Jetboil shaved a whopping 40% in weight off its lightest stove to produce its most pack-friendly cook system ever.
Backpacking purists go to great lengths to cut every ounce possible. That includes cutting excess pack straps, sawing down toothbrush handles, and excising every nonessential convenience. And often, a stove and cook system can be one of the first conveniences to go (in favor of cold, dehydrated meals in a bag and ready-to-eat options).
Today, Jetboil hopes to change that with its new Stash stove system. Marking the brand’s “lightest backpacking stove system ever,” the Jetboil Stash adds a scant 7.1 ounces to a pack. For that small ounce penalty, hikers and campers receive a titanium burner and a 0.8L aluminum cook pot with a lid.
The takeaway: At 7.1 ounces, the Stash comes in a full 40% lighter than Jetboil’s next-lightest stove system.
Jetboil Stash Stove Review
What’s Included
We received an early sample of the Stash to test. And yes, it’s crazy light. Jetboil’s numbers check out — 7.1 ounces — for the stove and pot and lid. But the system also comes with a handy folding, three-legged fuel canister stand. And while the added plastic tripod weighs just 1 ounce, Jetboil acknowledged it will be the first thing sacrificed among hardcore backpackers.
Here’s the weight breakdown by component:
- Titanium burner: 2.1 oz.
- 0.8L aluminum pot: 4.5 oz. (5 oz. with lid)
- Fuel canister stand: 1 oz.
The system also includes a nice soft carrying sack for the titanium burner. I foresee keeping this for storing the burner in off months to prevent scratches or other damage.
Features
Beyond the svelte weight, Jetboil advertises a couple additional features it says make the Stash stove system a standout among the competition.
First, the Jetboil Stash works as a complete nesting system. As the name implies, the components “stash” inside the cook pot — burner, fuel canister (100 g), and, if you want it, the stand. To do this, the fuel canister snaps into place under the lid, the stand folds together and sits at the bottom of the pot, and the burner has a fold-over flame-control arm to tuck in next to the fuel canister.
If you carry your fuel separately, there’s enough room left in the nesting pot to stow a lighter, igniter, or pack of matches. This brings up an important point: The Stash burner does not include an ignition switch.
In addition, Jetboil boasts the Stash will boil a half-liter (500 mL) of water in 2.5 minutes thanks to its patented FluxRing design. For those who don’t know, Jetboil adds metal pleats to the bases of its cookware, effectively increasing the surface area, transmitting more heat, and reducing heating times.
I tested Jetboil’s claims by filling the 0.8L cook pot to its highest fill line (just under the lip) and firing the burner to maximum. Plus or minus a second (or 3), the water reached a rolling boil right at the advertised 2.5 minutes.
Jetboil Stash Stove
At the heart of the Stash system is the burner/regulator. Made of titanium, this component marks the biggest technological advancement in the Stash.
The good news is that if you’ve used a backpacking stove before, the Stash won’t function any differently than the systems you’re used to. However, Jetboil did make some modifications that are worth noting. First, the burner itself utilizes a swinging-leaf design on the burner arms.
Unlike other stoves, which fold to save space in the pack, the Stash has three arms that fold into one another. Personally, I found this an improvement over folding designs, which can be a bit finicky. The Stash is simple and virtually dummy-proof. The arms only swing in one direction and stop when they’re in place.
Additionally, the regulator arm folds under when disconnected from the fuel source. This aids nesting inside the cook pot. Like other stoves, the burner has teeth to help hold the cook pot in place.
As is the case with many Jetboil stoves, the regulator has smooth operation and near-infinite adjustment within its off-to-max range.
Should You Buy?
If you’re a backpacker, yes. The tech (FluxRing, titanium) combined with the thoughtful nesting design and weight make for a cutting-edge cook system. The fact that Jetboil cut 40% off its lightest weight stove system is no small feat.
And if the execution doesn’t wow, the price might be the kicker. The Jetboil Stash costs $125. Compared to other popular systems — MSR’s WindBurner ($150, 15.5 ounces) and PocketRocket 2 Mini ($85, 9.8 ounces), and Jetboil’s Flash ($110, 13.1 ounces) and MiniMo ($150, 14 ounces), the Jetboil Stash falls in the mid-range for price but outcompetes in weight.
We’ve used the Stash only a handful of times, but the system seems to be dialed. There are no major changes in functionality — if you’re accustomed to backpacking stoves, everything on the Stash will prove intuitive. The weight checks out — really, the Stash improves materials to make a lighter stove system that works the way backpackers expect it to. And even the small bump in price keeps the Stash competitive in the backpacking stove space.
