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Has anyone used Jet-boil cookers/Boilers in the Berg - do they work at altitude?

Thanks!

Ray

Hi Ray,

I have not used the jet boil,but my experience at higher altitude and cold weather is that most gas products don't work to well, even my windmill lighter,i am considering getting myself i zippo instead.

The only gas stove that works well will be the one where the cylinder is inverted,in other words you are not relying on the gas but rather the gas in a liquid form.

It is true that gas cookers can be sluggish in colder temperatures. However, I have used my Jetboil in the Berg extensively and have not had major issues, even after nights where the water in your water bottle freezes inside your tent. One can always tuck the cartridge into your sleeping bag (though I've never done that). I've also used another kind of gas cooker in the Himalayas at altitudes of 5700m and temperatures almost down to -20 deg C. The propane/butane mixes these days does improve the performance of gas cookers at lower temps.

Where the Jetboil does fall apart is in its extreme sensitivity to wind. Don't believe the marketing - it's pretty pathetic in this regard. My Karrimor Go-System stove handles the wind better unshielded than the Jetboil behind a stone wall! I tuck in a home made aluminum foil shield under the sleeve that covers half of the flame area - this helps tremendously (just be very careful not to deflect heat onto the cartridge!). Another weakness is the piezoelectric lighter - I don't use it anymore - use a simple lighter instead.

I have decided to finally ditch my butane cooker. I do not want a cooker that uses gas, would rather have one that uses a liquid fuel.

My brother has an old coleman feather 400 primus, which he uses with benzine. This would be ideal, easy to use, boils fast.

Unfortunately, I havent been able to find anywhere to buy a primus. The only option it seems, is one of the MSR liquid fuel cookers (with the bottle). So I presume the MSR cookers are the best, but I detest them. Too much of a mission to put together, and it looks like they take a lot of space.

Anyone know where I can get a primus?

Not going to get a traditional multi fuel cooker in SA with the burner above the fuel tank.
My firt Primus (original swiss primus) I got from my dad and my others I bought from second hand shops, I reckon the best place to find is to either buy online from overseas or strike it lucky at a second hand shop.

However, I would recommend first using someones elses for a while. I have found that if I am hiking solo or in a duo it is not worth its weight. I only recommend using it if you are going to high altitudes and need to do heavy duty cooking like melting snow for drinking water.

I am starting to think more like an ultra lighter, willing to dispense with the F14 jet engine and wait a little longer for my water to boil.

Gents

I have both an MSR Whisperlite, a trangia spiritus cooker and an Australian version of the trangia. The best of the lot is the Ozzy spiritus cooker - kicks the MSr's but ito cooking time, weight/volume, simplicity, fuel economy and ease of set-up. I have tested against primus also - no comparison.

MSR is great for African trips because it burns petrol if you need to.

Ony draback of Oz cooker is that is can be hard to get hold of - Bush and Bundu in Maritzburg stock them from time to time.