Review: Jetboil MicroMo

A lightweight fast boil cooking system featuring an 800 ml insulated non-stick cook pot, integrated ignitor and simmer control.

The MicroMo is Jetboil’s lightest cooking system weighing in at 340g. This is massively impressive considering the system includes a stove, insulated cook pot, additional pot support, fuel canister stabiliser and bottom cover which doubles as a measuring cup or bowl (note: 340g does not include the weight of the additional pot support or fuel can stabiliser). With a rolling boil in less than 3 minutes, this cooking system is perfect for 1-2 people having outdoor adventures of any kind.

Jetboil MicroMo: The stats

Features of the Jetboil MicroMo

Cooking pot

With inner dimensions of 9.5cm diameter and 10.5cm depth, the MicroMo’s cook pot is a nice size for 1-2 people and the tall, slim shape helps to keep things hotter for longer. The insulated cosy also helps keep the cook pots heat in and it has an integrated handle which is very secure. Although the cook pot has a capacity of 800ml, the very handy inner liquid measurements only go up to 500ml. Jetboil advertises the MicroMo as boiling 500ml of water in 2 min 15 sec, but the operating instructions state you shouldn’t fill the pot over half full (400ml), so maximum capacity is somewhat of a grey area. The FluxRing base is efficient and well protected when transporting the pot by the included bottom cover.

Stove and fuel controller

One of the key features of the MicroMo compared to other models is that it has Jetboil’s proprietary regulator technology. This means you can control the heat anywhere from a light simmer to a full boil. It works perfectly with a precise level of control, but I had to go out of my way to test this feature. When I am travelling light, I usually pack dehydrated meals to save on weight and cleaning supplies. Most of my wild camping friends are the same, so I consider adjustable heat a luxury I may occasionally use, rather than an essential. The cook pot secures onto the stove by twisting it into a groove with a slight bump at the end. I find the fit of the cook pot slightly too tight; it causes a bit of a jerk when removing the pot. Not ideal when the pot holds very hot liquid, so if I can’t get it to budge easily, I sometimes just pour the pot with the stove turned off, but still attached. I think this fit will slightly loosen over time, but not as yet.

Ignition

The push-button igniter does exactly what it needs to and has never let me down. It is regulated for consistent performance down to -6ºC, but receiving the MicroMo in spring I am yet to use it in temperatures anywhere near that. The igniter feels solid and of good quality which gives me confidence in its longevity.

Lid

I have trust issues with the MicroMo’s lid! The soft plastic lid pushes on, rather than being secured in any way. Whilst it fits snugly when first fitted, it works loose. The first time I used the MicroMo, the lid fell off when I started to pour out freshly boiled water. The lid has a pouring hole at one side and pouring sieve at the other, but I always remove the lid before pouring now for better control of the hot liquid. I even tried holding the lid on whilst pouring so I could use the sieve feature, but it was too dangerous with my hand being in close proximity to the hot liquid and steam.

Bottom cover

It is clever that the bottom cover doubles up as a cup or bowl. If you didn’t want to bring anything else with you, you could easily use the cover for eating or drinking out of. A very nice touch! I like to use it as a spoon stand or to collect little bits of rubbish while I’m cooking. It twists on and off with a perfectly snug fit to the base of the stove and has US cup measurement markings on the inside.

Fuel canister stabiliser

I have never bought Jetboil branded fuel, but the stand still fits my 100g canister of fuel perfectly. Having a fuel can stabiliser included is not only a nice touch, but kind of essential (as I found out too late). The can stabiliser is plastic and when packing all the included items back into the cook pot for storage, you put this in first which creates a barrier between the metal stove and the inside bottom surface of the cook pot. I failed to realise this and scratched the cook pot after its first use by putting the stove in first. If I’d read the instructions, this would have been avoided, but I can’t be the only one not to read the instructions fully before using something, right?

Jetboil MicroMo review

I’ve coveted a Jetboil for the longest time! Despite there being many different brands offering fast-boil cooking systems, Jetboil is the brand everyone has heard of. The MicroMo replaced an MSR Pocket Rocket 2 I’d been using for wild camping with a small, lightweight kettle and pot stabiliser I’d bought separately. I was excited to try a fully integrated cooking system which all packed away inside the cook pot, with enough space to also fit 100g of fuel. I’ve been surprised at how often I use the MicroMo, not just for wild camping. I’ve taken it on day hikes, trips to the beach and even use it when I am in my campervan, despite having a much bigger stove to hand.

Stowed dimensions and weight with fuel

Fully stowed, the MicroMo’s size is 10.5cm in diameter, 15.5cm tall. The only thing which protrudes or could get caught on something in your pack is the webbing handle of the insulated cosy. Everything feels snug and protected and it is a nice little cooking system to carry. The 340g weight stated by Jetboil for the system did not include fuel or the fuel canister stabiliser. Weighing again including these, I get the MicroMo to come in at around 550g. My 100g fuel canister has been used a couple of times, so it would be a bit heavier with a full canister.

Boiling speed test

I’ve been on a bit of a mission to match Jetboil’s claim that the MicroMo can boil 500ml of water in 2 min 15 sec. I’ve carried out ten speed tests over three different occasions. I’ve always used tepid water and the conditions were mild with little wind. The fastest I could achieve was 2 min 40 sec. Not what they state, but still pretty fast. The one thing I can think of is that I wasn’t using Jetboil branded fuel. Otherwise, I gave it my best shot in favourable conditions.

Performance in the wild

The fast boiling time of this cooking system is addictive. To make a single cup of coffee (boiling 270ml water) it takes me less than a minute. Because of this, I use the MicroMo a lot. Far more than I thought I would. It is very quick to set up, neat to store and I don’t even have to dry the inside of the cook pot when only boiling water because once it’s empty, the remaining moisture evaporates. Despite loving its performance for boiling water, I feel as though I don’t really use the MicroMo to its fullest as I rarely cook meals using it.

Pros of the Jetboil MicroMo

The MicroMo is both convenient and versatile, which means I use it far more than I thought I ever would. It is a handy piece of kit to have when I’m travelling light, whatever the adventure.

Cons of the Jetboil MicroMo

The only downfall of the Jetboil MicroMo is the lid. It may sound like a petty criticism, but for safety the fit of the lid is pretty important. I would much prefer it if the lid locked into place somehow like the cook pot and bottom cover.

Verdict

There are other cooking set ups out there which would be lighter (like my previous Pocket Rocket cooking set up), but I think the Jetboil MicroMo cooking system sits very nicely in a sweet spot between convenience, packability and weight. It is a quality cooking system which has the versatility to be able to cook actual meals if you like, not just boil water. Despite not often using this feature, it’s nice to have the option.

The Jetboil Micromo is a great all rounder and would suit a whole range of different activities. Anyone wanting to have hot drinks or meals on the go would be happy with this cooking system and no doubt use it regularly. The capacity of the cook pot and the speed of use means the Micromo is perfect for 1-2 people. It is a considered purchase at the price point, but well worth it for the quality and versatility. If you don’t need the temperature regulation and would like to save some money, Jetboil has other models which are slightly cheaper, designed only to boil water.

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Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company.

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