MSR Whisperlite International Stove

There are many great backpacking stoves available on the market today. When buying a good stove to bring into the wilderness you need to think about weight, type of fuel, packability, burn time, controls and reliability. The Whisperlilght stove by Mountain Science Research has been in use for over 20 years and is the best liquid fuel stove for backpackers. It is durable, lightweight and very efficient.

Lightweight: it weighs only 11 ounces

Efficient: boils a Liter of water in under 4 minutes

Packable: Its collapsible legs and wrap around fuel line allow you to pack this stove in most backcountry pots or easily stowed in your backpack

Independent, Reusable Fuel System: Burning white gas (also burns unleaded auto fuel and kerosene) means that you can choose how much fuel to carry into the backcountry...and its fuel sources are universally available at any camping store, market or even gas station you may pass along the way; you do not need to hunt around for special "cartridge" types. You can go light or heavy depending on how many days on the trail you have planned. You also can reuse the fuel bottles (use small ones for shorter trips, makes things more packable).

Durable & Reliable: Takes a good beating and works great in cold weather.

Stability: Find a smooth surface to rest the stove on and it will hold your regular cooking pots or pans just fine.

Self Cleaning: It has a weighted pin within the jet, so when it is shaken (i.e. when it is being carried around in your pack) - the soot and grime build-up gets cleared away. This means very low maintenance.

Easy to Maintain: The stove and its pump were design to be fully field maintainable. You can easily take it apart and replace pieces in the field.

Cheap: Priced at under $80, this is a great deal for a stove this good.

It usually comes with a stow sack, a heat reflector and wind screen; there are also a number of useful accessories you can purchase like a parts & repair kit and stove base.

• Check out the Esbit Solid Fuel Stove for backpackers
• Choosing an Ultralight Tent