Jetboil Classic Personal Cooking System - 2007 BCS

Pretty amazing stove. Small, light, efficient. I started using this stove on really long ski tours. While I can melt water for the group for the whole day, the stove and fuel canister weigh less than one liter of water. I can even melt water with the stove in my hand while still hiking! This stove has taken over as my go to stove for climbing, skiing and camping in the mountains.

When it comes down to it, this is the stove that works for personal or two person use on lightweight climbing or skiing trips. You don't need the hanging kit to hang it- just wrap a ski strap around the neoprene securing another ski strap underneath and you can hang it on anything. Also, it is the only stove (and I don't recommend this) that you can bring into the tent with you and use to help warm up and dry out. Just the fact that you can hold the stove in your hands while it is on (because the 'pot' connects to the stove)makes it far superior to any other.

I think there have been enough reviews on here about how awesome this stove is so I'll skip diving into how much I love this thing and just let everyone know that I wouldn't try to cook anything except hot water in it. It boils extremely fast, but really only has one setting and that is Jet Boiling HOT. I talked to a guy at REI who said I could heat up Chili or stew in this thing, but unless you turn it off and on every 30 seconds or so, you're gonna scorch anything but water.

I love my Jetboil. I use it for all my cooking, even while not in the backcountry. Not the lightest setup, but reliable, convenient, and just plain cool. Only issues I've had: the cup cracked after heavy use, but is still usable; and the igniter sometimes takes a few tries, but has never failed completely. Advantages over the newer flash version: stronger neoprene sleeve and no igniter handle. With the flash version (at least the one I have), the neoprene sleeve starts to slide off if you hold only the handle to pour. With the original, I can pour one-handed. As for the igniter, the handle does make it easier to ease, but also means you have to unscrew the gas in order to store. With the original, you can store the gas and stove while connected.

I love my Jetboil. I use it for all my cooking, even while not in the backcountry. Not the lightest setup, but reliable, convenient, and just plain cool. Only issues I've had: the cup cracked after heavy use, but is still usable; and the igniter sometimes takes a few tries, but has never failed completely. Advantages over the newer flash version: stronger neoprene sleeve and no igniter handle. With the flash version (at least the one I have), the neoprene sleeve starts to slide off if you hold only the handle to pour. With the original, I can pour one-handed. As for the igniter, the handle does make it easier to ease, but also means you have to unscrew the gas in order to store. With the original, you can store the gas and stove while connected.

Awesome stove. Really nothing else to say about it. Every review on here states that BUT don’t depend on the Auto Ignition it seems to break. Either use matches or keep a “Jetboil Maintenance Kit” on hand at all times. Other than that its an A++++.

Funny when i told my fishing buddies about this stove they were like eh cool for you. But after 4.5 hours of fishing in the cold there was a circle of friends around the JETBOIL when the hot coffee started pouring!

works well, relatively compact, fast boil, seems efficient in terms of fuel. light weight for what it includes,and an be used in a tent by hanging if the tent is well ventalated. i'll probably get myself one after using my buddies..

works well, relatively compact, fast boil, seems efficient in terms of fuel. light weight for what it includes,and an be used in a tent by hanging if the tent is well ventalated. i'll probably get myself one after using my buddies..

This is a nice stove for those wanting a canister at altitude or in the cold. Boil times are also pretty impressive. I didn't like being tied to the companion cup and wanted something lighter so I sold it for something that works better for my needs.

Used it down to 15F on Mount Baker. If you keep the gas cylinder off the snow then it works fine. Warmed the cylinder up in our sleeping bags when they got too cold. It's a great compact convenient setup - certainly prefer it to the fiddle of white gas stoves. One tip is to build your own hanging kit by using a large hose clamp from a hardware store to wrap around the pot, and then build a hanging kit from perlon. We hung it in the tent (with the door open for ventilation) and that worked great in the colder temperatures. Best feature is the ease of lying in your bag in the morning and quickly making a cup of tea/coffee without having to leave the tent.

