The truth: this is a loud stove that simmers nicely, but has a design flaw that will always hinder it's performance. The flaw? The fuel-tube/needle valve area clogs up with soot quickly and is virtually impossible to get completely clean. That is why so many people below complain about the boil times compared to WhisperLites.

In a test in Backpacker magazine, they compared a new WhisperLite to a new DragonFly and they boiled water within 20 seconds of each other. So why is everyone having such a problem with performance, as mentioned below? What happens is your needle valve gets plugged up and you will find that your valve only screws in 1-1.5 turns instead of at least 2.5, which is how they work new. This happened to mine after only using it for two week-long trips, with white gas only. My boil times tripled and I was irritated to say the least.

I just took it back to REI and they sold me (?!) a $15 kit with a special tool for cleaning the valve area. I followed the instructions and cleaned the thing twice, and I could still only get my needle valve to go in 1.5 turns. I will be taking it back again this weekend and requesting an exchange for a WhisperLite (and some $$$ back!)...

2 stars, since it simmers nicely. I guess I could carry two stoves on my trips (I don't think so).

Customer Service

REI was fairly helpful in identifying the problem. However, the problem still remains...

Similar Products Used:

WhisperLite, Peak 1

Great stove. The adjustable flame sold me and I love it. We can have a great meal; when wet, tired, and hungry, instead of mystery hash. Boils quickly if wind screen and heat reflector are used. Weight isn't bad: like the road bicycling mantra-it's always cheaper to shave a few ounces off your butt than you're equipement (for those who whine about the Dragonfly's weight, toughen up). The stove is, unfortunately, rather loud.

Customer Service

Haven't had a reason to try them.

Similar Products Used:

MSR Whisperlite

I love this stove. Compared to the ones i had before it, see below, it kicks arse. I like the simmer feature, it can come in handy. Things i dont like about it: bulky and heavy, but not enough to matter for me. Its noisey too. Other than that it is great.

Similar Products Used:

coleman peak1, american camper crap stoves

Great product it has always worked well for us especially in high elevations and in the cold. It is always reliable. However, a little loud. I do love the simmer feature-it's great for saving fuel and cooking stuff without burning it.

Similar Products Used:

gineric crap

Many people find the noise to be the single flaw with this stove. I must agree. Ive used it camping, hiking, climbing multi-day pitches and it has been good above 9000ft. It has a wide base to support stoves on and you will find that food cooked is better due to the simmer feature.

Customer Service

MSR are a bunch of tools. Theyre customer service blows. The first time i ordered the stove it was busted....i called and i was made to look like the badguy.

Similar Products Used:

MSR Whisperlite Int'l
various Coleman stoves
the legendary Svea

I bought the stove in March to replace my old, steel Peak One. On my last trip, four days in the Sierrras, I burned about eleven ounces of fuel for two people. My friend was very impressed with the rapid boil time. Besides other problems listed here, I burned the aluminum windscreen in a few spots. I think the small pot I use (about five cups) lets too much flame concentrate on the screen when the stove is on high. Overall, I'm very pleased with it.

Similar Products Used:

Peak One, Primus

The MSR Dragonfly is on of the best stoves I have used. The stove lights easy, is very stable, and will simmer upon command. I think it will boil faster than my whisperlight int. stove. The one drawback I find on this stove is the jet-engine sound it produces when it is in use.--Very Loud!!. If I am only boiling water I prefer the whisperlight for it's quiet nature. But overall it is a great stove.

Similar Products Used:

MSR whisperlight int Coleman stoves Camping gaz

I've been using the DragonFly for 2 years not and it never failed on me, so first and foremoste it a very reliable stove. It's light and very easy to set up and boiling time is relatively fast despending at what altitude you are at. Great adjustable flame and uses multilple gas...big plus. Some say it's expensive, but worth every penny!

Similar Products Used:

None

I Purchased this stove on the advice of a friend and very satisified with the stove so far. It produces plenty of heat is very stable and will allow me to use other fuels in an emergency. As far as durability, we'll see how a scout troop does with it.

Similar Products Used:

coleman, sterno

Absolutely bombproof. Very reliable in high winds. Being in the military, this unit has handled deployments to a couple of different countries. That being said, it's handled more fuels than the manual states. And reliably so in some nasty field conditions.

Similar Products Used:

Have always used Peak 1 products till now. You get what you pay for.