Jetboil Sol Titanium Stove

LOL yeah I love my pocket rocket but I can not say that boil times are even close. Jet boil kills it. I imagine it matters what metal your jet boil is made out of also, but my TI boils way faster than my pocket rocket.

"Boil times are essentially identical."

"This is absolutely, factually not true."

It can be true, Davey. If you turn the Jetboil down very low, and open the Pocket Rocket to the max, I expect that they will both achieve a boil at roughly the same time (3-4 minutes?). But like she said, there's a fuel consumption issue with the PR when it's employed that way.

Actually, I can beat the Jetboil's fuel consumption per 2-cup boil with my Snow Peak Giga stove and its MYOG integrated wind screen. This is with the Jetboil at medium low throttle and my SP Giga at minimal output. The Jetboil uses .25 oz. of canister fuel per boil, and my Giga does it with just .20 oz. But it just takes 2:45 to 3.0 minutes for the Jetboil to get a boil, whereas my Giga takes maybe 4 minutes due to the lower flame setting. These results are consistant whether there is wind or calm conditions. But if you want speed, the Jetboil wins every time.

Guys, I'm not trying to pimp the Pocket Rocket, I was just trying to provide a basis of comparison for the OP. My Pocket Rocket, in ambient windless temps of about 55 degrees, boils a nearly full 700mL ti cup of water in 2:20 without a windscreen. I measured it on the deck at home when I was doing a comparison between it and my alcohol stoves. Side by side with a Jetboil(not sure which version my friends were using) where I was using a windscreen, the stoves boiled water in roughly the same time. Not sure how many mL of fluid the Jetboil contained, I didn't ask.

Jeez. I wasn't trying to start a controversy, nor expected to be called a liar. I was trying to be helpful to the OP's question. Let's move on, shall we?

Back when I was deciding between the JetBoil and the Pocket Rocket (I had narrowed it down to those two), nearly all of the comparisons that I read or watched on YouTube said that there was very little difference in boil times in their tests, but that the JetBoil used much less fuel.

Also, I don't carry the JetBoil stand either. With the wide 4.0 oz MSR canister, you didn't need to anyway, but I found that even with the 3.5 oz canisters that it isn't really necessary.

Absolutely, Positively, NO WAY! My brother brought his pocket rocket on our last trip and, besides using over twice the fuel I did with my Sol, he was still watching his water, while we were starting to eat our meal (with a 5 minute wait for re-hydration).

The slightest bit of wind and the Pocket Rocket became crazy slow. God help you on a blustery day. For its day… The Pocket Rocket was nifty. It is simply obsolete now. The amount of fuel you have to carry for anything more than a couple days is just nutso.

No one is calling you a liar, Dena. However, assuming exact same conditions, a Jetboil Ti will have no problem boiling water significantly faster than a PR.

There are dozens of tiny little factors that will screw up your stove test results, and nobody seems to be nailing them down. Therefore, all of the comparisons here are just anecdotes. Where it gets frustrating is that some little factors affect one model of stove more than another model. So, instead of trying to compare apples to apples, you end up trying to compare apples to rutabagas, and that doesn't have much value.

Now, if you are a stove manufacturer, you will isolate which of those little factors are in your stove's best interests, and which factors are not. So, you do your test and quote a few conditions, and then you accidentally omit the other factors. That makes your stove look better.

–B.G.–

Since I started using a windscreen with my pocket rocket my fuel consumption has gone way down and my boil times are faster.

Again, I've never used a jet boil, so I can't compare the two stoves. But what Dena writes doesn't surprise me, given she was using a windscreen in the field.

Personally, I care about efficient fuel consumption most of all. Who cares about the difference between 3 minutes and 5 minutes boil times? I always keep my pocket rocket dialed down for better efficiency.

somewhere. I remember reading it and it had the big name canisters included. It had the aluminum sol, the ti sol, and the flash among others. I think it also had the MSR Reactor in it. I can't remember if it had the pocket rocket for sure. But, I think it did. I tried a quick search and didn't turn it up. If you have some time to hunt it down, it should give you some more good info to work with.

But, I remember thinking to myself that the author did a lot of work compiling comparative statistics on them (time, fuel usage, etc.).

