Switched from a cheap Coleman stove to a MSR WhisperLite after one trip in the rain

Last summer up in the Sierras my old Coleman took forever to boil water and the wind shut it down completely. Borrowed a buddy's MSR WhisperLite for a trip to Yosemite and it boiled a liter in under 3 minutes in a mild breeze. The pump system is fiddly but the reliability is a game changer for colder weather. Anyone else found a stove that handles wind better?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliot_king3h ago

The WhisperLite is solid but honestly it's not that great in heavy wind. The open flame design is its weak point. I had one flare out on me above treeline in the Winds last fall, had to huddle behind a rock to get it to stay lit. The Coleman you had was probably a green propane bottle model, those are notorious for losing pressure in the cold. The MSR will still put out good heat even down to freezing, but if wind is your main problem, look at a Jetboil or any canister stove with a built in regulator and a pot that wraps around the burner. The Windburner is pricey but I've used mine in 30 mph gusts and it still boiled water fine.

stella_roberts27m ago

I read the WhisperLite does okay if you add a windscreen, just leave a gap at the bottom.