The New Jetboil Flash Lite – "Heads Up" Announcement

Jetboil has announced that they're coming out with a new, lighter weight version of the Jetboil Flash, the Jetboil Flash Lite.  Reportedly, the new Jetboil Flash Lite will weigh 11 oz (approx. 312 g) which would make it about 3 oz (85g) less than the current Jetboil Flash which weighs 14 oz (397g).

The new Jetboil Flash Lite

The new Flash Lite should be some consolation to those who bemoan the discontinuation of the Sol line of Jetboils.  Some.  The Sol was a bit lighter at ~10 ounces (real weight, not the "spin doctored" weight) for the Ti version and ~11 ounces for the Aluminum version.  However, the Sol line was only 800 ml capacity.  The Flash lite is 1000 ml.  At 11 oz, the Flash Lite  would be the lightest integrated canister stove with a full 1000 ml capacity.
UPDATE 25 Jan 2015:  Well, I was assuming that the Flash Lite was going to be the same volume as the existing Flash.  Apparently that is not so.  Backpacker Magazine is quoting a volume of 0.8 L.  This just about makes the Flash Lite non-news.  I mean the aluminum Jetboil Sol was 0.8 L capacity at 11 oz. already.  I guess the good news is that you'll be paying $100.00 for a lightweight integrated canister stove instead of $120.00.   But note that the Jetboil Zip is also 0.8 L capacity but costs only $80.00.  Yes, the Zip weighs about an ounce more, but will people really spend $20 to save one ounce?  I haven't seen one yet, but presumably gone is the regulator valve.  Other than ~1 ounce weight savings, there doesn't seem to be much to justify the Flash Lite's price tag.

How does the Flash Lite stack up against the competition?  Well, here's a comparative table of weights and prices.  MSRP for the Flash Lite is the same as the Flash, about $100.00.

Comparative Table of Weights and Prices

Integrated Canister Stove	Capacity (liters)	Weight (g)	Weight (oz)	Retail Price
Jetboil Sol (Ti)	0.8	279	9.8	$150.00
Jetboil Sol (Al)	0.8	312	11.0	$120.00
Jetboil Flash Lite	0.8	312	11.0	$100.00
Jetboil Zip	0.8	345	12.2	$80.00
Jetboil Flash	1.0	400	14.1	$100.00
Jetboil MiniMo	1.0	415	14.6	$130.00
MSR Reactor	1.0	417	14.7	$190.00
MSR Windboiler*	1.0	432	15.2	$130.00

Notes:  Weights are generally the manufacturer's stated weights in grams.  The notable exception is the weight of the titanium version of the Jetboil Sol.  The Jetboil website has "spin doctored" the numbers to make the titanium version appear lighter.  My number is based on an "apples to apples" comparison.   The weight of individual stoves will vary.  Ounces are a calculated figure based on a conversion factor of 28.3495.  Stoves are sorted in order of weight with the lightest stove first. 

*The production MSR Windboiler units have been coming in about an ounce heavier than the prototype units that this weight was based on.

One potential downside is the "handle."  The handle appears to be just a small little loop.  I'm not convinced that's a good move.  I'll have to take a look when I can get my hands on one.

The new Jetboil Flash Lite as seen at the Winter OR 2015 convention
Photo courtesy of Trail to Summit.

UPDATE 22 Jan 2015:  I just now saw a photo taken at OR (the Outdoor Retailer convention).  See above.  In it the Flash Lite has an orange cozy.  Not sure if that's a pre-production copy or what.  I think the black cozy shown in the photo above is a lot sharper looking.  Of course, out in the backcountry, who cares what your pot cozy looks like.  I just mention that so people know that the Flash Lite may not look exactly like the press release photo I first posted.

The above photo comes to us courtesy of Trail to Summit. If you haven't yet read some of the postings over at Trail to Summit, I say check it out. Lots of great stuff over there like this John Muir Trail Guide.  Even if you're not planning to hike the JMT, there are a lot of good gear recommendations and lists.

I don't have a projected availability date.  If Jetboil is smart, they'll have these ready for the 2015 through hiking season which begins in April (well, for the PCT anyway, but spring generally is the start of through hike season).
UPDATE 6 Feb 2015:  Jetboil has announced a target date of June 2015 for public availability of the new Jetboil Flash Lite.

That's all I've got for now.  More updates as information becomes available.

Thanks for joining me,

HJ