Jetboil Sumo Review
The name says it all - it's big. The Jetboil Sumo is a good choice for 2-4 person groups that can only carry a single stove, but it's not ideal for anyone else.
Written by Hiker's Buddy Staff. Last updated on November 13th, 2022.
Specifications
| Weight | 453 g / 15.98 oz |
|---|---|
| Boil time | 255 seconds (1000 ml) |
| Power output | 6000 Btu |
| Capacity | 1800 ml / 60.86 fl oz |
| Dimensions | 12.5 x 12.5 x 21 cm / 4.92 x 4.92 x 8.27 in |
| Pack volume | 2577 cm³ / 157.26 in³ |
| Regulated | Yes |
| Four season | Yes |
| Igniter | Yes |
The Hikers Buddy Verdict
The Jetboil Sumo is an interesting offering from Jetboil. With a 1.8 L tall cooking cup, this is a system with capacity that will probably be overkill unless you’re in a group of 3 or 4 people.
However if you’re in a party of this size, then you’ll probably be better off brining several lower capacity stoves. This approach has the advantage of giving you a backup in case of malfunction, and makes it easier to split weight more evenly between packs.
So, who is the Sumo actually targeted at? In our opinion, the Sumo only really makes much sense for young families. If you’re heading on an overnighter with a few kids in tow (and you haven’t yet got them lugging their own gear!), then the Sumo might be perfect for you.
As with all Jetboil stoves, it can be relied on to quickly boil water. Additionally, as a regulated stove in Jetboil’s ‘Precision cook’ range, you’ll have fine control of heat output, which makes it better suited for more complex cooking tasks like sauteeing and frying - though the tall, thin cooking cup will still make this difficult.
Who should buy it:
2-4 person groups that only want to carry a single stove: If you’ll be doing most of your hikes as part of a 2-4 person group, such as a young family with kids, and where it only makes sense to bring a single stove, then the Sumo could be a good choice. Otherwise, there are probably better and more packable options.
Who shouldn’t buy it:
Solo hikers, or couples: The size of this stove will be overkill for most. Unless you know you specifically need a stove this big, go with something smaller, lighter and lower capacity.