Bottom Line
Among JetBoil’s many different integrated stove systems, the MiniMo is our favorite for backcountry gourmets and makes our list of the best backpacking stoves. It’s full of convenient features that make it a joy to use. Its stable, wide-base pot is perfect for cooking and eating out of while the excellent simmer control increases its capability for a wide range of cooking applications. Whether you’re cooking for a couple, sauteing veggies, or just boiling water, the MiniMo is up to the task.
As far as integrated stoves go, the MiniMo is among the more expensive options but it’s also among the highest quality so we think it is worth the price.
Quick Specs
Jetboil MiniMo
Integrated Stove System with Wide Cookpot & Simmer Control
CleverHiker Rating: 65.8/100
Price: $170
Weight: 14 oz.(Stove & Pot)
Fuel Type: Isobutane/propane canister
Boil Time: 3m 30s
Burn Time (8 oz. fuel): 30m
Pros
- Convenient
- Fast boil time
- Simmer control
- Pot included
- Push-button igniter
- Performs well in wind
Cons
- Expensive (but comes with pot)
- Heavy & bulky for backpacking
Convenience
The MiniMo is packed full of handy features that make it overall easy to use. For one, as an integrated system, it is much more stable than non-integrated pot/stove combos. This is always beneficial for a piece of equipment that boils hot water and would suck to knock over. The MiniMo also comes with a three-pronged plastic stand to help increase stability, but we rarely find ourselves using it.
The MiniMo comes with measurement notches on the inside of the pot, though we found them to be less accurate than the included measurement cup that also serves as a bowl and bottom lid. We mostly use the MiniMo to cook for two people and find its one-liter capacity works well.
Another nice feature of the MiniMo is its wider and shallower pot shape. This makes eating directly out of the pot easier and makes boiling times faster. The pot lid on the MiniMo also functions very well. It has one open spout for pouring and one spout with small slats, which is useful for draining pasta water. The lid fits on securely and is relatively easy to remove after boiling. The pour spout functions well with no leakage. The MiniMo also features sturdy metal pot handles which makes pouring much easier. It comes with a convenient push-button ignitor which makes lighting the stove very easy.
Weight & Packability
Like most integrated stove systems, the weight of the MiniMo is a bit heavier than we’d prefer for our ultralight backpacking trips, but for most casual backpackers it will work well. You can definitely save some weight by choosing an ultralight stove and pot combo, but you do lose out on some of the main benefits offered by integrated stoves (i.e. stability, fuel efficiency, ease of use, and cook time)
All the MiniMo components, including a standard 100-gram isobutane fuel canister nest together nicely in the pot and make it easy to pack away. The MiniMo is wide enough that you can actually fit a larger 230-gram can inside, but that won’t leave any space for the stove. Although we like the wide pot for making meals, we think it makes it just a tad bulkier to pack than other integrated systems.
Power & Efficiency
Integrated stove systems usually provide the best boil times and fuel efficiency and the MiniMo has some of the fastest boil times of any stove system we’ve tested. In our testing, it took an average of three and a half minutes to boil one liter of water.
However, we were surprised to find in our testing that the flame on the MiniMo was actually pretty easy to blow out with a moderate amount of wind. That being said, we have plenty of real-life experience with the MiniMo in windy conditions and found that it usually performs just fine. Either way, we always seek out shelter when cooking just in case.
The burner and secure connection of this stove lead to a very efficient cooking system. Boiling a pot of water uses a small amount of fuel and the integrated pot system should give you better performance in wind as long as it’s not direct.
Precision
One of the main features that sets the MiniMo apart from other JetBoil models is its fuel regulator and superior simmer control. This makes it possible to saute fresh veggies or slowly heat up a meal that has gotten cold in the pot. The wide pot bottom and heat sink of the MiniMo also assist in evenly dispersing heat. Be careful though…we’re not saying that you couldn’t burn your food on the bottom of the pot. We’ve been there.
Should You Buy the Jetboil MiniMo?
If you love JetBoil or integrated stove systems in general and also love cooking, the MiniMo just might be your ideal stove. Although it shows in the price tag, the MiniMo comes with a ton of convenient features that other integrated systems lack. It’s sturdier, has better fuel regulation, and convenient cooking-centric features. The measurement markings, pour spout lid, comfortable neoprene sleeve, and sturdy handles all give us warm and fuzzies when cooking in the backcountry.
However, added features come with added weight. The MiniMo is far from the lightest backpacking stove setup – it’s not even the lightest integrated setup – and it’ll take up a fair amount of space in your pack.
What Other Backpacking Stoves Should You Consider?
JetBoil Flash Review: The JetBoil Flash might be a better option if you don’t see yourself doing much more than boiling water for backpacking meals. It boils quickly and efficiently and is a bit lighter than the MiniMo. Although not quite as fully featured, it is handy and easy to use.
MSR WindBurner Review: We found the MSR WindBurner to be the best integrated stove in terms of power, efficiency, and simmer control. It’s one of the heaviest options, but it works incredibly well at managing fuel consumption whether you’re boiling water or simmering.
Primus Essential Trail Review: The Primus Essential Trail gets you about as close to an integrated setup as you can get without the high price tag. It has comparable durability and stability, and decent performance for such an affordable stove. It’s also a lot lighter when paired with a titanium pot.
