Best Backpacking stoves for a Thru hike - Spoiler It’s not a JetBoil!

What is the best cook system? After a lot of testing, I think I found the best cook system for the Appalachian Trail! This setup is ultralight and fits my needs perfectly by providing the best backcountry coffee, and being small and packable!

Check out my cook system and the rest of my gear in my pack - 🔔 Follow Us: Instagram: @Isuckathiking
Virtual Trail Magic:

My Gear:
Cook System
Big 3
Luxury
Electronics

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:20 Cook system 1
0:48 Cook system 2
1:43 Cook system 3
2:54 Cook system 4
4:29 Outro
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you find this video helpful or entertaining. Share your own backpacking stories, recommendations, and preferences in the comments below. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more epic gear reviews and outdoor adventures! 🎒🌄

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#cooksystem #ultralightcooksystem #ultralight #appalachiantrail #cooking #appalachiantrail2024 #hikingadventures

[onlyinasheville]

I'm a 1990s thru-hiker and most of us just made straight-up cowboy coffee. Simply pour the grounds directly into your cooking pot with water and boil until the coffee is dark. After it's done, slowly pour the coffee off the top of the pot so that the grounds don't flow into your cup. Easy when done correctly because the grounds sink to the bottom of the pot. No filter is required. and your coffee will be yummy. Try it. You'll get a good result with a little practice and discover you don't need the extra gear. Also, the filter gets skanky and you'll have less gear to clean every morning. Enjoy your hike!!!

[SebastianTalley]

I can't wait to see you on the Appalachian trip!

[mydearriley]

Does the gigapeak 2.0 fit in plase of the msr for your final layout?

[zacmagers]

Really digging this studio set up! Beautiful. Ill have to check that Sea To Summit lid out. I have The GSI Filter, Pocket Rocket stove and Toaks pot, but Im not a fan of drinking coffee from the titanium pot with the metallic taste so it would be interesting to try this collapsable cup out. Great set up and suggestion!

[jeffg]

I prefer Jet Boils. I specifically like the micro Mo. There’s something about the cup locking onto the stove that’s invaluable to me. I have spilled my meals so many times on those little MSR burners before because the pot slides off easily and or is a balancing act to get it on right without worrying about it falling over.

[harrybaldwin]

Awesome video I hadn’t seen the jetboil french press setup. Have you tried Alpine Start instant coffee? You’re right most instant coffee is trash. But alpine start is actually really good. I also found that I enjoy throwing in instant coffee in my water bottle for a quick coffee. It was nice for early mornings when I was hiking the foothills trail.

[breannathornton]

Did you find the minimo or pocket rocket had better fuel efficiency? Did you carry fewer canisters for the Minimo vs pocket rocket on the same length trip?

[dadainthip]

I've been using the Java Drip for a couple years because, like you, I hate bad coffee. The issue I struggle with is cleaning the used grounds out of it when I am out for more than a couple days. I'll be interested to see how you're doing that.

[hikingwithbinerman]

I have the Toaks 750, collapsible cup, and the pocket rocket, but will be picking up the coffee filter...thanks!

[matthewmayerhikes]

I started my AT thru hike with a small titanium pot just big enough to boil 2 cups of water and during the summer months switched to cold soaking to drop weight. Once it started getting cold again, I bought a huge titanium pot probably 4 cups and enough to cook a full meal simply for the luxury of it (and because I was eating so much just to maintain weight).

[RhodySeth]

I use the pocket rocket and small pot as well for warm weather trips - I'm a coffee boor so I don't mind the instant. Once the weather gets cold I switch to my liquid gas whisperlite. And I'm actually going further in the opposite direction. Just ordered an alcohol stove to play around with.

[sheilahenry]

Just saw you in Kyle Hates Hiking. Great job man.

[caroline_sawyer]

LOVED LOVED LOVEDDDD this video! Great Work!

[ijblessjourney]

Thank you for the feedback, I was going with the JetBoil and you just convinced me to look at other options. I am also thru hiking the AT 2024 and hope to meet you on the trail. When are you leaving and are you doing NOBO or SOBO? Thanks -- Ivan

[pedroclaro]

The best stove is a wood stove.

I do wildcamping where it's legal, and I do so with a hammock and I use a wood stove because I need trees for my sleep system anyways. If I were so inclined I could use the stove year round, even during summer, because:
- Free infinite fuel.
- No one follows me into the woods or has any idea I'm there most of the time
- I can clear the ground under the stove quickly to get flammable material away
- I can use a piece of foil to prevent heat transfer to the ground
- I take showers in the woods with portable showers (water bladders essentially) and I can warm up the water with the stove without worrying about fuel consumption
- I can dry myself and my clothes quicker with a fire. Including rocks for drying inside of my shoes, and boiling water to use as a makeshift hot water bag - that water wont be drinkable if there's plastic in the container, but warm water is nice for a bidet rinse, or cleaning stinky feet and stuff.
- smoke repels mosquitoes and other criters
- burning off food scraps will avoid smells and atracting animals to campsite
- I premake my catholes in case i need to go in a hurry so I already have a place to stash ashes and biochar
- I have a fireproof mantle at home that I could take if weight wasnt a concern.

BUT ofc I wouldn't do it where it is illegal, only on my property, with a license to make a fire, and during safe times. Starting a wildfire because of recklessness would make me want to unalive myself. And Jailtime or fines for it would be ridiculous, and counterproductive.
Stay stafe :)

[ijblessjourney]

Brother I hope you are well. I was wondering if you used your new cooking system during your last shakedown? If so, do you have any additional thoughts to share that are not in the video? Will you still use it or are you thinking about making some modifications? Thanks -- Ivan

[lindsaytoussaint]

Take it from a fellow coffee person - Instant coffee is way better these days - not the shitty Starbucks or grocery store brands. Go to a local specialty coffee shop or online directly from a roaster. Some are steep -like tea bags, others are in powder form. Or you can simply use the cupping method coffee professionals use when tasting coffee (similar to “cowboy coffee” except it actually tastes good and doesn’t burn the coffee)

[trioultimo]

Sillicone cup smells so bad that i would have to be paid to drink from it.

[Mecha]

I liked the cup as a lid. I'm going to use this idea

[mikeb.]

I wish I had seen this video sooner. I bought my first jetboil, the minimo version yesterday morning. I was looking for it during the last 2 years, but the price was always the biggest issue for me. I was thinking the micromo version, but the lid doesn't not work well and doesn't come with the extra items. Your cooking system looks great and compact. Probably for a fraction of the jetboil price... Thanks for the video