 |
| Jetboil TrailCook 1.2L |
My most used stove and pot combination for winter camping for more than a decade has been the Jetboil MiniMo as it has a regulated burner and a wide pot with a heat exchanger. I’ve long thought this by far the best of Jetboil’s stove systems so I was excited to hear that a successor was being launched featuring some of the new features that appeared in the revamped Flash 1.0L last year (my review here).
 |
| Melting snow with the MiniMo |
The new model is called the TrailCook, and is available with 1.2 or 2 litre pots. I have the TrailCook 1.2L to test. These are my first thoughts. I’ll be testing it very soon.
Where the Flash is intended for boiling water only the
TrailCook is designed for cooking as well. To that end it has a regulated
burner like the MiniMo to give good flame control for simmering. Regulated
burners also work better in the cold than non-regulated ones like the Flash and
the power output should remain constant as the gas canister empties.
 |
| TrailCook control |
Like the Flash the TrailCook burner has a single twist and click dial that turns the stove on, activates the Piezo igniter, and controls the flame. Also like the Flash the igniter is protected in a ceramic casing and there’s a rubberised coloured grip zone you can hold without burning your hand. The burner head is the same size as the Flash too.
 |
| Burner, Piezo & Pot Support |
The pot support is a completely different new design. Instead of a metal ring onto which the pot locks there are three folding arms. The pot sits securely on these but doesn’t lock in place. You can’t tip it very far without the pot falling off. It’s much more like a conventional pot and burner design. Other pots can sit on the supports though none I’ve tried so far are very stable.
 |
| TrailCook 1.2L pot |
The pot has the usual heat exchanger on the base – Jetboil calls this a Flux Ring. The pot is made of ceramic coated aluminium so that food won’t stick. To avoid scratching the coating I think it’s probably wise to use non-metal utensils. The total volume is 1.2 litres, but there is a maximum fill line of 700ml marked inside. This along with 300ml and 500ml marks plus ones for cups and ounces is engraved in black inside the black pot and difficult see without a light. There’s an insulating neoprene sleeve round the pot so you can hold it without burning your hand.
The pot has a secure insulated metal handle that clips over
the top of the pot for storage and to keep the lid in place. This is much
better than the limp fabric handle on the Flash. It’s needed so you can hold
the pot firmly while stirring food. The transparent synthetic lid has steam and
drain holes and a flip-up insulated knob.
The TrailCook 1.2L comes with a 300mll bowl that fits on the
base – not available on the TrailCook 2.0L – and a plastic foldable canister
stabiliser. The total weight is 591 grams. Without the bowl and stabiliser it’s
496 grams.
 |
| Burner, 100-size canister, & stabiliser in the pot |
The burner, stabiliser and a 100 size canister will fit inside the pot. A 230 size canister will also fit inside but not with the burner. To protect the ceramic coating I would always wrap the canister in a cloth and store the burner in the cloth bag provided.
 |
| TrailCook 1.2L & MiniMo |
So how does the TrailCook compare to the MiniMo? The MiniMo’s pot is a bit smaller at 1 litre, which I prefer for solo use, and does lock onto the burner, which I also prefer. The MiniMo is also lighter than the TrailCook 1.2L at 413 grams in total and 366 grams without the plastic bowl that fits on the base. That’s a significant weight difference. The MiniMo is also slightly smaller when packed. I’m not sure about the ceramic coating on the pot. The MiniMo doesn’t have this and I’ve not had big problems with food sticking.
Important features shared by the MiniMo and the TrailCook
are the regulated burner and the wide pot. These are what separate them from other
Jetboil stove systems
The new plus points of the TrailCook are the single igniter/
one-off-switch/flame control (though the lack of a long lever means you have to
get your fingers near the burner to use it – this is where the grip zone is
useful) ), the ability to use other pots, the long handle, which is easier to
hold firmly than the fold-out ones on the MiniMo, and the lid which is easier
to get on and off than the MiniMo’s. The Piezo igniter is better protected too
and so should last longer than the one on the MiniMo, which failed some time
ago. And it you use the bowl the TrailCook’s feels much tougher.
The MiniMo is being phased out but will be available for a while longer.
Overall my first impressions of the TrailCook are positive though I wish it
was a bit lighter. Now I have to use it and see what I think then.
I made a little video about the TrailCook.
Links:
I am an Amazon Associate. If you buy from the Amazon links I receive a commission at no cost to you. Every click helps! Thank you if you do purchase something or click on one of my links.
No comments:
Post a Comment