The Outdoor Adventure Giving you tips, tricks & recommendations to help make adventuring in the Outdoors fun, safe & exciting for you and your kids.
One of the challenges of backpacking with a family is finding a cook system that gets the job done quickly. Enter the Jetboil Helios.
The Jetboil Helios is a canister stove system with 2.1 liter pot that shares the Flux ring technology that made Jetboil system famous. It’s been on the market for at least 5 years now, but is still popular because of its functionality, capacity and ability to handle cold weather extremely well.
Check out the video down below to get a better look at the system. Oh and if you’re looking for a Jetboil system, use this link to get 25% off at the Sierra Trading Post. http://bit.ly/16M7N85 I do not get a commission for purchases made through this link.
Jetboil Helios Specs:
- 2L FluxRing® Pot with neoprene cozy
- Pot-supporting burner base
- Push-button igniter assembly
- Fuel can stabilizer
- Snap-on windscreen
- Lid and bottom covers that double as plates (lid makes a good ‘flying disc’ for added fun around camp)
- 28 ounce weight
- Optional 3 liter pot
- MSRP: $149.95
All-in-one
If you’re a fan of all-in-one systems this is a great choice. It comes with a wind screen that snaps onto the stove base and the pot slips onto the stove that creates a very stable connection. In addition to all that you can take it all apart and fit the stove, stand, windscreen, canister and canister stand into the pot together for storage. You may want to carry an elastic band to stop the handles from flapping around.
A Cold Weather Stove Where it steps apart from regular canister stoves is how it uses an inverted canister and pre-heater to keep it working efficiently in cold weather. Inverting the canister means you don’t have to worry a bit low pressure from either cold temperatures or low fuel. As long as there is liquid fuel in the canister it will get carried along to the stove and the heat coil will vaporize it and turn it into gas to be burned.
This stove has been around for years and yet I saw someone describe a newer copy-cat stove at the OR show as “new and innovative”. There are a couple stoves on the market that now make use of this concept, which just shows that the concept is tested and proved.
Good for the Backcountry Gourmet 
The Helios has a fine adjust for better control of fuel flow and temperature for simmering and greater flexibility with cooking options. I found it a bit of a challenge when I started using it as there’s a time delay in how the stove responds to adjustments. There is a decent amount of fuel in the fuel line so it can take 10 seconds or more before you notice a change in the stove. For example, once you turn it off completely it will continue burning off fuel for a good 10 to 15 seconds. That said, I’ve managed to
- bake pizza,
- simmer pasta,
- cook quinua,
- fry fresh meat and vegetables,
- and more on this system.
It works very well on a large number of meals for those of us who like to be adventurous with our cuisine. Oh, and I frequently use the lid and bottom cover as both cutting boards and bowls.
Flux Ring Efficiency
Anyone familiar with Jetboil stoves will know about the Flux Ring Technology. There’s a heat exchanger on the bottom of the pot that captures the heat from the stove and transfers it into the pot. This is what makes the Jetboil series efficient and gives a more even temperature across the bottom of the pot.
You need to have the stove at a medium to high temperature to take advantage of this. I tried a very low flow for the stove and it was boiling in the center and cool on the outside. I did have the typical burn spot in the middle of the pot that comes from not having enough water or not stirring the food well enough. It can be avoided by continuing to add cold water. That also helps maintain a simmer while you cook.
Who is this for?
I feel I need to emphasize that this is not an ultra-light, solo system. It’s built for group cooking. I’ve cooked for four adults with this setup and two adults and four kids. Everyone was full afterwards.
It’s also a good choice for those of us that want to try fancier foods on the trail. With a bit of practice one can depart from the typical freeze-dried meals and indulge in some more complicated and more tasty meals that the solo Jetboil systems can’t handle.
Take a look at the video below and leave a comment telling us what your favourite stove system is and what your thoughts are on the Jetboil line.
Disclaimer: I was given this system by Sierra Trading Post and asked to provide an honest review of it. All opinions are my own and what I would tell a friend.
