I agree with you 100% on this. I got the stove to test and review as well and am impressed with it for the price. Personally, I think Jetboil is exorbitantly priced and overrated for what they offer. I like these systems that are priced for the "little guy" who can't or won't drop $150+ on a camp cooking system. While I won't be taking this backpacking with me, it'll definitely be in my Jeep for car camping and overlanding trips. And, like you said, it's great for emergencies at home. Nice review, Ernie!
@@OutLan rei has them on sale multiple plus times a year, ive seen them in quite a few other places for lower than msrp plus buying them used is very easy and low risk cause its not an item that shows significant hard use that effects use. bigger question other than improved fuel efficiency and wind resistance why buy a jetboil or even a stove with this design. who even cooks food?
People …damn sure whiny RU-vid keyboard warriors,complaining bout “copy cats” are simply ignorant and want something to gripe about nothing more! Every product on planet earth gets copied by someone at some point…to say otherwise is down right just stupid!
Agree 100%. It will also help keep the costs down on the 'original' products because of the competition. The competition will also drive further innovation.
It's not really a competition though when it is pretty much a rip off of Jetboil. Part of the reason innovative products cost so much is because companies basically have to make their money in the early sales before a Chinese copy undercuts them. It doesn't necessarily lower costs in the long term. That said though, it is the consumers job to get the best deal. This issue is more a failure of our government who should be issuing tariffs on foreign goods, especially countries like China known for violating our country's IP laws.
Except bringing down the cost generally involves products made from that rare earth metal known as "chinesium". Cheaply mined, cheaply smelted, and cheaply made into any number of products that utterly fail to meet the durability requirements of their intended use. Hard pass for me.
As long as they are not violating any patents, It is just fine to copy other designs. I don't like government enforced monopolies either so take that as you will. Edit: The patent expired in 2021 so get off your high horses people.
I have this system and I really like it. I am not a reviewer. I just bought it on my own for camping. It works well and heats my water quickly for my hot chocolate on a cold morning. I have used it quite a bit.
My warning to anyone who buys this thing is to NEVER do anything other than boil water with it. The brushed aluminium surface means that absolutely everything burns and sticks to it and is impossible to clean... This thing is literally only meant for heating up the water you intend to use for coffee and freeze dried meals etc...
This is a problem of all stove systems of that type. Did you see the vid of the one guy melting the neopren around his jetboil because he wanted to roast in it? You can even start to melt the aluminium flux fins
You can do soups and noodles and such as well with no concerns, I've done it a lot. Almost any jet burner based stove is really rough on cookware without a layer of liquid on the bottom.
IMO … NOT an issue. Ok, sure - maybe the brushed aluminum will stain But isn’t “seasoning” the entire basis of cast iron cooking? Why lump aluminum into a different “bad behavior” box … just because it stains? Honestly, I’ve never met ANY cooked-on food that a stainless steel Brillo pad could handle. And lest we forget - these items will be used WHILE CAMPING OUTDOORS … IN THE DIRT. ===== While we’re on the subject of “seasoning”, what’s your opinion of seasoning carbon steel knives with mustard, etc.?
@@allendevans I agree, and in my experience stainless also gets burn stains on it and they don't bother me. Anything can be cleaned if you're willing to scrape it aggressively enough as you stated. I do think you should always be careful putting empty cookware on open flame heat especially jet burners (except cast iron which should be fine). Even stainless steel and definitely aluminum or titanium will warp under intense heat such as from a jet burner if there's nothing inside to transfer the heat to. Even if it isn't part of the meal I try to add a little water to the bottom of the pot to slow and even out the heat rise of the pot bottom.
The Chinese made copies are a ripoff of companies that do their own R&D. The Chinese do no R&D, they just copy. The really bad thing about buying Chinese made products,is that you are funding the invasion of Taiwan. Think about it. Buy Thai, Vietnamese or Philippine made products, instead.
My favorite stove is a titanium remote canister fire maple stove. It’s pretty good quality and hasn’t let me down. Super light. I wouldn’t have any problem with this setup either. Everything we own, if you think about it, is a copy of an original idea. And I mean everything.