I have an EtaPower 2.1L cook system, Jet Boil PCS with 1.5L cook Pot with the Stabilizer and pot support and an MSR Pocket Rocket. The EtaPower and the Jet Boil have their own pots of course, and the pocket rocket is used with my MSR Titan Kettle which is the lightest(8.5oz:stove, case & pot). In the wind the MSR is weak even on full, otherwise it is about the lightest minimalist canister setup rivaled by only 10ths of an oz if any. The Jet Boil is the Second Lightest(15.4oz) if carried without the 1.5L pot. In the wind the unit is performs perfectly even at a simmer. The EtaPower is a workhorse. It laughs at wind and boils water faster than reported times but is the heaviest(2lbs. 7.6oz) The Jet Boil is the best packed unit with any 110g fuel canister inside, all as a single unit. The EtaPower packs as a unit but it is tricky to get a fuel canister inside and not damage the Teflon. The MSR Kettle holds one 250g canister but the stove is in it's own plastic case. Jet Boil uses the smallest, 110g, fuel canister not including the MSR brand canister due to it's flatter/wider shape. Snow Peak canisters are identical in shape and content to the Jet Boil brand fuel canisters but they are the cheapest canister I've seen. The Small fuel capacity seems limiting but the Jet Boil PCS just sips fuel and it's little canisters last as long as the larger 250g does with the Pocket Rocket. The EtaPower on the other hand can be turned down somewhat and it uses very little fuel when used with the heat exchange pot but not as efficient when used with the pan because the pan has not heat exchangers and will not work with the wind screen. Still the PCS is the most fuel efficient unit. All three systems have a good range of energy output. The best simmering unit is the EtaPower if you are sensitive with the controls because the pot disperses the heat over a wide area. The PCS is the second at simmering (yes I have cooked and not just boiled with it) with it's heat exchanger and radiant output, the bottom of the pot stays hot evenly. You need a long utensil like the ones made by Jet Boil to reach the bottom of the pot in order to keep food from sticking and burning. The MSR Pocket Rocket is the worst at simmering if you consider the hot spot in the center of the pot. Some packing deserts must be made in the pot and the MSR was the only one that would burn the bottom without cooking the food. On one occasion I took the 1.5L pot out with the MSR Pocket Rocket and the rice I made was not burnt. In fact the wind resistance of the stove was improved with the Jet Boil GCS pot. That is another point for Jet Boil if you ask me. Above and beyond all other systems I have seen, the Jet Boil is the only unit that can be used while on the move (yes, I use mine to boil water while walking). The other systems do not have an coffee press that work with the included pot. If I wanted to I could buy a coffee press/pot combo and use it on any stove except for the Reactor by MSR and I don't own one of those.
To conclude; the every stove has it's place. Some are lighter and cheaper. Some are said to only boil water(I think the blame is on the chef). Some are heavy large or expensive. But few can fill as many different niches as the Jet Boil PCS. The only thing Jet Boil leaves me to dream of are a little crazy like a pressure cooker pot that fits the PCS or a bread oven insert.

A couple of buddies and I spent a week hiking through Yosemite last June. Two of us had Jetboils and very happy that we did. This might be the best stove that I have used and as everyone knows, boils water extremely fast. It is easy to use, light weight, easy to pack, and field clean up is a snap. This stove has done everything I have asked of it. Definitely will be taking on the next trip to Zion.

Works awesome unless there is a draft. In the winter time I dig a hole so that the lid is level with the ground. Then it works beautifully. We've had it up on Mt. Whitney (14,505) and it boiled 2 cups of water in less than 2 mins. Great stove!

This stove outperforms the competition in efficiency, weight, utility and longevity.

At first I thought JetBoil was a gimicky stove, useful to a narrow range of users. What I found on several trips - including climbing above 7000 meters and making coffee on El Cap - was that the JetBoil offers the highest possible performance and reliability for an entire range of outdoor activities from hiking to climbing.

The burner is so efficient it provides a team of two, enough melted snow and boiled water, to last two days of a single 8 ounce can of iso-butane (even under -20 degrees fahrenheit).

It easily converts to a hanging profile with the commercially produced after-market kit, or a piece of perlon and two zip-ties.

