Nobody knows stoves better than TGO’s Gear Editor Chris Townsend. Here’s his lowdown on the latest models. On test Jetboil MiniMo stove
I prefer wide fairly shallow pots as these are better for cooking food (easier to stir, less likely to burn), easier to clean and more stable, which is why I’ve never used stove/heat exchanger pot units much even though I can see their advantages. I’ve just never really got on with the tall, narrow pots. This has changed with the Jetboil MiniMo as this has a wider pot. The capacity is a litre, though I wouldn’t fill it to the brim. It’s made from hard-anodised aluminium and has fold-out handles that are far more secure than the soft fabric ones found on most pots of this type. With these handles it’s easy to use the pot as a mug. There’s a well-fitting lid with strainer and drink holes too plus a pot cosy. The cover for the heat exchanger doubles as a small bowl though it’s a little shallow to use as a mug.
The MiniMo is powerful and economical with fuel. The wide pot and lower height makes it much more stable than most similar stoves. It’s not fully windproof though, which is a shame, and a windshield is needed in anything more than a gentle breeze. This shouldn’t surround the whole stove as the cartridge needs to be kept fairly cool (basically not too hot to touch).
I really like the MiniMo and think it’s the best unit of this type yet for the solo backpacker.
Reviewed in June 2015 Issue
