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 Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2543 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 8:46 PM
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Was digging around MSR's website the other night and noticed they changed their stove lineup around quite abit for 2012.
The Simmerlite is out, and a new "WhisperLite Universal" is in.
http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/stoves/simple-cooking/whisperlite-universal/product
Looks like it has the structural design of the Simmerlite, but has the ability to handle white gas, canister gas (isopro), kerosene, and regular unleaded gasoline. According to their site, and the few "light" reviews I've read, it may even work better while simmering.
Any thoughts on these? I currently have the Simmerlite, but I'm about to head overseas and I can't help but find myself debating whether or not I need a stove that can handle some alternate fuel types as a precaution. The ability to actually simmer would be nice. |
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 canine loving, machete-toting bushwhacking lake seeker, Indiana Jones hat-wearing off-road 4x4 guru
Surrey Hole, BC
Canada
6793 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 10:17 PM
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I am using a Primus Gravity 2 MF
It does perform well, but only tried white gas so far. It will actually back down to a reasonable simer with a windscreen.
Will have to try out other fuels as a test.
I imagine kerosene and gasoline could make for a smelly mess if spilled, even little amounts. |
Edited by - Aqua Terra on 05/06/2012 10:17 PM |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
344 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 10:23 PM
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How long have they had that leg style? I'm not sure I see the advantage of the flat style over the pipe style they had before. Seems... flimsier, but of course, that's only an impression and that's not worth much.
I have the internationale and it handles enough types of fuels I highly doubt I'd ever be screwed. The main thing you want is something that runs kerosene and gasoline if you're concerned about being high and dry. Gas and Kerosene is almost anywhere. You might be able to run it through the simmerlite in a pinch. I bought a second hand of the basic white-gas whisperlite and the lady had said she ran gas in it south america once.
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Langley, BC
Canada
1078 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 11:01 PM
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You can simmer with it by unscrewing the pump to let some air pressure out of the tank.
And the windscreen mentioned by Aqua Terra keeps the wind from blowing the flame off of the generator. You can also orient the stove so that the generator is downwind so that the flame stays on the generator. |
Edited by - Matt on 05/06/2012 11:04 PM |
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| gyppo
Intermediate Member
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
750 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 10:08 AM
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"simmerlite" is quite a stretch!
The old style pump for the simmerlite (brass valve knob) allowed simmering, but the one I bought 5 years ago won't simmer unless you let out almost all the air or use infinitesimally small adjustments.
That stove is lighter than the whisperlite however, and uses less fuel, so I would recommend it for backpacking if you have to carry your fuel. The new model sounds nice.
B
Edit - probably a defect or bent parts, but I have to mess around with my simmerlite to get the fuel to run down into the priming cup when I light it. otherwise, it stays on the burner and drips to the ground. the whisperlite primes more readily. |
Edited by - gyppo on 05/07/2012 10:10 AM |
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1448 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 3:07 PM
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White Gas is obviously the best some searching before you go might be best. Or what name the fuel is called in that country.
check this place out
http://fuel.papo-art.com/
From what I have seen the new Universal simmers great on canister gas. Kerosene is really dirty and requires a great deal of cleaning. It will burn Unleaded but people have reported it can damage the jet after a while.
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCamping/StovesFuel/Stoves/PRD~5026-911/msr-whisperlite-universal.jsp
I have the international waiting for me in Blaine will report next week how it simmers.
MSR WhisperLite International Stove
quote:
Originally posted by ShadowChaser
Was digging around MSR's website the other night and noticed they changed their stove lineup around quite abit for 2012.
The Simmerlite is out, and a new "WhisperLite Universal" is in.
http://cascadedesigns.com/msr/stoves/simple-cooking/whisperlite-universal/product
Looks like it has the structural design of the Simmerlite, but has the ability to handle white gas, canister gas (isopro), kerosene, and regular unleaded gasoline. According to their site, and the few "light" reviews I've read, it may even work better while simmering.
