Product Description
The Jetboil Sol
Ti Stove is designed for the lightweight camping
and backpacking enthusiast. It is a four season upright
canister stove with Thermo-Regulate technology that
provides consistent heat down to 20 F (-6 C). The
Sol Ti lights with push button (Piezo ignition) technology.
The stove has an all in one design
with an integrated burner base and 0.8 L (27 oz) Titanium
FluxRing cooking cup. The cooking cup has embossed
measurement markings inside. The Sol Ti comes with
a pot support and stabilizing tripod. The bottom cover
can be used as a bowl and measuring cup. The stove
also has a lid to drink through with a pour spout and
strainer.
The cooking cup comes with a removable insulated
cozy and is compatible with other Jetboil accessories.
The manufacturer states in the printed material that
16 oz (0.5 L) of water boils in an average of 2 minutes
and 15 seconds with a Jetboil canister. Per 100 g Jetpower
canister 12 L of water can be boiled. |
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In the enclosed instructions the manufacture has
a warning stating the aluminum FluxRing may overheat
and damage the cup. This would reduce the performance
of the system. It is suggested to use high heat when
boiling water. If anything is added to the water
the instructions for the food should be followed
using low heat and stirring frequently.
When melting snow or ice, it should not be packed
into the cup. It is recommended to add a small amount
of snow or ice before lighting the burner. Low heat
should be used to melt the snow or ice. By reading
the instructions it seems like it is important to
have liquid on the bottom of the cup or it may overheat.
If food is burned on the bottom of the cooking
cup it may overheat and cause damage to the fins.
From reading the instructions it seems important
to use low heat when cooking or simmering foods and
to stir often.
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Jetboil Lid
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In the instructions there is a warning to
check that the burner is extinguished before disconnecting
the fuel canister and that the exposed metal parts may be
hot after use. There also instructions to always hold the
cooking cup by the cozy and the base by the shroud after
use. The burner should be stored in the cooking cup face
down and then the canister placed on top. The instructions
state that the heat indicator will turn black to orange when
the cooking cup is hot and reaches a temperature of 140 F
(60 C). There is no heat indicator on this Sol Ti Stove on
the cozy or the cup.
Using
the Stove for the First Time
Following the instructions I was able to
easily set up the stove for a boiling test. The instructions
were thorough and provided illustrations, descriptions, and
warnings. There is a warning not to use a windscreen with
the stove as the gas cylinder can explode. It is recommended
to test the igniter, by checking for a spark before igniting
the stove for use. To set up the stove the fuel regulator
needs to be exposed from the burner base. This is done easily
by flipping it away from the base. The regulator should be
turned clockwise to ensure that it is off. The burner is
then screwed on to the top of the fuel canister (which should
be upright and not shook). To fire up the stove a
black igniter button is pushed while turning the regulator
counterclockwise. After the burner is lit the cup (with
food or liquid in it) is placed on top of the burner and
turned to secure in place. Cooking should be completed without
the lid on top of the cooking cup. After cooking the fuel
is turned off by turning the regulator clockwise. Next the
cooking cup is removed by twisting it off the burner.
Initial Impressions
This stove boils water fast! At sea level
16 fl oz (0.47 L) of cool tap water boiled in 1 minute and
48 seconds. Should I say "Wow"! I was able to handle the
hot cooking cup with the cozy in place without being burned.
The cozy was warm to the touch, but not so much so that I
could not handle it. The stove may boil water fast, but it
takes multiple presses of the igniter button to light. It
took me nine times the first try. This makes me believe that
I should still make sure I have a lighter with me.
There are a few things that concern me about
the design of this stove. First of all, the handle on the
cozy feels flimsy when the cooking cup is filled with liquid.
When there is liquid inside and I hold the cozy handle the
cozy pulls away from the cooking cup at the top. The cup
then tilts and the liquid spills out if the cup when it is
filled with approximately 17 fl oz (0.50 L) of liquid.
Another issue I have is gracefully placing
the cooking cup on the burner and securing it in place without
the fear of the contents splashing out. I need some practice
with this. Also it was challenging for me to unsecure the
cooking cup from the burner base with boiling water inside
without the fear of the hot water splashing out. I was able
to unsecure it successfully, but the cup was only partially
full. I will need to see what happens when more than 16 fl
oz (0.47 L) of liquid is added to the cup.
I noticed that after boiling the water the
inside of the cooking cup had dots where the FluxRing is
adhered to the cup. So far this is a cosmetic issue, but
for performance reasons I will keep an eye on it.
Right now it is too early for me to say
how I like how the system is packed for storage
and transport. I like the way the plastic cup attaches to
the bottom of the cooking cup. However, I do not know what
to think about placing the burners that have exposed metal
inside the cup with the possibility of scratching the inside
of the cup. I will see if the inside of the cup develops
any scratches from storing the burners inside.
