REASONS TO BUY
Compact
Lightweight
Fairly efficient
REASONS TO AVOID
No piezo igniter
Tiny valve knob
JetBoil Zip Review
This basic integrated canister stove gets the job done for those on a budget
Credit: REI Co-op
RELATED: Best Backpacking Stoves of 2024
Our Verdict
The Jetboil Zip is a small and simple integrated canister stove. It's 0.75-liter pot makes it a bit more packable than some other stoves in this category. The burner and pot connect securely, and the integrated design improves fuel efficiency. However, we've become used to the wire control valves and reliable piezo igniters found on top models. The tiny knob on the Zip can be hard to operate when the stove is about to boil over, and we had to remember which backpack pocket our lighter was in whenever it was time for a hot drink. However, for folks on a budget who are willing to forgo these nice extras, this stove could still be a good choice.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
JetBoil Zip | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Ultralight Backpacking Stove |  Best Overall Backpacking Stove |  High Value and Ultralight | Best on a Tight Budget | |
| Price | $79.95 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $84.95 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $69.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $50 List $49.95 at Amazon | $17.00 List $16.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Don't want to spend a lot on an integrated canister stove? See here | A crowd favorite for simmering that works well in a breeze and is also easy to use | This lightweight stove is easy to use and will boil water when it's breezy | This canister stove is lightweight, compact, fuel efficient, and performs well in wind | A mini stove with a mini price |
| Rating Categories | JetBoil Zip | MSR PocketRocket De... | Soto Windmaster | Soto Amicus | BRS-3000T |
| Fuel Efficiency (25%) | |||||
| Weight (25%) | |||||
| Simmering Ability (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
| Boil Time (15%) | |||||
| Specs | JetBoil Zip | MSR PocketRocket De... | Soto Windmaster | Soto Amicus | BRS-3000T |
| Category | Integrated Canister | Small Canister | Small Canister | Small Canister | Small Canister |
| Essential Weight (stove or stove + integrated pot only) | 10.6 oz | 3.0 oz | 3.0 oz | 2.79 oz | 0.9 oz |
| Trail Weight (stove, fuel, pot) | 18.35 oz | 15.13 oz | 15.63 oz | 14.92 oz | 12.63 oz |
| Wind Boil Time (1 liter, 2-4mph) | 3:50 min:sec (0.5.liters only) | 5:27 min:sec | 5:46 min:sec | 6:30 min:sec | 14:45 min:sec |
| Boil Time (1 liter) | 3:12 min:sec (0.5 liters only) | 3:14 min:sec | 4 min:sec | 3:52 min: sec | 5:13 min:sec |
| Packed Weight (stove + all accessories) | 12.3 oz | 3.5 oz | 3.5 oz | 3.5 oz | 1 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 6.5" | 3.3" x 2.2" x 1.8" | 4.7" x 3.9" x 3.6" | 3.9" × 0.7" × 6.5" | 2" x 1.2" x 1.3" |
| Fuel Type | Isobutane | Isobutane | Isobutane | Isobutane | Isobutane |
| Additional Included Items | 0.75L pot, canister stand, lid | Stuff sack | Stuff sack, pot support | Stuff sack | Stuff sack |
| Piezo Igniter? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Zip is a basic smaller integrated canister stove without any of the nice details we've grown used to in the last decade or so.
Performance Comparison
This little stove is quick and convenient enough that we pulled it out of our packs for a mid-morning coffee break.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Fuel Efficiency
The Zip is fairly efficient for an integrated canister stove. Though it only used 0.2 ounces of fuel in our no wind boil test, we say “fairly” because of the pot's low capacity. The pot on the zip only holds 0.75 liters of water when full to the brim. We tested it with 0.5 liters of water; the other stoves were tested with 1 liter. That said, if we doubled the fuel burned (and we think that would be an overestimation), the Zip would still be performing respectably for an integrated canister stove and well compared to many other stoves in this review. In our 2-4 mph fan test, the Zip burned 50% more fuel.
Weight
At 10.6 ounces (300 grams), the Zip is the lightest integrated canister stove in our review and one of the lighter stoves in general when you take into account that a pot is included. This weight does not include the canister stand (0.9 ounces) or the small plastic cup that comes with the stove.
Remember that the Zip comes with the smaller JetBoil pot, which holds 0.75 liters when filled to the brim. For a couple of ounces more, you can get one of their 1-liter pots.
The Zip with lid, burner, and pot. This is the lightest integrated stove in our test bunch, but the volume of the integrated pot is only 0.75 L, compared to the standard 1 to 1.5 L volume of most other integrated pots in our test bunch. For solo or two-person use, 0.75 L is usually enough.
Credit: Ian McEleney, Jetboil Zip
Simmering Ability
Integrated canister stoves are generally not built to simmer. The Zip can technically simmer, but it's not great at it. That said, the control valve sensitivity isn't too bad, and the small diameter of the pot means that, with a little stirring, it's easy to keep the middle from getting scorched.
One advantage of the Zip's small pot is that you don't need an extra-long spoon to stir the bottom.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Ease Of Use
At the dawn of the integrated canister stove category, we would have thought this model was pretty easy to use, because back then all stoves like this were easier to use than others. Nowadays, however, the fact that there's no piezoelectric igniter makes the Zip feel old-fashioned for a Jetboil.
The other characteristic that brings us back in time is the valve control knob. Compared to the modern wire control found on many stoves in this review, the knob seems dated. If or when the Zip starts boiling over, it's not fun to reach under there to shut it down, doubly so if you have sausage fingers. The color change heat indicator found on the cozies of other Jetboil models at least helps you anticipate the onset of volcano mode, but the Zip lacks this nicety.
The Zip's small control knob.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Boil Time
While boil times are a fairly low priority when comparing backpacking stoves, they're not irrelevant. Just like with fuel efficiency, remember that the pot included with the Zip is smaller than most of the other integrated canister stove pots, so we boiled half as much water in our testing.
The Zip brought that 0.5 liters of water to boil in 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Using the stove in front of our fan blowing 2 - 4 mph added only about 40 seconds to that time.
Value
The Zip is not a bad value. Though it lacks some of the details we've come to appreciate, it does have the basic integrated canister technology, and for quite a bit less money.
Conclusion
The Jetboil Zip is the back-to-the-past integrated canister stove from our test. It has the core feature set that characterizes this type of stove: good pot to burner mating and above-average fuel efficiency. However, it lacks some of the little things we've come to expect; chiefly, a piezo igniter and an easy to use control valve.
Recommended pairings for the Zip: dehydrated meals, titanium utensils, coffee. Don't forget a lighter.
Credit: Ian McEleney
—
Ian McEleney
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