You make nice reviews, sometimes I disagree with them because I have different experiences, but very rarely. I only ask you for units in the videos, including European grams, kilograms, etc. We in Europe don't understand your feet, inches, pounds and all the rest :)
I must say all these Chinese companies are far from something you can rely on. Just from my own experience, I ordered an item from FireMaple's web site and the delivery company they picked didn't deliver it to me and just left it at a public place in my neighbourhood where it was stolen. FireMaple's customer support said "We don't care, the item is delivered, talk to the delivery company." so no help at all. It's really hard to imagine that something like that may happen with MSR or Jetboil. I was unpleasantly surprised with that. I think that it's better to pay a bit more to have peace of mind and be sure that you'll get help in case of issues. I had an impression that FireMaple is like Jetboil but from China and they are not that budget, to be honest, so... they are not like Jetboil. :) Hopefully my experience helps.
It was dome of the features of the FireMaple system, such as, locking pot handle, the wire lock when storing and the all included feature. I believe it to be much better than jetboil. Thank you Ernie.
If Jetboil and others were made in the USA, I would be more inclined to agree with those who say don't review Chinese products. But the fact is Jetboil (and others) are Chinese made with simply a US headquarters and are overpriced for what they offer. So yeah, keep up with the alternative reviews until these companies start manufacturing here and making it worthwhile for the extra cost.
@@saltybuttskin just on a quick look, PocketRocket variants are made in Korea. Wind Burner and Reactor assembled in US with foreign parts. Cookware is made in Thailand. This is from MSR website.
You gave a great honest review. I think people telling you not to review it because it is a copied item, have a nerve, very selfish. Not everyone has the pocket to buy a jetboil or every branded item for camping or fishing. I don't for one. Reviews like this are helpful for people with different finances so they to can still enjoy the experience of the outdoors. I can confirm you can buy the adapter and it works fine, cheaper adapters not so good, but you are only taking a few pounds more for one that is more efficient. I bought this product and the adapter and before anyone says my opinion bias, I bought also purchased a Jackery through all its hype and wish I had invested in a different product for value, although the Jackery is well built. I now need more power at a cost effective price and this time didn't go for another Jackery. So it isn't about that, it is about the more options you have you can get out and about out doors to enjoy similar experiences like those who just buy brands. You are able to get out and enjoy yourself and that's what it is about. UK part-time solo female car and tent camper.
JetBoil will always enjoy first-mover advantage. It's up to it to protect its market share by either improving the product, developing IP, or just out-marketing the competition. Otherwise, it's fair game. I think Under Armour was the first company to crank out moisture-wicking shirts/clothing. We tend not to vilify Nike, Adidas, Columbia, and every other clothing manufacturer out there who scrambled over the years to develop their own competitive fabrics. The consumer benefits from competition.
Thumbs up on review. I purchased this system during the pandemic. The stove does not work with Coleman canisters. The piezo lighter quit working after about a year after near daily use of making old school percolated coffee on my back porch. The burner still works with a stand alone piezo lighter. The price point was alright.
I have some Fire Maple stuff and it's been really high quality, far better (and more expensive) than most of the cheapest Chinese stuff. They do some original designs as well I think. The Antarcti 1.2L pot is ingenious (lid locks with all metal tabs) and in my opinion the absolute best outdoor cookpot there is and believe me I have a truly shocking amount of camping cookware.
I picked up a similar system, the Bluu-Mount 1.4L, in the fall and have been happy with it. Though I plan on getting a WindBurner eventually, I wanted to see if this would meet my needs. Also at about $50 I have less hesitation lending it to a Scout than I would handing them a $150-200 MSR system.
Copying is very flattering…and allow people with less money to have good items ….bless …[ all is from Jesus anyway ..not us ] I hate registering and copyright
I can’t agree with you more man, it comes down to what people can AFFORD to purchase at the time with the funds that they have!! As long as people are getting out there and enjoying themselves is what really counts
Hi everyone !!, I’m a product designer student based in Italy. I’m developing my degree about camping stove so if for you it’s okay I will ask you a question that can help me wit it. Which kind of problems you find when you are using a wood camping stove? It will be great if you can help me !! it’s important for me understand which could be the main problems using it. Thanks
Copycats are OK as long as they do not violate Intellectual Property: it’s fair game. The weight / price tradeoff points out where JetBoil has not addressed that section of the market, they left that opportunity open for competition. In general, the overall stove performance is pretty good and typical of this design. My 2 cents.