Well, searching on Stove and Caffin will get you more than a few hits!

6 part series on CO emissions starting here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/stoves_tents_carbon_monoxide.html

Winter stoves here:
Selecting a Canister Stove for Cold Weather Backpacking
Part I: Stove and Fuel Fundamentals
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/selecting_stoves_for_cold_weather_part_1.html

Selecting a Canister Stove for Cold Weather Backpacking
Part II: Commercially Available Canister Stove Systems
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/selecting_stoves_for_cold_weather_part_2.html

Heat Exchanger stoves here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/canister_stove_efficiency_p1.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/canister_stove_efficiency_p2.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/canister_stove_efficiency_p3.html

Many other stove articles here:
Got Gas theory RNC
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/bpl_v1_stove_theory_pdf.html

Canister Stove testing Will Rietveld
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_canister_stoves_test_report.html

Selecting a stove – all sorts Will Rietveld
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/backpacking_stove_options.html

Gas Stove FAQ Will Rietveld
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/canister_stove_faq.html

Cheers

"Absolutely, Positively, NO WAY! My brother brought his pocket rocket on our last trip and, besides using over twice the fuel I did with my Sol, he was still watching his water, while we were starting to eat our meal (with a 5 minute wait for re-hydration)."

As I mentioned, I own a JetBoil, I am a big fan of it, and am not looking to advocate for any one stove. I was merely citing some reviews with tests that I read back when I was researching which one to buy. I don't know how much fuel was in your brothers canister, or how wide his pot was, if you were boiling the same amount of water, etc.

Here are a few:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-H332iaLGY

Also, the Will Rietveld artlcle that Roger Caffin mentioned above:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_canister_stoves_test_report.html#.UZq4crUqZ8E

As Bob Gross said, these tests are not absolute and there are many variables, but I think its clear that Dena is correct in that the difference in boil times are not significant between the two. I seem to remember a few more comparisons floating around, but I don't have time to look for them now.

I disagree on the Pocket Rocket being obsolete. Its still a much lighter option than any of the JetBoils for a 6 day or less solo trip. Also, some people like to prepare and cook meals on outings rather than just rehydrate food. This is much easier to do with a Pocket Rocket.

That being said, I prefer the JetBoil.

"I disagree on the Pocket Rocket being obsolete. "

It is slowly being phased out and replaced with the MSR Micro Rocket, which is a bit lighter but has much, much better pot supports which are pretty junky on the PR.

http://www.alssports.com/Product.aspx?pf_id=10127518

$104.99 shipped.

I've never seen the titanium model this cheap before. Get them while they're cheap peeps!

Picked one up for a Christmas present for my brother. So, they're still in stock.

Darn! I saw this post for Al's after I ordered one from REI!

Oh well! I guess that's one less pizza or a few beers from my budget!

Thanks again to all who replied and gave great insight in re the Jet Boil. For me, I decided it was a good option to replace my alcohol stove, wind screen, pot, pot cozy and mini bic for trips where an alcohol stove is not allowed. I don't really cook gourmet meals and I do like how fast it is.

In fact when I saw others use theirs on the trail, the one safety issue I noticed was people walking away from their Jet Boil not realizing how fast it would boil and then having it boil over. I think over filling also contributed to this issue as well. So I know I have to be careful of that, not that I walk away from a lit stove anyway.

Take your mini-bic or better yet, a spark-type device like a "Light My Fire". Though my piezo igniter has not failed me yet, I've heard stories from other backpackers about their continued reliability being a bit suspect. I always take a couple of spare/emergency fire sources in my pack anyway. Usually a Light My Fire with Homemade Fire Starters and some waterproof matches in a zip lock.

Good call, thanks JJ!

I recently acquired the Jetboil Sol Ti for $105 on sale at Campsaver. My first impressions of this one.

1] Leaving off the lid, cup and pot stablizer (none of these things needed) the weight is 8.3oz.

2] Boiling cold tap water in the house I achieved sub two minute boil times for 16oz of water twice. The second time I boiled without using the lid and the boil time was 117sec, with the lid on was 110sec.

Pretty impressive performance/weight/price combination.

