Jetboil Stash review and boil test: an efficient and convenient ultralight stove

For the past several years, my go-to stove and pot combo for trips where I want more capacity has been the MSR PocketRocket 2 and 800ml MSR Titan Kettle. The pot is large enough to accommodate cooking larger meals and, when empty, can fit a 100g gas canister, the stove, and a lighter with room to spare.

I recently ran across the new Jetboil Stash, Jetboil’s first venture into the ultralight stove game. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Jetboil Flash for quick boil times, but its weight makes it impractical to bring on longer backpacking trips. Could the Stash deliver quick boil times and low fuel consumption while shedding almost half the weight?

To find out, I decided to do a comparison review specifically for ultralight backpackers. Instead of comparing it to other Jetboil systems, I want to see how it compares to my previous PocketRocket and titanium pot combo, a more likely alternative for ultralight backpackers.

The main question on my mind is: does the Jetboil make up for its heavier weight in fuel efficiency?

What’s included in the Jetboil Stash package?

Unlike other Jetboil systems, the Stash is not an integrated cook system. Instead, it comes with a separate titanium stove, an 800ml aluminum cook pot with a FluxRing heat exchanger, a plastic stabilizer to hold the fuel canister, and a small bag to keep the burner.

Tech specs

Fuel consumption

I conducted a boil test to understand how well the new Jetboil Stash performs against the Pocket Rocket 2 combined with a titanium pot.

I started with 500 ml of 18C (64F) water in both pots. I timed how long it took from ignition to achieve a rolling boil, 100C (212F), as measured by a Thermapen instant-read thermometer. The test was conducted outside in calm conditions.

After the water came to a boil, I weighed the fuel canister to see how much fuel was used.

Boil time and fuel consumption for boiling 500 ml water

Weight as a function of trip length

If you look at the cook pot and burner’s combined weight, the MSR Titan and Pocket Rocket combo is lighter than the Jetboil Stash. But what I’m interested in is understanding how the improved fuel efficiency affects total pack weight if you factor in the trip length.

When I’m out on long-distance trips, I account for two boils per day: a breakfast coffee and a warm dinner. The following charts assume two boils per day.

Stove + fuel weight in grams

The Jetboil Stash’s advantage is that it lasts three days longer on a single 100g fuel canister.  On trips shorter than seven days, the better fuel efficiency means you carry more fuel around.

Convenience and versatility

The separate burner and pot make the Stash almost as versatile as the Pocket Rocket and Titanium pot combination. You can use both stoves with other pots and frying pans. The only downside is that the Jetboil FluxRing heat exchanger makes the pot unsuitable for heating over campfires or other heat sources.

When it comes to convenience, the Jetboil wins hands-down. The handle is more comfortable and doesn’t heat up, so you don’t need to worry about burned fingers or gloves. The pot supports on the burner have small grooves to hold the pot centered.

The Jetboil lid has a holder for the fuel canister and lighter. Once you nest the stove into the pot and close the lid, everything fits snugly, and nothing rattles around.

Is the Jetboil Stash worth getting?

If you are primarily concerned about weight, a separate stove and pot will continue to be a lighter solution for short trips.

Where the Jetboil Stash shines is convenience, boil time, and fuel efficiency. For me, the added convenience is worth the ten extra grams. Especially when factoring in the additional three days I can get out of a single gas canister.

Price

The Jetboil Stash is available on Amazon for $129.95 at the time of writing.

The 800ml MSR Titan Kettle retails for about $60, and the Pocket Rocket 2  for about $45. Their combined price is around $100.