With the ease of availability of iso-butane even in places like India and Pakistan (albeit expensive), the JetBoil is the best go-anywhere, do-anything stove.

It's also way lighter and compact than any comparable stove. Over the course of three years I've had none of the issues that plague other stoves like reliability, messy fuel, unavailable fuel, or explosions. With the after-market camping kit, you can cook for a group and even simmer.

And who doesn't like it HOT and FAST? I've timed the stove at just under the two minute mark for boiling a liter of water. Also, we kept track of how many boils we got out of one cylinder and ran out of gas at about 35 cookings. We used the stove underground during a cave expedition in Mexico, Yum Yum, freeze dried never tasted better than out of my Jetboil. Hot and fast!

This stove works really well and boils water extremely fast. It packs really compact and it weighs next to nothing. The heat is really adjustable so you can go from a slight simmer to full boil. I have had no problems with mine; however, camping partner also brought his on a 3 day backpacking trip last week and the ignitor quit working. Seems like a minor problem and easy fix, because one should always have a fire source with them anyhow.

It brings water to a boil faster then my tea pot at home! Boils water fast, thus saving precious fuel, thus saving weight! Makes for fast and easy backpacking meals, tea and whatever else you need hot water for. I know you could cook in it, but it was really designed to boil water efficiently. If you are looking for a pot to cook in, look elsewhere.

This is a good stove system. I have used it extensively, and found it to be reliable, fuel efficient, and almost wind proof. The spark ingniter sometimes fails, but overall works well. The only down side for me is it is bulky, heavier than other canister stoves, and I'm not a big fan of aluminum pots. Overall it is a solid piece of gear.

Great Stove, worth any price, but It's $20 less on Campmor.com. I don't know why backcountry.com would make the prices the same for the original and the new version of this stove.

I brought this little guy on my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail, and I'm so glad I did. Perhaps it was a bit larger and/or heavier than some of the other stoves out there, but the everything-in-one-place-ocity along with the so-flippin-easy-to-usability made it one of my favorite gear choices ever.

The power is in the super quick boiling.

The perfect campfire night: my Jetboil and a long spoon.

This is a pretty neat stove. I like how it packs into itself. It definitely heats water up in a hurry. Works well, and it doesn't seem too affected by the wind like some stoves.I would recommend it, especially if you generally fix the freeze-dried meals.

this is a great stove. It is also nice to have one of these because everyone has parts for it when they wear out. very easy to replace as well. great boiling time. this is how to make peole that don't like backpacking, like backpacking.

I just went on a trip where a friend brought this stove and pot. I admit it is nice how it all fits nicely into the pot including the gas canister. It boiled the water really fast. I don't really dig the tall pot though. Everytime we made food, the food tended to get stuck on the bottom since the heat is concentrated in a small surface area. Also, I don't like how you can't use other pots on this stove. This stove is fuel efficicent though, I felt like we were boiling water constantly between 2 people and 3 days and we still couldn't finish up the gas (we were trying to use it all up). If I were to get my own jetboil, I'd probably get the one with the standard size pot.

I can really appreciate this cooking system. Its light, efficient, and simple. The speed with which it boils water is amazing. It really is everything that you need, and nothing that you don't.

Great 3-season stove.

Fast boil time. Compact design.

However; when the temperature dips below 0*C the stove become affected by the weather, though. Even after trying to keep the canister warm, the flame is not as intense.

I love my jetboil pcs.

Went to yosemite with me and on several multiday outings. I really enjoy the speed with which I can set up, cook, eat, clean, and stow this cookset.

The efficiency of the burner is a huge plus. I find myself using much less gas than my companions even at high altitude. The canisters are a bit bulky when empty and packing out, but I can live with the minor inconvenience.

The french press kit is is a huge hit in the morning, both for coffee and loose tea.

I do pack a small piece of blue foam pad with a reflective surface attached to it for cooking in cold weather just to keep the canister from freezing up.

Pick one up. You won't regret it when you're sipping hot fresh coffee before your campmates are.

