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MSR XGK EX Stove

$159.95

(26)

Item # 722001

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The stove of choice for expeditions throughout the world, the MSR XGK EX burns any liquid fuel from white gas to kerosene to jet fuel!

Improved design features a larger pot support and a flexible fuel line that can be wrapped up and stored inside a pot
Self-cleaning shaker jet has a built-in needle that pushes out built-up soot and debris with a simple shake of the stove
Bell-shape burner cup makes the stove extremely effective in cold temperatures and at high altitudes; now with feet that lift burner off the ground
Multi-fuel stove burns white gas, low-grade kerosene, auto fuel, Stoddard solvent, aviation (AV) gas, diesel #1 and naphtha
Fiberfax® priming pad makes priming and lighting fuels quick and easy while reducing spillage
Wide and sturdy pot supports handle continuous use with ease
Easily field maintainable with included cleaning and disassembly tools
Large-diameter fuel line allows poor quality fuels to burn well and requires less maintenance than smaller diameter fuel lines
Comes with aluminum windscreen, heat reflector, fuel pump and customized stuff sack
Windscreen is designed to accommodate cookware up to 10 in. in diameter
MSR XGK EX stove requires MSR fuel bottle, sold separately
Weight of liquid fuel stove includes only stove and fuel pump

Here's what Backpacker Magazine had to say about the MSR XGK EX stove in its March 2006 Gear Guide issue: "This enduring multifuel stove is back and badder than ever . . . the XGK is our choice when the mercury slips way below freezing or we head overseas where fuel choices are limited."
We cannot ship fuel-burning products to addresses in Japan or South Korea.

Please note: MSR products can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

Made in USA.

Item 722001

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MSR XGK EX Stove Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

MSR XGK EX Stove

4.3

(based on 26 reviews)

88%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Good power output (25)
Stable (20)
Easy to light (16)
Compact (15)
Easy to clean (12)

Cons

Poor temperature control (16)
Heavy / bulky (3)

Best Uses

Backpacking (22)
High altitude (20)
Hiking (15)
Car camping (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (14), Outdoor professional (5), Casual/ recreational (4)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Survivalist / minimalist (21)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (8)

Reviewed by 26 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

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Mar

2013

5.0

Bombproof

By PeterSan

from LA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy to Light
Lightweight
Powerful
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
High Altitude
Hiking

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

Light, fast to boil water, stable even in windy conditions

What more could you want?

It just works well and is a trusted and reliable piece of kit.

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

4.0

Kaboom!

By -Queequeg-

from Anchorage, AK

About Me Professional/Guide

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

NASA could send this to Europa to melt through the ice. Believe every post you read about it's heating power. I thought I had something wrong the first time I ran mine and I thought the stainless steal cup was going to melt.

I agree a lot with Busto-969's post,

but

I don't need a stove to simmer - that takes a lot fuel and I don't feel like carrying a 5 gallon can of fuel to simmer rice for 20 minutes I'll build a fire.

AVGAS (100LL) works great!

Comment on this review

May

2012

4.0

Built like a tank

By LunchboxNYC

from New York

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Boils water FAST
Compact
Easy To Clean
Easy to Light
Flexable
Powerful
Stable

Cons

Fragile pump
Heavey
Not self igniting
Poor temperature control

Best Uses

Backpacking
High Altitude

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

Like all MSR stoves, the pumps are terrible, they need to replace a good deal of the flimsy plastic bits with stonger parts. As far as the stove, I wish it were a little lighter, and had a self ignighter so you didn't have to use matches. Furthermore add ons that would allow it to use butane like the new whisperlite universal and one that would allow it to simmer food like the dragonfly would make this the true king of the hill for MSR. If you need a stove that can run on almost anythign anywhere this is probably your best bet.

Comment on this review

Dec

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Don't waste your money on Imports!

