a fan of that sort of stove in general. Heavy, bulky and not very versatile.
DofE buddies have the Alpkit, another the Jetboil and another a Primus version. They seem much similar in use and performance, with a couple of minor design difference. I personally would buy on price and which one I could get a coffee press for.
Fwiw, I have moved from gas to a Speedster meths stove as long as it's above freezing. I'm in no hurry on camp, they're much lighter and smaller, fuel is so much cheaper, and I can cook on it. All my stove, stand, reflector base, lighter, wash kit, coffee and cutlery fits inside my 500ml titanium Alpkit pot. Only fuel bottle, size dependent on the nights I'm out, is elsewhere.
Edit:
I’m not a fan of that sort of stove in general. Heavy, bulky and not very versatile.
+1
Speedster meths
I've got a variety of meths stoves but the Speedster one is the one I use most. Obviously there are weight and bulk benefits but my initial reason for switching was how wasteful all those empty gas cannisters felt.
I have an MSR windburner and it's great. It would be good if it had a piezo lighter, but to be honest they have a tendency to fail anyway. Other than that can't fault it.
I’ve got a variety of meths stoves but the Speedster one is the one I use most. Obviously there are weight and bulk benefits but my initial reason for switching was how wasteful all those empty gas cannisters felt.
Fwiw, I have moved from gas to a Speedster meths stove as long as it’s above freezing. I’m in no hurry on camp, they’re much lighter and smaller, fuel is so much cheaper, and I can cook on it. All my stove, stand, reflector base, lighter, wash kit, coffee and cutlery fits inside my 500ml titanium Alpkit pot. Only fuel bottle, size dependent on the nights I’m out, is elsewhere.
I’m not a fan of that sort of stove in general. Heavy, bulky and not very versatile.
Hmmm. Got me thinking now.....TBH I've not been sold on them for most of those reasons up to this point but recently had a logic wobble that I now 'needed' one. Gas being free when working sort of swings the argument but environmentally....
was how wasteful all those empty gas cannisters felt.
I refill small ones from a big one. You also use much less fuel total
I love the jetboil for its faff free nature. They way the pot fits on the top means that you can set it going and leave it. The coffee press is excellent. The insulated pots mean that pasta and rice is brought to the boil then left5 to sit for ten mins before bringing back to the boil. Cooks like a haybox. The lid has an inbuilt strainer for rice and pasta. for me the ease of use and the low fuel consumption are the trump card
The insulated pots mean that pasta and rice is brought to the boil then left5 to sit for ten mins before bringing back to the boil. Cooks like a haybox.
I wrap my pot in my hat for the same effect - I did make a small cosy for it, but managed to loose it. I need to make another.
My original jetboil died (just the burner, still have the pot), so I'm now on a Primus version (Lite+ I think). Leave it in the van for brews and pot noodles. Find it about the same, actually the lid is better on this than the Jetboil
There were some tests/reviews online somewhere (might have been a forum) that said the Brukit version wasn't as good as the Jetboil.
There were some tests/reviews online somewhere (might have been a forum) that said the Brukit version wasn’t as good as the Jetboil.
Can't speak for Jetboil but the Brukit I had was poor. Alpkit took the return with no questions but said there was nothing wrong with it and poor performance was to be expected on half full cannisters.
Given that the other stoves you have are all really nice quality ones, I think you would be happiest with the Jetboil.
I have a load of stoves including a Jetboil Flash (Fractionally larger than the Zip). It's a great piece of kit: Well made, fast to boil, simmer control is ok, etc.
and poor performance was to be expected on half full cannisters.
depends on temperature and type of gas mix IMO
Anyone tried the MSR PocketRocket 2? Mate was selling one and I was tempted.
Pretty happy with my alpkit, no issues with bringing a full pot to boil in a few minutes. Minor gripe over build quality in that the gas canisters 'lock on' very loosely.
Anyone tried the MSR PocketRocket 2? Mate was selling one and I was tempted.
We have 10x of them for DofE and I have two different brand versions. They work well and are reliable.
I cannot see any performance or use advantage of the MSR ones and the Vango (uber cheap) ones. The one that is better is my Edelrid Kiro Ti because it is way lighter.
depends on temperature and type of gas mix IMO
why dont jet boils suffer from the same ..... i assume alpkit dont sell the gas for the brukit - the brukit was famously bad for deteriorating performance on anything but a full gas can.....
jetboils performance does drop off as cans get empty. Not a lot but it does as with all gas can stoves. something to do with expansion and temp drop? Schools science was a long time ago
Anyone tried the MSR PocketRocket 2?
Works well, never had a problem with mine.
how wasteful all those empty gas cannisters felt.
What about the empty plastic meths bottles? Better if you buy 5l bottles I suppose.
After the third bru-kit went wrong, I gave up on it. The jet boils seem better built. I use an Optimus pan set now
why dont jet boils suffer from the same …..
They do. As does any gas stove. See the 'frost' which forms on the gas bottle in use.
What about the empty plastic meths bottles? Better if you buy 5l bottles I suppose.
I would carry a metal bottle camping, plastic ones are too easy to damage.
I've got the really cheap planetx one. At the time I got it was about £20 (£5 cheaper if you got a camo rather than black jacket on the pot at the time).
Works fine and boils water in a few minutes even with a nearly empty go gas cartridge (think if Lidl did gas).
Slower than a mates Jetboil using a Primus cartridge but not twice as long. Everything fits in the 1 litre pot for carrying.
For brews on walks or the beach it is easy and clean, pan doesn't need the soot wiping off it. For camping I'd be more likely to use a meths or normal gas stove as they are more flexible on man type. It has piezo ignition and comes with a pot stand but would really need a windshield to use that rather than the clip on jetboil style pan. Pan handles are folding mug handles that stay attached rather than the detachable (and loseable) Alpkit one.
Edit: if money was no object I'd go Jetboil, If saving dosh then Planetx or other similar copy.
What about the empty plastic meths bottles? Better if you buy 5l bottles I suppose.
As above, I buy 2.5lt bottles and decant into re-useable 50ml or 250ml bottles which I have had for 5+ years now.
See Speedsters site for the accessories I have.
https://speedsterstoves.co.uk/
do you not find meths stinks?
I used to have a meths burner - slow as a wet day in Glasgow and stunk
I would carry a metal bottle camping, plastic ones are too easy to damage.
Yes but you have to buy it in plastic bottles first.
As above, I buy 2.5lt bottles and decant into re-useable 50ml or 250ml bottles which I have had for 5+ years now.
Yeah we’ve got Sigg bottles but don’t cook on either meths or gas canisters enough to really know how consumption compares between them.
(We actually cook in the camper using bio-ethanol which I buy in 1l bottles which I’m not very happy about, I couldn’t find anything bigger the last couple of times I’ve ordered it).
jetboils performance does drop off as cans get empty.
which is not the same as not performing with anything but a full can .
like the can doesnt even have to be very un full ...
few videos over on youtube exhibiting it ..... to be fair to alpkit they may have changed where they source their stoves from and fixed this issue .
