JetBoil Sol update?

I haven't had any issues with my Sol Ti and I've been using it quite a bit for almost a year now. Besides boiling water, I've used my Sol Ti to steam bake muffins and "simmer" Packit Gourmet's Tortilla Soup without any problems.

My biggest gripe with JetBoil is the flimsy measuring cups–I've broken three of them dating back to my original PCS.

Adrien

I bought mine last spring and have been using it almost every day since April on the PCT with no problems. Just boiling water, which is it's intended purpose anyways. What's with this trying to make it what it is NOT intended for anyhow? As far as alcohol stove bans now there are none as the new wording on the permitted stoves/fire situation has been revised to include use of the alcohol stoves…there is another thread here with a link somewhere.
The conditions in California were just so dry when I was there it was scary. When the ban lifted, and I got farther north into more rain, I switched for a week and was not too happy with the fiddlyness of the alcohol (apologies to those who love theirs, I'm just not an alcohol using person)…..so I went back to the SOL, and happy with it despite the fuel bottle resupply wrangling. And I'm so wanting to just eat and go to bed the SOL is infinitely faster and easier, JMHO.

I got a REI mailer yesterday; the SOL will be on sale for $89.99 from August 22 – September 1.

Only heard of the problem with the Titanium version. The newest aluminum version has an improved handle, better insulation under your fingers. The only downside is that it no longer comes with the pot support so that you could use a generic pan. It still has the problem of the cup not releasing from the stove body when hot – stuff expands and it binds. I don't know if the peizo-igniter is replaceable or if anyone carries the part – common failure item on JBs in general.

As an alky stove user, I can tell you that I use my son's JetBoil Sol when we hike together – it is just so darned fast and convenient. It doesn't work worth a hoot in the cold, so don't think of it as a winter snow-melter.

I always meant to test the JB against an MSR Pocket Rocket & Optimus Weekender Heat Exchanger pot just for giggles.

From what I understand, the Ti version is being discontinued.

If you're going to actually cook in it, and not just boil water, you're probably better off with the aluminum version, Adrien's experience to the contrary. Of course, the aluminum version weighs a bit more….

>>> As far as alcohol stove bans now there are none as the new wording on the permitted stoves/fire situation has been revised to include use of the alcohol stoves…there is another thread here with a link somewhere.
The conditions in California were just so dry when I was there it was scary.

Yeah… not everyone lives in California…

Also, while I do appreciate the personal testimonials, that's not really what I'm asking about- I was trying to tap the collective omniscience. Are there still regular reports of the fins melting? Say, within the past six months? My google-fu isn't turning anything up so I suspect that the issue has been essentially resolved with the discontinuance of the Sol Ti, but I wanted to check in with the hive mind.

I haven't heard any recent reports about that. I did a fair amount of research when I bought my Sol Ti a few months ago and didn't see anything nor heard since.

We used a Sol Ti for a month on the Long Trail, twice a day. Boiling water for coffee in the morning, and cooking dinner in the evening — usually a pasta side with a bag of chicken or whatever. Cooked it right in the Ti pot. The only two issue we had were (1) it doesn't simmer worth a damn, once it's boiling, it's boiling over, and (2) the 800ml pot, while not much smaller than our old 900ml Snow Peak pot, is just too small for cooking a whole pasta side and large bag of chicken (see boiling over, above.) I'll buy the 1-liter aluminum pot for future 2-person trips, and use the Sol Ti pot when solo.

No issues with melting anything off the Ti pot.

A couple of you have mentioned that the Sol Ti is being discontinued. JetBoil's site still has the Sol Ti listed with no mention of any change. Just wondering where you got your info. MH

At the recent Outdoor Retailier show, our Jetboil rep told us no more titanium from Jetboil.

I have a Sol Ti as an upgrade to my original PCS.

We've had it for just over a year or so, and it's working fine. All we do is boil water with it.

We're headed to Pukaskwa on Thursday with a group, and it will be one of two stoves shared among the group.

It was outrageously expensive, and the weight savings compared to the aluminum version was minimal. Maybe their discontinuance was due to several factors such as these.

I have not seen a recent report here on BPL or on a couple other sites I read. Also, I have never heard of an issue with the aluminum version, it was only ever the Ti unit.

Jetboil is dropping the titanium.

I've used my Ti model on a number of trips including about four days of melting snow. (I've actually been quite impressed with how well the thing works in the cold–I've not had it below about 15º F but that's plenty cold for me…note I do sleep with the canisters in the foot of my bag.)

My hiking buddy has a Ti as well and we've melted even more snow in his–maybe it's because we are following the directions about not using full power, but we have not experienced issues. Mine was purchased in early 2013, his mid 2012.

The only problem I've encountered is the fit of the cup into the burner unit is a bit more fidgety than with my old PCS JetBoil. I can't remember if it was like that when new.

I have used my Jetboil Ti for about 60 days with no issues. I typically cook a Knorr Side (Rice) with tuna. I had to do some bending on the base to get the pot to easily attach / detach.

I received a Sol Ti for a review when they were first released some years back, and have had no issues with mine… until now. But it is not the fins on the pot, it is the threads on the stove… The first few rows are obviously worn down since I cannot get the stove to screw onto a canister unless I push really hard so that the stove gets past the first few rounds… But, this makes me nervous, so I believe mine is finished. Also, I notice that the warranty on JB products is only a "Limited 1 year warranty" so I don't think they will be replacing mine.

TBH though, I rarely used my Sol Ti, but I admit, for a canister stove, it is an awesome set-up! I will likely pick up an aluminum version sometime, this way I will have another one, but will still have my ti cup, so I will have an option as to which one I want to bring.

Edit to add pic. Notice how the threads are flat…

They come with a brass threaded insert now.

So these are aluminum then… that explains it…

Aluminum threads…. youch. That kind of puts some doubt into your mind concerning their engineers.

I went ahead and sent an email to Jetboil asking them about replacing the stove. Doesn't hurt to ask. I will update this thread when I hear back from them.

If they think it's a "user problem", suggest that you are going to forward their response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to see a a Recall is warranted.

That should light them up.

Greg, I am just going to wait and see what they say. I was polite with the email, and to be fair, they do list their warranty at only a year… besides, as I mentioned, I got this (new, in the package) stove for a review, so I have no money tied up in it.

I am sure that it was not user error, and now that I realize that it is aluminum, and they are now made with brass, makes me feel like they knew this would be a problem, at least to some degree. Regardless, the stove is shot, and if they want me to send it back, that is fine… although, I will keep the ti cook pot. I have heard of them keeping some folks stuff, and I would like to keep the cup. I can buy the al version, have a new stove, and either pot to choose from. (But I will be sure to buy from Backcountry, or REI that will replace obviously defected products.)

FWIW, you can just buy the burner assembly separately.

http://www.jetboil.com/Products/Sol-and-Sumo-Burner-Assembly/