Field
Report
August
9,
2011 |
Testing Locations
St. George
area, Utah: Camping for two nights amongst the
Southern Utah red rocks. The temperatures ranged from the
low 70's F (21 C) to the mid 90's F (35 C). It was sunny
with no wind. The elevation was around 3,500 ft (1,067
m).
El Moro/Crystal Cove Backcountry, California: Went
bikepacking for one night in the backcountry. Yep carried
my backpack on my back while riding my bike. It was breezy
and the fog rolled in quickly after sunset. The temperatures
were in the 50's F (11 C) . The elevation was about 400 ft
(122 m).
Southern California: The
stove was used to mix an after mountain biking drink at the
trailhead. There was a slight breeze and the temperatures
were in the 50's F (11 C). I also used the stove after road
biking at my car to boil water to mold a plastic finger splint.
The temperatures were in the 70's F (21 C) with a slight
breeze.
Performance
in the Field
The Jetboil Sol Ti
Stove was used for the past two months while camping
in Utah, bikepacking in California, to boil water to
make a plastic finger splint, and to make a hot drink
after a mountain bike ride at the trailhead.
The Jetboil Sol Ti Stove has a large
enough cup to heat up enough water for one large backpacking
(freeze dried meal). The meals that I made required
just over 16 oz of water (530 ml). With the flame turned
on fully the water heated and boiled very quickly.
I was able to boil water in less than 2 minutes (generally
1 minute and 50 seconds); even at an elevation of 3,500
ft (1,067 m). I noticed that when the water comes to
a rolling boil some of it splashes out of the cup and
I have to quickly turn off the flame to stop the splashing.
This stove boils water much faster than I am used to;
therefore I have to pay closer attention to the stove
and the cooking cup contents while the flame is turned
on.
The fuel is easily turned on and the
flame is easily adjusted by the regulator. When the regulator
is turned off it is secure and I can not hear the fuel
escaping. The stove has lit every time by pressing the
igniter once, this surprised me as it took me multiple
attempts the first time I used the stove. |
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When I have all the components of
the Sol Ti Stove packed inside the cooking canister with
a small fuel canister (3.88 oz/200.73 ml) the lid is just
shy of closing. Even without the fuel cap off the fuel
canister the lid does not fully close. This is a nuisance
to me as I want to use up the volume inside the cooking
vessel by storing the fuel canister inside. Plus I don't
want the lid to fall off inside my pack or in storage.
So, I used a rubber band to secure the lid on the top of
the Sol Ti Stove. I am wondering if the Jetpower Canister
would fit better (it may be smaller). I will have to look
for one in my local retail store.
It would be nice if there
was a storage sack for the stove burner and the pot support.
That would make transport of the pot support and the
burner easier and would protect those parts when the cooking
vessel is not going to be used on a trip.
The pot support has not scratched the inside of the cooking
vessel while being placed inside for storage. I was surprised
since when I place the pot support inside in the vessel it
rubs on the side. The pot support worked great for holding
a small kettle/pot in place while making a hot drink for
a large group after a mountain bike ride at the trailhead.
The spots inside the cooking vessel
have not worsened nor hindered the performance of the stove.
Once of the engineers of the Sol Ti Stove provided me with
some information on why the spots appeared: “Some
discoloration of the Titanium forms on the inside of the
cup after boiling water in the cup for a few minutes (or
a couple of boils). It’s
caused by one of the particular quirks of Titanium, especially
in combination with our Aluminum FluxRing. Here’s
a short explanation of what causes it, and why it’s
so important to always have water in the cup during use.
To start, titanium is a very poor
conductor of heat, and Aluminum is a very good conductor
of heat. Also, our Flux Ring catches most of the heat generated
by the flame. So
during use the Aluminum fins catch a lot of heat, and quickly
reach operating temperature. The titanium is such a poor
conductor that the heat caught by each fin stays concentrated
in the place where the fins are attached to the titanium. A
great example of this is to watch where the bubbles form
on the bottom of the cup as the water boils.
As the steam bubbles form on the bottom
of the cup, the temperature along the surface of the titanium
quickly rises above 100°C. When this happens the titanium
can form an oxide layer along the titanium. When
the steam bubble rises and liquid water re-covers the titanium
surface, it cools back down. The oxide layer that
forms is the cause of the dots that you see.” He
also reminded me that it is important not to have the flame
ignited without liquid inside the cooking cup.
The cooking lid attached securely to pour
hot water out of the cooking vessel. It stayed secure and
did not fall off when the water was putting pressure on it
from pouring. I used the bottom cup to drink a hot beverage.
I felt the heat pass through the cup, but I like that the
cup is provided (one less thing for me to pack) and it protects
the flux ring when it is stored on the bottom of the stove.
