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I've never really got on with any of the stove systems I’ve used in the past, I am constantly looking for something else to suit my style. Recently I've been using the  MSR WindBurner 1.0L, which is brilliant, however, for an upcoming two-week trip I had planned, I felt the WindBurner was overkill, bulky and a tad on the heavy side, at over 650g (if you include the 100g gas canister), so once again I was on the hunt for something new.

Knowing what you want from a stove is an important factor when choosing what to take with you, that may seem obvious, but what I mean is, I wasn’t going to be reheating beans or frying bacon, I was going as light as I could. Boiling water for a cup of tea in the morning and a dehydrated meal in the evening, was all the cooking I planned on doing (also all the washing up I planned on doing). So, I needed something light, that boiled water efficiently, and wasn’t going to take up much room in my pack, introducing, The  Jet Boil Stash.

The Stash is a hybrid of a standard jet boil and a traditional pot and gas stove. The Stash packs an awful lot into its ergonomic system, It's quite remarkable and a testament to Jetboils ingenuity how compact and light they have got this stove. Everything, the stove, the pot stand, the gas canister, and even a lighter, fit snuggly into the 0.8L pot. Therefore, hardly any room in your pack is given up to storing your stove, which remarkably, only weighs 430g, which includes the 100g gas canister. So although primarily aimed at the hiker, this would also be a good setup for bike packing or canoeing.

What separates most pot and stove gas systems and the Jetboil Stash, is the FluxRing pot, which efficiently diffuses heat, that would normally escape, back into the pot. This quickens the boil time, and more efficiently uses your gas, which means it lasts longer. Using the stove to boil 600-800 millilitres of water a day, my gas canister lasted over a week.

It was May when I went on my trip to Scotland, I predominantly used this at low levels and out of the wind if I could help it, so boil times for me were around the 3-minute mark. Obviously, wind, altitude, and the time of year all play a part in how efficiently the Stash will boil water, so these things must be taken into account, but I was pleased with its performance on my trip. If using in strong winds it is recommended to take a windshield or be on the lookout for natural shelters, as this does struggle in these conditions.

The Stash has no integrated ignition switch, so a lighter or flint must be brought along. The stash has a twist adjusting valve to regulate heat, but on its lowest setting, the flame has a tendency to blow out, so this isn’t something you will take away with you if you like to cook meals from scratch, as you can’t really simmer food. Perfect for noodles, couscous, pasta, and anything that just requires boiling water, the Stash is well suited to a thru-hikers diet. You could also bring a small frying pan like the  Sea to Summit Alpha Pan 10" and knock up a bacon bun. I like that you can use other pans on this setup, or, depending on your next adventure, you can take the whole set or just take the parts you require, such as the burner on its own.

Despite its interesting design, I do find the lid a little fiddley to get on, you have to pack it just right or it won’t quite close, the handle does fold over to secure everything in place, so it’s not likely everything will spill out in your pack, but it is worthy of note. I know the lid needs to be flexible to house the gas canister, but I’m never really a fan of plastic lids on pots. They always take a little manipulation to sit snugly, and in my experience, increase the chance of burning your fingertips

Overall, this is a really good stove, especially for those wanting to travel fast and light. It is suited to the long-distance walker and their diet of dehydrated meals. At a push, it would suffice as a cook system for two, but I think it’s best suited to the solo traveller. It’s not something I’d take if I knew I was in for stormy or wintery conditions, but it will be your go-to stove the rest of the time. It’s compact, very light, and efficiently boils water, so for most, this will be a brilliant stove for your lightweight adventures. 

Andy Neil
Andy has been a keen long-distance hiker and wild camping enthusiast since he completed the Cleveland Way in 2015. Since then, he has walked thousands of trail miles all over the UK and is an active member of the Wild Camping UK community, being an admin of the largest wild camping community on Facebook. He strongly advocates for responsible wild camping and believes it is important to leave no trace when camping in the wilderness. He joined the UOG team in 2021 and works as a website developer and content creator. Read more from Andy Neil