yakkowarner's Full Review: MSR Whisperlite Shaker Jet Backpacking Stove
How to blow up a stove.
I’ve set many things on fire including a 5 gallon gas can, my fleece, other things I should not mention online, and this stove. And yes, I still use this stove….but I did have to buy an extra pump.
On a previous backpacking trip I accidentally got sand in one of the ports that gas travels through. I thought I cleaned it out properly before this particular trip. Well I was about to prove how wrong I was.
After we set up camp in Joshua Tree National Park I began to cook the chicken stew for everybody. Because of the size of the stove and pot I had I could only cook 3 servings at a time. During this time I noticed the flame was a little low (unbeknownst to me it was because of the clog), so I just pumped up the gas canister and that seemed to do the trick. I had to do this several times during the cooking process. Buy the time I was starting to boil the third pot of water for hot chocolate and after I gave it a couple more pumps, a small stream of white gas began to sprinkle out of the plastic pump, much like a water fountain. I had about enough time to think “oh……” and the stove turned into a fire ball with me right in the middle of it. All my wife saw was me engulfed in flames. My wife thought I was toast. I immediately ran away and tried to find a place to roll so I can put out the fire that was on my fleece, but as soon as I turned all I saw was rocks. Well at least I could knock my self unconscious instead of screaming like a school girl. But as some of you know fleece does not burn. So the fleece burned itself out as soon as the small residue of splashed gas quickly burned off.
I immediately turned around and grabbed my camping shovel and started to drown the fire in sand. This included some gas drenched, burning, flaming sand that landed on my friends knee and singed some hairs (oops.) At the time I was too hyped to notice it, all I was thinking was I do not want that canister to go up like a bad firework on the day after the fourth.
When it was over, I surveyed the damage. The plastic pump was melted at one end but the rest of the stove and canister appeared fine. I went to REI the next month and bought a new pump and the stove works fine.
We all make mistakes from time to time and this was one of my bigger ones. Hopefully some of you will learn a valuable lesson. If not then I hope you have a good laugh at my expense. J
Why I bought this stove
I needed a camping stove for backpacking because I was not about to eat cold food the entire trip. After looking at several models, this one looked like it had everything I needed. It was not the most expensive or the fanciest, but it would do the job.
What comes with it?
-The burner/base unit.
-A pump.
-Two pieces of light metal sheeting to act as a wind shield and heat reflector. These attach just below the burner, and around the pot & Burner.
-A few spare parts like o rings.
How does it work?
A lot of people have problems with this type of stove but it is really simple to operate. After you pump it a few times you release the gas valve and let it leak onto the very bottom of the stove. It will leak into a small bowl that has a wick there. Then you light the gas with a match and let the stove heat up. This heats the gas in a looping tube that will cause the gas to vaporize more easily when it exits the ports.
When the flame dies down you turn on the stove and light the stove itself. The looping gas line still goes near the burner. This continues to heat the fuel before it is expelled from the burner. Once you have done this a few times it is very easy to operate. Just do not be afraid of a little fire, it will not hurt the stove (see above.)
The flame and how to control it.
The flame is not very big. It is what you would expect from a stove this size. This means the flame is concentrated in a small area. This lends itself to small pots and pans, not to large pots and pans.
As long as you are not cooking an omelet or anything then you just need to put the flame on high and leave it. But if you want to control the flame then you control it through a valve on the pumping unit. This is not easy to use. Other models have two separate valves that makes controlling the flame much easier (my brothers dragonfly is an example of one). If you do fancier cooking then pass on this stove for something with multiple gas valves.
Noise
Noise is fairly quiet. You know it is on as long as there is no loud music or other noise in the vicinity. And it is about 30% quieter than my Coleman stove.
Cooking experience
First, I’ve never had anything spill or major mishaps even though the stove is unstable. Of course I never left the stove when I was using it either.
Wind has never been a factor. The few times I have had significant wind I just used the thin metal windbreaker. The flame has never died out and the wind has not had a major cooling effect on the stove.
I mainly boil water, cook stews, cook soups, fry eggs and bacon, or sauté vegetables when I am in the woods. Nothing major because I do not feel this stove could handle it. When making these foods I have not experienced any major problems and the food came out as expected. The only issue you may have is if you do not stir the dish enough it may burn on the bottom center of the pot (even a small pot).
How well does the metal sheeting work?
It works as a decent windbreak and may insulate by 3% but that is about it. The main reason to have it would be for a windbreak, but I just look at it as dead weight and usually leave it at home. Most people will see how light it is and think I am crazy calling it dead weight but if I do not need it then neither does my bum knee. If you really need a pan insulator then get a good quality one that works not cheap metal.
How fast does water boil?
It will boil a quart of water in 4 minutes.
How long will a canister last?
There are several type of canisters from 11 ounces to 33 ounces. 8 ounces will last about 1 hour.
Advantages of white gas
- Cheap fuel source.
- Spilled fuel evaporates quickly.
- Easy to acquire.
- Light easily.
- The fuel bottle is reusable.
- Will leave soot.
Disadvantages of white gas
- Requires priming.
- Volatile, see story above.
- May be hard to find outside of U.S.
Ease of cleaning
There is really very little to clean. You will have a black residue on the metal after cooking. This just rubs off with a towel. And any spill over will fall on the ground, not the stove.
Is it field maintainable
Like most backing stoves this unit can be fully disassembled and reassembled. If you are using this stove you probably cannot drive to the store to pick up a new one, so having this option is a necessity not a luxury.
I have not had the need to do this…..oh wait I did and the stove blew up in my face instead. Oh well at least I have a good story.
Accessories you may want.
- Several sizes of bottles including some light weight models.
- Stove base, adds stability.
- Pot insulator.
- Stove base.
- Service kit, small parts to replace worn out parts.
How to improve stove performance
-Use a lid when cooking.
-Use a windscreen.
-Use a pot insulator (also called a heat exchanger.)
-Learn how to clean and maintain your stove properly.
- Keep all fuel connections clean.
Problems
I have had no problems except for the basic design. It is small and not very well balanced. It is not designed for large containers or large amounts of food/water.
One major turnoff is the stove only uses white gas (Coleman fuel.) The international version will use other sources of fuel as will my brother’s dragonfly. If you go out of the US then do not buy this stove.
Who would want this stove?
I would recommend this to backpackers or motorcycle camping for parties of 3 or smaller. I have cooked for 6 people, but it is a bit more difficult, unless you have cold side dishes in addition to the hot dishes you are cooking. It is only for individuals that have access to white gas. I also recommend this for cost conscious individuals. If you have money to burn then get a more expensive stove.
I will also recommend this stove for motorcyclist that also camp. It is extremely small and compact which is important on a bike.
Summary:
This is a barebones backpacking stove that works. If that is all you want then look no further. But if you are like me and want to have the best, then keep looking.
Why the rating?
I gave it a 3 because I feel it is just an average backpacking stove. If you take into account that it is a compact stove and it is relatively inexpensive, then I could see someone giving it a 4. 3 ½ is probably more accurate.
Souces: Information came from my personal experience or from REI.com. The stove was originally bought at REI in Santa Ana.
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