MSR Espresso Star

So, say you like your morning espresso (yum!).  :)  But that little tiny backpacking espresso maker just falls between the pot supports on your stove.  :(  What to do?

Well, let's take the example of the MSR Whisperlite.  With a Whisperlite, it's really no problem if you've got an MSR Espresso Star.

An MSR Espresso Star

Just lay the Espresso Star across your pot supports, and you're good to go.

An MSR Espresso Star on a Whisperlite Universal

Of course, there are other stoves besides a Whisperlite that have pot supports that might be a bit wide for a little espresso maker.  So, I thought I'd try it on another stove.  Here's the MSR Espresso Star on a Primus Omnifuel.

An MSR Espresso Star on a Primus Omnifuel

Obviously, I haven't exhaustively checked every possible stove out there, but if you've got a three legged stove where the legs are evenly spaced (120 degree angles), radiating outward from a central point, then the MSR Espresso Star will most likely work.

Now the bad news:  These are now available second hand only (eBay, Craig's List, etc).  The MSR Espresso Star is a nifty little gadget, but apparently it didn't sell well enough to be retained in MSR's product line up.  Having struggled with jury rigging an espresso maker on my winter stove, I was delighted to find one on Craig's List.  Search, and you might be able to pick one up too.

Thanks for joining me on another Adventure in Stoving,

HJ

Technical Appendix -- Weights
MSR Espresso Star . . . .  19g/0.67oz

The MSR Espresso Star

The MSR SimmerLite: DISCONTINUED

Recently, I noticed that the MSR SimmerLite stove was no longer listed on the Cascade Designs/MSR website.

An MSR SimmerLite

Curious, I wrote MSR to ask if the SimmerLite had in fact been discontinued.  Here is the answer I received:

Yes, the SimmerLite has been discontinued. Sad to see it go, but it never saw the adoption it needed. It could become a collector’s item in short order, though; I still believe it’s one of the best white gas-only stoves you can get.

I echo that feeling.  I've always felt that the SimmerLite was a good basic white gas stove.  I say "basic" because irrespective of its name, it really doesn't simmer.  It's a water boiler/snow melter, but it's not a gourmet cook's stove.  I certainly found the SimmerLite to be at least as good as a WhisperLite, but the WhisperLite was of course $20.00 cheaper and had the same functionality.

OK, so it's not a gourmet cook's stove.  What it was though, was a very lightweight, very packable stove, certainly one of the lightest weight white gas stoves out there.  I'm sad to see it go.

HJ

Kovea MoonWalker vs. MSR WindPro II -- Packability

I'm not quite ready to review either the Kovea MoonWalker or the new MSR WindPro II (look for my WindPro II review in the next couple of weeks), but I thought I'd let people at least have a look at the two stoves and take a quick look at their relative packability.

First the Kovea MoonWalker (also know as the Kovea Camp 4).

The Kovea MoonWalker (Kovea Camp 4) stove compared to a can of Coca Cola

Second, the MSR WindPro II.

An MSR Windpro II compared to a can of Coca Cola

Next, I thought I'd try putting a Kovea MoonWalker (Camp 4) into a Snow Peak 1000ml pot.  It fits just fine.

A Kovea MoonWalker in a 1000ml Snow Peak pot

Of course the real question is can I also fit a canister of gas in there?  As it turns out, you can.

A Kovea MoonWalker and a Snow Peak 110g canister of gas in a Snow Peak 1000ml pot

And how does the MSR WindPro II fit?  Well, it fits too although the MoonWalker was just a bit more compact.

An MSR WindPro II and a 110g Snow Peak canister in a 1000ml Snow Peak pot.

I also tried fitting a 220g canister of gas into the pot -- it didn't work with either stove.

Well, that's it for today.  Like I say, I'm not quite ready to publish reviews just yet, but look for a review of the WindPro II in a few weeks.

Thanks for joining me on another Adventure In Stoving,

HJ

Technical Appendix

Weights
Kovea MoonWalker    294g  10.37oz
MSR WindPro         193g   6.81oz  (not shown in above photos)
MSR WindPro II      187g   6.60oz

Interestingly, the WindPro II as measured on my gram scale at home is just a bit lighter (6g) than the old WindPro.

Other Kovea Related Posts

The Kovea Camp 5 Remote Canister Stove

MSR MicroRocket -- Packability Report #2

People have asked, just how packable is the new MicroRocket?

A 110g canister, a MicroRocket, and a piezo ignition will all fit into a 550ml mug type pot -- but the lid won't fully close.

In order to answer that question, I thought I'd compare five reasonably well known upright canister stoves:

1. MSR MicroRocket
2. MSR PocketRocket
3. Optimus Crux
4. Snow Peak GigaPower (GS-100)
5. Soto MicroRegulator (OD-1R) 

Hopefully, once you've seen the photos, you'll have a better sense of just how packable the MicroRocket is.

The MicroRocket folds down smaller than most. Is it significant? That depends on exactly which pot you're using. With some, it will make a difference.

Here's a photo of a GS-100 in a BPL Firelite 550 pot with a 110g Snow Peak canister.  Note the position of the lid.

A Snow Peak GS-100 stove and a 110g Snow Peak canister in a 550ml mug type pot

Now contrast that to this photo with a MicroRocket.

An MSR MicroRocket stove and a 110g Snow Peak canister in a 550ml mug type pot

Neither closes fully, but the MicroRocket is a better fit. If this was a 575ml or 600ml pot, you might be able to fully close the pot with a MicroRocket whereas you might not with a GS-100.

UPDATE, 27 Jan 2012 2256 Hrs:

I just took my GS-100 stove out. I thought I'd try one more thing, and... I'm going to have to amend my report (above) just a bit.  

The reason that the GS-100 doesn't fit quite as well as a MicroRocket in a 550ml mug type pot is that the valve adjustment wire on the GS-100 is very springy.  The wire forces the GS-100 over to one side which causes it to fit poorly.

If one undoes the wire and flips the wire out of the way, the GS-100 fits ever so slightly better than the MicroRocket.  However, there's no material difference between the two in a BPL Firelite 550 pot.   

So, if one doesn't mind a very minor bit of fiddling, the GS-100 is equal to the MicroRocket in terms of its width and how it fits in that particular pot.

The MicroRocket is a few mm shorter overall than the GS-100.  In a BPL Firelite 550, this has no practical impact, but for some applications, perhaps that might matter.

The very best fit was perhaps the Optimus Crux, but I found no practical difference between the compactness of the Crux vs. the MicroRocket. Both are tops when it comes to packability.

An Optimus Crux stove and a 110g Snow Peak canister in a 550ml mug type pot

The Soto MicroRegulator OD-1R takes significantly more space than a GS-100, MicroRocket, or Crux.

A Soto MicroRegulator OD-1R stove and a 110g Snow Peak canister in a 550ml mug type pot 

The big loser here is the PocketRocket which doesn't even begin to fit -- and that's without a canister of any sort.

A PocketRocket doesn't even begin to fit in a 550ml mug type pot

Hopefully you've now got a sense as to the relative packability of the new MSR MicroRocket.

Thanks for joining me on another Adventure in Stoving,

HJ

Other posts on the MSR MicroRocket

• The New MSR MicroRocket -- First Look
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Trail Report #1
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Trail Report #2
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Cooking Report 
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Packability Report #1
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Packability Report #2
• The New MSR MicroRocket -- Completed Review

The New MSR MicroRocket -- Completed Review

If you've been following my blog at all, you know I've been evaluating the new MicroRocket stove from MSR.

The new MSR MicroRocket

As a part of that evaluation, I've put up a series of posts on the MicroRocket:

• The New MSR MicroRocket -- First Look
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Trail Report #1
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Trail Report #2
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Cooking Report 
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Packability Report #1
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Packability Report #2

The new MSR MicroRocket comes with a separate piezoelectric ignition 

Well, I'm done with the evaluation, and my completed review is now available on Seattle Backpackers Magazine.  Hikin' Jim says "check it out."  :)

The new MSR MicroRocket in the field

Thanks for joining me on another Adventure in Stoving,

HJ

The SuperGnat (Gaz *and* Threaded!)

There are two types of modern gas canisters for backpacking (see Backpacking Gas Canisters 101).

Generally, stoves built for one type of canister only work with that type of canister.  For example, Camping Gaz stoves generally only work with Camping Gaz canisters.  However, there are a few exceptions -- including a relatively lightweight one that you can assemble yourself in only a few minutes.  This post shows you how if you'd like to try.

In terms of factory-built exceptions, the only widely available stove in the US that will work with either canister type is the MSR SuperFly.  In Europe, there are a couple of dual format stoves available from Primus.  None of the dual format stoves that I have seen are lightweight.

An MSR SuperFly will work with either a Camping Gaz type connector (left) or a standard threaded connector (right). 

Well, then we just have to put up with the SuperFly, yes?  Uh, well, yes, but... the SuperFly is an awfully BIG stove.  I mean it's fine for group cooking, but for the "fast and light" crowd, it's a bit much.  Don't take my word for it, here, take a look:

An MSR SuperFly (left) is a large stove.  Compare to a Monotauk Gnat (right).

What's that you say? I'm silly?  A SuperFly being compared to a Gnat is absurd?

Really?  Are you sure?  Maybe the comparison isn't as ridiculous as you might think.  Have you ever noticed how similar the threads are on the two valve assemblies?

An MSR SuperFly (left) an a Monatauk Gnat (right).  The valve assemblies have been detached from the burner columns.

 I mean just look at those threads.  They sure look the same.  It looks like you could just switch one for the other.

The valve assemblies of a SuperFly and a Gnat, swapped.

Which, in fact, you can.  Now the stove with a Gnat valve assembly and a SuperFly burner head may not buy us much, but the other stove, the one with a Gnat burner head and a SuperFly valve assembly is kind of cool.  Let's have a look.

A SuperGnat mated to a Camping Gaz canister

Behold the SuperGnat!  Here, we have a fairly compact, relatively lightweight canister stove that can be used with either standard threaded or Camping Gaz canisters.  Cool!

But does it work? Let's give it a try.  Note:  Before you try what I'm depicting here, read the warning below.

Lighting a SuperGnat with a Kovea piezoelectric ignition

Sure enough, it works!

A SuperGnat in use.

Pretty shameless, aren't I? I just mated a Camping Gaz canister to an MSR valve assembly with a Monatauk (probably made by Fire Maple of China) burner head and lit it with a Kovea built MSR piezoelectric ignition.  Dr. Frankenstein would be proud.  lol.

A SuperGnat immediately after use.

And the thing works pretty darned well.

Now, I said lightweight.  How lightweight you ask?  My scale says 84g (3.0oz).  Now, that's a bit heavier than the Monatauk Gnat, but consider some other typical stoves used by weight conscious backpackers.  For example, the Snow Peak GS-100, weighs 86g (3.0oz).  An Optimus Crux weighs 88g (3.1oz).  A PocketRocket weighs 86g (3.0oz).  When compared to such stoves, really, the SuperGnat is in the same class.  The SuperGnat is certainly far lighter than the 131g (4.6oz) SuperFly!  Note:  All weights were measured in grams on my KitchenChef scale.  Manufacturers stated weights may vary.

So, there you have it, a relatively lightweight upright canister stove that will work with either canister format, Camping Gaz or standard threaded.  Such a stove could be of real benefit to someone backpacking, bicycle touring, motorcycle touring, or otherwise traveling in Europe or other regions where one or the other but not necessarily both canister types may be available at a given location.

A special thank you to Mark F. of Australia who tipped me off that such a thing might be possible.
An extra special thank you to Bob G of California who provided the Gnat for testing.

Note:  It may be possible to do with an Optimus Crux Lite the very same thing that I've done with the Monatauk Gnat, however I haven't yet tried it.

WARNING
Look, if it isn't immediately obvious just from the nature of what I'm doing, swapping stove components could well be the very last thing you ever do. Get it wrong, transfer a bit too much heat to the canister, and KABOOM! your backpacking trip (and maybe a whole lot more) just ended.  I don't think that what I'm showing here is automatically going to result in a problem, but it has that potential.  If you try to emulate what I have done, understand that you are doing something inherently dangerous and that you are making a decision to deliberately expose yourself to that danger.

Now, that being said, I think the dangers can be mitigated to a degree.  Just a) understand that the dangers are real, b) that the consequences could be very severe indeed (i.e. great bodily harm or death), and c) take every precaution to be safe.   At the very least, hook it up outdoors away from any heat source or open flame.  Then, before you do anything else, listen.  If you hear gas escaping, go no further until you can eliminate the source of escaping gas.  If you decide to take the risk of lighting such a cobbled together stove, try it on low first.  Look for any odd flames.  If there are any flames where there shouldn't be any, turn it off immediately.  Adopting the precautions mentioned in this paragraph might lessen the risk but will not eliminate risk.  Messing around with gas stoves in any way other than those recommended by the manufacturer could be dangerous no matter how many precautions you take.  

Thank you for joining me on another Adventure in Stoving.

HJ

Technical Appendix -- Weights
Stove            Weight     Canister Type
SuperFly       131g/4.6oz   Both
Optimus Crux    88g/3.1oz   Threaded only
GS-100          86g/3.0oz   Threaded only
PocketRocket    86g/3.0oz   Threaded only
"SuperGnat"     84g/3.0oz   Both
MicroRocket     73g/2.6oz   Threaded only
Soto OD-1R      70g/2.5oz   Threaded only
Monatauk Gnat   47g/1.7oz   Threaded only

Related articles and posts:

• Cold Weather Tips for Gas Stoves
• What's the Best Gas for Cold Weather?
• Gas Stoves: How Cold Can I Go?   <==Most comprehensive article on canister gas and cold
• Canisters, Cold, and Altitude:  Gas in a Nutshell
• Canister Stoves 101:  Thread Care
• Gas Blends and Cold Weather Performance.  (Why not just use propane?)
• The "Super Gnat"  (Camping Gaz or threaded canisters with one lightweight stove)
• Backpacking Gas Canisters 101
• Gas in Extreme Cold:  Yes or No?
• Gas in Cold Weather:  The Myth of "Fractioning"
• Stoves For Cold Weather I (Upright canister stoves) – Seattle Backpacker's Magazine
• Stoves for Cold Weather II (Inverted remote canister stoves) – Seattle Backpacker's Magazine

The New MSR MicroRocket -- First Look

I'm in the process of writing another review for Seattle Backpackers Magazine, this time of the new MSR MicroRocket.  I've got a ways to go yet on the review, but I thought I'd at least let people have a preliminary look at the stove.  Look for the full review in about a month's time.

This is an installment in my series on the new MicroRocket stove from MSR.  Other installments in the series include:

• The MSR MicroRocket -- Trail Report #1
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Trail Report #2
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Cooking Report 
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Packability Report #1
• The MSR MicroRocket -- Packability Report #2
• The New MSR MicroRocket -- Completed Review

UPDATE 29 Dec 2011
Just got a note from MSR:  The official release date is January 3, 2012. We already have them in stock and are shipping to retailers.

OK, first impressions.  Guys, this sucker is compact.  Woo who!  Oh, yes.  Tiny, baby.  What a nice little stove.  Talk about saving some room in the ol' pack.  Sweet!

A new MSR MicroRocket (left) and a PocketRocket (right).

The new MicroRocket comes with a separate piezoelectric ignition.

MSR MicroRocket stove (top) and its separate piezoelectric ignition.

Now, I haven't fired it up yet (I just took it out of the box this evening), but my first impression of the separate  piezoelectric lighter is:  Why?  Sorry, MSR, but wouldn't I be better off just carrying a regular lighter?  What's the advantage of carrying a separate piezoelectric lighter?  A piezoelectric lighter is only going to be able to ignite gas whereas a regular lighter will ignite pretty much anything.  Wouldn't I be better served by a more versatile conventional lighter?  What's the point?

Now, to be fair, I haven't tried it yet.  Maybe I'll really love it.  These are just my first impressions upon taking the stove out of the box.  I will test it out.

Now, back to the stove.

The new (for 2012) MSR MicroRocket

Did I mention it's compact?  Man!  They really mapped this one out.  Everything folds together just so.  It literally fits in the palm of my hand, and I don't have particularly big hands (ring size 9.5).

