Hunting stove upgrade?

[teamtoppin]

I have a very light and small backpack stove (a burner you screw directly onto the fuel can)

My question is are the jetboil and primus type setups faster to boil and worth the upgrade? Also, presumably if it is more efficient at heating water do you you less fuel and don't need to take multiple fuel cans?

Or, should I just stick with the light weight minimal burner I have.

Thanks.

 

[FreeRange]

Jetboil type stoves are nice but limit you to just boiling obviously. They are certainly more efficient. One thing I noticed that maybe others can chime in on is that the jetboil seems to struggle more with cold and altitude vs the simple burner stove like you already have. I've rarely had issues with my MSR pocket rocket but the JB struggled at 8000'+ and in 20 degree temps while at the same time the pocket rocket was fine. Something to consider.

 

[twall13]

I don't own a jetboil or primus, but I did find that when I got a new pot that had the heat element ring on the bottom it definitely boiled water more quickly. The only advantage I see of the Jetboil setup over my upgraded pot & MSR Pocket Rocket is it might offer more wind protection. I personally like that the Pocket Rocket is more versatile but that's just my take. Here is the pot I bought and used last season for reference. Again, I've never used a Jetboil type setup so I can't compare but I also don't feel like I'm missing anything. Maybe if I did 10 day hunts I could see some weight savings with a system that's more efficient with the fuel but for most of my hunts I only need one fuel canister anyway so it doesn't save me any weight in fuel savings.

 

[Akicita]

I have learned in my experience that the biggest detriment to efficiency of canister stoves is the wind. I have two systems for different purposes - They both have pros and cons but the decision on which one I take is only decided by the choice of meals I take and the shelter I will have to prepare my meals during bad weather. My first system and one I pack most when knowing I will have good shelter is my Snow Peak Giga Power -Auto with Snow Peak Ti-Mini Solo pot and cup. My second system is the MSR Windburner that I pack when I know I may not have good shelter, or any shelter and only plan on re-hydrating meals and heating water. Both work well at altitude as long as you keep the canisters warm. I boiled water for coffee on my Windburner at 12,200 feet last last weekend during a back country ski tour. The concern about canister stoves not working at altitude is a myth. Your small screw on canister stove will serve you well if you consider some things I do to help with fuel efficiency on my canisters:

* Always use a lid when heating or boiling water*
* Protect the stove from the wind - wind deflectors are okay but a shelter is best*
* Use aluminum or titanium pots and avoid steel or iron *
* Don't boil to a full roll - Look for the steam then for the small bubbles to form on the bottom of the pot. When they start to rise you have reached ample temperature for any dehydrated meals and hot drinks. Only boil if sanitizing water and do that over a fire *
* Don't burn at full heat. Roll it back to about 3/4 and let thermodynamics do the rest *
* Use the right size pot or pan for the size of the burner. A big pot take more energy to heat *
* Only heat the exact amount of water or meal you intend to use or eat *

 

[1signguy]

Jet boils are great and very efficient- its what I use most often. However, I have had issues with my Jet Boil at higher altitude and cold temps exacerbate the issue. Sleeping with the fuel in your bag helps if you get caught out... When really cold temps and high altitude are involved I take an MSR XGK.

 

[Akicita]

Jet boils are great and very efficient- its what I use most often. However, I have had issues with my Jet Boil at higher altitude and cold temps exacerbate the issue. Sleeping with the fuel in your bag helps if you get caught out... When really cold temps and high altitude are involved I take an MSR XGK.

I should clarify to my previous post that my MSR Windburner is more efficient and has more consistent boil times in cold weather and altitude because of the built in 15 psi pressure regulator. My Giga Pro and other non catalytic designs do not have a regulator therefore are not as efficient unless the ambient or canister temperatures are high enough that the full 45 psi in the canister is delivered. This typically would be at temperature above 70 degrees F. I am not aware that the JetBoil stoves have the same regulator but my guess would be they do not and thus the trouble at altitude and colder temperatures.

 

[Bughalli]

Some good advice above. I go back and forth on this as well, but keep coming back to just keeping the pocket rocket. It boils plenty fast enough for a weeks worth of meals on a small canister. Wind can be an issue, but that's easily avoided with your tent. So my money is better spent towards something I really need.

 

[zeroforhire]

What's the rush? I've never really understood that with boil times.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Akicita]

What's the rush? I've never really understood that with boil times. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Let say hypothetically that an ISOPRO 4oz can burns 30 minutes at full burn and it takes 3.5 minutes to boil a cup of water. That would equal about 8.5 cups of water per canister. If it took 2.5 minutes at the same regulated rate the number of cups per canister increases to 12 therefore you would get more efficiency from one canister if your system was boiling at faster and more efficient times.

 

[zeroforhire]

Let say hypothetically that an ISOPRO 4oz can burns 30 minutes at full burn and it takes 3.5 minutes to boil a cup of water. That would equal about 8.5 cups of water per canister. If it took 2.5 minutes at the same regulated rate the number of cups per canister increases to 12 therefore you would get more efficiency from one canister if your system was boiling at faster and more efficient times.

Good point.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk