MSR WhisperLite Stove

www.cascadedesigns.com,11.5 ounces

There’s no better piece of equipment than my MSR Whisperlite stove.  I purchased it while in high school over 25 years ago and it has performed flawlessly.  I actually feel kind of bad keeping it so long because I’d like to give MSR more of my business, but I just can’t get myself to replace it.  I used it for years before cleaning it for the first time, which was out of necessity while hiking the Lake Superior Trail with my wife.  When I couldn’t get a solid blue flame warm enough to cook anything, near-starvation from all day on the trail, and a wife threatening to bushwhack to the nearest restaurant, I decided to tear it apart.  I was amazed how few parts there are, how easily I solved the problem, and how soon we were eating an awesome meal of pasta alfredo with salmon. Now, I tear the stove apart in the field, sometimes just to scare my camping partners, give it a good cleaning, and just sit back and watch it perform.

From a customer service perspective MSR is at the top.  When my stove hit the age of 15, I couldn’t get pressure to build up in the fuel bottle.  After trying a few unsuccessful fixes, I figured it was time for a new stove.  One phone call to MSR and a few bucks later they sent me an entirely new fuel pump.  Problem solved.

I’m heading up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for a few days of canoeing with my wife and daughters.  If there’s only one thing I will pass onto my kids when it comes to spending time outdoors, it’s the importance of good gear.  My MSR Whisperlite is at the top of the list.
–Scot Fawcett, August Gear Give-Away Winner

Burns on white gas; boils 1 liter of water in about 3.9 minutes, depending on elevation; Shaker jet cleans fuel with simple jiggle; made in Seattle, WA; fuel bottle’s come in 11, 20 and 30 fl. oz. models (and cost from $12-$20).