Agreed. JetBoil will always enjoy first-mover advantage. It's up to it to protect its market share by either improving the product, developing IP, or just out-marketing the competition. Otherwise, it's fair game. I think Under Armour was the first company to crank out moisture-wicking shirts/clothing. We tend not to villify Nike, Adidas, Columbia, and every other clothing manufacturer out there who scrambled over the years to develop their own competitive fabrics.
I just ordered new fire Maple white gas stoves they're supposed to be the lightest in the world for white gas... Have you seen them yet? I'd love to see you do a video if you need one let me know. I ordered 4
If weight is any consideration for you, streer away from this system it is much heavier than the jetboil, and when i purchased this a year ago, i could not return it when it was heavier than i realized and i had buyers remorse. I gave it to my sister. If you want a stove pot system that is cheaper than a jetboil, then i would steer you towards a heat distribution pot with your choice of budget backpacking stove.
Purchased it a couple of months ago, I am extremely glad I purchased it (also where I live it is extremely hard to get your hand of a jetboil, and ordering it from Aliexpress is really easy)
I own a Jetboil Minimo and I'm actually really interested in the Fire Maple Mars system. Looks like a copy of the MSR Windburner duo (remote canister) system but priced at $130. I really like the design of it. It seems like Fire Maple doesn't simply copy everything, but they actually improve on the designs on a lot of ways. I've been impressed with what I've seen so far from them...
I bought the "hikecrew" version...it boils FAST!! Scary fast..lol. didnt even have time to get cream sugar n cup ready or unwrap my muffin.....only used it a few times.
I got this today for $70 Australia jet boil which i been wanting for so long is on discount $190. For something I might use 2 or 3 times per yr perfect
Although Jetboil is the most recognizable name, I don't believe that is the best product to compare this to. This looks to be a factory clone of the Stryker by Camp Chef.
Nothing wrong with testing knockoffs, as your work tells the rest of us which ones to stay away from. Isn't Jetboil also made in China. Anything I got from Firemaple has been excellent.
At the risk of sounding like I missed a certain part of the video, what is the small cable sticking up above the pot. I've heard that it's a lock. A lock for what? Any info would be nice. Thanks.
Hello there. Thanks so much for the review. I'd like to ask something though. Have you tried this on windy conditions? We go to the mountains a lot to do astrophotography videos, and we often just drink coffee and eat soaps. The problem is, the stove we're using now is... Well, kind of (very) basic. And it takes forever to boil some water. That detail alone can complete change our experience honestly, because is the moment we take to relax a bit, but if we need half an hour to prepare just the water... You can imagine.
Good honest review Ernie. Can't handle the guy always bashing everything. He just bashed the Redcamp Trangia knock off alcohol stove. I've had the same one for a while with no problems. The only way you can get a 2 foot flame like that is if you put gasoline in it. I think he tampers with stuff to make it look bad.
I’m happy with mine. I caught a sale I couldn’t turn down. For the price you can’t beat it. Im not one to spend an extra $100-$150 on another system that might boil water a few seconds faster. Firemaple does everything the competitors can, but a lot cheaper.
I am not sure I get it right - why is this kit not suitable for cooking? Is it because the pot or the burner? If I would use other pot (for example without the heat exchanger / fins - some regular pot or pan), would it be possible to cook (with the pot rack) or not? Thank you for any comments.
This looks just like the campchef i bought two of at Walmart for $74 each. The first one i got is propane only which i prefer. The second one is iso/butane that came with an adapter for propane so it's even more top heavy but more versatile for some. These all have the same ridiculous use of plastic that WILL melt After putting up with the deformed and melted plastic for a long time I finally ripped the plastic out and engineered some metal in it's place because I love using these stoves so much. They are incredibly efficient in fuel and speed to boil water. You can long simmer soups and pasta and if you keep it moving you can cook pretty much anything but without liquid it is easy to scorch food. I kinda see why the plastic is used, it doesn't get as hot as metal and when it's time to twist the locked in pot off there's something to grab onto. But guaranteed, if you don't limit the flame these will all melt.