I was initially concerned about the durability of the cozy
handle on the sleeve of the cooking vessel. The handle does
give or stretch somewhat when the cooking cup is lifted,
however it has not torn away from the cozy nor has it lacked
support that I dropped the cup. The cozy provides enough
insulation that when I touch the cup my hands do not get
burned.
Initially I was clumsy attaching and removing the cooking
cup from the burner. There is a way to precisely line up
the cup with the burner and twist it so that there is no
splashing of the liquid contents. This is easily seen by
how both pieces attach together. I was afraid of burning
my hands when removing the cooking cup from the burner. After
a few attempts I found that it helped me to hold the plastic
piece of the cooking burner to prevent my hands from getting
burned.
Long
Term Report
October
15,
2011 |
Testing Locations
Southern California (Near Cleveland
National Forest): The temperatures were in the
50's F (11 C) and there was a slight breeze. The stove
was used here on three occasions to make several hot drinks
(hot chocolate and Starbucks VIA Coffee).and to boil water
for oatmeal.
Huntington Beach, California: The
stove was used here on two occasions at sea level to prepare
dinner; consisting of hot noodles and hot drinks.
It was windy here on both occasions.
Performance
in the Field
During the last two months the stove was
used on three occasions. There are many features I like
about the Jetboil Sol Ti Stove: fast boil time, ease of set
up, minimal fuel use, measurements marked in the cooking
cup, and the insulating cozy.
However, there are a few features I am not
fond of: the flimsy handle on the cooking cup and several
ignition attempts. Even at sea level I am finding it difficult
to ignite the stove on the first attempt. I took into consideration
that the wind may be a factor in trying to light the stove.
So, I tried lighting the stove on an enclosed porch (blocking
the wind) and it still took three presses of the igniter
button to produce a flame.
Once the Jetboil Stove has a flame it brings
water to a rapid boil in less than two minutes; which is
impressive to me and my friends. Since it brings water to
a boil so fast minimal fuel is used. With the Jetboil Sol
Ti Stove I feel comfortable just taking a small fuel canister.
The stove has not failed in breezy conditions, which was
a concern while cooking a hot drink at the beach.
When the flame adjuster is set to high
it boils water so quickly that I have to watch carefully
that the water does not boil over; which it has on several
occasions. While cooking the noodles I had to watch and adjust
the flame so they were simmering and not boiling. I turned
the flame down almost as low as I could without extinguishing
the flame and that seemed to provide enough heat to cook
the noodles.
I used
the cooking lid to drain the cooked noodles and to drink
coffee out of the cooking cup. I also used the cup/bowl
to drink a hot beverage from. The plastic cooking lid has
a hazy film on it since it has been exposed to boiling water
with noodles and broth. I tired to scrub it off, but some
still remains.
I am happy to say that the spots inside
the cooking cup have not multiplied or become worse. The
cooking cup is easily cleaned with no residue sticking on
the inside; even after cooking noodles and coffee. The inside
of the cooking cup has not become scratched from placing
the pot supports inside, this surprised me. I would still
like to have a storage sack for the pot supports, especially
for transport when I am not using the cooking cup.
I am not too impressed with the flimsy handle
on the cooking cup cozy. When I pick up the vessel (when
it is full or nearly full) by the handle I am afraid I am
going to drop it and I have to support the cooking cup with
my other hand on the cozy. There are some times that liquid
splashed out while trying to hold it by the handle.
After practicing several times I am much
more finessed when dismantling the cooking cup from the
burner. During the last few outings I only removed it by
holding the plastic piece of the cooking burner. This has
prevented my hands from getting burned while removing the
cup. But, when the cup is mostly full some hot water splashes
out when removing the cup from the burner. I wish there was
an indication line inside the cup of a recommended filling
capacity.
Summary
I have enjoyed the Jetboil Sol Ti Stove,
mostly because it boils water quickly. I like the concept
of the cooking cup and how the stove contents nestle inside
for transport and storage. I just wish it was slightly higher
so that the lid would fit better with my current fuel canister
inside of the cooking cup with all of the other components
(I will look into purchasing the Jetpower Fuel). A storage
sack would be nice for the pot support and the stove burner,
just for those times that I prefer not to use the cooking
cup.
Things That Rock:
- Lightweight
- Fast boiling time
- Easy to set up
Things That Are So-So:
- Handle does not appear sturdy
- Can take multiple times to light
- No storage sack for the burner and pot
support
- Lid does not fit when contents are in
the cup with my small fuel canister (I will have to look
into the Jetpower fuel)
Remarks
This
concludes my reporting of the
Sol Ti Stove.
Thank you Jetboil and BackpackGearTest.org
for providing me with the opportunity to test the
Sol Ti Stove. |
