Jetboil knockoffs

[Stein]

Anyone have any experience with the Jetboil knockoffs?  I'm seeing APG, BLUU and others on Amazon for about 1/3 of the cost of a Jetboil.  I was also looking at the MSR windburner, but I'm not a gram weenie, just want something compact and that doesn't break the second time out and not super excited about paying for big brand name marketing budgets.

The knockoffs are still in the $50 range and don't have many reviews, so I'm a little reluctant to just try it out.

[fowl smacker]

No experience with knock offs, but I will tell you that the Jetboil minimo is worth every penny in my opinion.  Buy once, cry once.

[Stein]

Yeah, my problem is I cry once, then cry when I lose it, drop it over the side of my boat or accidentally back over it with my truck.

[full choke]

I have a windburner. It is the 1L size. Boils quick, built like a typical MSR product. I really like it.

[whacker1]

i have a jetboil flash i have had for 7 or so years.  igniter doesn't work very often, but still boils water.

don't know anything about the off brand, but i plan to buy the windburner next time.  support the local vs the china company.  The windburner boils better in wind as the name implies.

[Stein]

Huh, just looked it up and the windburner is made in Seattle, I didn't know that.  I have a circa 93 Whisperlite International somewhere in the garage. 

I could justify the extra money for a built in Seattle stove, it just didn't make sense to me to pay triple for one guy's China stove (Jetboil) over the other guy's China stove.

[CastleRocker]

We gave my son a J.B. Flash for graduation in '09.  It's been used a LOT and is still going.   I bought a Chinese knock off that looks the same as a Flash for a motorcycle trip to AK.  We used nearly every night for 5 weeks on that trip, and quite a bit since.  Mine was $8, and it looks like they were made in the same factory.   Still have my $12 Helinox knock off chairs that we bought for that trip too.  They are exactly like the "real" Helinox...right down to the China sticker in the same place. 

Definitely going to look into getting a Windburner!  Didn't know they were made in the U.S.   

[carlyoungs]

I have the msr. Never had a problem.  Bought it from cabelas black Friday sale a couple years ago.  No complaints  .looking at it now it is about 1/4 of the price of a jet boil .

[rainshadow1]

Have a friend who had the “walmart version” up sledding this weekend. It seemed pretty identical and boiled up fast. He liked it.

My only exposure to them.

[actionshooter]

I have had a couple of the originals for YEARS, still run flawless.... the $50 difference between the original and a knockoff is worth the piece of mind... 

[Karl Blanchard]

MSR all the way.

[TangoU]

Can't go wrong with MSR or Jetboil for sure. I have a MSR Whisperlight Intl that has been going strong for almost 25 years.

That said, cannister stoves can be great in many situations. If you want to shave some dollars for a still good quality knockoff, check out monoprice.com.  I have one of theirs and have been happy with it.

[SteelheadTed]

while it is true that some of what you pay for is marketing, quality and marketing go hand in hand.  The Yeti's of the world don't get where they are by all marketing and no follow-up.  They get there because their marketing tells a true story.  Their stuff is bomb proof.  Same with Jetboil. 

I say just get one, you won't be sorry.

[cbond3318]

MSR Windburner is literally the only cook stove that has ever failed me. 

I’ve been around the Walmart sold one, not sure the brand, and I’ve been around the camp chef and Jetboil. Can’t really say I noticed any difference between them. 

I’d personally buy any similar stove that is the cheapest. The technology isn’t exactly proprietary.

[Lincoln4]

Check for reviews on Youtube.  Earlier this year I was looking at the MSR Windburner and the Jetboil.  Saw some reviews of the knock-offs there.  Ended up just going with my 4 year old, $12.50 BRS stove that just keeps running like a champ.  Dang!  All the way up to $16.95 now...   

https://smile.amazon.com/BRS-BRS-3000T-Ultra-Light-Titanium-Miniature/dp/B06XNLSNFR/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=backpacking+lightweight+stove&qid=1607480693&sr=8-16

[Stein]

I have a BRS as well, but it gets real tippy in the duck blind unless there is hard ground or a wood bench.  It's great for backpacking, just looking for something more stable when weight and space isn't a big deal.

[blackveltbowhunter]

I have an old JB sol TI. Probably ten years old. My Whisper lite gave up mid scouting trip in idaho. The selections were limited at the small outdoor shop I purchased it and I'm sure I gave top dollar for it, but I have for sure got my money worth. I can't begin to count the gallons of water that thing has boiled. Igniter still works great and it's one of the fastest and most efficient stoves I have used. That said when it goes, I will go MSR most likely.

[Pnwrider]

What are you needing to boil in the duck blind? Prefer your fireball warm? 😂