JetBoil Genesis Basecamp stove system tested

The JetBoil kit is a purpose camping cooking system.

Compared to other camping stoves, the JetBoil camping unit is not cheap, but what you get for the price is a solid, no nonsense lightweight alloy unit that is totally portable when folded and packed away in its carry case.

Plus, it has two burners that burn with sustainable heat when used with the unique ‘fluxring’ technology on JetBoil cooking pots, so there is no waste of gas.

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The unit comes with a gas regulator, 10-inch frying pan, a five-litre ‘FluxPot’ lid with inbuilt strainer, a windscreen, and a heavy-duty carry bag fitted with a shoulder strap. The compact package weighs 2.7kg. It’s compatible with the universal 468g Companion Pro:Fuel propane gas bottle and has a 12-month warranty.

Jetboil recommends using fuel canisters with a propane and isobutane mix for best performance especially in cold climates where propane doesn’t burn well. Their own Jetfuel canisters are ideal for any conditions.

Heat exchange

Currently there is nothing on the market that is similar, including the easy-to-clean lightweight ceramic-coated pan and pot bases that have ‘flux rings’ centred underneath them for heat distribution.

The lightweight aluminium frying pan has a high wall that retains internal heat, especially when the lid is on it. The heat is fully controlled, and food can be left simmering for extra taste, made possible with a four-setting control knob on each burner. The frying pan heats up quickly, and it takes little heat to cook a tasty bacon-and-egg breakfast or a juicy steak for tea.

The pot can be used to boil water or cook soup, stews and anything else that takes your fancy. Heat retention is caused by flux rings on the pot base, which are designed to increase heat exchange and save gas in real-time cooking.

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It’s said to improve the efficiency of stoves by up to 25 per cent. The pot’s unusual ‘waffle’ bottom design distributes heat from the bottom and directs it up the sides of the pot, unlike heat from a normal gas stove which flares away from the burners and is wasted.

Put simply, heat exchanger pots increase the general surface of the pots’ outside area to allow metal conduction to function at the highest possible peak and performance coupled to fuel efficiency. The task of a heat exchanger is to increase extra heat and transmit it to the pot for boiling and cooking. When all is well, a heat exchange pot saves up to 30 per cent in fuel.

When the JetBoil stove is exposed to wind, the heat blows away from the wind direction. JetBoil has a wind deflector shield which can avoid this; or just cook in an area that is protected from the wind.

Burners

Each burner has Piezo ignition and an individual setting knob. The system can be used with other JetBoil stoves via a connecting port hose to a Luna satellite burner, to boil and make a cup of coffee or tea.

The beauty of the burner is that you can let the coffee pot simmer over a low flame. Should spillage occur, the burner, pot stands and bases are simple to dismantle and clean.

Verdict

The JetBoil system is a lightweight, compact unit of a high quality, albeit with an expensive price tag. It’s surprisingly fuel efficient and ideal for cooking in a vehicle, boat or camper, or as an addition to a caravan.

Can you use other pots and pans on the JetBoil stove? Yes, but it’s not recommended to cook with pots and pans that exceed the diameter of the cooking ports. This is due to flame-spreading, which may cause gas bottles and lines to heat up, something that was dangerous in older butane stoves before updated models rectified this issue. If you do cook with a wide pan, do so on the right-hand burner as it is the farthest away from the gas bottle.

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That aside, the JetBoil stove is the most fuel-efficient stove I have ever used and it’s surprising how much can be cooked using a 468g gas bottle. It has two 10,000 BTU burners and takes only three minutes to boil a billy of water for tea or coffee. Another thing we loved is the exacting simmer control that can be fine-tuned the same way as a home gas stove – it cooks perfect meals every time.

Use Kydex/plastic utensils or Jetboil branded ones instead of steel, to prevent marring the non-stick surface of the pots and pans. Also, be careful when cleaning the pot and frying pan, and don’t use any abrasive cleaners or wipes or the surface will be damaged in a very short time. A soft-wash dish cloth and detergent will rid food particles from the surfaces.

I’m very happy with the system and will no doubt add some extra pots, a Luna Satellite burner and other accessories to this stand-alone kit. The cost is around $600, so it’s not for people who only camp once a year; but for outdoor lovers who head bush at the drop of a hat, it’s well-worth having this stove.