The Jetboil Flash was one of the first ‘personal cooking systems’ (PCS) to make it big in the UK and has remained one of the best-selling backpacking stoves ever since. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t room for improvement…
The arrival of the Jetboil Flash in 2009 changed the way we thought about how quick and easy cooking in the outdoors could be. Super-fast boiling times, clever yet simple features, reliability over time: for many, the Flash quickly became the definitive PCS.
The concept of a PCS is simple: a sit-on-top burner and pot combo, with each part specifically designed to be used together to maximise efficiency and minimise boil times.
There are loads of them about now (see the bottom of this page for just three others), but Jetboil was the OG and the Flash is its best-selling product. But why, if it’s been around since 2009, are we talking about it now?
Pros
- Lightweight
- Good wind resistance
- Excellent valve/ignition system
- Fast boiling
Cons
- Limited cooking versatility
- Not the most stable
| RRP: | £150 / $130 |
| Packed size: | 10.8 x 19.1cm / 4.25 x 7.5in |
| Boil time (0.5 litres): | 2 minutes |
| Power output: | 1.5 kW / 5300 BTU/h |
| Weight: | 398g / 14.0oz |
Because the Flash has just undergone an upgrade, and we think it’s one worth highlighting. Upgrading highly popular products is always a risk. Juggling the addition of new features and improvements without eroding the qualities that made the product successful to start with is a fine line to walk.
If it had got it wrong, Jetboil wouldn’t be the first brand to ruin a classic. But it hasn’t. What it has actually done is skilfully augmented the Flash in its weaker areas, in some cases making improvements we didn’t even know needed to be made until we used them and realised what we’d been missing.
So, let’s source water for the pot, screw on the canister and get boiling, as we take a closer look at the not-exactly-new but very definitely improved Jetboil Flash.
Igniter
One of the key and, in our opinion, much needed upgrades to the Flash is the ignition system. A notoriously unreliable feature of previous models, the new Flash loses the fiddly separate gas control and igniter button and combines them in one easy-to-use valve.
Simply turn the dial fully anticlockwise to simultaneously release and ignite the gas, much as you would with a gas hob at home. Plus, the metal spark wire that sits in the burner to ignite the flame is now encased in ceramic, making it more robust and reliable. A big improvement.
Grip and lock
Trying to hold the burner still while adding or removing the pot was always a bit of a risk. There was nowhere entirely comfortable to hold it without risking getting burned or scalded.
The new Flash features a textured grip at the base of the burner, making it much easier (and safer) to use the pot, adjust the flame and attach or detach the canister.
The pot-to-burner locking mechanism has been improved with a three-point locking system and a visual lock indicator, making it easier to attach and remove the cookpot, and more secure once in place. Plus, the pot lid is now a slightly snugger fit, making it altogether more trustworthy.
Features and accessories
While some welcome additions have been made, the Flash hasn’t lost the key features we loved. The insulated pot-cosy, canister stabiliser, pour or strain lid, and protective cover that doubles as a cup or measuring bowl are all still included.
Also still in place is the colour-changing heat indicator on the side of the cosy, and the ability for the whole system (including the smaller 100g gas canister) to be stowed inside the pot. And, of course, a super-quick boil time remains a key feature: half a litre of water can be boiled in just two minutes.
Finally, just like the Flash of old, this new stove is compatible with a whole host of Jetboil accessories. These include (but are not limited to) the Pot Support 2.0 for using the burner with other larger pots and pans, the Silicone Coffee Press that turns the Flash into a cafetière and the Hanging Kit 2.0 that allows you to suspend the Flash from a secure point when a flat surface is hard to come by.
Verdict
Jetboil’s Flash has so many fans worldwide that our opinion is almost irrelevant. But, as it happens, we think it’s one of the best PCS stoves out there.
It's lightweight, protective, fast boiling and has an excellent ignition system. We'd certainly say we're part of the fan club.
Alternative all-in-one camping stoves
Yes, it is a lot of money, and no, it won’t be the stove for everyone.
But if you absolutely, positively have to boil water or melt snow in the fastest time possible in some of the most inhospitable locations, accept no substitutes. The rocket-like Reactor can boil 0.5 litres in just 1½ minutes – bosh, job done.
Alpkit www.decathlon.co.uk
It might lack the finesse of more expensive all-in-one stoves, but the BruKit’s price more than makes up for that.
For a smidge over a fifth of the price of the MSR Reactor you get a PCS stove that boils half a litre of water in 2½ minutes, includes a pan support for use with other cookware and comes with a three-year Alpkit guarantee.
Primuswildbounds.com
The Scandinavians just design and make nice stuff, and the Primus Lite Plus is no exception.
Every part of it works as it should and looks understatedly handsome as it does so. And as well as looking good, the design of the Lite Plus gives it a lower centre of gravity, making it more stable than many sit-on-top stoves.
Looking for something you can cook a proper meal with? Explore our top picks for the best camping stoves – and get expert tips on how to use them.
About the author
Ben Weeks has been with Trail for over 10 years and is our main point of contact for all gear reviews. As well as being a hugely talented writer and photographer, Ben is also a qualified Mountain Leader and Climbing Instructor.
Along with walking, scrambling and wild camping, he loves gnarly Scottish winter routes so is a master at putting cold weather kit through its paces.