BillConner wrote on Jul 24^th, 2013 at 12:35am:


BC, A guide used a whisperlite to simmer very well. He had a small grill setup that would hold 2 WL (2 burner coleman suitcase stove style). It raised the pots up some, plus he barely pumped the gas canister when he wanted a simmer. You had to keep an eye on it to see that it didn't go out.
He hated how loud the Dragonfly was. But I don't mind it and think it's loud enough I don't need to watch it to know how it's burning.

Prouboy - you may want to take a look at the link below - you can see the efficiency of the jetboil heat exchanger.  the review is a bit old, but not too bad.  what is confusing is the liquid fuel consumption numbers - I'm guessing that it is supposed to be an equivalent weight of fuel, but not crystal clear.  REI used to have a similar coparison of stoves, but I couldnt' find it on website.

a newer  cannister stove to consider, is an updated version of SOTO  odr1  - they have a new "windstopper" version - its a cannister stove you use your own pots on - has a "micro regulator" valve that is supposed to be more simmer friendly


(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

hikin jim's blog is adventures in stoving.com

Dragonfly aficionado here.  I took the whisperlight for Philmont trip - just add boiling water meals at most - and coffee all the time - an dirt was fine but miss being able to turn it down low and leave on till cleanup.

mike,
check out what mat turned me onto......hikin jims blog. dig around a bit and you will see that the guy is a stove fanatic. his review of the kovea spider pushed me into another stove purchase. Still waiting to get the dang thing (fed ex sort of sucks IMO). Supposedly it was already shipped a long time ago. anyway, looks to be a good stove for a good price.

Mad_Mat and MasterT -- 

Good perspective on the jet-boil and it's intended purposes. 

Helpful actually, as I am sadly in the market for a new stove.  Three of my four Coleman Exponents are showing their age and are in various states of disrepair (like me).  When I lose confidence that a stove can do the job for a 2-week trip without breaking dow, it's time for something new.  I'll probably go with one of the "whisper-lite" things.

prouboy

i agree with Matt.....the jet boil is indeed super effecient and the contained directed flame is what caught my interest.

It seems it can be a slick set up if used for specific purposes. Preparing oats is not high on its list of utilitarian functions IMO but am getting by quite nicely with the larger pot. I am also less than thouroughly impressed with the coffee press.>>> Fussy, fussy.......a little to fussy!(probably an absolutely wonderful article of gear for a backpacker)

still awaiting the arrival of the kovea.......Jumpin Jim better be right (or was that "hikin Jim"?)......crap, can't remember, probably need to bookmark that site.

"I am leery of products force you to use only their accessories: pots, etc."

ah, but that ain't so Prouboy - with the pot support on top of the jetboil burner, you can use any pot or pan you want, including the the one in your picture. no different than a pocket rocket or any other upright cannister stove

Look, the whole point of a jetboil is to make as fuel efficient a system as possible - that is the object of having thier own pots with the heat exchanger ring - using a different pot, you lose some of that fuel efficiency

and while you can "cook" with one, they aren't really designed to do more than boil water as fast and fuel efficiently as possible - no point in buying a jetboil if what you want is a stove to cook on

by the way, hang on to that Peak 1 - coleman seems to have stopped making it - they have a similar model, shorter with a fat butt, but no more Peak 1 - better start hitting garge sales to see if I can find another.

I know jet boil has its fans, and many on this site.  I am leery of products force you to use only their accessories: pots, etc.  I will stay with my old-fashioned, quiet, reliable, and versatile Coleman Peak stoves.  The only thing I've added is a small roll-up grate that can just barely sit above the Peak and add stability to pots and fry pans.  See pic.

prouboy

ok........I have used the bigger pot for my jet boil which was supposed to be for making coffee (thermos) to make oatmeal. I managed to not have a boil over on oats this morning.......that's a good thing.

It is very unlikely a jetboil will ever make its way into the woods with me. I'm glad I have another very important use for it. Looking forward to the Kovea Spider.....I like the whole remote fuel tank and cooking low to the ground concept. Whole lots less chance for any sort of accident.....from exploding fuel tank to spilled pan. Maybe, just maybe, this will be my last stove......fingers crossed.

Yeah the dragonfly is a bit bulky. Before I packed for my last trip (1 week in the Q, no cooking fires, dinners (20 minutes simmer) oatmeal and coffee) I made a pile of the Dragonfly+fuel (11oz +22oz) +repair kit next to the pocket rocket + fuel(3 8oz cans [which I was not certain was enough]) and decided that the volume was about the same, the dragonfly cluster a bit heavier. I went with the dragonfly because of wind and that I hate the accumulation of partially full fuel canisters (gotta take full canisters....) the rocket brings. I try to get everything comfortably in a Granite Gear solo pack during the summer so I can one trip the portages.