By Rascal444

from Old River ,Texas

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Easy To Clean
Multifuel
Powerful

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
High Altitude
Hiking
Survival

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

This Stove will burn about anything flammable,enabling it to be used all over the Globe!

Comment on this review

Sep

2011

5.0

not for the beginner

By cosmo2

from USA, Pacific Northwest

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Altitude
Cold
Compact
Easy To Clean
Easy to Light
Group
Powerful
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
High Altitude

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

Great stove for the right purpose. It's absolutely
bombproof for group camping and/or cold weather/altitude camping. I prefer white gas (aka naptha) due to low flash point and lack of stench.
To simmer fire up as usual, do any needed quick boiling (pretty much most of my cooking), turn off,
disconnect, let off pressure using a glove (tends to
get just a bit of vapor on your hand), pump 3-5 times
depending on temp/altitude, reconnect and relight.
Unless it is just brutally cold or you are really slow re-priming isn't needed. Results may vary by fuel type. Methinks diesel/cold combination could be a problem. LOL
You will get pretty good simmer control (I'm used to wood fire, so my idea of good simmer control may a
bit different than the average user...!).

Comment on this review

Jul

2011

4.0

Tough Stove

By kirkewing

from San Francisco, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Light
Powerful
Stable

Cons

Bulky
Poor temperature control

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

I love this stove. I bought it because it is tough as nails and will burn anything.

The comments by others on the temperature control are definitely valid. You can work around it with patience and adjusting the pressure in the gas bottle.

The base is very stable and the stove is easy to use and maintain. I would recommend this stove to those how are tough on gear or who can't be sure to have camp stove fuel when they need to cook.

Comment on this review

Jun

2011

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Reliable, hard working stove

By FreeHeel

from High in the San Juans, Colorado

About Me Professional/Guide

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Clean
Powerful
Stable

Cons

Poor temperature control

Best Uses

Backpacking
High Altitude

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

Me thinks there is an Optimus sales rep among us. Two identical reviews singing the Optimus praises?

Ok, on to the XGK. This stove has been an industry standard for nearly for nearly 40 years. I have used one since 1983. In fact I still use that same stove, along with several other including the latest model XGK-EX.

These are tough, reliable stoves that work for their designed purpose. They are meant to heat water and melt stove. The will work at a lower flame setting, but it takes either practice or a scorch buster between the pan and stove. No they won't "simmer" but I always find it funny when people talk about "cooking" in a true backpacking environment. Let's face it you are not cooking 1 hour meals in this setting. You are heating water for dehydrated food or melting snow for water to drink. For the few times you need to reheat already prepared food, just stir very often.

This stove burns lots of fuels (but in reality you typically don't "bring" more than one type anyway). It is loud and fast. It is easy to field maintain and spare parts are easy to come by (most likely the next person on the trail has some if you don't). MSR stands behind their products.

There is a reason people still drive Landcruisers (since 1953) in the remote parts of the world. Sure, there are "newer, better" vehicles, but none of the people with experience drive those. I'll stick with this work horse stove.

Comment on this review

Sep

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

A real allround workhorse.....

By The full Monty

from London, UK

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Powerful
Stable
Totally reliable

Cons

Setting it up
VERY Very noisy

Best Uses

Backpacking
High Altitude
Hiking

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

The MSR XGK is a real workhorse of a stove. Solid and dependable. I've used it short backpacking trips to the full blown winter hardcore stuff and it just performs.

I've noticed that a number of people have said it doesn't 'simmer' yet once you get to know the stove you realise that its all in the initial pumping of the fuel tank. too much and yes it goes at it like there's no tomorrow. Being more gentle and topping pumps up gets you a much better cooking experience.

My only real downside is that its a bit of a faff setting it up especially after a potentially long day. Also be aware if your on an Alpine Start from a campsite you'll wake up everyone within a half mile radius firing it up!

Photo is of a summer camp in Chamonix, Framce using XGK and Reactor. Also simmering a chicken stew. Tent in background is a North Face Ve-25.

