MSR WhisperLite International Multi-Fuel Stove

Ok, I have had this stove now for 5 years and I LOVE IT! First of it is an extremely easy stove to use compared to almost every other stove out there. The WhisperLite stove gives you more then just a great reliable stove. Do not listen to the WHY SETTLE FOR LESS. This user had no idea what he was doing when he bought the stove.

Ok Reasons why the WhisperLite is one of the BEST stoves out there:
Q) Extremely easy to use and to get started.
R) Extremely reliable!
S) Uses universal fuel.
--Yes, you can go to a gas station and get the gas out of the pump and run this stove (has run on just hair spray as well).
T) Packable, this stove is on the larger side for stoves but it still isn't huge. When Im out hiking, I actually keep this stove inside my pots to save space.
U) Oh yeah, Freakin reliable.
-Yup, I have been using this stove now for 5 years and only replaced 2 o-rings in the process. Now if you are wondering often I actually use this stove. I would easily say between 90-140 days a year depending on weather and work and yes ... The best damn stove I have ever used.

Cons: It is a bit on the heavier side for stoves.
It does use a little bit more fuel.
It does ........ Yup 2 cons. Can't beat that.

Yes, the Dragonfly is another great stove. Not as reliable. I have had the Dragonfly for 2 years and I have had to replace the 0-ring 8 times. I have also had it just not work on me. No reason, even after a Good cleaning. No workie. Oh yeah, its also $40 bucks more for a stove that is only uhhhh.... 1 OZ heavier! Yup, Dragonfly also weights more.

I hope that I could help you out on the stove you are going to pick up. This really is one of the best stoves out there. If you are tired of EXTREMELY load stoves, unreliable stoves, Jetboil stoves pick this puppy up and never buy another stove for the rest of your life .... :)

Before I purchased the WhisperLite International, I was using the MSR Pocket Rocket. It had a lot of the features I liked, but I found that my backpacking trips lead me to higher, and colder destinations. The Pocket Rocket just didn't quite perform in those conditions. After a LOT of research and reading, I chose to go with the MSR WhisperLite International. Mostly because of the flexibility of fuel. Who knows when you might be stranded and need to use auto fuel? At least you would have the option with this stove.

I must admit there were a couple things that almost made me give 4 start instead of 5. The first being that it is a little cumbersome to get primed, and lit. Practice at home first before you go out in the wilderness. The second thing was that there is not really a simmer function, but as other people mentioned, back off on the pumps a little and there will be just the right amount of pressure to make it happen.

The things that convinced me to give it 5 stars were just a few of the following. MSR makes good products, hands down. This one is no different, and I think the number of positive comments are a reflection of that. You can boil water in just a couple minutes. It really took me by surprise how fast it got that water moving! Temperature and Altitude are not an issue with this stove. When combining it with some good quality White Gas, it can go with you anywhere. The bottom line is that this thing will work anywhere, and with proper maintenance, you may never need another one.

I recently bought one of these, along with the 22 oz. MSR fuel bottle and I have to say, it's really easy to use, and super easy to switch the jets, if you're going to be using another type of fuel. I personally use kerosene, it works just as well as any other fuel, the only offset being that there is some black smoke(not much and usually the first or second time). at times that comes from the burner. Also, expect on the first few uses to get your hands dirty, as it kind of burns the exterior, and you'll get some soot or something on your hands when you try to pack it up. This problem doesn't last very long, and it's not exactly something bad. After a few uses, the soot kind of peels off, or you could probably clean it with a sponge or maybe steel wool, although I haven't tried. I used this type of stove for two weeks in the wilderness in Alaska and it never let our group down (11 people), and I bought one for myself, and so far it's working wonderfully. I'd recommend this stove to anyone that is a practical person and likes things to work, and that doesn't mind getting their hands dirty a little bit.