Any thoughts on these? I currently have the Simmerlite, but I'm about to head overseas and I can't help but find myself debating whether or not I need a stove that can handle some alternate fuel types as a precaution. The ability to actually simmer would be nice.
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 3:46 PM
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Gyppo, have you read the instructions for your Simmerlite? If it's the same one as ours, you aren't supposed to run the fuel into the little dish under the jet. Instead, you just let out enough fuel to wet the burner rings at the top. Quite different to the other MSR's where the priming fuel went in the little cup at the bottom.
I've found the only stoves that really simmer well are ones with a second valve like the dragonfly.
Being able to handle other types of fuel can be handy overseas, depending on where you are traveling. Although, it always seemed to me that the difference in MSR stoves for universal versus white gas only fuel was simply a bigger jet hole. |
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Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2543 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 6:38 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Cherry Pirate
How long have they had that leg style?
At least 6 years on the Simmerlite. Works great. Not flimsy at all.
quote:
Originally posted by Matt
You can simmer with it by unscrewing the pump to let some air pressure out of the tank.
Been trying this for years, doesn't work, at least not at the level I want it to. 
quote:
Originally posted by gyppo
I have to mess around with my simmerlite to get the fuel to run down into the priming cup when I light it. otherwise, it stays on the burner and drips to the ground.
Not a defect, mine does the same thing. As sandy mentioned, I believe you're just supposed to let it fill the "ring" at the edge - but even then it doesn't help. It's either "fireball" or nothing at all. I've tried a little bit of gas, a lot, letting it sit, nothing helps. I've done a few complete rebuilds on the thing with new parts, no difference.
A few blogs indicate Coleman/white gas style fuel can be found in Iceland - likely due to the packpacking demand. Still, if its an excuse to get a stove that simmers and can handle alternate fuel types....
For some reason I had always thought the DragonFly was a canister only stove, not sure what on Earth I was thinking. How does it stack up against the Whisperlite? |
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Kootenay Bud
2695 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 7:49 PM
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I think the simmerlite is a little more fiddly to prime than the stoves where you prime by filling the cup at the bottom, but once you get the hang of it, you should have no trouble.
The Dragonfly simmers very well thanks to the second valve down near the jet. It also roars like a jet engine so you know it is going. We had it before the simmerlite until the frame broke and was irreparable. It seemed to use just a bit more gas than the simmerlite, and, I think it is a little bit heavier. It also seems a bit bulkier, but, if you really want to simmer, it will do that very well. |
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Fraser Valley, British Columbia
Canada
50 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 09:11 AM
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I have the Dragonfly and it is fantastic.
I have done eggs over easy, quesadilla and many other "simmer required" meals.
Also, as mentioned, the noise is great as you can tell when it goes out, or even when it needs to be re-pumped from the other side of the camp site. But u can still easily talk over it.
In my experience is used very similar amounts of fuel to the whisperlite, and boil times were only slightly slower.
My only complaint would be that it doesnt fold up that small, and doesnt fit inside my pot set. |
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1448 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 4:15 PM
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As for noise a guy makes a dragon tamer that cuts the noise out. The only problem is the cost is a bit NUTS, as he was selling them on ebay and they went for 150-250 or more.
Another guy was in the process of making some but again 80-90bucks
quote:
Originally posted by Wrgb
I have the Dragonfly and it is fantastic.
I have done eggs over easy, quesadilla and many other "simmer required" meals.
Also, as mentioned, the noise is great as you can tell when it goes out, or even when it needs to be re-pumped from the other side of the camp site. But u can still easily talk over it.
In my experience is used very similar amounts of fuel to the whisperlite, and boil times were only slightly slower.
My only complaint would be that it doesnt fold up that small, and doesnt fit inside my pot set.
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opinionated-stove huggin'-fleece wearin'-arse burnin' hill virgin
Here
Canada
4642 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 5:08 PM
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| I always liked the design of the Simmerlite and it seemed to have less problems than its big brother the Whisperlite. I might have to invest in one to compare the two. |
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MSR WhisperLite Universal