Comment on this review

Apr

2010

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

I have had this stove for over 30 years

By Old Bald Guy

from San Ramon, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Powerful
Stable

Cons

Bulky
Heavy
noisy
Poor temperature control

Best Uses

Backpacking
High Altitude

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

I bought this stove back in the late seventies. I used it for a number of years and then it got put away for a few years as I got married and started having kids. It came back out about 10 years ago and after a very inexpensive rebuild, where MSR made it essentially brand new, I have been using it ever since. Compared to the stoves available 30 years ago, this one was great (I also still have my SEVA123, and never use it). Now there are a lot of other choices. That said, it is paid for and it works. It is low to the ground, so it is stable. It is easy to light for a white gas stove (mine has a built in sparker). It is noisy though and does not simmer worth a darn. I once literally took the bottom off a pot trying to bake biscuits. It is also a bit on the heavy side. I might actually break down and buy a canister stove to try to lighten up my pack and go a little easier on my old knees. This may still be the hot ticket for high altitude, but I don't do a lot of that anymore.

Comment on this review

Jan

2010

(9 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

A tired old work horse

By Busto963

from Where the fun is

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Powerful
Rugged
Stable

Cons

Build quality
No simmer
Poor temperature control
Value

Best Uses

Car Camping
Expedition
Hiking
Military

Comments about MSR XGK EX Stove:

Bottom Line: The XGK is no longer the king of the expedition stoves - technology has moved on and competing multi-fuel stoves in the same price range are simply better values. The XGK will do the job, but why put up with its many anachronisms?

The XGK is targeted at people who need true multi-fuel capability (military, global travelers, expeditions, etc.), rugged dependability, and who do not worry about any flame setting other than maximum heat output. If you do not envision the requirement [emphasis on requirement] to burn diesel, JP-8, or kerosene in your stove: the XGK is probably not your best bet. Also, to get multi-fuel capability out of the XGK, you have to change jets- this is a very simple thing to do, but it does mean that your stove reliability is totally dependent upon retaining two small, threaded brass parts (the fuel jets) – loose one in the field and there goes your multi-fuel capability.

People complain about the noise of the XGK, but honestly, any pressurized fuel stove running full out will be noisy. Plan your cooking accordingly.

The not so good points... I own an older (okay old) XGK and I am not impressed with the overall build quality of the new XGKs: many parts are simply not as well built (e.g. the plastic fuel pump, the "contraption" legs etc.). Some claim the plastic MSR fuel pump is better/safer - LOL! Most fires come from fuel spills and the XGK will definitely spill a small amount of fuel when you disconnect the pump. People who dislike the smell of kerosene or diesel take note. Also the fuel line simply presses into the valve body and is retained by a spring contraption. This flaw goes back to the original designs. If the XGK stove leaks at the pump, and catches fire (I saw this happen in the middle of Mauritania…), you have to wrestle a flaming (plastic!) valve and pressurized fuel bottle to shut off the stove! The two-speed "blow torch" fuel control is also much more likely to cause flaring on start-up due to too much fuel squirting into the stove, or if you misjudge the stove pre-heat.

For the same price, the Optimus Nova and Nova plus stoves burn all the fuels that the XGK does (using the same nozzle - you do not have to carry an extra one); puts out almost as much heat, but simmers nicely too; is built much better (machined steel and alloy parts with no annual maintenance requirement!); and costs about the same. The Optimus Nova is also much safer because it has a positive, industrial type fuel disconnect. The valve on the Optimus Nova is at the stove, not the pump (where your hands and the fuel are!). The Optimus allows you a very simple, very positive way to shut the fuel off - flip the fuel bottle, which takes the pickup out of the fuel!

My Optimus Nova went with me to Central America (24-months), Iraq (21-months), Afghanistan (12-months), and will be with me when I go back to the 'Ghan. The XGK will stay at home (again).