I'm liking the way the valve control handle folds around the base of the stove.  Compact, baby, yeah!

The valve control handle folds compactly around the base of the stove.

Not too much looks new in terms of the burner head although the wind deflector is a bit more compact.  Like I say, though, I haven't fired it up yet.  Soon!

MSR PocketRocket (left),  MSR MicroRocket (right)

Now, take a look at the below photo.  One of my pet peeves about the older PocketRocket is that the point where the pot supports join the body of the stove is prone to bending.  Don't ask me how I know this.  I've read it elsewhere, so I know it's not just me.  The attach points on the new MicroRocket are way beefier.  When I unfolded everything into "working mode," the supports felt very solid.

MSR PocketRocket (left),  MSR MicroRocket (right)

Now, since this stove is super compact, you probably have to give up on the "surface area" that the pot supports cover, right?  Nope.  There's no sacrifice here.  The span is about the same.

MSR MicroRocket (right), MSR PocketRocket (left).  Note the smaller wind deflector on the MicroRocket

MSR MicroRocket (left), MSR PocketRocket (right).

Overall first impression:  It's like the top stove designers at MSR did nothing but play with a Pocket Rocket for six months straight, looking for anything they could improve.  And they seem to have succeeded in just that.  They've really improved and beefed up the stove.

Um, Jim, beefed up?  Don't you mean they've turned a perfectly good stove into a fragile little ultralight toy -- a little toy that's useless to the average hiker?

NO!  Counter-intuitive as it may seem, they've managed to beef up the stove while dropping the weight and size.  Sweet!

OK, so that's all for now in this very brief first look.  Watch for more to follow soon.

HJ

Technical Appendix:  Weights
PocketRocket        MicroRocket
Case   25g/0.88oz    36g/1.27oz
Stove  86g/3.03oz    73g/2.57oz
Total 111g/3.92oz   109g/3.84oz
 
I didn't include the weight of the piezoelectric lighter because I wanted a 1:1 comparison.  The MicroRocket's piezo electric ignition weighs a mere 13g/0.46oz.

The above weights were all determined using my Kitchen Chef gram scale.  These weights may differ slightly from the weights listed by the manufacturer.   All weights have been double checked. All weight were measured in grams and then later converted to ounces.  Weights in ounces will not necessarily add up properly due to rounding error.

Interestingly, if the case is included, there is essentially no weight difference between the MicroRocket and the PocketRocket.  I did a double take when I weighed the new case.  I've checked it multiple times.  The new case really does weigh 36g.  I realize that a lot of people leave the case at home, storing the stove in their cookpot, but I still found it odd that MSR would go to so much trouble to lighten the stove and then turn right around and wipe out all the weight savings with a heavier case.  Hunh?

Stove of the Week: MSR Whisperlite Universal

As previously announced and reported here on Adventures in Stoving, MSR is coming out with a new version of their Whisperlite stove, the Whisperlite Universal.

An MSR Whisperlite Universal running on canister gas in liquid feed mode

I've written a review of the new Whisperlite Universal, and that review is now available at Seattle Backpackers Magazine.  This blog post will answer questions that may not have been addressed in the review and also serve as a place to display additional photos not used in the review.

Update, 19 January 2012:  The MSR Whisperlite Universal has been awarded the Backpacking Magazine Editor's Choice award.


QUESTION:  Can the gas adapter from the Whisperlite Universal be used on a Simmerlite?
ANSWER:  The end of the Whisperlite Universal's fuel line is threaded, and it is onto these threads that the gas and liquid fuel adapters attach.  The end of the Simmerlite's fuel line is smooth.  So, no, unfortunately, the gas adapter from the Whisperlite Universal can not be used on a Simmerlite.

The end of a Whisperlite Universal fuel line

QUESTION: What tools are needed to assemble/disassemble the Whisperlite Universal?
ANSWER:  Generally, the only tool you will need is the wrench/tool that comes with the stove.  However, a safety pin or needle can be really handy for replacing "O" rings.  For heavier duty maintenance, you may need additional tools.  For example, the burner head now requires a hex tool (Allen wrench) for disassembly.  However, this type of maintenance is almost never needed in the field, and you should be fine when out on the trail with just the MSR wrench/tool.