This thing is the best stove system and is worth every penny you spend. Not only is this a nice compact system (the gas canister and stand fit in the cup) it is quite small to fit easily in your pack, it is super super easy to use. I had this thing up in less than a minute and within five of pulling into camp, I had hot water for my Ramen. I also got the coffee filter/french press attachment and was greatly impressed with the outcome. The cup holds 2 cups of water, so pick up recipes that don't require more than that. But you can eat right out of it and it stays warm. I was blown away on how fast it boiled water! For anyone looking for a solo cooking system, look no further, this thing rocks!

I've had mine on a 12,000 mile trip through about 8 national parks and have loved it. I'm still using it 4 years later on smaller camping trips and haven't replaced any pieces except the electric starter (which i still havent figured out how to get it installed.), but i just use a lighter or matches.

Self contained system that packs into its own cup. Dont trust the piezo starter, always carry a backup lighter. Above freezing gets you hot water FAST. When you get to single digits the performance seems to really suffer. If you are a coffee drinker get the coffee press; the resulting brew is outstanding. There are lighter options, but the JB is a good option, especially if you do freezer bag cooking or freezedried meals, and like good coffee.

This is my go to stove for backpacking. It's even taken up residence in my pack for some out of bounds skiing. Being perfectly content packing meals from mountain house and backpacker pantry, all I ever have to do is boil water. The best part - I never have any cleanup. I think I've cleaned this thing twice in the three years I've owned it. And that was when I made some lipton minute noodles in the mug.
If you're boiling water and dumping it in freeze dried meal packs you'll be eating way before your friends. Its also great for making a mean cup of hot cocoa on cold mornings. So while your campmates are busy toiling with their stoves, you'll be done boiling and enjoying a warm meal and a cup of hot chocolate!

I already had three stoves, but couldn't pass this up any longer. I was the one fiddling around with my white gas set-up or trying to find a level, wind-proof perch for my pocket rocket when the others were cooking up their food and warming up their hands with a Jetboil. Not anymore! While other cooking rigs will beat the Jetboil in one area or the other (i.e. weight, cold weather, etc), I don't believe any other stove matches the convenience and versatility of the Jetboil. It is a smart, convenient rig which will likely have you cooking up a hot meal on outings you normally wouldn't even bother bringing a stove along on.

As a backpacker I'm environmentally conscience. I've thought about the long and short of using canister stoves. Put this way, Im always asking my buddy to heat up some water on his jet boil for me!

These things are great!

This thing is wicked fast at boiling water, lightweight, packs small and is a cinch to use. I seriously don't know why anyone would buy another stove. I have packed this thing with snow and it was boiling in a few minutes (at about 7,000 ft). It may not be ideal for super high altitude mountaineering, but for everything else (which is what 99.9% of people do) it has no rival.

This is a great stove, but don't buy this cup only model unless you are only planning on boiling water. They also have a pot and cup version that together will save you a bit of money (as opposed to separately) and the pot is very much more versatile. It is a great stove, the fuel lasts a long time, and it is super efficient. Great buy.

This is without a doubt the best stove I have ever owned for basic trail food and a continuous addiction to coffee! While you are pretty much limited to food that needs to be boiled or simmered, I love the fact that it boils water in a couple of minutes. Throw in the coffee press (also made by Jetboil, but does come with the stove) and it makes a quick cup of tasty coffee any time you want it. The coffee press does feels a bit flimsy, but it has held up well so far. The attached insulated cup is a nice feature, and I'm a real big fan of the semi protected heating element that works well in weather that would prove hard with my white gas stove. If you use the smaller Jetpower fuel canisters (100g) you can even mail them ahead of time (ground only) to your destination. All in all, a great simple stove as long as you realize that you won't be grilling or frying anything.

Also, keep an eye out for the new redesigned PCS, the "PCS Flash" which is supposed to be released sometime this fall (2009). It looks like it comes in new colors, has a see through lid, and has added strips on the side that change color to show temperature.

Backcountry.com lists this product as Made in USA but when I received the shipment I saw the packaging says Made in China. I emailed Backcountry.com a few times but they did nothing about it.

From breakfast to bedtime tea, this thing has amazed me on both car camping and backpacking trips. Boils water practically instantly, packs down small, easy to clean up, fuel canisters last a long time, etc. I could go on and on about how great the Jetboil is, but most of it has already been said. I will say that I purchased the coffee press and frying pan to go with it, and am very glad I did. We can cook up pretty much anything with ease. Get one!

