The Jetboil Zip Cooking System boils water in just over two minutes. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Jetboil has a reputation: Its backpacking stoves boil water, quickly. After a long day on the trail there’s nothing better than a hot meal. And if you’re anything like me, you want it cooked and in your belly in record time.
The Jetboil Zip Cooking System ($100) comes with everything you need to do just that. The kit includes a built-in pot, a measuring cup, insulating cozy, adjustable burner, and a fuel canister stabilizer. The best part: the Zip boils water two and a half minutes flat. That means you can dig into your favorite backpacking meal just minutes after getting to your campsite.
Jetboil’s simple and speedy Zip earned a spot in our Best Backpacking Stoves guide, and in this review we dive into what makes it great.
| Pros | Cons |
| Boils water quickly (2 mins 30 sec) | Bulky |
| Includes fuel canister stabilizers for a secure cooking platform | Not great for heating anything but water |
| Easy to use | No push-start ignition |
First Impressions of the Jetboil Zip
For a backpacking stove, the Jetboil Zip Cooking System is large. Many traditional backpacking stoves fit in the palm of your hand, whereas the Zip is closer to the size of a large backpacking pot. It’s also significantly heavier than traditional backpacking stoves. That said, the Zip is a bit atypical in that it has the cooking pot and burner integrated into one system, something to consider regarding size and weight.
Although friends have cooked for me on the Jetboil system in the past, I had never actually owned one myself. I knew the Jetboil’s reputation for speed, but I was curious if it was more than a one-trick pony. I was eager to hit the trails and cook on the Zip myself to see how it compared to the more traditional backpacking stoves I’d used in the past.
The Jetboil Zip is perfect for making backcountry meals. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Notable Features of the Jetboil Zip
Weight: 12 oz
Dimensions: 4.1″ x 6.5″
Fuel: Isobutane-propane
Burn Time: 48 min (100g canister)
Boil Time: 2 min 30 sec (0.5 L water)
The packaging of the Jetboil Zip Cooking System reminds me of a nesting doll. I’m sure Jetboil is aware the Zip system is large for backpacking, so it is designed so that everything strategically stacks inside (or attaches to) the main unit. It’s well thought out and surprisingly easy to replicate when you’re repacking it.
Attached to the base of the Zip is a measuring cup. When backpacking, a measuring cup is something that I never think to pack but always wish I had when I start cooking. Pro tip: You can also use the measuring cup as a bowl.
Once you remove the measuring cup, you simply screw on the fuel canister to get cooking. Most of the time, the Zip felt stable and secure when sitting on the fuel canister. But, if you’re cooking on an uneven surface, the Zip includes fuel canister stabilizers which can attach to the bottom of the fuel canister for an even more stable cooking platform. In the backcountry, this can come in handy without convenient tables or other flat surfaces to cook on top of.
The Zip is easy to get lit (though doesn’t include an igniter) and does indeed boil water quickly. It took me just over two minutes to boil a full pot of water (a touch better than Jetboil’s stated 2 minutes 30 seconds). The pot is surrounded by an insulated cozy and has a handle, so you don’t have to worry about burning yourself or using your sleeve when you grab it. The lid also has a pour spout, making it easy to transfer water from the pot into your backpacking meal. After it’s empty, the Zip cools quickly, and everything easily and neatly packs back into it.
The pour spout is helpful when pouring boiling water. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Drawbacks of the Jetboil Zip
While there was a lot to love about the Zip, there is room for improvement. Although some of Jetboil’s other cooking systems come with a push-start ignition, the Zip does not. It’s a feature I hope they’ll add in the future.
And while the Zip is excellent at boiling water, in terms of actual cooking, it’s not the best. I found it worked for simple things like macaroni and cheese or pasta, but you won’t be going gourmet with the Zip. It also has minimal simmer control, so it’s difficult to cook things at low temperatures. The Zip is best suited for quickly boiling water that you pour into a backpacking meal or an oatmeal packet. Basically, the versatility of this backpacking stove can’t rival an independent unit with more precise temperature controls.
As I mentioned in my initial impression of the Zip, it’s heavier and bulkier than traditional backpacking stoves. However, keep in mind it does come integrated with a pot, and you can fit the fuel canister inside, so that cuts down on space.
The Zip is easy to use and boils water quickly. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Jetboil Zip Cooking System is a no-frills backpacking stove that boils water in just over two minutes. Although the package is larger than traditional backpacking stoves, it has a built-in pot and comes with everything you need to get cooking. The Zip is easy to use and provides a great solution for heating the water needed for quick backpacking meals. While it’s not particularly versatile, the simple and complete package simplifies backcountry cooking and helps get you fed fast.
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Editor’s Note: Want to check out some other stoves. Read our The Best Backpacking Stoves guide. Looking for some great meals to cook? We’ve got you with The Best Backpacking Meals. If you’re heading into the woods on a backpacking trip, you’ll need the proper footwear: Check out our Best Hiking Boots and Best Hiking Boots for Women guides for some inspo. Don’t miss our Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags, Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads, and Best Backpacking Tents. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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