JETBOIL cooking system - Question re:Afghanistan

[079E/R]

Hi All.

I apologise if this has been covered in an earlier thread, I haven't had the time to go through past threads to see if it has been. I will be heading to Afghanistan shortly and I want to take my Jetboil with me. The only issue is the IsoButane it requires to operate. As it is considered Dangerous Goods (D.G), it is not kosher to fly with it in my luggage. Does anybody know if it is possible to obtain/purchase IsoButane cylinders in country, and if so with the threaded inlet to suit JetBoil/portable cookers. Any feedback would be appreciated. Stay safe.

079E/R

[CombatWombat]

I would strongly suggest getting a multi-fuel stove based on some feedback from guys just returned. MSR's Dragonfly is the one that I use and am pretty happy with. They were doing the MTT thing way out and pretty much could only get a hold of gasoline and diesel. It might be different closer to a more established FOB.

Good luck.

[Viking]

What sort of application are you looking at? Manpack or something to fire up some hot water around the GP medium?

[079E/R]

I basically want to be able to use it as a cooking system in the field. I only purchased it a couple of months ago and I am extremely happy with it. The 100g cylinders fit inside to cup provided with the burner, as does the burner itself. It is also lightweight and does not chew up the fuel source. I have used multi-fuel stoves before and they are great, although I have never used a more efficient cooker than the JetBoil (hence why I am so keen to take it with me). Cheers for the feedback.

Has anybody had eyes on where you can source the cylinders, and is it possible to send items such as this from CONUS to an APO address in country? Again, I apologise if this is perceived as a stupid question, I am not very familiar with the D.G policy of the US Postal system. Cheers guys.

[Xdeth]

I have a jetboil, it's perfect for making coffee which is primarily what I do with it, I got it with the press. At high elevations and extremely Afghanistan like cold weather you are much better off with a white gas stove, IsoButane won't catch fire to lint in those conditions. The MSR dragonfly mentioned is the de-facto portable burner but I have not personally used it.

[zdfg]

Here is a link discussing stoves including the jetboil in a climbing forum. There is an .xls spreadsheet linked to the thread about half way down the first page that compares some stoves. Plus the forum has some good advice as well as first hand experiences of users at various altitudes and temps.

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/683066/page/1?PHPSESSID=c5f8c22e1de615fd...

[Don-S]

My $0.02 try this http://thehanddrill.com/halconstove.htm it will cost you the price of a soda can (unless you got one) or feel free to spend a bunch.

[Tracy]

I'm old school: Svea 123R. The only legal flamethrower carried by backpackers...

[Ronin 762]

Get a Brunton optimus Nova. It will burn anything, is easy to clean, and very reliable at altitude.
Take it from a Mountain Warfare Instructor.

[zdfg]

Second the Brunton, bombproof. Can be used with SIGG or MSR bottles.

[climber]

Hi There,

I primarily use my stove for mountaineering and Big Wall climbing when not overseas working.

I have used everythig from the MSR international to the XGK and some of the butane stoves.

I have used the Jetboil (on big walls for coffee) and I rate it highly. The downfall with butane is as it gets colder and you gain alttude it can become hard to light and it can take a while to get going.

With the multi fuel stoves the XGK is by far the noisiest stove of them all. However it is by far the most reliable and most adaptable. I have melted and heated 1 litre of snow at 6,000 m in about 6 minutes. That was on flat out. BTW it is also the most expensive but it by far worth every cent. If you have the mney buy and XGK

The stove all depends on what you want to do with it. If you just want it for coffee's then the jetboil, if you want it for coffee's plus making meals and cooking go for a Multi Fuel stove lke the Dragonfly. They are expensive but worth it. It will literally burn 8 different fuels I LOVE MINE

My two cents worth

[Ronin 762]

I've used the Jetboil, and the Whisperlite.
I have an XGK, Peak1, and the Brunton... I'd still go with the Brunton.
It is about the same weight, smaller size, easier to switch fuels, clean, dissasemble...
And while it is noisy like the XGK it is also just as fast to boil water, melt snow, or whatever you need it to do.

[Xdeth]

I have something interesting to pass regarding the jetboil, you pack up the jetboil with the fuel can and burner in the cup right? Well, it's going to be a little moist when you put it up likely, moist from use or just the environment.

After cleaning mine today from the weekend at Hanging Rock, I see what looks like RUST in the bottom of the cup transfered from the bottom of the cheapo made in Korea fuel can, unreal. Some SOS scrubbing took care of it.

So store the fuel can upside down with the plastic top in contact with bottom of the cup.

[Olive Drab]

anyone use the primus himalaya or other multi fueled models? also what kind of maintenance is there on the XGK and the Nova stoves? How about the parts composition? All metal, metal/plastic construction?

[Royal]

As another 'mountain instructor' (lapsed) I'll second the XGK. Mine's nearly 15 years old and still going strong. I've run it on diesel through a Bosnian winter (-40C) and on Avtur in the Andes. It works fine on regular gas too :D

A British EFI will almost certainly have cylinders for a JetBoil (they certainly did last time I was there in 04) - they've become really popular with the Corps and the Army and work fine at lower altitude out there - high up they're not so hot ;)

[RGR.Montcalm]

The MSR Dragonfly worked for me in Alaska as well as Iraq.

As a result, I had our S-4 buy one for every squad in my Battalion.

Only problem I had in Iraq was that the gasoline had a high sulfur content and required more frequent cleaning. I would strongly recommend in investing in a maintenance kit before you go,