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20 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 Not perfect. But for what it is, it is FANTASTIC... Mar 11, 2009
By David Hostetler
"SuperDave3006"
Let's start off with admitting the obvious. This is a compromise between function, lightness, and affordability. This is also a very old design now.
My Whisperlite has served me well, for a very long time. I originally purchased my MSR Whisperlite stove on the recommendation of the book, "Backpacking, One Step At A Time". That was back in 1991. I remember seeing this stove design when I was a boy in the scouts which was quite a bit further back than that...
If the owner of the stove simply follows the instructions from MSR, this stove works flawlessly. Don't put too much fuel in the priming cup, set up the wind screen correctly, don't block off air flow etc... and this stove is as adjustable as you would want to be when on a backpacking trip. I have been as simple as boiling water to rehydrate freeze dried tetrazzini in the Arizona mountains, to as complex as sauteeing freshly caught speckled trout with Creole Seasonings on the Texas coast. I have never been let down by this stove. It has been completely reliable, safe, and easy to use. Now for the down sides.
This is a single fuel stove. But if you are looking at a Whisperlite, you are looking at single fuel stoves specifically, if you wanted multi fuel look at the Whisperlite Interationale, XGK, Coleman Exponent Fyrestorm (stainless or Titanium) or other similar stoves.
For a single fuel stove, it is kind of heavy. At least compared to butane stoves. You will need to measure how much cooking you are going to be doing, and compare the weights against a super light butane stove, but a bucket full of butane cartridges.
The advantages of this stove, if you are going with a small group, compared to a slew of butane stoves are countless. Lower fuel usage, MUCH lower fuel cost, overall, when cooking meals for say 5 people, a single 20oz fuel bottle will cook, heat water for dining and cleaning for the group, compared to a mess of butane cartridges. The fuel can be used as a camp fire starter if needed as well.
15 of 15 found the following review helpful:
Why are there others? Mar 28, 2006
By J. A. Robertson
"J.A.R."
I bought my Whisperlite in 1996 and have yet to have a problem with it. (I think I may have cleaned it once) Simmering is a bit of a trick but if you use it several times before taking it into the woods you should be able to cook any food you can take in a back pack. There are stories about these stoves going into "meltdown" during light up on cold days but it is always because the user either over primed the stove or was using a damaged fuel line. If you accidentally over prime do not add more fuel. Just let what you have burn off.
I have never had problems lighting the stove or keeping it going (although I did run out of fuel once). Light and VERY easy to use.
Funny thing, it is a bit loud but you never notice until you turn it off.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Durable, reliable, and log lasting Mar 05, 2008
By A. Piro
Ive had one of these for 10+ years now. There is an art to lighting it, but once you understand it is a snap. This uses a catalytic process, it needs to heat itself up for use. Great heat producer to cook anything you could want. There is a windscreen that came with mine which is invaluable and always used. Has been folded up and unfolded many times still is in perfect shape with no cracks. The base itself is studry enough to put anything you like on top of it. I often find myself preferring to use this over my two burner colman stove. The portability is great. The stand legs swing around, everything is disassembled, and it fits in a small nylon bag maybe 8" x 4". I have cleaned it once. Used it probably 100 times.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
AWESOME stove Jun 14, 2008
By jc3385865
"jc3385865"
This stove is GREAT! My husband and I use it for backpacking, and so far, it has held it's flame through 35 mph winds (with a wind screen of course, but still!) and has never gone out even when it was nearly blown off the table (be careful not to start a fire if this happens to you). It packs up small and 1 bottle of fuel (the bigger one) lasts through three days of cooking meals, boiling water to make coffee & tea, and to clean dishes, hair, etc. The ONLY downside to it is that the flame is extremely HOT, which means you can't set your food down on the burner to cook it because it will scald (this is not a problem when boiling water, however). You have to hold it a couple of inches above the flame to prevent scalding. This one downside is definitely outweighed by this plus: the stove cooks food really fast, which means it not only uses less fuel, but your already cooked food doesn't get cold while you are cooking the other items that go with your meal.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
I think even my idiot sister could manage this one...if she could cook. Mar 01, 2009
By Wood Wren
"Wren"
I am not real sure why some folks have problems with this stove and others do not. I have had this one for well over four years now and it has been used extensively. It is light, easy to pack and I have never once had a problem with lighting the thing. Now while it may not be necessary, I do give it a good cleaning after every trip and give it a test before I start the next. Perhaps that has something to do with it. I can normally get three or four days of meals out of a bottle of fuel and two or three coffee warm-ups depending on what I am cooking. As pointed out, the flame is indeed extremely hot on this one and it does not go out when tipped as many do. DO NOT try setting your cook gear on the stand as the flame s so hot you will scorch your food...hold the pan above the flame. This cooks things fast and I do mean fast. Do practice lighting the thing before you hit the bush with it. It is small and easy to pack. I liked the price on this one when I bought it and still do. It is as good as any of the more expensive exotic numbers I have tried, and in fact out performs most of them; if not all. Mine has received some pretty rough use and pretty constant use and so far all as been well....it is difficult to tear-up, and goodness knows I have tried often enough. As with any stove of this type, you are out of your mind if you do not frequently check your fuel line for damage or leaks...that is just common sense, and it can avoid disaster by you just taking a few minutes. If you over prime just let it burn off; but here again, a bit of practice at home will take care of that problem. I did have another unit...a different brand that was quite expensive a few years back that was a complete hunk of junk. I gave it to my sister and as she has problems boiling water anyway, and would not be caught dead without pavement under her feet, I saw no great harm in it. She was thrilled with it (I say that with tongue in cheek) which made the gift all the sweeter. Anyway, I cannot say enough good things about this unit. If and when I should ever wear mine out or should it be lost, I will replace it with a like model.
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