How to Choose a Backpacking Stove

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High winds and freezing temperatures are enough to hamper the performance of many canister stoves. Not the MSR Reactor 1.0L. It excels on lightweight adventures in rugged alpine terrain.
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View all MSR Backpacking StovesBest Use | Backpacking |
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Fuel Type | Canister |
Fuel | Isobutane-propane |
Auto Ignition | No |
Burn Time (Max Flame) | (Per 8 oz. of fuel) 1 hr. 20 min. |
Average Boil Time (1L) | Unavailable |
Dimensions | (Packed dimensions) 4.75 x 6.1 inches |
Weight | 14.7 ounces |
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The 1.0 liter Reactor pot works great for boiling water. It's very fast and efficient for a solo backpacker, and takes up minimal space inside a pack. I do want to address another reviewer's comments about the fuel canisters not fitting inside the pot as advertised. The older MSR 4.0-ounce fuel canisters will not fit inside the 1.0 liter Reactor pot because of the rolled edge at the bottom. MSR redesigned their smaller fuel canisters to be narrower and taller, and these newer 3.9-ounce fuel canisters will fit inside the 1.0 liter Reactor pot. I photographed the two different fuel canisters side-by-side for a comparison, and will try to include them with this review.
In reading some of these reviews the people dont know how to use this stove. IT ONLY BOILS WATER. THATS IT. In 1 min. Then turn off. Its not for soup or pasta, or anything else. Boil water and make tea, pour in food bag, etc. I lost my first canister before I got a full count of uses, but it will last many trips (12 uses = 1/2 can) before running out. I used it on mountain sides in 40kt winds, no protection. Boiled water and had a hot meal. Or on a forest floor, all easy. Compact, light weight, Tough, Lites easy. Very steady because stove ""locks"" (held by groove) into pot. After a lifetime of camping, hiking, and mountains, I'm not even going to bother with other stoves any more. I'm 50.
I bought this when the 1L size pot was brand new. I expected to use it for winter emergencies (melting water, food, hot drinks) as it was small enough to take in my day pack. It has ended up ""our stove"" for year round backpacking adventures. Each pot makes enough water for two hot drinks or two of our home-made freeze dried meals. It is fuel efficient (we carried it for an 8 day wonderland trail trip party of 2- 3 meals each per day plus a drink with each meal and didn't run out of fuel using a 16oz can) and melts snow just fine in the winter. It would not work well for any simmering. If all you need is hot or boiling water and you plan to make food in another container this stove is perfect.
after watching a friend cook with one of the 1.7L models for 3 years, I had to try a 1L version. While I am very happy with the practical and functional use, I am concerned about the packing. The stove boils water like no other. It is everything I expect from MSR ( i also have a whisperlite). But I am not thrilled with the way the stove packs. I understand that need for the new MSR canisters, but even with that, the stove itself sits so tight in the pot that I have to hold it upside down and knock on the bottom to get it out. Does anyone else have this issue?
I have owned many stoves. When you are at hi altitude, tired and cold. This cooker is quick and clean. Put a boil in the bag meal on and within 3 minutes you have a hot meal and the water you use for a hot drink. The stove will burn evenly until the canister is completely empty and there is no washing up. This is a rugged and tough stove and comes into its own on sparse alpine trips. Size is the thing here, I have used smaller space saving and lighter stoves, but as always there is a trade off and I think the relative bulk of this stove is well worth the space it takes up even in a small pack. I have used the stove up to around 8,000 metres and the air pressure does have an effect but the stove still performs and does what it is supposed to do.
THIS THING IS AWESOME. My favorite new piece of gear. I used a Whisperlite for years before realizing that 90% of the time, I was just boiling water. I decided that it was too clunky and slow for just water usage and wanted to try a canister stove and just went all out and bought a Reactor. The ease and speed of setup, along with the unbelievably fast boiling speed - and I literally mean unbelievable, this is some black magic - make this my new favorite. Recently was on a short five day canoe trip with three others who also have their own stoves, and they have all decided they're going to buy a reactor after seeing how it works
I had this stove for a kayak trip off the Maine coast. The first night we cooked burgers in a fry pan. That caused the stove to overheat and then in would not work for the rest of the trip. Luckily we had a second stove. The issue is internal and there is no fix except to send it to MSR. MSR did replace it, but during a discussion with their rep, he said it is only intended to boil water with an eye towards alpinism. That focus seems too narrow for me. Also no two pots will nest. Why wouldn't MSR want some of the pots to nest? The stove is a furnace however, and I love the design to save fuel, but only for boiling water.
I research a ton of stuff before buying. This actually met or exceeded my expectations. Boils water like a champ. Side by side with my old canister stove this thing put the old stove to shame. This boiled ~1 liter water in ~2 min, whereas my old stove took 10+ min. My wife was skeptical, but took it on a wintery trip into the Grand Canyon with 4 other stoves. The other stoves couldn't keep up, and they ended up only using this stove. I've loaned it to friends and they all were blown away and impressed. They were all skeptical of how good it is, until they tried it. Now they all want to borrow it for their trips.
I have used the reactor stove system for the past two years and have fallen totally in love with its ease of use, efficiency, and light weight. In 1974 I purchased an MSR Model 9 stove. This stove revolutionized outdoor stoves in its reliability, ease of use, and flexibility in using different fuels. Over the years I have demo-ed many other stove brands but have always owned and used MSR stoves. MSR stoves have always proven to me to be far superior in both summer and winter outdoor experiences. The reactor system has converted me to using propane fuel in its much lighter weight and the efficiency of propane fuel canisters versus liters of other fuels. Combined with the Reactor Stove and the Reactor cook pots, MSR has given us an incredibly efficient and lightweight cooking system for all aspects of outdoor adventures. Thank you.
My wife and I used the MSR on a 7 day Sierra backcounty trip and it performed flawlessly. We wanted a lighter, faster, compact and cleaner stove. The MSR meets all of this criteria for us and it is a real time saver.. Granted, we really just boil water, yet this stove is so fast and easy, our mornings were more enjoyable as we broke camp each day. The added bonus is that it fit nicely in my back.