Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Jetboil Group Cooking System > Stephanie Martin > Initial Report

Initial Report: Jetboil Group Cooking System (GCS)

Product Information:		The Jetboil GCS is a compact integrated cooking system featuring the Jetboil Burner with piezo igniter, pot support, stabilizer, 1.5 liter anodized aluminum pot and pot cozy.
Manufacturer:	Jetboil, Inc. [http://www.jetboil.com]
Year of Manufacture:	2006
Listed Weight:	Total System without fuel: 19 ounces (540 grams) 1.5L FluxRing Pot: 12 ounces (369 grams) Pot Support: 1.2 ounces (35 grams) Stabilizer: 0.9 ounces (27 grams)
Listed Dimensions:	7.0 x 4.5 inches (175 x 110 mm), stowed
Weight as Delivered:	Total System without fuel: 19.7 ounces (558 grams) 1.5L FluxRing Pot: 11.6 ounces (328 grams) Pot Support: 1.2 ounces (34 grams) Stabilizer: 1.0 ounces (27 grams)
Measured Dimensions:	7.0 x 4.5 inches (175 x 110 mm), stowed
Type of Fuel:	Jetboil Jetpower (Isobutane/Propane) Canister* * Jetboil's Canisters are manufactured using a Lindal threaded valve.
MSRP:	$109.95
Warranty:	1 year limited warranty

Contents

- Product Arrival

- Words on the Web

- Product Features and Construction

- Initial Impressions

- Test Strategy

It's Here! The Jetboil GCS Arrives!
The Jetboil Group Cooking System (GCS) arrived safely from Jetboil with everything (except fuel) stowed neatly inside the aluminum 1.5 liter FluxRing pot.  The product box itself is nicely designed and provides plenty of information on the outside detailing the contents, features and benefits of the Group Cooking system in four languages (English, French, Spanish and German).  The Jetboil GCS includes a 1.5 liter FluxRing pot with neoprene pot cozy, an adjustable Jetboil Burner, a stabilizer and a pot support.  Jetboil fuel is sold separately.  In addition to the GCS, the box includes a single page of instructions for use.
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Words on the Web
The Jetboil website is cleanly designed with an attractive and easy to navigate interface.  If at a loss for what to cook in the Jetboil, a small collection of recipes is available to get you started!  I found the site to be intuitively organized and the images display the product clearly.  The GCS is exactly as I expected it based on the information provided on the website.
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Product Features and Construction
The Jetboil Group Cooking System is a compact, complete cooking setup with the exception of fuel - the system is built so everything (including the fuel) stows away securely inside the cookpot.  The 1.5 liter pot is unique from other standard pots because it features Jetboil's FluxRing technology - essentially a bunch of accordioned fins that perform as a heat exchanger on the bottom of the pot.  A removable plastic cover is provided to protect the FluxRing from damage when not in use.  The pot comes snuggled up inside a 2 mm thick removable orange neoprene cozy emblazoned with the Jetboil logo and a warning label reminding the user to use the unit outdoors only and that parts may be very hot (as should be expected on cooking appliances - ah the joys of a highly litigious society).  Unlike other pots, the FluxRing pot is closed with a tightly fitting plastic lid with no handle.  Removing the lid reveals the folding black glass-reinforced nylon stabilizer stowed in the top of the burner unit in addition to the folding stainless steel pot support.  Removing all the goodies, I noticed some nice volume markings stamped on the sidewall of the pot.

On close inspection, everything looks to be well made and durable.  Both the bottom cover and lid fit snugly on the pot, and have thoughtful tabs on them to aid in their removal.  The holes for the handles on the neoprene cozy are neatly reinforced with button-hole stitching, and the warning label is nicely placed and sewn on with neat stitching.  The burner assembly appears to be well constructed and thoughtful in design with the easily identifiable igniter button and the grooved control valve.  I also like the graceful "legs" on the plastic shroud - not only do they keep the valve assembly away from the ground, but they are aesthetically pleasing as well.  The stainless steel pot stabilizer is nicely designed with folding legs for more compact stowing.  When extended, the stabilizer fits securely over the outside ring of the steel base plate on the burner assembly while providing a 4.75 inch (2.1 cm) diameter cooking surface.  The top pot support legs are grooved, perhaps to provide better purchase on the bottom of any pot in use.  The stabilizer is also nicely executed with no stray bits from the molding process.  It's designed to fit on both smaller and larger isobutane fuel containers and the angled hinge design elevates the canister from the ground while in use and allows for some level of correction for a bumpy cooking surface, while allowing the stabilizer to fold completely flat for storage!

Last but definitely not least - after all, no stove functions without fuel!  Jetboil Jetpower fuel canisters are manufactured with a Lindal threaded valve.  In theory, any Isobutane/propane fuel canister with a Lindal valve should be compatible with the Jetboil, however Jetboil clearly indicates that their product "has not been tested with every different type of fuel canister, and we cannot claim safe operation with any canister other than our Jetpower brand of fuel."
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Initial Impressions
The Jetboil GCS arrived exactly as expected based on the website.  I was a bit surprised at the weight of the burner assembly, it  has much more heft to it than other canister stoves I've examined in the past.  The GCS is easy to setup, break down and stow.  Upon initial setup, I noticed that the igniter button is very tightly sprung.  At first, it seemed I was able to completely depress it without achieving a spark - it turned out I simply wasn't completely depressing the button.  Now that I've gotten familiar with the GCS, I'm looking very much forward to trying out some of those recipes on the Jetboil site!
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Test Strategy
Historically, I've found myself packing multiple stoves to suit my cooking style on trips - typically I'd carry my larger multifuel stove for use at the car or at basecamp, while carrying my lightweight home made alcohol stove for use in the field.  Unfortunately, I have not been very successful in managing heat output on my alcohol stoves (home made or otherwise) and it has restricted my field cooking to very simple boil - and - soak methods.  I'm hoping to discover that the Jetboil opens my range of field cooking again while justifying the added weight.  I've historically been interested in canister stoves, however the disposable nature of the canisters has kept me away.  A recent international trip made me more interested in canister stoves as it seems lindal-valved cartridges are readily available in many countries, and I was not too pleased to have to cook with unleaded auto fuel.  The flexibility afforded by readily available canisters while abroad or while traveling combined with the higher efficiency of the Jetboil system had me intrigued enough to give it a go.  While I will likely not see "4-season" conditions during the test period, I should see a wide range in temperatures and elevations as I hike in both low desert country and the high mountains in the northern portion of Arizona.  With some luck and planning, I plan to make a trip to the Rockies during the test period and the Jetboil will accompany me on that trip.

I'll be evaluating the Jetboil GCS primarily for multi-person use - from cooking for just myself and my husband to larger groups.  Items I will be evaluating include: ease of use and maintenance, durability, cooking techniques achievable and ability to use other pots or pans with the Jetboil burner (while staying within the recommendation of maximum diameter of 9 inches (23 cm) and weight of 6.5 lbs (3 kg)).  As a point of good stewardship, I will also be investigating proper disposal of spent canisters.
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My thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Jetboil for this testing opportunity.

Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Jetboil Group Cooking System > Stephanie Martin > Initial Report