I've owned my Rapidfire since Moses was 4 years old, and it is among the most reliable pieces of equipment I own. Granted, in colder weather you might need to invert the canister. I fashioned a stand out of a half-gallon plastic milk carton - cut it just below the handle, and then cut a hole for the fuel line, and a larger one opposite for the valve. Lightweight, and free if you salvage one. Remember to feed the fuel line before you attach the canister, along with the heat reflector.

I primarily use it for melting snow and boiling water, but on my last trip to the Catskills, we used it to cook up some stir-fry one night and make pancakes the next morning. It holds a great simmer, as well as getting water boiling in no time flat.

Is it a bit heavy? Sure, but it is bombproof.

It's pretty easy to break down to clean, which I've done once for no good reason - clean as a whistle after a TON of uses.

I also own the MSR Alpinist cook set, and the stove in its sack fits nicely, even in the 1.5 liter pot.

I've never had to replace the windscreen or heat reflector. The windscreen can be used for plenty of fire sources. I've used mine for my penny alcohol stove.

Customer Service

I did call once to ask about fuel. It used to use a canister that looked like a can of spray paint and wondered if the newer canisters would work. The nice CSR said it wouldn't, (not true,) but offered 50% off a new one if I sent mine back. After finding that I could use the current style canisters, I knew that I would have my Rapidfire until it died. That may be long after I do...

Similar Products Used:

MSR Internationale

I think I've got everyone beat when I say I have used my Rapidfire since 1987. I've never taken it apart or cleaned it and the thing just fires up and works. I backpack in the High Sierras and have used this thing at over 10,000'. I've also used in in my vestibule when caught in a July snowstorm in Tuolumne Meadows. So cold enough to snow (about a foot on the ground when we woke the nest AM) and probably 9500'. I'm a boil the water kind of guy, but have used it with my Outback Oven many times without a problem. Overall, this is a great stove if you can find one (at least now).

Customer Service

Never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

MSR Whisperlite Int'l, Svea 123R

It's fast to start, no flare-ups, no smelly fuel bottles and it will simmer. I have used it in the Applachians mostly and never had a problem, even when the temp inside my tent was 20F in the morning (yuck frozen boots!) and certainly colder in the bear bag hanging from a tree outside. I did need to warm the fuel can first. On my usual 3 season hikes I have never had a problem and always am eating faster than the people with white gas or multi-fuel stoves that cost 2 or 3 times more than a Rapidfire. I like to watch them stuggle to keep the flare-ups from setting their stuff on fire and then watch them scorch food while I enjoy my meal and smile. Never had a problem finding fuel. In short good for just about anything other than foreign trips, extreme cold weather or anything over 2 weeks long. For a long trip I bring a Sierra Zip Stove.

Customer Service

I broke the knob, wasn't the stoves fault. MSR mailed new valve assembly to me in a few days for free. Kudos for the service.

Similar Products Used:

Sierra Zip Stove, whisperlite, dragonfly

Light (10.4 ounces) and easy to use. Much safer than white gas. Easy to take apart and there are few parts. This stove folds up to fit in any part of your pack.

My mom bought me this stove and I love it. One of the best canister stoves ever bult. I would recomend it to anyone who does most of their camping
where it dosen't go below 30F.

Customer Service

Never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

None

I have owned this stove about 6 years and have never had one single problem with it. In fact, I have never even had to clean it. Usually I can go about a week on a canister of fuel. It is perfect for 2 or 3 day trips, anything longer and you might want to go with something smaller like the MSR Superfly or the Primus Alpine Micro. As long as you don't do a lot of cold weather camping or high altitude camping this type of stove is the perfect choice, there are stoves out there that are made for that type of camping. With this type of stove you will not have to worry about fuel leaking out and getting all over everthing in your pack. It performs well at full blast or on low simmer. As for boil times, who cares!! the purpose of backpacking is to get out relax and enjoy the outdoors not worry about how fast you can boil a liter of water (for the record mine boils 14 oz. in about 4 min.) Great stove for the money!!

Customer Service

Haven't needed them.

Similar Products Used:

Primus Alpine Micro

ive had this stove for over four years and have never had a problem,even on cold days. ive also never had any problems finding fuel. a good stove for weekend or week-long excursions.

Similar Products Used:

None

The rapidfire performs very well and is very easy to use. The butane canisters eliminate the need for priming and make use quite simple. That said, I would only buy one of these if I was planning on short trips. The canisters seem a little big for the amount of fuel they hold, and are not as readily avialible as white gas. A good performer, but not necessarily a great choice.

Similar Products Used:

None

This is a very light and easy to operate stove. When gas is your style, this is your burner.

Similar Products Used:

Camping Gaz Bluet

I love the stove because you do not have to spend time priming and all that stuff. The can of ISo butane is small and has an extremely long burn time. The only complane I have is that you can not adjust the flame.

Customer Service

A piece on mine brook and I sent it back and they gave me a brand new one. I have not had problems with it sence.

Similar Products Used:

Peak one
Coleman
Primus

I've used this stove for two years now. It is super. I cooked atop Whitney with no problems. My friends with the liquid gas stoves always admire my pumpless little stove. It is light and compact. The windscreen works well. A small canister of fuel lasts me about 6 days. My partner and I each carry one of we're going over a week. I don't understand the criticizm about having to pack out the can. I always packed out my empty white gas bottle too? The fuel does not do well when it is freezing on its own, but I put mine in a thermal can cooley (like you slide a beer can in) and it works great even below freezing.

Similar Products Used:

I used a Peak 1 white gas stove for years. I got tired of spilling gas, priming and pumping. I've used the Primus base stove and liked it, but it was a little unstable.