James m' boy, dost thou mean that thee prefers the SVEA 123?

God love ya. I thought those stoves, like my ancient 1970 SVEA 123, were all mantle decorations by now.
OHHHHH, 'tis wonderous that some souls still cling to them. They are the only beautiful petrol stoves ever made.

Wow…

I thought this thread was dead.

I have a confession to make and a potential warning to people new to the Jetboil Ti.

Nothing in my opinion of this as a super duper, highly efficient, lightning fast, top of the line water boiler has changed. I also still believe that I can go lighter with it on my long trips than any other stove I have tried to date. Especially for shoulder season trips, when it's chilly/cold out and I want a hot drink once or twice a day.

But… I am putting my Jetboil in the closet (for a while at least). I have eaten all of the freeze dried and other "just add water" evening meals I can take for a couple of seasons and am going back to a slightly heavier and slightly less efficient canister stove system, so I can better enjoy my supper meals again. I hate doing dishes in the morning. But, I might even have to whip up some pancakes and an omelet or two, for old times sake.

I'm thinking that I may have fallen into Ryan's "stupid light" trap with this piece of gear. I realized while planning my Spring Trip this year that I wasn't looking forward to supper the way I used to anymore. So, I tried cooking on it instead of just boil bagin' with it and was quickly reminded of its shortcomings. It was weighed, it was measured, and it was found to be extremely wanting in this arena. So much so, that immediately after returning home, I began thinking about a different stove for my next trip. With all of the fires lately, and so much talk about where alcohol setups will and won't be allowed this year, I decided to look for a new canister stove to give a try. I have decided that I am going to try a Kovena Spider for the rest of this season (with some of my old recipes), to see if I can get the twinkle back in my eye at supper time.

Friends… don't let friends give up good food in the Backcountry!

JJ, your problem may be the food you choose to rehydrate as much as the JetBoil. Try dehydrating you own food as well and you can get away from the crap (and expense) that is Mountain House and their ilk. It not a good as fresh, but you can cook exactly what you like, and can even dehydrate it just before your trip. All for the cost of an inexpensive dehydrator. This made a big difference for me – I'm never going back to freeze-dried.

+1 to everything Marko said.

You are not the first to lobby me on the value of dehydrating your own. I am absolutely certain that you are right. So many of my buddies do exactly that. I have tried a few of their dishes and enjoyed them much more than the commercial offerings.

I am also absolutely certain that I won't have the time and discipline to put together and dehydrate 8 evening meals for three people during the weeks leading up to our fall trip. I will however, be able to make mini pizzas, backcountry quiche, fresh fried trout, powdered egg omelets, etc., if I bring a stove that I can simmer on and a lightweight skillet along. As long as I get something tasty every other night, I will be in heaven.

I will make you a promise that I will give it a try, after I finally get my last 3 children self sufficient and/or reach that elusive retirement point. I hear that these days, either one can come before the other does. lol

I really don't sweat the extra few lbs. that will come with swapping the Jetboil for a slightly heavier cooking setup and carrying a few ingredients that are a little heavier than freezer bag meals along will entail. Only about a lb. of it will be on my back for the whole trip and it shouldn't mean a total weight any higher than 30 lbs. at the TH for me at the start of the trip. Far below (about 1/2) what I was accustomed to, before I met you guys and gals and made some significant changes to my kit.

I'll still have some freeze dried dishes on the menu to keep my food weight reasonable. I just don't want that crap every night for over a week anymore.

BTW… since you are a dehydrator, do you have a favorite book of freezer bag recipes that would recommend? I have paged through a few and really wasn't all that optimistic about how what I found in them would taste.

"I won't have the time and discipline to put together and dehydrate 8 evening meals for three people"

Nor do I. But I Do have 4 killer meals. And by Day 5, Meal #1 is welcomed as an old friend.

Don't make it to hard.

http://www.packitgourmet.com/ has a selection of dehydrated food if you don't want the hassle of dehydrating your own

I like to thrown in some dehydrated tomatoes and bell peppers

Not that I'm trying to talk anyone into doing anything, just another possibility

Spill….

Share your 5 masterpieces with the rest of us poor slobs…

Pretty please?