I used this stove for some years now and it is still working pretty well. I normally use it when backbacking in the mountains of Europe. It then fits nice and neat inside my MSR alpine cookset in my backpack. I like the ability to use gasoline as well as kerosine so you won't be without fuel any time soon as you can find at least one of these anywhere. I last used during five months on a tropical island using leaded gasoline and I only had to clean the stove about once a month. So I find it is pretty dependable. What I don't like is the haslle of preheating, but you learn to live with it. Another thing I like is the possibility to alter the size off the fuel bottle so you can adept it to the situation.

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None

A great little stove. I've frozen my hands with butane stoves in the middle of winter, and scorched my eyebrows with coleman one piece stoves. This is definitely the easiest to use, least bulky, quickest boiling, and most fuel efficient one you can find. The ability to burn kerosene or gasoline in this one is a nice touch although I hear that doing so produces a lot of black smoke.

If you need to buy a stove for anyone who can use a childproof lighter, this is the one to buy.

Customer Service

The MSR rep was actually the one who told me not to get the XGK and about the black smoke thing.

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Coleman Peak One multifuel
Gaz stoves

I had used my WL for 4 years of week-end backpacking trips. In 99 I thru hiked the AT and the stove only gave me trouble once, and that was because i had some dirty fuel and it plugged up the jet. Its a great stove, very reliable, quite clean burning and heats quickly.

Customer Service

Have had no problems so no need for customer service.

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I also have a coleman butane stove, which is very heavy and I also have the zip stove, this is a fairly light stove but a bit slow heating, but you can find fule almost anywhere you set up your camp.

So far I've only used the stove for about 6 weeks straight, whilst doing walking track construction here in Tasmania. I found it to be excellent, with no problems at all and low fuel consumption versus output. For simmering I found that if you don't pressurise the bottle too much it will simmer quite well. I think it would be a good idea if MSR supplied a rubber cap and bung to cover the hose end and the outlet on the pump assembly and thus keep dirt and grit out when transporting the stove. I use plastic tape to do this. Another handy tip is to use a paper clip to hold the windshield shut. Also you don't need to prime the stove much to get it started when using Gasoline or White Gas (Shellite in Australia) just enough to wet the wick plus a little bit in the bowl is enough. If you leave the pot off while you do this your pots won't go black!. I'd recommend it to anyone planning travelling to third world countries as kerosine is available worldwide.

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Trangia, Coleman Peak 1, Various older Primus Kerosine stoves

If you want a very light stove that will keep your pack weight down and just want to boil water this is a very good stove. It is very fuel efficient and very hot. It boils water in no time. My biggest complaint is that it only has two settings, off and meltdown. Trying to simmer with this thing is impossible. Just tap the adjustment knob and your flame will die. I will probably keep this stove for a water boiler when weight is an issue, but get another stove for occasions when I want a more controllable flame. My brother had a Coleman stove that had a base like a coleman lantern with a burner on top. That thing was awesome, but a little heavier than the MSR. I think I'll buy one of those.

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Coleman mentioned above.

I think I purchased my WL about 10 years a go (it's been so long I forgot). It's a trooper, The stove is built well and I've never had a problem. I've used only white gas (various brands) with the stove and have never had a clog. I've used it from Mississippi's swamps, to the beaches of California, and everywhere in between. It's a great stove performing just as well at sea level and as it does at 14,000 feet.

My pump it showing it's age though, I've been through 2 rebuild kits and I'm trying to decide if I want to buy a new pump (The new one's look too much like toys) or a MSR XGK (a very good stove in it's own right and geared more towards my climbing style right now)

If I do buy a XGK I'll still use my WL for backpacking, it's a Champ and an old friend :)

Customer Service

I've had to call them a couple of times when I was force to replace a bag and a lid that were claimed by the Mountain God. Great service, Great Products, I usualy don't like to look like a logo boy, but I'll sport MSR anytime :)

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Peak 1 :-P
MSR XGK :)
MSR Whisperlight :|
Biblar Hanging Stove :-P

this thing cooks
very efficient, extremely hot
light weight
have used in -10 melting snow for extended period of time
it is funny to watch other backpackers fumble with other stoves
no problems

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esbit pocket stove

I had mine for 8 years. Very reliable stove. Never had to replace any part in these 8 years. Always used it with unleaded car gas. (very occasionally clogging occurs). Stove can easily be field maintained (I love this!) Stove still worked perfectly at minus 25 degrees. At higher altitudes it burns slightly less good but it still does the job pretty well. Fuel consumption is very low (I have appr. 6 days fun with a 0.9 ltr bottle). Maintenace kit is great.

small drawbacks:
- stove gets filthy from carbon build up on the outside thus leaving you with black hands after use. (will be less of a problem if you use white gas)
- support rods do not snap very good into place after extensive use (however no cooking pan did ever fall off)
- rod of pump occasionally comes spontaniously out of housing.(can be easilly put in place again)
- simmering capability is poor (can be done but reguires some effort)

For backpacking this stove is highly recommended,it is well worth the money.

Customer Service

Never needed costumer service.

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Recently bought a MSR XGK II

Love it. Strong well enduring stove. I have used my through many bottles of fuel and have nerver had any problems. It has clogged a few times but no big deal just skake it out. The clogs were my own fault I do not take care of equipment I use it and abuse it. I always use my trillium base with it which makes it a little more stable. My suggestion is buy one it is perfect for backpacking. Alot of people say they can not simmer with it, I just put a small flat rock between the pan and stove if I really need to simmer. But usually I just want ot boil water not cook a meal that melts in your mouth.

Customer Service

Don't need it, good product.

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Coleman Peak 1, Hated it!

I have had my MSR stove for a little over 3 years and have used it so much, I've gone through 3 overhaul kits. By reading some of the less than happy reviews I got the sense that the stove is not being used properly. Use the heat shields, that keeps the heat in and gets you to a boil in no time. Yes, it does a poor job of simmering, but I want to eat right away, not create gormet meals. If you don't heat up the generator tube properly, it ain't a gonna work. As for the soot problem, I keep a 25 cent horse hair brush in my kit and brush the bottom of the stove off after each use. The soot is created only when you are heating up the generator tube from the wick bowl in the bottom. Once the stove is up and running, the soot will stop building up. Remember to keep the caps on the fuel bottles tight and use the connection oil when hooking up the fuel line; it will save you from leaks. If you have any questions about the stove, write me and I'll see if I can answer them. Lastly, don't cook in a poorly ventilated tent. You should read some of the articles on the Internet about the Carbon Monoxide level studies in backpacking and mountaineering tents. It would scare you. If possible cook outside or at the very least in your vestibule and vent the rest of the tent; Carbon Monoxide is oderless and deadly.

Customer Service

Have never used them for the stove. But had a maintenance question on my Waterworks. They were live and in person and answered my question, post haste.

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I have a small propane that I drag out for the kids on the overnight hikes but I don't like packing the oversize bottles.