The stove operates flawlessly so long as you are running near full tilt. Adjustability
is the only weakness, as you really need to play with it for lower pressure and small
flames. Very reliable.

Customer Service

Excellent people, helpful, knowledgeable even generous.

I love mine. it's extremely dependable; i've used it for about 5 years now with no problem, however I do reccomend carrying an extra pump in your repair kit as that could break yet a spare weighs next to nothing. Also, if you want to simmer, avoid pumping up the fuel tank so much- it does much better then.

Similar Products Used:

MSR rapidfire, Whisperlite International, Coleman Featherweight

This is an excellent reliable stove. I also have the heat exchanger and it melts snow an ice in no time. The stove itself is very easy to maintain and even if something does go wrong with it you can make them work enough to cook on etc. I have heard people complain they don't simmer well, they aren't designed too but with a bit of gentle adjustment I've never had a problem.
This is one of my top bits of kit.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

Colman gas stoves and petrol stoves and MSR Whisperlite.

This stove has always been a real trooper. Loud and bulky, but so hot and reliable, do not even worry about the size or decible level. The newest addition has the shaker jet making this stove one you just can not go wrong with.

The workhorse of all stoves. A few ounces heavier, and as loud as a 747, but I wouldn't trust anything else at high altitude or in a remote corner of the world. It will burn anything, starts fast, and heats fast.

Customer Service

Never needed it, their products don't break easily.

Similar Products Used:

I have also used an Optimus Ranger, MSR Whisperlite, and a Coleman Peak 1.

This Stove is a little jet engine that melts snow in no time, its a great climbing stove becuase its hot, bombproof, small, and most climbers are usually too tired to care that there food is severly burned, if you want something that will simmer than good luck, when me and my buddy climb one brings the XGK to melt snow on and the other brings a whisperlite to cook on. I like the stove alot becuase it does the job its designed to do better than any other stove ive heard of and I highly recomend it for people who spend alot of time on snow.

Similar Products Used:

Whisperlight International 600, Whisperlight shakerjet, Several colemans, several military surplus solid fuel stoves.

I've used my MSR XGK stove for the past ten years and it has never let me down. It roars like a lion but heats like a torch. While others are still trying to heat up their food with a Svea or a Coleman stove I'm half way finished eating my meal. It's either on or off so don't expect to simmer anything.

Customer Service

MSR replaced the base plate and completely refurbished the stove at no charge. They also replaced my old style pump with the model for a nominal $5.00 charge. Does MSR stand behind its products or what?

This is a good stove that works well in winter conditions. It is awsome for backpack travelling too. I have spent a total of 2 years travelling around mexico and central america, I used the stove everday, often with very dirty fuel. Usually I would use gasoline or 50:1 mixed boat gas. The stove roars. Not the best for slow cooking. Just don't bring food that you need to simmer. Good stove but too exspensive

Good output, reliable, very loud. Output can be described as good or nothing i.e. there is not much room for haut cuisine with this construction. The plastic pump sometimes misbehaves and falls apart when pumping. Nothing that can't be taken care of in the field, though. The lower windscreen was easier to fit on older models, but pots stand a better chance not to fall of the newer ones. Though there are better stoves available today, I still have a nostalgic feel for XGK :-).

Customer Service

No, apart from the pump, the stove is very reliable.

Similar Products Used:

Optimus Explorer and KAP-Arktic.

I would reccommend this stove to any serious back woods person. This stove has been reliable from day one and in any kind of weather. The only downfall I can see with stove is, you can't simmer with it. But I have never needed to simmer in the backcountry before. Especially if you need to melt snow. Great stove!