JetBoil MiniMo vs. MicroMo: Differences Explained

Capacity

The biggest difference between the MiniMo and MicroMo is the capacity of the pot. The MiniMo holds up to 1 liter of water, while the MicroMo is smaller (remember your metric prefixes from science class?) and holds only 0.8 liter. For those skimming:

• MicroMo: 0.8 liter capacity
• MiniMo: 1 liter capacity

Which capacity is best for you? If you mostly hike solo, the MicroMo should suit you fine. It can boil enough water for a hearty dehydrated meal and a hot drink in one round. I love that it doesn’t feel like overkill when I use it solo, but it can also be shared with a partner so there’s no need to buy two different cook systems. My husband and I have shared a MicroMo for many hundreds of miles. Occasionally we need to boil two rounds of water, but the JetBoil system is so efficient that this isn’t a big deal.

If you’re sharing with a partner more often than not, especially if you like big water-intensive meals and hot drinks, the 1 liter MiniMo will give you more space to work with and less need for boiling two rounds of water.

Weight

As you might expect, the MiniMo’s larger capacity comes with a slightly higher weight:

• MicroMo: 12 oz
• MiniMo: 14 oz

For solo users on the fence between the two, this might be reason enough to choose the smaller MicroMo. For pairs sharing a stove and splitting the weight, it’s a small enough difference that you’ll still probably prefer the MiniMo’s larger capacity.

Note that these weights include the plastic bottom cover and fuel canister stand, neither of which I have ever carried on a trip. Without them my MicroMo (just cooking cup and burner) weighs 10.7 oz.

Pot Shape

With just a quick glance at the product pictures you’d be forgiven for thinking the shorter MiniMo holds less than the MicroMo. But actually, the MiniMo is shorter but also wider than the MicroMo, hence its larger capacity.

The real cooking cup dimensions are hard to find online, but I was able to measure my own MicroMo and then scale an image of the MiniMo to match. Here are the approximate cooking cup dimensions:

• MicroMo: 4.5″ height x 4″ diameter
• MiniMo: 3.5″ height x 4.75″ diameter

One reason to care about this is the ease of eating directly from the pot. If you’re solo and don’t want to carry a separate bowl, the shorter and wider MiniMo is a bit more convenient to eat from. That said, 1 liter is on the large size for a lightweight solo pot, so I’d expect some solo backpackers to prefer the 0.8 liter MicroMo. It’s still possible to eat out of the MicroMo’s taller cup, but you’ll definitely want a long-handle spoon.

Both the MicroMo and MiniMo have JetBoil’s regulated flame control, which means you can do more than just boil water in them. The shorter and wider MiniMo is slightly more convenient for “real cooking” tasks like scrambling eggs.

Another difference is the space for nesting a fuel canister inside the pot. The taller and slimmer MicroMo can nest a small 110g fuel canister inside, while the shorter and squatter MiniMo can fit a 230g canister. If you tend to prefer one or the other and packing space is at a premium, this could impact your decision.

A final consideration is the packed size and shape, especially for bikepackers who need to shove gear into a variety of smaller spaces instead of a single backpack compartment. When I bikepack my JetBoil goes in a dry bag on my fork, and the MicroMo’s taller and slimmer profile suits that space better.

Technically the taller MicroMo is a bit tippier than the MiniMo, but I’ve never found this to be a problem even without the stabilizer stand. Just put a little effort into finding or making a level spot.

Handles

The MiniMo is newer than the MicroMo and features some design improvements, including insulated metal handles. While JetBoil positions these as an improvement, I personally never minded the MicroMo’s fabric hand strap.

Price

The MiniMo’s larger capacity and position as a “new and improved” product earn it a slightly higher price tag:

• MicroMo: $148 at REI
• MiniMo: $165 at REI

Colors

Though function usually takes priority over form in the backcountry, it’s worth noting that the MiniMo comes in a few attractive designs like “Sunset” and “Adventure,” while the MicroMo comes in more staid black or solid red.

All that said, the MicroMo and MiniMo have far more in common than not:

• They use the same FluxRing technology and insulated cozy for incredibly efficient heating even in cold and windy weather.
• Both list an average boil time of 2.25 minutes per half liter of water, so it doesn’t seem either is more efficient than the other.
• Both have JetBoil’s regulated flame control for low-heat and simmering, unlike the JetBoil Flash which is only suited for boiling water.
• They use the same lid style with drinking spout and strainer holes.
• Both have a push-button igniter, though I’ve found this to be finicky and always carry a lighter as backup.

Which Is Best?

Given the above comparison between the MiniMo versus MicroMo, which one is best for you?

If you’re usually solo and weight is of utmost importance, get the MicroMo.

If you’ll be sharing with a partner and want enough water for meals plus hot drinks without boiling two rounds of water, get the MiniMo.

If you’re solo, eat directly out of your pot, and prefer more of a “bowl” feeling to a “mug” feeling, the MiniMo may be worth the extra few dollars and couple of ounces.

If you’re solo and like to cook real food on occasion, you may prefer the MiniMo for its shorter and wider shape.

If saving a few dollars is of utmost importance, go with the MicroMo.