Great Review Ernie,,, I just picked up the Polaris remote canister stove,(On sale👍). All great equipment. Ever since I’ve seen how Solo stove completely took the Bush Buddy design, to the NEXT Level,,, I am not so quick to down / bash a copycat,,,, Looking forward to seeing your Polaris review
Welcome back, Ernie. My first comment is, who cares if it is a knock off? I want to know if it works as advertised. So, good for you for reviewing this product. My second comment is, your voice doesn't seem to have the enthusiasm as your earlier videos. It's as if you had a chip on your shoulder. I don't usually say negative comments because I know all the work and time that goes into producing an informative video. Just hope that you are okay.
I own two of these and the Camp Chef Stryker this is the exact same as Camp Chef parts and all but with pot stand! It’s not $50 anymore it’s $70 but they work great for boiling water and car camping….
The copy cat stuff is getting better in quality, and more and more people are choosing to buy it. You are definately right to review it. On the question of copy cats. I am sure that there are MSR and Jetboil products that mimic each other. Nobody complains about that, only the high prices. One other gripe I have about some 'original' gear. Having to buy a seperate pot stand is not so that people who don't want the pot stand can save money. 15 bucks is not insignificant.
Thank you Ernie. I have the Camp Chef Stryker based off your review of it, and I picked up the Fire Maple Polaris during the 11.11 sale last year. Looking forward to your review of it as well.
Funny, just find your upload today one year later, searched on YT for this product after I pressed the shop button at a Swedish sport/outdoor site, It was just one comment on thezre website: "works exactly as it should at a significantly better price than many others" You got a new sub even if I ordered this one earlier :)
i miss my Jetboil, i gave it to my friend who was homeless. My finger is hovering over the buy button for this one, just over $100 CAD with taxes in Canada.
I got a rebranded X1 a few years ago from a local chain and it has been great. A friend of mine has a Jetboil and they are a definitely a little bit better quality, but for the price this is very good value (you can still get an X1 for about $45, but you don't get the extra pot stand with the X1 I think). For shorter solo trips it's a bit too heavy. But if you are going to be out hiking for a longer time and only has to boil water for food, and especially if you are more than one person sharing a stove, then this (or the Jetboils) are pretty good because they are fast, efficient and pretty fool proof (they are stable and the flame is protected even if it tips over). The extra weight from the heat exchanger is recovered in terms of saved fuel (about 20-30% usually) after using it for a while, especially if it means you can bring one less can of fuel. The extra efficiency also means you save some money on gas in the long run, so it almost pays for itself. :)
The cheapest way I found to get a decent 750ml (below lid) main pot with HEx, neoprene sleeve and a plastic lid was with buying a whole Riiai set similar to the firemaple set. Pairing the pot and lid with a Soto Windmaster, on a 10C day, boils 500ml of water in under 2 minutes. Personally, very happy with this pairing when a little more flexibility for cooking is needed. The stove set, a "Riiai Camping Cooking System" was cheap, but the stove was very slow similar to the firemaple in the video, but it was expected. The plan was always the paring mentioned. The Soto Windmaster itself, we all know the quality and capability. It gives the freedom to go lighter/smaller with one of my titanium pots, 750 or a 550ml (which still fits a 100ml gas). The 750 everything fits inside properly. With the 550, the stove bulges out (store lid under pot in the mesh bag).
I've got the PlanetX 750ml Coffee Press version. Its very similar to the Firemaple, but has a burner which adjusts to a simmer, two vertical fold-out handles and comes with a french press. So far has been totally reliable, and am going to fit it out for use with a cat can spirit burner when the carbon felt finally arrives from China! Thanks for the very good review of a good bit of camping kit.
Nice review as always. I’m not a huge fan of the jetboil type stoves because if it breaks when you’re out in the backcountry you can’t use the pot on an open fire. Call me old school 😊
The thing that surprises me is how "copycat" these knock offs are. Are there not design patents being violated here? I mean seriously....that's literally a Jetboil right down to the pot and fuel stabilizers. I mean visually it's a Jetboil in every way. At least MSR had the decency to introduce a different burner LOL.
China doesn’t care about design patents, the R&D, time, effort, etc. American ( and other countries) companies put into their products. China steals designs, mass produces the item and then floods the market with their cheaper version. It is their communist government’s plan to diminish the United States in any way they can.
