This review is based on my own experiences of using this stove.  It is an independent review.

I’ve owned my MSR Windburner stove for about three years now.  I have used other stoves in the past – Trangias with meths or gas and the MSR PocketRocket.  I also now own a Jetboil but that’s because I was given it, I wasn’t actually looking to get anything else at that time.

The Windburner was designed for solo backpacking and camping adventures.  I use mine for both, and also on canoe trips.  At the time of writing it is retailing at around £100.

The benefits of the Windburner

  • It is a self contained unit.  So if you buy the right sized gas canister you can fit that, the stand and the stove itself all into the pan.
  • It is more efficient than say the Trangia or the PocketRocket at boiling water.  So you get your food/drink faster, but it uses less gas.  So on longer trips you don’t have to carry so much gas with you as you would with the other stoves.
  • The design of the stove means that the flame is protected within the framework of the stove.  This means that it’s less likely to be affected by high winds (although that can never be eliminated), so easier to use in harsh environments.
  • The flame heats a grill which disperses the heat over the bottom surface of the pan rather than focusing it on one spot.  So you’ll be less likely to burn your food.
  • The insulating sleeve that sits around the lightweight aluminium pot makes the outside of the pan easier to handle.
  • It comes with a small plastic cup/bowl which is used to protect the stove in transit but I use it mostly to soak my noodles while my main course is heating in the pan!
  • It heats with a quiet flame – no roaring flames in my camp.

Disadvantages to the Windburner

  • It is heavier and bulkier than the PocketRocket.
  • It’s great for boiling water.  I do also boil pasta etc. in it and add a stir in sauce.  But like most of these stoves, it’s an all or nothing heat – they don’t really go down to a simmer like your stove at home would.  So if you are going to cook ‘real food’ in them, you need to keep it moving.  Make sure it doesn’t boil dry and generally keep a close eye on it.
  • The Windburner doesn’t have an inbuilt ignition (unlike the Jetboil), but having said that, the Windburner does light really easily from just a spark.
  • If you boil say three times in a row, the external sleeve builds up heat and can become too hot to handle.

 

I’ve not tried it yet, but I suspect it’s really good at toasting bagels…I’m going to try that next week…

 

For more information direct from the manufacturer click here

 

Let us know in the comments if there is a piece of kit that you love (or don’t like!) and if you would like us to review an item for you.

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