The wrench/tool that comes with the Whisperlite Universal

QUESTION:  What is the retail price of the Whisperlite Universal?
ANSWER:  MSRP is $139.95.   
  Update 11 Nov 2011:  MEC, the Canadian Outdoors retailer, has the MSR Whisperlite Universal listed for $131.00 (CAD -- about $128 USD).  Let's hope that MSR has relented a little bit on the price.  $140 is a bit much for a Whisperlite, even a wonderfully improved Whisperlite like the Whisperlite Universal


DETAILED PHOTOS NOT USED IN THE REVIEW:

The UC jet is seen here in the mixing chamber. Note how the height of the jet restricts the air supply to the mixing chamber.

The legs have "stops" that precisely control the positioning of the legs/pot supports.  Gone are the notches that each leg slipped in to.

A photo of the underside of the MSR Whisperlite Universal's burner. A spring clip holds the legs in place.

The canister adapter of the MSR Whisperlite Universal, opposite side. Note the pictograph of a canister gas jet and the letters UC which correspond to the letters on the actual jet.

The baffles of the Whisperlite Universal's burner.  There are fewer baffles than earlier versions.

MSR Whisperlite Universal (top) with liquid fuel adapter on the end of the fuel line.  MSR Whisperlite "Classic" (bottom).

MSR Whisperlite Universal (top) with liquid fuel adapter on the end of the fuel line.  MSR Whisperlite "Classic" (bottom).

MSR Whisperlite "Classic" (left), MSR Whisperlite Universal (right).

MSR Whisperlite "Classic" (left), MSR Whisperlite Universal (right).

The MSR Whisperlite Universal rigged for canister gas

Flame shot, running on white gasoline (Coleman fuel).  Note how hot it gets under the generator (pre heat loop).  This apparent heat entrapment allows the stove to simmer far better than current Whisperlite stoves.

Flame shot, running on white gasoline -- MAXIMUM POWER.

Running on canister gas in liquid feed mode -- MAXIMUM POWER. That is a really big flame for a Whisperlite.

Running on canister gas in liquid feed mode -- MAXIMUM POWER.

Running on kerosene

Soot build up after running on kerosene

MSR Whisperlite Universal (left) and MSR Windpro (right).

 MSR Whisperlite Universal (left) and MSR Windpro (right).

 The fuel line of the Whisperlite Universal is fairly stiff. Here, you can see that the fuel line never touches the table top. The line is stiff enough to support its own weight without drooping.

 A Whisperlite Classic snapped into a Trillium base.

 The legs of a Whisperlite Universal do not fit onto the tabs of a Trillium base

The Whisperlite Universal canNOT plug into older versions of the standard pump. The aluminum block is too wide. Note how the red plastic of the pump has been chipped by the aluminum block.

 The aluminum block of the Whisperlite Internationale fits right in to an older MSR standard pump.

The aluminum blocks of the Whisperlite Universal (bottom) and the Whisperlite Internationale (top). Note that the aluminum block is asymmetric on the Internationale. This asymmetry allows the block to fit into older versions of the standard MSR pump.

The Whisperlite Internationale has four "baffle" rings.

 The Whisperlite Universal has only three "baffle" rings

 MSR Whisperlite Universal (left) and MSR Whisperlite Internationale (right).

A Primus Omnifuel

An MSR Whisperlite Universal connected to a Primus Omnifuel pump using the Whisperlite Universal's gas adapter

An MSR Whisperlite Universal connected to a Primus Omnifuel pump using the Whisperlite Universal's gas adapter

Running an MSR Whisperlite Universal with a Primus Omnifuel pump

 Running an MSR Whisperlite Universal with a Primus Omnifuel pump

 Passing the "tea test"

 Breakfast is served.  :) 

Stove testing at First Water on the Mount Wilson Trail

Simmer test on kerosene.  Note that the burner is NOT glowing red.  I was able to get a nice low flame.

Simmer test on kerosene. A nice, low boil

HJ