How the Five Compare on the Numbers
The five kits differ most in what arrives in the box. Hersolm, Masontops and JILLMO each cover four jars. Tessco for you covers eight. ChouAmi covers one jar and supplies that jar. Published weights run from 0.46 pounds for JILLMO to 4.85 pounds for the Tessco eight jar set. Only Masontops, ChouAmi and JILLMO publish all three dimensions.
Weight is the only figure published for all five picks. Hersolm states 2.3 pounds, Masontops 3.5 pounds, ChouAmi 2.16 pounds, Tessco 4.85 pounds and JILLMO 0.46 pounds. Dimensions are published for Masontops at 9 by 12 by 5 inches and ChouAmi at 4 by 4 by 10 inches. The other three do not publish width, depth or height.
The table does not tell you how any kit performs. Nobody at Lush has used these kits, and the makers publish capability, not results. It also does not tell you whether a lid fits your specific jar brand, only that each maker states wide mouth compatibility. Check the opening diameter of your jars against the size each listing gives before ordering.
What Each Kit Adds Beyond Lids and Weights
Tools and documentation
Masontops is the only pick that includes a vegetable tamper. The listing describes an acacia Pickle Packer for packing dry salted ferments such as sauerkraut and kimchi. It also includes a printed recipe book. That combination makes it the pick for someone who wants a physical tool and printed instructions in the same box.
ChouAmi includes recipes and how to guides rather than a printed book, and JILLMO includes a bonus fermentation recipe. Hersolm and Tessco for you list no recipe material. If written guidance matters to you, the Masontops, ChouAmi and JILLMO listings are the three that state it is included.
Jar fit and jar supply
ChouAmi is the only pick that supplies a jar. The listing states a 1 liter Le Parfait glass jar is included, and that the lid fits various sizes of Le Parfait glasses beyond that jar. This suits a reader who wants to start without buying mason jars first.
The other four picks assume you own jars. Hersolm states a fit for wide mouth mason jars with a 3.4 inch opening. JILLMO states a fit for pint, quart and half gallon wide mouth jars. Tessco for you states a lid diameter of about 86 mm or 3.39 inches. Masontops states a fit for wide mouth mason jars.
Airlocks, Weights and Daily Handling
Water filled versus waterless
Hersolm and Tessco for you use water filled airlocks. Hersolm states you fill the airlock about halfway with water, and that this lets carbon dioxide escape while keeping oxygen out. That is a step you repeat when the water level drops.
Masontops, ChouAmi and JILLMO use waterless valves. Masontops states no need to monitor or burp your jars. ChouAmi states a mason jar airlock lid for a consistent process. JILLMO states an airtight, leak proof fit from a food safe silicone seal. Waterless valves remove the refilling step.
Weights and handling
Hersolm and JILLMO both publish a 1 inch knob handle on their glass weights. Hersolm states this makes putting them in and taking them out of jars clean and effortless. JILLMO states the same handle makes them easy to insert and remove without mess.
Published weight figures differ. Hersolm states about 6.5 ounces or 185 grams each. JILLMO states about 7.4 ounces or 210 grams each. Tessco for you states 7 ounces each, at about 2.75 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. Masontops and ChouAmi do not publish a weight for their weights on this sheet.
Which One Fits Your Kitchen
You already own four wide mouth mason jars. The Hersolm 4 Pack supplies four glass weights, four lids, four gaskets and four water airlocks. It is the pick when you want glass weights and a date tracker on each lid.
You want a tamper and printed recipes. The Masontops Complete Kit adds an acacia pickle packer and a recipe book to four lids and four weights. It is the pick for dry salted ferments as well as brine ferments.
You have no jars yet. The ChouAmi kit includes a 1 liter Le Parfait glass jar with a stainless steel lid and springs. It is the only pick of the five that supplies the vessel.
You ferment in large batches. The Tessco for you 8 Set covers eight jars with eight lids, eight airlocks and eight glass weights. It is the pick when one or two jars at a time is not enough.
You want the lightest kit. The JILLMO kit is published at 0.46 pounds with four lids, four airlocks and four 7.4 ounce weights. It suits a small cupboard and a four jar rotation.
What We Could Not Verify
Several figures are absent from the listings, and we did not estimate them.
- The Hersolm kit does not publish width, depth or height.
- The Tessco for you kit does not publish overall width, depth or height.
- The JILLMO kit does not publish width, depth or height.
- Masontops and ChouAmi do not publish the weight of their individual fermentation weights.
- Hersolm, Masontops and Tessco for you do not state dishwasher safety for their parts.
- No listing states a maximum jar size in inches beyond the opening diameter each maker gives.