Just brought mine home. Boiled 2 cups cold water in 2 min 10 sec in 85 degree w/x. I was playing with the flame settings too.

I'm amazed at how efficient it is. Almost no heat was escaping out of the sides.

Purchased the companion cup to go with it so the wife can have her food too.

Highly recommended.

I've been using mine since the first ones became available and have never had a problem. It is so self-contained and portable that mine is almost always fired up before I'm even out of my bag. I stick to simmer-free meals and prep them in screw-top Nalgene bowls. Couscous, miso, oatmeal, rice and beans, all with no simmering or pot scrubbing. It almost always comes along on day hikes, too, with a collection of tea, cocoa, and soup to offset a nasty day. Many a cold, damp rest stop in the lee of a boulder has been much improved by that little stove. Well worth the weight.

This stove lives in my SAR pack - and is awesome for a quick cup of soup/tea/coffee on the go.

Bought this system in addition to my Whisperlite. Great for cooking large, quick meals on the trail. It worked so well I bought one for my buddy who was leaving to backpack central America. He used it every day for 8 months, and still has it. If that's not a testament to durability and quality I don't know what is.

This is the only stove that I own. Boils water for coffee in the mornings in a couple of minutes, pretty nice fuel usage, packs down into itself really nicely and is easy to clean. I rigged an adaptor to hold pots and espresso makers and stuff over it, but they do sell an extra add'on for this. The igniter sticks up above the rim of the stove, which is a pretty bad design flaw in my opinion, but everything else about this stove makes up for it.

Have been using an old MSR Peak 1 backpacking stove for years that I stuff inside a folding pot. Was awed by a buddy as he pulled his Jetboil and fuel canister out of his cup and boil water instantaneously halfway up the Matterhorn. I couldn't resist getting one for myself and have not been disappointed. Great design that makes spending the money on this well worth it.

Great personal boiler.

Pros:
-neoprene insulator w/ strap (handle)
-rubber sipping lid (also helps retain warmth)
-ingenious heat-soaking foil stove design
-efficiency (I was entirely satisfied with the amount of liquid one fuel canister boiled. several days worth for one person.)
-space saving
-light

Cons:
-none, so far, in my adventures.
-don't depend on automatic igniters (think of your backyard bbq. bring another ignition source)

Addressing others' issues:
I haven't flown with it, however, the system is ubiquitous and finding the $4 fuel canister in another city doesn't seem difficult (annoying perhaps). Nor have I had to cook in negative temps (freezing, yes, and it did fine. Melting snow is always going to require much more fuel than heating liquid -- see thermodynamics)

I know a lot of friends of mine like 'em but I'm not a fan. Here's why:

1) Climbing Mt. Rainer with the winter mix. Winter mix got too cold to light. (Thankfully I had my MSR Whisper Lite to cook / make water with.)

2) Can't fly with the canisters. So if you're flying some place, you're going to have to cross your fingers and hope you can find a store that sells it. That's fine if you travel to western populated locations, but eastern Europe or Central Asia. Good luck, I'll take the stoves that can take unleaded fuel or karosene.

3) Another on flying: Say you do buy some. Odds are you probably won't use it all. Still can't fly with it home, so you're stuck donating it to someone. (Which I'm sure they will appreciate.) At least with the unleaded fuel options you can pour the $0.30 of gas into a car.

4) Care about your carbon footprint? Think about everyone of those cans that gets thrown away.

And generally: I found my MSR WhisperLite to be able to boil 2 cups in a pot just as fast as the Jet Boil can in it's specialized mug. (And another plus to general stoves: you can cook 4 or more mugs at once, so you're not eating in shifts if you only brought one stove for a group.)

Overall, if you're a solo hiker and this is the ONLY thing you have, it's not bad. It is REAALLY easy to use. But for people in groups or air travelers, I think there are better options out there.

