GSI Outdoors Glacier Canister-Top Stove Review

As a backpacker, I’ve always been skeptical of integrated stove systems. Why spend over $130 on a fancy appliance when I just want something to boil water? After testing the GSI Glacier Canister Top Stove for several months, I have once again been confirmed in my suspicions. This device proves that all you need is a pot, fuel, and a reliable canister stove.

GSI Outdoors recently redesigned its flagship stove, and the new version is lighter and more compact. I used this stove on several camping trips in the spring and a week-long backpacking trip along the Oregon coast.

In short: If you want an easy-to-use, lightweight, no-frills stove GSI Outdoor Glacier Canister-Top Tickets are ($65). In an era when almost every piece of backpacking gear costs over $100, it’s refreshing to find a functional piece of gear at an extremely affordable price.

Compare the Glacier canister-top stove with other options in our guide to the best backpacking stoves.

GSI Outdoors Glacier Canister Top Stove Review

Design and Features

The design of the stove is simple, easy to use. There are three legs to support a vessel. They rotate inward on each axis so you can collapse the stove for storage. There is a standard fuel valve and a piezo igniter to control the burner.

When packed away, the stove easily fit my Snow Peak 14-ounce titanium cup, which I kept in my pot. It was quite convenient to have such a small stove that took up very little space in my pack.

I used a 750ml titanium pot from TOAKS with this stove. I was along the beach in Oregon, so it was quite windy. The three legs of the GSI stove are spread in such a way that the pot feels quite sturdy on the stove. I was never worried that high winds would blow the pot away.

using the stove

I have used many stoves in the past – including msr pocket rocket And Coastal Range Equipment stove – whenever I dismantle and remove the isobutane container it always leaks fuel. It’s no big deal, but it was an annoying way to waste fuel. This never happened with the GSI stove; I never heard a distinct whiff of fuel escaping.

One problem with this stove is that to put it on the stove completely, you have to turn the gas control valve slightly to the open position. This means that when you set up the stove, you have to remember to turn the gas control valve back on if you don’t want any escape.

I determined the boiling time of water with this stove over several days, using room temperature water at sea level. I got 240 mL of water and 350 mL of water to boil in 2 minutes, 10 seconds and 3 minutes, 25 seconds respectively. It’s 4:00 in a liter. It is slower than other stoves jetboil stash 1 liter of water can boil in 2:25, and msr xgk x Gets done at 3:30.

As someone who usually backpacks alone, I never have to boil that much water. I usually only boil enough for one dehydrated meal, so the slow simmer time isn’t a big concern for me. However, for larger groups of people who need to boil more water, this stove’s slow boil time may be a deal-breaker.

Premature Piezo Failure and Foot Concerns

The stove has a piezo igniter. Previous GearJunkie reviewers have noted that piezo igniters are often not the most durable; They often fail in the presence of dust or moisture, which is present in abundance along the way. After my Oregon trip, I set up the stove on my back porch to recheck the water boiling time. I clicked the igniter, but nothing happened. After less than a month of total use, the piezo igniter has now malfunctioned, and I am back to using the lighter.

Another area of ​​durability concern are the legs on the stove. As mentioned, they are screwed onto a single point from which they rotate in and out of their folded position. I would be concerned that with enough repeated use this joint might eventually fail. I prefer the design of stoves like the MSR Pocket Rocket, which just go in and out instead of rotating.

How light is it?

The GSI Glacier stove weighs 3.1 ounces. It’s in the same neighborhood as most other canister-top stoves. MSR’s Pocket Rocket Deluxe weighs 2.6 ounces, and SOTO’s Windmaster Weight is 3 ounces.

My 750mL TOAKS pot weighs 3.6 ounces, making the total weight of my cooking set-up 7.7 ounces. Compared to integrated systems like Jetboils, this setup is very lightweight. Jetboil’s Minimo It weighs 14 ounces, while its flash fast Weight is 13 ounces. The stove-and-pot method saves about half a pound, so if you’re single or an ultralighter, it’s worth considering.

a budget winner

The GSI Glacier stove sells for $65, which is average for a canister stove. Of course, you’ll also need a pot. You can pick up a lightweight titanium pot for anywhere from $26 to $65 depending on the size. For simplicity, we can estimate the total cost at $100. This is much cheaper than integrated stoves like Jetboils, which start at $145 and can go up to $180. The Coastal Range Equipment version of the integrated stove costs $150.

What you choose to buy is all about trade-offs. Obviously, the Jetboil’s higher price comes with more features and faster boil times. If you’re a backpacker on a budget, or want to save space, a simple stove like the GSI Glacier is a great option. My stove housed inside my 750ml pot takes up much less real estate in my pack than the Jetboil.

GSI Outdoor Glacier Canister Stove: Conclusion

When I’m traveling, I’m not cooking on my stove; I literally just boil water. If I’m car camping, I actually use the two-burner Coleman stove to roast vegetables, cook chicken, or cook eggs. If, like me, you live on freeze-dried food while backpacking and only want a way to boil water, the GSI Glacier canister-top stove is a solid choice. The igniter may be defective, but the stove is compact, lightweight, and easy to use.

This streamlined setup means you’re sacrificing fast boil times. At the end of a day of hiking, you may have to wait a few extra minutes for your water to boil. How much this bothers you should help you decide whether to buy a canister top stove or an integrated stove.

If you’re on a budget and want a no-fuss, no-fuss stove, GSI Outdoor Glacier It is worth considering.