Sumo wrestlers are known for their combination of bulk and athleticism. I fear Jetboil’s Sumo Group Cooking System will become best known for only the former. The plastic measuring cup that protects the system’s long-proven FluxRing pot base cracked completely on one side and chipped on the other during normal use, demanding only one solution: duct tape.

My favorite component, the Sol burner, performed terrifically when charged with simmering and blasting into a rolling boil. However, its physical durability did not measure up. The stove’s metal rim loosened from its plastic base. Still, it runs well and the locking feature on the pot support is pretty keen. If more durable, this would be an upgrade worth having.

There are instructions on how to nest the entire setup on each bowl’s interior. Good thing, too. Lids must be separated from bowls and each part (pot support, stabilizer, etc.) has a specific place to be in order for it to mesh smoothly when adding a fuel canister. I had to re-stack it a couple of times after each meal, getting it down without the crib notes after dinner on day two of a four-day trek.

The bowls and lids are simple polypropylene and function as they should—not much can go wrong here. Moreover, they are a lot to keep track of; thus, on the whole, the system lacks the simplicity of other products in this milieu, making me think that Jetboil simply wanted an offering in the “nesting pot & bowl” segment.

The original Jetboil PCS created a stir in the industry because of its innovative practicality, tight form factor and cooking efficiency. This product doesn’t reflect that ingenuity. While each component mentioned can be purchased separately, as tested, the Sumo Group Cooking System with all its bulk, parts and faults just doesn’t heat my pasta.