Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System

Nov 28

A wonderful, easy to use, fast-boiling backpacking stove. Perfect for beginner backpackers, it makes a good addition to your cook system, no matter what outdoor activity you're doing!

Name: Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System

Specs:

Fuel type: Canister, Isobutane-propane
Integrated Pot: Yes
Liquid Capacity: 1 Liter
Auto-ignition: Yes
Average boil time: 4 min 30 sec (1 L)
Dimensions (packed): 5 x 6 in
Weight: 15.5 oz
Best use: Backpacking
MSRP: $140

What I Like:

Ease of Use: This was my very first backpacking stove, and let me tell you, it is SO easy to use. All you need to do it screw/snap the parts together, and it's ready to use! Then fill with water, turn the gas on with the valve and press the ignition button! You'll have boiling water in under 5 minutes. This is great for people who don't really like lighters - I know I get nervous I'll burn myself with a Bic or a match! In my experience, it's not finicky, I've never had any issues lighting it - it's literally as easy as pushing a button!
Convenience: Since it's so easy to use, it's super convenient. There's never any hesitation about bringing it on any trip (even regular camping trips) just because its the best way to boil water quickly.
The Whole Package: It's literally an all-in-one deal. You have the stove, the pot, the bowl, the lighter, the windscreen all together. Yes, the "windscreen". I know there's not technically a windscreen, but the flame is really protected from the elements by the coils on the bottom of the pot. And yes, you should carry a back-up fire starting method in case the ignition fails - otherwise, no hot food for you! But so far I haven't had any issues (but, I have read reviews of the self-ignition failing over time). Another plus: a small (I think 4 oz) fuel canister + the stove fit together into the pot, the "bowl" snaps on to the bottom, and the lid holds the fuel stand, so it really does pack into a nice package.
The Jetboil "Family"/ Versatility: The nice thing about this stove is that you can buy an add-on for the stove that gives you more pot/pan support, so you could use another larger pot or pan with the stove, which makes this even more versatile, in terms of cooking style and type of food you can make.
Simmer Control: I have personally never used this, since my idea of backcountry cooking = boiling water to rehydrate some Mountain House/ eat ramen/ pour into instant coffee. But, if you're doing "real" cooking, being able to control the flame would be important so you don't burn your food.
The Cozy: The insulation is super great so you don't burn your hands if you need to move the pot and its hot! Plus, the designs are customizable and super cute - I love mine (see pics below)!

What I Don't Like:

Size: It's very bulky, which is one of the main drawbacks of this stove. It's awkward packing this into a backpack, especially if you also have to carry a bear canister. There are so many smaller set-ups, even within the Jetboil family: like the MicroMo, the Flash or the Zip.
Weight: Coming in at just under a pound, this is pretty heavy for a stove. Yes, it also has everything in that "whole package" deal I noted above, and if you're not concerned about pack weight, I guess this doesn't really matter, but the fact of the matter is: You can get a stove + pot set up for under 5 ounces, a full 10.5 ounces lighter than this. There are other Jetboils (Flash Lite) that are lighter too.
Cost: This is pretty expensive for a stove. Just like you can get a set-up for much less weight, you can also get a set-up for much less money. Some of the cheapest I've seen hover in the $30-40 range for a stove and pot/cup! That's $100 cheaper than this stove, lighter, and more compact! Just food for thought.

No doubt about it, I love my MiniMo. It's super great for 2 people, which is usually the group size I'm backpacking with, and I love the convenience of the whole package and not really worrying about it failing or breaking or feeling fragile. Since all I need to do is boil water, it has never let me down. However, in my never-ending quest to lighten my load, I'll be trying out some other cook systems in the future.