MSR Whisperlite Shaker Jet Stoves

MSR Whisperlite Shaker Jet Stoves 

DESCRIPTION

n/a

USER REVIEWS

Showing 41-50 of 159  
[Nov 09, 2000]
Jeffrey Minihan
Backpacker

Awesome, boils at every altitude very rapidly, have used Coleman fuel "Too
expensive" paraffin "too sooty" unleaded and leaded petrol "no probs ,but the car is a pain to get in my rucksack . I reckon it would run on piss if necessary. The only problems as far as i can tell are there isnt very much flame control it's hot or hot( i believe the MSR Firefly deals with this problem but i ain't used one yet
The other thing is the pump is made of plastic . I have managed to crack this once so pack carefully.Parts and services are readily available.
Oh yes if you allready have one be carefull not to clip the fuel bottle lock (found on end of fuel line) into the hole where fuel jet comes out of the stove because I have broken one shaker jet this way already. It might make for a nice tidy shape to pack away in your gear but it ain't much good if it breaks the shaker jet
.
I'm more than satisfied with it

Customer Service

Serviced due to broken fuel line.6 days sending to receiving it back FREE and postage was paid
I explained what had happened (how i stood onit whilst drunk) and they still fixed it NO problems

Similar Products Used:

Gas and meths burners also a couple of solid fuel stoves. No real problems but I cant always rely on a sure supply of fuel depending on location time of year or even Sundays which means carrying extra cartriges fuel bottles etc. Oh yes my dad drinks my meths too.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Oct 05, 2000]
Shawn
Backpacker

I used to have an original Whisperlite. After about 10 years of service, it had a crack on the pump, and needed a lot of maintenance. This was expected of a 10 year old stove. Anyway, I just decided to buy the new shaker version rather than repair the parts. The fual adjuster can be a little finicky. However, if the line and jet are taken care of and kept clean, it works very well. Maintain your equipment and you won't have problems! This thing boils water in no time, and is so very light. I like the fact that it uses white gas, because I carry 2 bottles, one for the stove and one for the backpacking lantern, and can interchange if need be. I have used these 2 stoves for a combined total of over 50 trips, probably 500 uses. If you prime with alcohol instead of fuel, you will not blacken the stove with soot. This is the stove everyone always asks to borrow on the trips.

Customer Service

Just ordering parts. They were fine.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 26, 2001]
Roman
Backpacker

A great machine - besides the fact that you always get dirty when starting it up. It served me weel eg. when walking through iceland for a month.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jul 10, 2001]
Tony Seifert
Backpacker

My first observation involves the wide range of opinions by users; from sarcastic invective of victims of poor stove performance to tales of water-boiling Nirvana by Whisperlite groupies.
Cooking with my [non-shaker] 1991 Whisperlite is analogous to human relationships; one can appreciate the value of a trusted friend even though aware of their warts.
My stove is used primarily for week-long backpacking in Colorado or West Texas, at elevations to 11,000,' temps as low as 15-20 F.
My observations:

Pro:
1) Basically a reliable performer, PROVIDED one is observant of and responsive to its quirks.
2) Performs in marginal environmental conditions, short of those serious enough to drive hikers into their tents to cook.
3) The stove itself is a fairly robust design, able to function in spite of physical abuse.

Con:
1) It is annoyingly quirky, unforgiving of failure to follow strict priming procedure. Even an experienced user, if cold, fatigued, etc., can easily misjudge fuel flow during priming, resulting in a stove-blackening, adrenaline-pumping inferno followed by a 10 minute cooling-off period (for stove & user) before a 2nd attempt.
2) I don't want this thing within 50 feet of my tent; forget about cooking inside the vestibule.
3) While noteworthy that the Whisperlite is field-serviceable, the NEED for field-service is not normally considered an endorsement of a products' design and engineering. I've had in-the-field o-ring and leak problems with the Whisperlite that did not surface in the friendlier confines of my back yard.
4) In the field, any design is only as good as its weakest link. The plastic plunger needs to be of a better material, especially given the price of the stove. The fuel line's combination of stiffness and short length causes burner instability.
5) Though some users allegedly simmer with their Whisperlite, I can only conclude that a) they possess the ability to make sub-micron level manual adjustments, and b) they had too much idle time on their hands. I concur with the finding that this stove has two settings; Off or Blowtorch.

Conclusion: All in all, the Whiperlite performs well, but as a 17-year engineering professional, I believe good design strives to be independent of highly developed levels of 'feel,' artfulness, or mechanical skill of the end user. Even its most ardent supporters must acknowledge the Whisperlite requires significant user finesse.
I'm currently shopping for something lighter, less labor intensive, less operator-dependent. A white-gas stove proponent since 1975, I'm on the verge of 'going over to the other side;' considering the 3+ season performance, convenience, and clean-burning of an LP unit such as a Peak 1 Xtreme.

Customer Service

None required. Have been able to self-service all component related problems.

Similar Products Used:

Svea 123
Optimus 8R
Primus (several)
Coleman Peak 1

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Jun 26, 2001]
Matt Bannon
Backpacker

If I did a lot of alpine travel, I might like it but, I live in Florida
where; at elevation 0'-0", a simple birthday candle can almost boil a cup of water!
When I have used the whisper for extended hikes in Florida it has failed me in one way or another.
Maybe it's humidity + "swamp gas" but, once I break it down,wipe it off,shake it up and down while humming a Jimmy Buffet song, it works for another day or two. GOT STERNO ?

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Sep 12, 2000]
T.J.
Backpacker

I use it for winter hiking in the mountains VA, NC, GA, and WV. Usally, about 3-8 trips per season. I've never had a problem for the 6 years I've owned it. Easy maintain and repair. Burns allot of fuel when it gets down into the teens and below and sometimes needs to be warmed up first. Overall, very dependable.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

don't remember the names. I haven't had a need for anything else

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 07, 2000]
Ryan Sargent
Day Hiker

My dad and I bought this to use in the Three Sisters Wilderness area on a weekend trip. It is very compact and lightweight. Priming was simple, but we couldn't get the pump off the fuel canister, probably too much pressure left. We ate trout and Top Romanand and it worked pretty well. It was a little more difficult cooking the fish due to the non-existent adjustability. Overall it worked for us but it's probably not a good choice if you have over 2 people going.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 07, 1999]
Howard
Climber

This jet stove works great in the cold. It burns a little on the hot side, but that makes boiling snow water all the quicker. It uses fuel conservatively and buying white gas is not that expensive, $3/gallon. The stove is great for cooking quick meals, although it won't simmer all that well, you can turn it down and keep an eye on it. If you need a stove to simmer, better go with something else.

Customer Service

Never had to call

Similar Products Used:

First stove

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jun 29, 1999]
Chris
Backpacker

I ued this stove for seven days on the AT and loved it.It got my food done in no time at all most thrue hikers said it was a favorite among them.This is the best stove i have ever owned.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 12, 1999]
kevin
Backpacker

4 years and still running strong. Buy it if you are going to cold whether camp or backpack, or if you do not do a lot of cooking. Simmering is tough but for it's purpose it is the best stove on the market.

Similar Products Used:

Gaz stoves

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 41-50 of 159  

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