If you were going to take one MSR stove on a backpack hunt which one would it be?
Lots of choices but all I can comment on is the wisper light cause I have one and I like it very well small puts out good heat and easy to use.
Another vote for the wisper light. Great stove, very durable and compact.
pocket rocket...its great
whisperlite has never failed me in ten elk hunts an numerous hunts at home, great stove. Can't say anything bad about others because this is all I,ve ever used. Later bob
I had one in the early 90's, it looks like they redesigned the cap on the fuel bottle since then, which is a good thing, for some unknown reason the O-ring in the fuel bottle developed a micro leak while the stove was lit and operating which in turn was spraying a fine stream of fuel into the fire, thank God I wasn't near it when it happened....picture a jet engine sitting vertically shooting flame into the air about 3-4 feet. BTW it was only about the 4th time I used it since buying it new.
Gene
I own 3 MSR Stoves....
"Old" Whisperlite International (pre-shaker-jet)
Dragonfly
Superfly
Each has its use.
The International burns anything and is wonderful in the cold. I've used this stove at -25F and it is a trooper. Durable as all heck. But it is a blowtorch. Made to boil or melt, not much else.
Dragonfly was my answer to being able to simmer. Slightly (but not much) more bulky, but stable. Great stove!
Both of these are LOUD!
Superfly is a canister stove so keep that in mind if you want to pack fuel canisters vs. white gas bottles or are dealing with cold temps where the packaged fuels can be problematic. (Pocket Rocket is similar and microscopic in size - both are not quite as friendly with larger cookware but excellent for 1-cup/small pot meals) It simmers fantastic, and is quiet. Love it for coffee!
Lately I have been playing with JetBoil stoves and really like them. Take a good look. Either MSR or JetBoil and you have made a good choice.
BobW
Pocket rocket hands down. I have the Whisperlight in white gas and isobutane and the pocket rocket blows them away. The big disadvantage is fuel flexibility. At altutidues of 9000+ and temps of 30 degrees or less you might need to sleep with your fuel canisters.
Check out the Superfly. It's basically the Pocket Rocket with some adaptability to different fuel canisters. That will probably be my next stove if I ever kill my Pocket Rocket.
I'm not a big liquid fuel fan. I have used them a lot and really like the canisters better as long as you can get them. For trips where you fly, this takes a bit of preplanning.
Another vote for the Wisperlite I have used one many times and it has never let me down. It is small, light, easy to maintain and very efficient. I store the stove, spoon, lighter and MSR fuel bottle pump in a Peak titanium 24oz cook pot. :thumbsup:
The whisperlite has worked great for me, the only problem is that it doesn't "simmer down" all that well but that hasn't been a big problem for most things I've used the stove for lol.
I have used just about every MSR stove made at one time or another. If I were to limit myself to one stove it would probly be the Whisper Lite. MSR customer service is second to none, IME.. I had a Firefly that I did not care for and I talked to a tech at MSR, he traded me straight across for a Whisper Lite. And sent me an updated pump. That said, while I do own a Whisper Lite, unless I am back packing I carry a Snow Peak Giga Power/pizo start and a fuel canister..
I also carry my Whisper Lite in a tin coffee pot, that I can use for heating water etc.
I use a pocket Rocket my Favortive do to size and weight and a Superfly which is great but is alittle bigger packed. Both these stoves really cook fast and use little fuel.
I love my alcohol burning stoves so much, that my Whisperlite is the only gas stove I use anymore.
Are there any accessories that you would highly recomend?
bear i sent u a email
Drsgon Fly for me but this year I'm trying the JetBoil Personal Cooking System.
I'll jump on the band wagon and say whisper lite.
I bought an msr cookset and fit all my cook stuff including stove right inside. Used it for years without a single prob. Of course now I'll probably have a catastrophic failure this year at the worst possible time (of course)!
Good Luck
Nathan
My brother does a lot of backpacking, he's got a Whisper light. When I asked for a similar style stove for my occational backpacking for xmas, he got me a Coleman stove (can't think of the model). Looks identical to his, he said it's a better value than his MSR, and if he had to do it all over again he would have gotten the one he gave me - apparently they weren't on the market.
awesome timing. I have a Markhill Dragon stove that uses iso butane / propane canisters. I have only used it on the deck so have no experience with it. We have always used buddies liquid fuel singel burners in the past.
Anyone have any experience with this or with the fuel source ? Any suggestions ?
I will be in Colorado, camping between 7500 and 9000 feet elevation and I doubt it will freeze (but it could... first two weeks of season).
ChuckC
I would vote for the wisperlite as well. I have both the international and the regular. I would not trade them in for anything. If you are looking to go very small and lite though the poket rocket does quite well.
I understand the Jetboil is not a "simmer" type of stove. It is great for a quick boil. Is the Whisperlite a stove that you can cook things a little slower...have a wider range of temps?
jet boil simmers....
I guess I got some bad info. from the place I was looking at them...
Snag:
It is essentially just like every other canister stove regarding flow control of fuel - quite good. JetBoil, however has a fantastic heat capture/exchanger ststem that really picks up the efficiency.
There is now a GCS (group cooking system)for JetBoil which is a larger pot and I have seen a fry pan too with the "flux ring".
MSR makes a heat exchanger for use on pans if you are not using a jet boil stove, and I highly recommend it for fuel conservation.
Funny observation: If JetBoil wasn't so good (Backpacker Magazine Product Award Winner), them why did MSR come out with one last year?
On a side note, I still use a stove with a "remote" fuel source as I enjoy using an Outback Oven. Can't do that with a bottom mounted canister - too much heat - BOOOOM!.
Im using the jetboil also