Backcountry stoves and cooking

[Tbob]

So I've been an MSR whisper lite or Simmer lite kind of guy for the last 8-10 or so.. Anymore I just boil water for Mt. House dinners or breakfasts.. I'm thinking about trying a jetboil or an MSR reactor this year instead.. Does anyone have any pro's and cons for these stoves? The main reason I like using the white gas stove is I don't have any trash (fuel canisters) to pack out. Also I'm a little worried about not knowing how much fuel is left in the cannisters after 5 or 6 uses.. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated..

[jackelope]

I have the MSR Reactor stove and it's pretty awesome. I think it's heavier than the jetboil by a few ounces, at least heavier than the Ti version of the jetboils. @fillthefreezer has some more concrete info on the # of burns per can but it's a bunch. 5-6 uses you're still at 3/4 tank I think.

[JLS]

You can also float the canister in water to estimate how much fuel is left.  I've used a single canister for over a week, heating water for breakfast and dinner.

[seth30]

What helps me is having a full one and the one I use.  Gives me a idea of how much I have left.  The idea of floating one sounds a lot easier than hauling two of them up the mountain

[Jonathan_S]

They're both good stoves, can't really go wrong with any of the name brand systems.

[Fl0und3rz]

They also make a range different size canisters.  I don't know if that's a statement of the obvious, but it would seem to moot the concern about never having enough for a trip. 

[Jonathan_S]

They also make a range different size canisters.  I don't know if that's a statement of the obvious, but it would seem to moot the concern about never having enough for a trip.

It's a good point. If somebody is worried, just throw in a fresh medium canister. That sucker will last weeks unless you are using it as a campfire.

[fillthefreezer]

i have been geeking on stoves for the last few years. a few things i have found.. i avg about 4g fuel per boil. i scratch my boils in the side of the canister. i have a bone empty cyl at home to tare the scale, and then grams of fuel in a partial, to take them on shorter trips. with the stoves like JB and reactor, you dont need to crank them. just enough for the flame to cover the fins. i am averaging around 27 boils per 110g fuel can, in the casades and rockies. the pots with fins do make a huge difference. dont boil in the wind, it wastes a ton of fuel. my sol ti pot finally died, after 200 or so boils.

[jackelope]

i have been geeking on stoves for the last few years. a few things i have found.. i avg about 4g fuel per boil. i scratch my boils in the side of the canister. i have a bone empty cyl at home to tare the scale, and then grams of fuel in a partial, to take them on shorter trips. with the stoves like JB and reactor, you dont need to crank them. just enough for the flame to cover the fins. i am averaging around 27 boils per 110g fuel can, in the casades and rockies. the pots with fins do make a huge difference. dont boil in the wind, it wastes a ton of fuel. my sol ti pot finally died, after 200 or so boils.

I knew you wouldn't disappoint with the full on geek mode pile of info.

[Tbob]

Awesome! Thanks for all the info guys! Looks like I'll be getting one of these in the nxt month for my upcoming AZ mule deer hunt. Only a 5 day hunt so hopefully one cannister does the trick.. Thanks again.

[Bushcraft]

Jetboils are great, but do not depend on the piezo.  I've owned three different models over the years and exactly none of the piezos worked.  For the life of me I can't figure out why they continue to integrate them in their burner designs.  The neoprene sock is awesome, but it's easy enough to sew one up for other pots.  Not a fan of the way the stove and pot connect.

The MSR Reactor is bomber.  A bit bulky and slightly on the heavier side, but an absolutely solid piece of kit.  I particularly like the contained catalytic-type "flame" when using it inside expensive shelters (vented, of course).

My all-round favorite is the Titanium Snow Peak GigaPower (no piezo) coupled with the heat/wind shield thingy. I don't think they make it any longer.  I use a Snowpeak Ti cup/pot with it most of the time.  But, the pot I robbed off this alcohol burning cookset has the heat exchanger built into the pot making it more efficient and results in less fuel consumption. https://esbit.de/en/cookset-with-alcohol-burner-cs985h-ex/

If you want to go superlite, are patient, only want to get your water lukewarm, are in a windproof environment and are willing to put up with the cancer causing fume stench...Try the Esbit fuel tab stove. 

Alcohol stoves are total bullsh...er, cowpie.  Don't even bother experimenting.

[Bob33]

The MSR Reactor stove is the fastest to boil that I've ever used or seen. It's simply amazing. For ultra light weight I like the Snow Peak GigaPower stove, but if you don't mind a few extra ounces the Reactor is the way to go.

[scottcrb]

Go reactor. Been using mine for years and it's awesome. They make adapters to turn your pot into a French press too for coffee.  They  also have two different size pots for different needs. 

[pd]

i have been geeking on stoves for the last few years. a few things i have found.. i avg about 4g fuel per boil. i scratch my boils in the side of the canister. i have a bone empty cyl at home to tare the scale, and then grams of fuel in a partial, to take them on shorter trips. with the stoves like JB and reactor, you dont need to crank them. just enough for the flame to cover the fins. i am averaging around 27 boils per 110g fuel can, in the casades and rockies. the pots with fins do make a huge difference. dont boil in the wind, it wastes a ton of fuel. my sol ti pot finally died, after 200 or so boils.

I can smell the engineer from all the way over here.  Great stuff!

[whacker1]

for the geeks, I have a jet boil Flash, but I was geeking on the MSR windburner and Reactor

boil time looks longer than jetboil, but I find that the jetboil is a lie unless perfect conditions.
MSR made in the USA / seattle
Jetboil - 1.25 oz lighter.


I won't be doing anything until the jetboil dies, but thought I would point it out as an option over the Reactor.  Reactor $199, windburner $128, and jetboil flash $99

It will be hard not to buy another jetboil, but I would like to support something made in the State.