Gear Review: Jetboil Flash Cooking System

The Jetboil Flash Cooking System should be a staple in any backpacker's pack. While there are plenty of people who have come up with all sorts of stove-and-vessel combinations that they believe are best for whatever reason, I feel confident in saying that this is the most effective off-the-shelf cooking system that I've used or seen. Here is the breakdown...

The 1-liter cooking vessel itself is lined with an insulator so that you can hold it - even while cooking. This is really helpful in tight quarters and on very uneven terrains when you need to quickly boil some snow or make up a meal. It's also handy when there is a pesky wind and you need to move/hold the vessel to adjust accordingly. Within the vessel itself, because Jetboil knows it's users well, there is a fill line that clearly marks 2 cups. For those of you that are accustomed to using Mountain House Meals and other just-add-water options, you'll know that 2 cups of boiling water is the necessary amount to add to the meal for preparation. It's small details like this that are incorporated into the Jetboil Flash cooking system that save time and effort and make it a great go-to in the outdoors.

Also, the ignition system is really a great bonus on this cooking system. You'll never have to worry about forgetting a lighter, running out of matches, or whether or not your little flame can withstand the current winds. With the Jetboil Flash you simply open up the fuel valve, click a button, and you have a flame. I've used this at elevations above 8,000 feet without a problem, and a built-in screen helps to cut down on impacts from winds.

Perhaps the aspect that best reflects how well this product is designed is just how packable it is. To save you that much-needed space in your pack, the Flash System packs down entirely within its own 1-liter cooking vessel. The small fuel canister, canister tripod, and ignition system all break down to fit together in such an effective way that there is minimal movement or shake once packed up. Also, the cooking vessel's cover lid (to keep things hot during and after cooking) keeps contents tightly secured. A plastic twist-on / twist-off cover for the bottom of the system keeps things from getting damaged on the go. In total, once you've used this well-built system a few times, you will be able to do a full setup or breakdown and pack of all items within 90 seconds.

A few extra value adds of the Jetboiler Flash Cooking System:

The logo on the insulator will change colors when its boil time
A built-in handle makes for easy holds and pours - a great combination with the insulator
The system's bottom cover can be used as a measuring cup and a bowl

Overall, this is $99 well spent. With great design and high-quality materials, you will get a lot of enjoyable use out of this product for years. When you're not going ultralight, the Jetboil Flash makes outdoor adventures much more enjoyable with hot beverages and meals.

Camping tip: if you're a cold sleeper, use your Jetboil Flash just before bed to heat up water that you pour into a Nalgene bottle. Leave the Nalgene at the bottom of your sleeping bag, and you'll have hours of added heat.