MSR WhisperLite Universal

Great all around compact stove. Made in USA. MSR/Cascade Designs is a reputable company. I've dealt with them on Thermarest stuff and they've been very honorable. Replacement parts should be available for a long time too. This stove appears to be expedition worthy. It comes with a tool for servicing the whole thing in the field. Wherever you are in the world you should be able to find something that it will burn. It runs on gasoline, white gas, kerosene, or butane canisters. It feels very solid. I've only used it on one 3 day backpacking trip so far, and this is my experience... I bought it mainly to use butane canisters (that's all I tried so far) and backpack with. It boils water quickly, and is able to simmer at a very low flame. The flame control is very good. The hose coming off of it is a little too stiff though and can be a little annoying. I would prefer that the stove not move the bottle around and vice versa. It fits nicely in the bag along with a large butane can. The weight was fine but not ultralight. The heat shield is just a folded up piece of round aluminum which I did not use. I did not bring or use any of the liquid fuel accessory parts. I think that the main downside of backpacking with this is the weight. It is light for what it does, and it does it very well. But, if all you want to do is boil water quick and carry a super light pack, there are options at about half the weight. I've weighed this and all of it's parts separately so you can figure out how much it would weigh in any configuration. All weights are in pounds done on a certified Hobart digital deli scale. 0.59 = stove alone with the canister valve attached. 0.19 = gas/kerosene pump 0.04 = service kit. (tool and all orifices and extra O-rings) 0.03 = plastic butane can holder 0.07 = bag (stuff sack) 0.13 = wind screen 0.04 = ground heat reflector My setup with fuel weighed in at 1.60 lbs. (0.74 for stove and 0.86 for large butane canister) Yes I would buy it again. I may get something different for a windscreen though and may buy a dedicated ultralight stove for some backpacking trips.

This is probably the best camp stove I have ever owned. I have had one for close to 2 years. Just bought this replacement after mine got stolen. "They were jealous of my stove prowess" Now I will be completely honest I normally use a small caster stove "Primus Express W/ Piezo" It is used when I’m backpacking solo or with just my wife. Now when Motorcycle, or group camping I always defer to the MSR Whisper Lite Universal Stove. Now here is what I have to say about the MSR Whisper Lite Universal Stove. First of all the stove has 3 legs that fold up to save space. They are very strong and can support a significant amount of weight. I’ve had a 3 liter pot of water and it supported it no problem. Second is the fuel. This stove can burn just about any fuel. I have personally used canister Fuel, Gasoline, kerosene, White Gas (gas condensate from gas wells), Primus Super Fuel, and Coleman Camp Fuel. I have used Alcohol but it pits the container and degrades the seals on the pump. Now I have met people who have used jet fuel in there stove. Long and short if its liquid fuel this stove can burn it. “Just not diesel”. Third is the assembly of the stove. It is incredible simple to assemble, disassemble and clean. I will say this, the MSR Whisper Lite Universal Stove is not for a solo backpacker or someone who likes to bring dehydrated meals along with no plan to deviate. It’s just big. Now if you are going with a group or where you have a means of transport aka. Motorcycle or in your car it’s a must have.

A nice backpacking stove that can be configured to burn several different fuels. I think I might try kerosene on our first hike.

I’ve taken the MSR WhisperLite Universal on multiple mountaineering trips, and it has proven itself to be one of the most dependable stoves I own. Its ability to run on different fuels is a huge advantage in the backcountry, you’re not limited to one option, which gives peace of mind when conditions or availability change. What stands out most is how well it performs in cold alpine environments. Even at higher elevations, it lights consistently and maintains a strong, steady flame that makes melting snow and boiling water quick and efficient. The wide pot supports give it stability on uneven surfaces, and I’ve never felt like it was at risk of tipping over while cooking. It packs down compactly and doesn’t take up much space in my kit, which is essential on climbs where weight and room are at a premium. After heavy use, it’s still reliable, and maintenance is simple thanks to MSR’s design. Overall, this stove is rugged, versatile, and trustworthy which is exactly what you want when your meals and hydration depend on it in the mountains. A must-have for serious backpackers and climbers.

I love the whisperlite and I personally prefer it to other alternatives but when I bought a new one an opened it the white gas fuel adaptor was not in the box and was extremely disappointed but other than that it works perfectly, easy to use, and will last you a while

I've been using MSR stoves since the late 80's with the original whisper light. I've had a few MSR stoves over the years. Always reliable and dependable not to mention rugged. I was intrigued with this model the ability to use canisters and white gas. Stove is great, easy to switch from one fuel system to another. Only compliant is it's weight. Not that light (then again they never were). Otherwise a rock sold stove, will be my primary stove going forward. i can deal with a little weight for the dependability and flexibility of being able to switch to alternate fuel sources. Update: I've used this stove twice now on two separate backpacking trips. Both times with canister fuel. Simmer control is good, very stable cooking surface. On the second trip i got caught in some very cold weather - was 17 degrees without wind chill. With wind, i would estimate close to zero degrees. Now if I would have known it was going to be that cold (don't ask) i would have converted the stove to white gas. However, the canister configuration worked very well in those conditions. I was impressed; I didn't think it canister fuel would work in such low temperatures (giga fuel if your want to know). Inverting the fuel can works well in very cold temperatures.

After a difficult backpacking trip in 20 degrees where my canister stove underperformed due to the cold, I decided to pull the trigger on a white gas stove. I bought this one due to the multi fuel options. It’s not super easy like your canister stove. Has 3 nozzles that need to be changed depending on your fuel choice, it’s quite a bit heavier, and priming is necessary and has a learning curve. Nonetheless, it’s a great stove that works in inclement weather. If you are a summer only backpacker skip it. If you are going to camp in cold temps this is necessary. If you car camp, this is a great small stove. Very hot and fast. Very happy with my purchase!!

Follow the instructions! Ran very well! It’s lite and easy to pack away. I used with my motorcycle aux fuel bottle and will again in the future. Love it!