Jetboil alternatives

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Jetboil alternatives

Postby phs » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 6:49 am

Hi,

Recently had my jetboil minimo gas valve fail, I contacted The Australian distributor sea to summit and they want $120 dollars for the replacement, this is just for the valve not the burner or cup retainer.

Seems a little ridiculous considering a complete new unit is only $ 220 with full warranty

It is a few years old but not used that much is say about 50 boils.

So looking for alternatives ie, boil and small cook
I can’t justify the cost per boil of the jet boil unit has returned.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Petew » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 7:00 am

Have a look at the Optimus crux HE set:

https://mountainequipment.com/products/ ... 0MQAvD_BwE

Ticks most of the jetboil boxes.

Alternatively you could take your minimo pot into an outdoor store and see if it sits ok on any of the burner heads.

I had a couple of jetboils and ended up selling them. Not for me. A bit fiddly, heavy and overpriced.

I don't cook, just boil water. I've been very happy with a Soto windmaster and titanium pot.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby wildwanderer » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 7:07 am

phs wrote:Hi,

Recently had my jetboil minimo gas valve fail, I contacted The Australian distributor sea to summit and they want $120 dollars for the replacement, this is just for the valve not the burner or cup retainer.

Seems a little ridiculous considering a complete new unit is only $ 220 with full warranty

It is a few years old but not used that much is say about 50 boils.

So looking for alternatives ie, boil and small cook
I can’t justify the cost per boil of the jet boil unit has returned.


A major failure after 50 boils sounds like a classic case where https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consu ... guarantees would apply.

Give the ACCC a call.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby phs » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 4:20 pm

Thanks Pete, I’ll have a look.

Thanks Wildwander, I emailed sea to summit and articulated my disappointment, 50 boils is $4.4 per boil which is a completely unacceptable.

I doubt I will get a response and I could log a complaint with the ACCC but they won’t care much, I could of course push further with a legal letter but hardly with my effort,
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Mark F » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 4:27 pm

Chances are the jet is blocked but you haven't described what is actually happening. I have no experience with Jetboils but I expect you can strip it down like almost every other gas stove and remove the jet. Clean it with a very fine copper wire - smaller diameter than the hole in the jet. I find some electrical flex has suitable copper strands.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Petew » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 4:30 pm

What kind of failure is it?

No gas coming through?

After selling my jetboils I used the Optimus crux HE set for a while.

Now using a Soto windmaster with either a evernew small pasta pot (solo) or with a goals 900ml TI pot.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby slparker » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 5:20 pm

I have a jetboil Ti that is few years old. Still good but the piezo died a while back.

I tend to use a soto and ti pot now. Fits better in my pack and I like to cook these days rather than dissolve those awful packet dehyds. I recommend a soto and vargo bot.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby phs » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 6:28 pm

Thanks for all the replies

I’ll definitely look into those other brands suggested, the MSR wind burner looks good

As for my jet boil, no gas coming out, I am a plumber have experience with gas appliances, so I dismantled what’s able to be pulled apart to no joy.

-Valve out
-Jet out

Screwed into 2 cans and nothing, there is a slight possibility something microscopic has lodged in the inlet which is too small to clean ( doubtful though ) or the diaphragm/ reg has packed it in ( likely )

Guess now it’s rubbish I can brake the riveted reg cover and look closer at the cause
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Tino B » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 6:35 pm

Soto Windmaster is rock solid. People say BRS $20 titanium UL are good, but I found them flimsy, less efficient and poor simmer control - not that I really cook on the track.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Petew » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 7:36 pm

Can you get at the jet hole at all? You used to be able to buy msr jet pricking tools (super fine wire) to poke in the hole.

Tbh, you'd be better off with a windmaster or windburner though. Probably work ok with your minimo pot if you're fond of it.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby phs » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 7:42 pm

Pulled the whole gas valve, reg and diaphragm apart,
Seem like the inlet gate that leads to the reg / diaphragm is jammed.

Tried lube etc no good, managed to get a pin in the inlet but it seems there are no obstructions
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Bam » Tue 28 Jul, 2020 9:40 pm

I’ve also been very pleased with the performance of my Soto Windmaster, so far it’s been very reliable & the inbuilt piezoelectric ignition makes it super easy to use, no faffing around with matches or a lighter!
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby carpus » Thu 06 Aug, 2020 12:31 am

I like the Jetboil as I only ever boil water (meals in a bag, porridge for breakfast). Had to replace the piezo and it's still temperamental, often use a lighter to start it.

My son has had the MSR Windburner for a couple of years and loves it for Tassie weather, but he got it for about half the Aussie price on a USA trip.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Franco » Thu 06 Aug, 2020 8:43 am

I fixed mine years ago by moving the tip of the ignighter a litle bit closer to the burner.
You can see it in this video .
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby myrtlegirl » Thu 06 Aug, 2020 4:05 pm

50 boils is not good enough. Consumer Affairs are helpful.

I love my jetboil 1.5L pot, it's had around 100 days use, 3-6 times/day.

But the jetboil burners - nuh. I've found jetboil burners to be a PITA. The piezo stuffs up, they can't be easily used with any other pots, they're bigger and heavier than they need to be, and having plastic parts on a gas cooker is asking for problems.

I use a simple, very robust Kovea stove with my jetboil pot - the supports fit neatly within the flux ring. However I note the MiniMo has a skirt around the flux ring that might make this not feasible (wonder if jetboil put this skirt on there to make it impossible to use another stove?)

Kovea.JPG
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby north-north-west » Thu 06 Aug, 2020 5:31 pm

Fire Maple are now making a Jetboil style stove. It looks interesting, but I still prefer a remote burner; far less chance of upsetting things.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Neo » Thu 06 Aug, 2020 6:47 pm

Unless you like to dismantle and play with things, post it back to the manufacturers address (not distributor) with a brief complaint letter. Cut your losses and pick up a Soto Windmaster.

If you are lucky they may step up and send you a new one.

Unrelated. Sometimes I feel like returning a dud product, saying I don't want a refund and here is how to improve your design.
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Zaeed » Thu 13 Aug, 2020 11:41 am

I'm looking at downsizing my kit to use this, only heard good things.

https://www.amazon.com.au/BRS-3000T-Ult ... 794&sr=8-1
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Re: Jetboil alternatives

Postby Neo » Thu 13 Aug, 2020 12:49 pm

Zaeed wrote:I'm looking at downsizing my kit to use this, only heard good things.

https://www.amazon.com.au/BRS-3000T-Ult ... 794&sr=8-1


Cheaper here and an Aussie retailer. I was thinking to get one as a backup:

https://ultralighthiker.com.au/
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