MSR Fuel Pump

I’ll preface this review with my cut and paste statement that I work as a backcountry backpacking guide in Yosemite National Park. Nearly all of the products I take the time to review have seen at least a half a season, if not more, of use... and I’m committed to not bothering to write a review until I feel like I’ve really gotten to know a product. I never thought I’d bother to write reviews, but I’ve recently decided that since I’ve spent so much time over these last many years reading reviews, and finding a tremendous amount of value in articulate and well-informed opinions, that I wanted to give back to the community. So, with that being said, here we go...
Once, and just once last summer, I was on a trip where we had one of the old pumps, before they were redesigned. It threw up its inner workings, along with some fuel, all over my feet and hands. This happened far too early in the morning for me to understand what had happened until about 30 seconds later. However, this particular pump is one of about ten of these pumps that we use. I've never had a problem with any of the others. And, once we returned home, we ultimately verified that it was one of the older pumps, and that it had decided to sneak out on one of our trips to commit its final act of hari kari during an attempted breakfast.
Aside from this older, less reliable anomaly... these pumps are bombproof. We beat the hell out of them every morning and evening all summer long, and they faithfully tolerate our use and abuse. Occasionally we will have to clean one a bit, usually because it has developed a thick patina of granite flour, and further pumping begins to strip the pump shaft of its beautiful red plastic due to abrasion.
These really are the unsung heroes of our trips. We never praise them. We just beat them up, and they happily help us cook our pancakes, bacon, breakfast burritos, spaghetti, and chicken fettuccine. Its about time they get a few strokes... no pun intended.

I've been using the MSR Whisperlite primarily to melt snow for the past 6 years. In that time I replaced the pump O-rings with the maintenance kit once - but I'm not sure it was necessary. However, after at least 60-80 mountaineering trips the pump starting leaking fuel on a pre-trip check. It turns out the plastic body cracked at the threads underneath the brass cap where the control valve is installed. If I had to guess, this could have resulted from over tightening the brass cap, hitting the control valve on something really hard, or from using it as the leverage spot to unscrew the pump from the bottle about a gillion times. Who cares - gear doesn't last forever. I can't believe how much use I got out of mine before it died. Plus, it has always been an excellent (liquid gas) stove. So, moral of the story - good pump, great stove, check your gear before you go - especially if you abuse it like me.

I used the new pump on a 5 day backpack trip. It worked awesome and i think that i used less fuel? at any rate i returned home with more fuel than i usually do. It is so nice to have gear that is easy to use and efficient. We had a gal that had never backpacked before and it was great to be able to show her how easy stoves are to use...a big confidence builder for sure! thanks again for the support you show for extreme athletes and run of the mill 50 year olds like me!!!

I have an old whisperlite that I purchased from Saint Michael's College wilderness program when they were upgrading equipment. It survived years of abuse from college kids no problem. Then I let my friend borrow it, bad choice. He returned it with a shattered fuel pump. Bought one of these guys and she works like new, even better than it did before.

The pump has been great for me. I have used it in bitter cold and hot weather. No problems. I do perform periodic preventative maintenance and corrective servcie. (PMCS).

The pump works as expected.
The only concern I have is that the valve handle feels a little flimsy. Like it won't last too long.