I've used the WhisperLite International frequently for over a decade (the same stove). Even the plastic pump has held up well over the years (which is something considering it spends its life in gasoline). Recently, it started sputtering, but a quick refurb with the maintenance kit (o-rings, needle, and wick) and it was as good as new. The shaker jet keeps the nozzle nice and clean while you hike, and the steel-braided wick pulls out for a quick field-cleaning of the fuel-line. Even the design is reliable. I never have to wonder if a canister is running low or if it will be too cold to use a canister at all. It is a little tough to learn all the intricacies of getting it started, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature. The only bummer is that it doesn't simmer. It's just not designed for it. You can try double boiling, using a thicker pan, or raising the pot, but that's just inefficient. Just keep stirring.

I have used mine for around 18 years and have only had to add some lubricant to the pump and replace the 0 rings on the fuel bottles. I purchased the repair kit with it; stored the kit with the stove and have not had to use it a single time.

If you are unfamiliar with how to light it, be careful or you will have a little bonfire going. Remember to open the valve a little so that fuel gathers in the little receptacle at the base of the stove. Turn off the valve, light the fuel and after that fuel from the receptacle burns for a while and heats up the stove, open up the valve again.

I would strongly recommend that new owners practice lighting with the stove situated on dirt or some other porous surface as opposed to concrete as your bonfire will spread or asphalt which can (and when I first tried lighting the stove, did) catch on fire.

I own both a Pocketrocket and Wisperlite International. Both are great and I use both, but both have their place. As for the Wisperlite, It just performs every time. Hot weather, cold weather, rainy weather, it just performs. You should practice a few times with the stove before you actually use it on the trail. The initial flame at priming and startup will take practice, but after a few times, you will have it down. The Pocketrocket works great and is VERY easy to use, no priming etc......unless you are faced with very cold weather and not so cold weather if the canister is about out of fuel. When I get ready for a weekend trip, and I have to try to decide which stove to take. I shake the gas canister and say to myself, Is the weather going to be bad? cold? Is there enough gas in this to make it? Hmmmmmm. Better not risk it. Wisperlite International.

Lol, I don't understand why they call this "whisperlite" cuz it is freaking loud. But oddly enough, the jet engine sound was quite warming on my first solo winter hike because it told me that soon my belly would have a warm meal inside it. I've only used white gas so far and I haven't had a single problem, it does get a little sooty but that is expected. If I was forced to name a negative it would be that there isn't much control over the flame, it could be that I just haven't used this enough but turning the gas control doesn't change much. I left this setup outside over a -10 degree night, I woke up in the morning to see it covered in frost, I turned the gas on, lit it, and a few moments later I was melting snow. This thing is rock solid and i love it.

even with all the new options out there (like jetboil etc.) I will always own one of these stoves as it is the most versital stove I have seen and put to use. I have had mine for over 10 years of regular use and have not even needed to rebuild the stove yet. It's a little finiky to get started to fires up every time and you need to adjust the control knob very slowly when you adjust the flame.
Even after years of use, I dont see a need to buy a new stove. The new jetboils are tempting, but I do not like the newer disposable fuel cells littering up my pack on multi day trips... plus you can never tell how much fuel is left in those things. 1 large MSR Fuel bottle is all you need for most 2-3 day trips with the wisperlite!

I've had this stove for several years now and have been very pleased with it. It is very light and packs up small in the included sack. The MSR fuel bottles are bomb proof and come in a large variety of sizes. I don't feel comfortable, however, giving it 5 stars for a few reasons. The first is the fact that it takes a considerable amount of time to prime the stove, and after a long hike in the dark it can be frustrating. The other reason is that in my experience it needs to stay very clean to function properly, and I've had to replace several parts for this reason. Like I said this is a good stove, but not a great one. If you are in the market for a new stove, go with the best and buy the Jetboil PCS for only $10 more,

I worked for 10 years in a wilderness program and this is the only stove that we used for any length of time. Super durable and field repairable, the stove is a reliable performer. We tested several other stoves but always returned to the ease and performance of the Whisperlite. I would spend the extra money and get the international version. In all the years that I used the stove I never used a fuel other than white gas, but we found that the "white gas" only versions clogged easier and required more maintenance. The only issue with the stove is it melts into snow if you're using it in the winter, while slightly amusing to watching your cook pot sink into the snow, a stove board or shovel blade fixes the problem quickly enough.