Finally - Jetboil Helios hits shelves

• Posted on October 2, 2008 at 5:53 PM
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The Jetboil Helios: now available at a store near you.

We first introduced you to the Jetboil Helios in Explore's May issue Gear Guide. See below for my review. At the time Jetboil was just entering the Canadian marketplace after several successful years in the U.S. But the Helios was brand new technology and as it turns out, not quite approved for sale in Canada. The Canadian Standards Association demanded a modification to the cooking system, which includes a stove, pot, heat exchanger system and bowls and as a result the stove's delivery was delayed. Now, five months later, the stove is finally on store shelves. Delivery started this week. (Helios Cooking System - $195; Helios Guide Cooking System – $260; jetboil.com)

If you're looking for a winter camping stove the Helios is a good bet. Not only is it super efficient but the positioning of the canister fuel upside down on a pedestal means you'll get more life out of the fuel even in really cold weather. Simple physics says if you put a canister on the snow the gas inside tends to get too cold to feed the stove properly, which results in poor burning performance. In the field, putting a canister on the snow usually means no flame. With the canister holder positioning the fuel so it drains into the fuel line this won't be a problem, extending the useful season of canister fuel and ensuring you get every last drop out of every canister. The other sweet feature of the Helios is that it has its own lighter built in.

This is not the first time a high tech stove has been delayed. MSR's Reactor had production delays that slowed its release by about six months as well. I reviewed that stove as well. It's hard to anticipate these types of problems as a reviewer. We receive the review samples months before they are scheduled for sale and usually long before these types of delays become apparent.

Sorry if I inconvenienced anyone. Now at least, you have something to put at the top of your Xmas wish list.

The review from Explore's 08 Gear Guide: Jetboil Helios We forgot a lighter once and that camping trip sucked. Thus, the push button BBQ-style lighting on the Helios is priceless and singeless. And unlike many efficient canister stoves the Helios works with just about any pot – even really big ones – feels stable and comes with a windscreen. The included pot is wrapped in Jetboil’s insulating neoprene sleeve.