This is a bit of a vintage stove that works best in extreme cold and high altitude. I've used smaller lighter faster butane stoves most of the time at lower elevations but they didn't do nearly as well in extreme cold high in the mountains. It took forever to boil water. The MSR Whisperlite produces high BTUs. I leave mine at home most of the time but if I were going on a ski trip to mountains in the dead of winter, this is what I would bring.
Word of advice from my use of the original MSR XGK from 20 years ago and the Whisperlite. All MSR stoves flare (as seen here) unless you prime the stove with alcohol or pieces of starter logs sold at wilderness stores. Once those little pieces begin to burn you can open up the fuel line.
Good video!. I have the newer MSR Whisperlite Universal model and it is rock solid. The legs on the latest model have definitely been improved as well as the pot supports stability wise. I have no complaints. If I had to complain about something, it might only be that the pot supports are for larger pots. I have overcome this though by placing a small 4"x4" pack grate on top of it and the problem is solved. I rather have the Whisperlite in cold to sub-zero temperatures instead of those other stoves you mentioned that were faster to setup.
Yes what a great product. I am mainly a November-April adventurer so I see no use for the cartridge stoves that have cans. Those cans have literally 30 mins of boil time for 4oz. Of fuel. The whisperlite will last for days on the small bottle
Buy either one. I have a MSR Dragonfly and an the old style basic whisper lite and personally I’ve never used anything but Coleman or white gas. Coleman fuel is also a cleaner fuel. I use meth to preheat and once it’s hot they burn clean. Maybe it’s because I’ve handled millions of gallons of diesel fuel and just can’t stand the smell. Do you really want to cook with diesel or kerosene. The stuff really stinks and your trying to cook. So is a multi fuel stove really necessary, nice option but never needed.
@@alf3553 You're right. Eating food cooked over diesel or kerosene is not too appetizing. I bought a perfectly fine old style Whisperlite with all it's parts on ebay for $40. I'll buy a Pocket Rocket to go with, covering all my fuel bases in a practical way. I do own a MSR XGK that I've only burned white gas in, having used unleaded once which covered everything in soot. I just wanted the Whiperlite design as an ideal base to have a stove for travel anywhere possibility.
recycled365 I have to many stoves if you ask my wife 😂. My whisper lite was also used. Picked it up for $70 from a girl who I think didn’t like how it starts. I’m sure it was only used once or twice. Came with stove, 11 oz fuel bottle and a can of fuel that was almost full, plus a few little extra items. I just ordered a Svea 123R yesterday and can’t wait to play with that thing.
@@alf3553 I have the SVEA 123R for a primary stove very long time, still haven't used the rebuild kit for it. You are going to love the quality, I just wished I polished the brass early on, the SVEAs are really looking too. I should hit mine on a buffing wheel.
recycled365 I really like my Firebox stoves G2 5 “ and Nano. To date my favourite combo is a Ti Nano with a Trangia burner 👍. Will see if favourite gets replaced with a Svea.
@@skatir9 the fuel will not spill all over the bag or backpack? I bought this today but the universal version intend to carry it on the motorcycle bags just wonder if it will not spill the gasoline all over the bags lol
Almost all of the heat rises. I put the reflector down mainly in case the legs got hot. But it was not an issue, since I didn't run the stove that long
