Jetboil Flash Fast Boil Stove System Review

As someone who had never used a Jetboil before, testing the Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil System knocked my socks off. I was continually surprised by all the features and how well they worked together. The speed at which it boiled water left me flabbergasted.

It might not be the lightest option out there, but the intuitive and efficient design makes it a worthwhile addition to your backpacking setup.

JetBoil Flash Fast Boil System At-a-Glance

MSRP: $129.99
Weight: 13.088 oz | 371 g  (excludes fuel stabilizer)
Power: 5300 BTU/h / 1.5 kW
Volume: 1 Liter Tall
Boil Time: 120 sec per 0.5 liter (avg. over life of JetPower can)
Dimensions (Packed): 4.25 in x 7.5 in | 10.8 cm x 19.05 cm
Ignition: turn and click rotary ignition included

Intended Use & Circumstances of Review

The Jetboil Flash Fast Boil system will work for any type of backpacker — though it’s best for just 1-2 people, given the 1.0L volume. Even lightweight hikers would be happy with this integrated stove system, as it still competes with other stoves on the market once you account for the weight of a pot and accessories. It’s also great for car camping to have a hot drink or quick meal in seconds.

I took this stove system on numerous occasions this spring while backpacking and car camping.

Jetboil Flash Fast Boil System Features

New Turn-and-Click Ignition

The easy-to-use ignition was a great bonus feature. I’ve never had a stove with an ignitor, and it’s something I was excited about in this one. No having to worry about misplacing your lighter or it running out of juice! The click-turn ignitor is one of the most exciting updates Jetboil introduced to the Flash stove system this year.

Most backpacking stove ignitors are push-button style, but this one is integrated into the same knob that controls the flame size, just like your gas stove at home.  

New Colored Grip Zone

This was another great bonus feature that I almost missed, being so used to grabbing a bandana or something to grab a hot pot with. The design on these grip zone is really intuitive (despite me just being clueless at first), and I was so stoked to learn about this. Again, such a great bonus feature of the whole stove system.

Improved Pot-to-Burner Connection

The connection now features three locking points with visual indicators to give you more confidence that the pot is fully mated with the rest of the stove system.

Boils Water in a Lightning-Fast 120 Seconds

They really do mean lightning-fast. I was in awe the first time I boiled water with the stove, and it was done in under a minute for about a cup of water.

Integrated Cozy

The cozy is great for keeping your water hot longer and for grabbing the pot safely when it’s hot. There are also heat indicators on the cozy that change color when it gets hot to tell you when the water is ready. I was honestly completely oblivious to these in the field, but it’s a neat gimmick.

The cozy makes the pot a bit trickier to clean, but it’s removable for a more thorough wash at home.

Organized Packing System With Cooking Cup and Lid

The cup, lid, and burner are designed to fit together and keep everything contained and easily packable in your bag. Even with everything nested together, this system definitely takes up more pack space than just carrying a small pot, but it does still fit nicely in an ultralight pack. I did find that the lid doesn’t always stay on well.

Weight and Packability

At 13 ounces for the whole system, the Flash Fast Boil strikes a nice balance between lightweight and feature-rich. It’s not as light or small as a bare-bones canister stove + UL pot, of course, but it’s not that far off. You can also ditch the cup and pot stand to save a couple ounces.

I had previously shied away from Jetboils due to the added weight, but I was honestly pleasantly surprised at how much more convenient the Flash was compared to my typical setup. I would prefer to use this system in most cases, but on a trip where I’m more concerned about weight or space in my pack, I might choose a lighter/smaller setup.

Cooking Speed/Efficiency

I cannot tell you how shocked I was at the speed with which the Jetboil boiled water. I knew it would be more efficient, but I didn’t fully understand how much more efficient until I used it and felt like I instantly had boiling water.

Your standard canister stove isn’t exactly slow by most accounts, but the Jetboil is just lightning fast in comparison. If you want your morning coffee in seconds, this is the stove for you.

Complete and Intuitive System

Everything about the Jetboil Flash System is well thought out and thorough. I kept discovering new features as I used it — features I didn’t even think I needed but greatly appreciated.

The ignitor and the grip zone, in particular, are really useful. It also all packs up nicely and even includes a measuring cup; it felt like a splurge using this for my oatmeal. You don’t need to purchase anything else and it just works.

Jetboil Flash Fast Boil System Pros

Lots of Features: This stove system has so many included features, from the ignitor to the grips to the cozy — and the list goes on. These features are all bonuses and not required, but they really make it so easy to use.

Complete System: Everything you need to cook is included (minus fuel), and it all fits together nicely. 

Boils Fast: I will again mention how shocked I was by the speed at which this stove boiled water.

Jetboil Flash Fast Boil System Cons

Cost: At $129.99, it’s a bit pricey, but again, it includes everything you need. When you add the cost of a pot to another stove, it’s not too bad in comparison. It is actually one of the cheaper options compared to other Jetboils or similar systems.

Heavier than some setups: You can certainly go lighter than this stove, but for the ease of use, I’d say this one is worth it in most cases, except for your most ultralight trips.

Lid could be sturdier: I found the lid a little flimsy, especially when it got hot. It also had trouble staying on at times when it was being stored in my pack or another bag.

Overall / Value

This feels like a luxury stove system and would work great for any backpacker. While it may be pricier than some stoves on the market, you’re definitely getting your bang for your buck with this one. I will say that many of these features are great to have but aren’t necessary and give the system a luxury feel.

Shop the Jetboil Flash Fast Boil Stove System

Comparable Stoves

MSR Windburner Stove System

MSRP: $199.99
Weight: 15.5oz

Soto Amicus Cookset Combo

MSRP: $49.95
Weight: 11.2oz

Jetboil MiniMo Cooking System

MSRP: $169.95
Weight: 14.6oz

The Jetboil Flash Fast Boil Stove System was donated for purpose of review.