When I moved to Montana I decided to check out and see what was new in the backing world. Man!!!! Things have changed, for the better. I've used a MSR Whisperlite for 20 years with no problems but the JetBoil blows it away!! No priming, no heating up the "cup" or spilling fuel during hard weather. This stove is bomb proof. The standard by which to judge all other stoves.

If you're thinking about any other stove, then, well, stop thinking. If you've never used one the ease of lighting it alone makes it worth buying. A button. You push it. that's all. you never have to push it twice. somehow its invincible to wind. i don't know how, but it is. thats stretching it a bit but damn. super efficient on fuel. packs into itself. lightweight. you can drink right out of it. so easy to use. hopefully some people who read this make the right decision. just buy it.

We had a party of 6 hikers with ages from 37 to 63 years old,2 female and 4 males. Hiking the Grand Canyon south rim to north rim. we camped 4 nights in the canyon. The Jetboil was the only stove we brought, 4 of the party brought dehydrated meals in pouches just add boiling water. They required 2 cups each. The Jetboil cup has a 2 cup mark embossed inside the cup add water to the line open the valve snap the igniter and almost as fast as ripping open the pouch finding and disposing of the preservation pac, The water was boiling. 2 of the party brought items to be prepared pastas and rice ect. They were able to prepare their meal as quick and easily as the others Meal time was quick and pain less. The stove is incredibility compact aside from the Jetboil we had a coffee cup per person and and 4 of the party had bowels for morning oatmeal. the rest of the party shared the bottom cover of the stove as their bowl. The stove being secured the the cooking cup and with neoprene cove. even are most trouble prone member was able to use the stove without injury. We caught him with the food pouch in his lap just before pouring the boiling water into the pouch. Those alumized pouches heat up really fast. He would have had to suffer the embarrassment of his actions and trying to salvage his meal off of the ground. Some times adults need adult supervision. As a personal cook system I feel that the Jetboil is without pere and works great for a small group. I can't imagine how anyone might go wrong with this stove.
Now if we could fine out who stole the beer.

I have a Primus cooking system and though I like it, it is big and bulky. Not good if you are trekking and camping and need the extra room in your pack or if you want to reduce some weight. The jetboil is perfect for this and performs very well. If only my Glock subcompact was a light as the jetboil :).

Using this stove is so incredibly easy. With everything self contained you won't be looking around for your fuel bottle/canister, configuring a burner, looking for matches/lighter, getting out pots and pans, ect. It's all there and as soon as you fire it up you better be ready to eat. When I get to camp I don't like waiting a long time for a hot drink and hot food. FYI...if you like coffee get the french press add on. Almost no weight and great coffee.

Man. I bought this jet boil, per a suggestion from my little bro, and I have never been happier. While my friends were waiting for their water to boil, mine was finished, and I was offering some of my excess to them. They were so impressed, they bought one each when the trip was finished. I will not be using primus again.

Great personal stove system. It can fire up some mac and cheese in under a minute. Very impressive conduction design with the increased surface area for fast boil. If you put too much water in you will spill boiling hot water everywhere so be careful. I have not used this in temperatures below freezing, so I cannot say its effectiveness in alpine conditions. The neoprene style sleeve makes it easy to hold and manage cooking without scalding your fingers. It also breaks down and packs up nicely for the minimalist who loves hot food quickly. Jetboil is releasing a new system soon hence the price should continue to drop for this model, but it is a great system without a doubt.

This thing works great - made hot water, soup, and noodles in it this weekend, with more than enough fuel for three more days. Very easy to set up, use, and clean. And, of course, it's super fast.

I dig this stove, and it's the one I always turn to (I also have a Primus Multi-fuel). I like it because it's efficient, quick, and super easy. You can carry it around, use it in your tent (or your vestibule), hang it, and you don't need to worry about balancing a pot on some tiny stove. And if you absolutely need to use a bigger pot, you can.

That said, it's not for everyone or every situation. If you're cooking for a big group of people, want to do something gourmet - simmering, making perfect food, or if you can't find (or hate) canisters, you might want to look at something different.

The first time I used this stove to boil water I was astounded. It seemed to be starting to boil as soon as lit. Although I didn't time it, I kid you not it had to be about 60 seconds!