REVIEW: PCS by Jetboil

In the field, there are many ways to satisfy hunger. For missions that only last a few hours, it's not a big deal to go on a diet for a few hours. It's a different story when it comes to overnight stays in the field. Some people indulge in hard sausage and bread, while others prefer a hot meal: either you try an MRE/EPA or similar (which many people don't want), or you make a fire – but that's also complicated for cooking. The Personal Cooking System (PCS) from Jetboil provides a solution here.

The PCS is essentially a small gas stove. But it's the small details that make it special. Everything you need to boil water or heat food fits for transport in the cup, all weighing under 500g. When you disassemble the Jetboil, you see the following:

The burner and gas cartridge are securely inside the cooking vessel.

The system consists of:

1 Gas cartridge

1 Burner attachment

1 Cooking vessel

1 Lid with drinking opening

1 Hand protection/cup

1 orange stand

Once you have taken out the burner and gas cartridge and assembled them, you're almost ready to go. Just connect the "burner unit" and the pot, and the Jetboil is ready to use. Turn on the PCS by turning the gas regulator and pressing the button for the piezo ignition.

The PCS can cook just about anything that's somewhat liquid. About a liter of water boils in just two minutes, a can of chili or potato soup (about 500g) is ready to eat in about a minute. Then just remove the burner and thanks to the neoprene cover, you can grab the pot right away and start eating/drinking.

Cleaning is done in no time with a little water and a cloth, thanks to the coated surface. Just avoid working on the Jetboil with sharp or pointed objects, as the coating doesn't like that.

There are various add-ons available for the PCS system, including a coffee press, pans, and more.

CONCLUSION: The PCS Jetboil is great because food and drink are ready very quickly. Assembly and maintenance are very simple, it's lightweight, takes up little space when assembled, and has very low gas consumption (according to the manufacturer, half of a regular gas stove). The downside is the relatively high purchase price. And with all the add-ons, Jetboil wants to make decent profits.

The PCS Jetboil costs around 95 euros according to the list price. You can sometimes find the cooking device cheaper on eBay.

Jetboil on the internet:www.jetboil.com

A review by Cooper

Here is the cartridge adapter from Jetboil. The manufacturer claims that only their own (expensive) cartridges fit. That's not true ... it also works with cheap gas from the camping shop, even though the size of the cartridge may be slightly different.