The Jetboil FluxRing for Effective Backcountry Cooking
I have been using a Jetboil as my primary backpacking stove for over six years now, and even now will swear by it. Besides packing trips, I use it on car camping trips as a quick and easy way to boil water or make coffee. As a wildland firefighter, I also carry a Jetboil as part of my extended deployment gear so that I've always got the luxury of a good cup of coffee or a warm meal.
With that said, those that are aware of the Jetboil brand will always see the "FluxRing" mentioned in the product specs. For those of you who might be curious as to exactly what this means, keep reading.
FluxRing technology is a trademark, patent-pending single burner cooking device from Jetboil, Inc., a leader in the manufacturing of outdoor cooking equipment. The FluxRing design is built to draw heat from the burner directly into a cooking container, keeping the heat from escaping into the air. This revolutionary method speeds up boiling time, while using less fuel.
With the FluxRing apparatus, the burner heat is aimed at the bottom of the pot, and efficiently uses less fuel to heat the contents quicker than a typical outdoor cook-stove. An optional synthetic rubber base keeps the hot surface safe for handling and insulating. The FluxRing accesses more heat, so fluids boil quicker, producing 80% fuel efficiency in comparison with thirty to forty percent fuel effectiveness with standard outdoor stoves.
The other thing that the FluxRing does is spread the heat evenly around the bottom of your pan or pot. When you use a Jetboil made cooking container, it will use FluxRing technology. The Jetboil burns hot (which is why it can boil a quart of water in a couple of minutes). Without the FluxRing to spread the heat evenly throughout the base of the cooking container, you would have very uneven cooking.
I have used a normal non-stick frying pan on my Jetboil. While it's usable, I always end up with char in the center because the heat from the Jetboil's flame is concentrated in the center of the cooking surface. The FluxRing cooking containers get around this, and cooking is nice and even.
The FluxRing is used on cooking containers for the Personal Cooking System (PCS), the Helios, the Sol series, and the Group Cooking System (GCS).
An Overview of JetBoil
The founders of the Jetboil cooking systems and the FluxRing design are proficient in outdoor sports, backpacking, climbing, and camping. These outdoorsmen challenged themselves to find a fast and light-weight cooking system for their outdoor adventures. Working in their lab and experimenting in the mountains, the pair tested their ideas until they perfected the FluxRing product to be used with their Jetpower fuel and Jetboil cooking systems.
In the process of making outdoor cooking faster and easier, the designers also wanted to keep their products lightweight for easier carrying on any rock climbing, wilderness camping, or other backpacking adventure. Jetboil gear, fuel canisters, and FluxRing all fit within the cooking container for an all-in-one lightweight cooking system that can be used just about everywhere; from the side of a cliff, climbing a mountain, backcountry hiking, or backwoods camping.
Jetboil cooking systems combined with accessories weigh less than ten ounces, are easy to use and can heat any liquids or liquid foods. Some of the instant meals and beverages you can cook with a Jetboil system and FluxRing heat exchanger include:
Pasta
Soups
Rice
Baked beans
Stew
Tea
Water for coffee or hot cocoa
The Jetboil stove involves little set-up time, no assembly required, and a push-button electronic ignition for easy lighting. The cooking system has a one cup-per-minute boil time. The level of heat is controlled easily from a rapid boil down to a gentle simmer. A built-in windscreen works great in turbulent conditions. A book of recipes and cooking instructions are also included. It is advised when cooking certain sticky foods, such as beans or stew, the heat should be turned down very low while stirring often, so the contents don’t burn in the process of cooking.
Jetboil, Inc offers additional parts, such as fry pan handles, top lids, companion cups, and fuel stands that can be ordered as needed. An assortment of accessories that compliment the FluxRing product such as various cooking pots and frying pans, pot supports, coffee press, hanging kits, utensil kits, and maintenance kits are also available online.
Article written by the crew at BackCountryStoves.com
The Volcano II Stove is available with or without attachments, and an ability to use up to three types of fuel power:
Wood
Liquid Propane
Charcoal Briquettes
The Stove alone is built to be durable, useful, and portable, and so versatile that it is good for emergencies such as power outages, floods, or other natural disasters even without attachments. Many campgrounds no longer allow open fires within the site, and this Stove can easily convert into a wood fire to keep warm without an open flame.
The Volcano II Collapsible Cook Stove with accessories can be used as a wok, or grill, and for baking, or even canning. You can even cook more variety using a griddle, or your choice of pots and pans that sit right on the grill screen.
Model Number: Volcano II
Recent Edition: April 2011
Click here to read what people say about this stove at Amazon.com
Common compliments from those who left reviews:
Great for Dutch oven cooking
Heats up fast
Keeps even temperature throughout cooking
Solid construction
Small and portable - great for cooking anywhere
Great for emergency situations
Some complaints from those who left reviews:
Because it is small, not of much use for large parties
Must read instruction manual; some users found assembly to be difficult
Prefer to use natural wood charcoal; this grill works better with briquettes
Reviews Summary / Product Overview Narrative
The Volcano II Collapsible Stove is known for being the most portable and versatile outdoor cooking grill on the market. While you can get by with just the stove, consumers recommend purchasing the attachments for a few dollars more. The “bundle” as some have called it is functional for cooking just about anything using wood, liquid propane, or charcoal briquettes. The propane burner is removable if you prefer the taste of briquettes or wood. And if you need a camp fire to stay warm, you can burn wood for the heat, even if your campsite does not allow open fires.
This small Stove can fit into a backpack when collapsed to 5.5 inches, and easily unfolds to about 8 inches tall and 15 inches around for cooking. Of course, because it is small, you cannot feed the neighborhood all at once, but small groups can enjoy a variety of meals prepared easily and efficiently. Regardless of the fuel choice, you can count on a delicious meal. The Technical Manual with Cookbook is especially useful for tips on how to get the most from your Volcano II from the manufacturer.
TheReadyStore.com sells the cook stove only that does not come with a liquid propane option, only wood or briquettes. In order to take advantage of all three fuel options, they offer the Ultimate Bundle Kit that also includes a Kevlar Convection Lid for baking, and a darker finish to keep the Stove looking new, even after years of use. Amazon.com also offers the cook stove alone and the collapsible stove with attachments.
Attachments include:
Propane Attachment
Propane Valve Adapter
Volcano Lid (for convection and Dutch oven cooking)
Technical Manual and Cookbook full of recommended recipes
Middle Grill
Trivet
Handle (for Dutch Oven cooking)
We at BackCountryStoves.com agree on the quality and durability as well as the usefulness of the Volcano II.
We found that some who left reviews felt that the flexibility to make stir-fry in a wok, biscuits in a Dutch Oven, or spareribs on the charcoal grill. Volcano has made the Collapsible Cook Stove durable to last many years, but at this time, no one has had a second thought about making their purchase again, if necessary. The Volcano II can be used daily in the back yard, as needed on outdoor vacations, and always ready if an emergency situation occurs.
Click here to read what people say about this stove at Amazon.com
Article written by the crew at BackCountryStoves.com
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