Jetboil Flash 1.0L review: the redesigned fast boiler, and how to light it safely
When the weather turns or the day runs long, a hot drink in a few minutes does more for morale than almost anything else in the pack. The Jetboil Flash has been the standard way to get it, and the redesigned Flash 1.0L boils faster still and lights with a turn of the control knob instead of a separate push button.
Quick take
The fastest, most convenient way to boil water on a trip: a burner and an insulated 34 fl oz (1 L) cup that lock together, light with a turn of the knob, and pack small with the fuel inside. The new version boils a little faster and is easier to handle and lock than the original. It is a boiler, not a stove for cooking, and it needs care when you light it, because a flare-up can set the cup’s fabric cover alight. Light it as described below and it remains our pick for coffee and freeze-dried meals.
What it does
The Flash 1.0L is a canister stove and cooking cup that work as one unit. The burner threads onto an isobutane canister and locks into a 34 fl oz (1 L) cup whose finned base, a heat exchanger Jetboil calls FluxRing, captures far more heat than an open burner, so water boils fast and fuel lasts. The redesign moves the igniter into the control knob: turning the knob opens the gas and sparks the burner in one motion, and the igniter is now sealed in ceramic, a weak point on the old model. Rubberised grip zones on the burner make it easier to hold, and the cup locks to the burner at three points with a visible indicator, so you can see it is secure. A colour-change patch on the insulated cover shows when the water is hot. Jetboil rates it at about two minutes per 17 fl oz (0.5 L), and the burner, a small canister and the folding stabiliser all nest inside the cup. The system weighs about 13.1 oz (371 g) without fuel.
What verified buyers say
Across verified-purchase reviews, the same points come up:
- Fast and convenient. Owners describe quick boils for morning coffee and freeze-dried dinners, and value the grab-and-go kit with the fuel packed inside.
- Easy to use. Owners replacing older Jetboils find the new one easy to light and control, and several call it a must for camping and overlanding.
- The new igniter is not foolproof. A few owners report it failing after the first use or lighting only some of the time.
- Two owners reported flare-ups. Each described a large flame at lighting that ran up the side of the cup and set the fabric cover and handle burning, early in the stove’s life.
- Smaller complaints. One owner could not remove the stabiliser from a canister without breaking it, and several feel the system is expensive.
Worth knowing
Light it carefully. A flare-up at lighting can send flame up the side of the cup and set the fabric cover and handle alight. Set the stove on level, stable ground with the stabiliser fitted, keep your face and hands back from the burner, and turn the knob only as far as it takes to click it alight. If it does not light within a click or two, close the knob and wait a few seconds for the gas to clear before trying again, rather than holding the gas on and clicking. If flame ever climbs the side of the cup, turn the knob off at once. Never light it inside a tent or vestibule. Carry a lighter in case the igniter fails, and when you use one, hold the flame at the burner before opening the knob a little. Beyond lighting: the Flash is a boil machine, not a simmer stove, and because the burner is not pressure-regulated, it slows in deep cold and in wind; a fully regulated system such as the MSR WindBurner holds its output better in those conditions.
Who it is for
The Flash 1.0L is for hikers, campers and paddlers who mostly boil water, for coffee, oatmeal and freeze-dried meals, and want speed, fuel economy and a kit that packs into one cup. If you want a lighter, less expensive burner to use with your own pot, the MSR PocketRocket 2 is our pick. For winter trips, high wind and altitude, the regulated MSR WindBurner holds its output better. The Flash 1.0L replaces the original Jetboil Flash, which Jetboil has discontinued; if you own one or find one, that review still applies. Boiling is also a reliable way to treat water, covered in our guide to purifying water.
Specs at a glance
- Typeintegrated canister system (isobutane)
- Cup34 fl oz (1 L), insulated, heat-exchanger base
- Outputabout 5,300 BTU/h (1.5 kW), not regulated
- Boilabout 2 minutes per 17 fl oz (0.5 L)
- Ignitionturn-and-click knob, ceramic-encased igniter
- Listed weight13.1 oz (371 g) · system without fuel canister
- Best forfast boiling for drinks and freeze-dried meals
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The Verdict
The redesigned Jetboil Flash 1.0L is still the quickest, tidiest way to turn fuel into hot water on a trip, and the knob ignition, better grip and visible lock improve on the original. It boils rather than cooks, it slows in cold wind, and it needs a careful hand when you light it. Follow the lighting steps above, carry a lighter, and it will make camp mornings quicker.
