Battle of the stoves - boil test

[masongary44]

For years I have been using the old MSR XGK expedition stove for all my trips but a year or so ago my Wife treated me to a shiny new MSR Windpro. I am planning a trip out for a long weekend and decided to put them both through a trial to see which stove was likely to be the better option.

The test - Simple, to bring 500ml of water to a rolling boil as quickly as possible.

The test was conducted using cold tap water and done in an open garage so there was no breeze. Heat reflectors and windshields were not used as this better represents how I am likely to use the stoves on the go.

The container used was my trusty Crusader mug

Stove 1 - MSR XGK

I have owned and used this stove for more than 10 years. It has never broken and only let me down once (easily serviced in the field and brought back to life). I have used this as the only method of cooking for week long expeditions and have always liked its simplicity and serviceability. It does have some weaknesses though. To get the stove running involves leaking some fuel and igniting it to get pre-heat the fuel line. This can result in some fairly dramatic flames, which, in a covered environment where I tend to spend most of my time, represents a fire risk during dry spells. Once it is going, it burns like a jet engine. It is noisy and after use takes a long time to cool to a temp that makes it safe for re-packing.
It will however run from almost any liquid fuel so running out is never much of a concern.

Stove 2 - MSR Windpro

I have only used this stove once in the field and found it to be pretty impressive. Set up and pack away time is excellent with no issues waiting around for it to cool down. It has a much more stable base than the XGK making it a lot safer to use. I am just never sure about cannister based stoves. You need to be around a camping store to get more fuel and they are bulky to carry around if you need to be out for any length of time. This stove is incredibly light and thanks to its flexible fuel line packs down very small indeed.

The test

Each stove is set up and using lit. As soon as the flame is stable, the burner is turned up to its maximum, the crusader placed on the pot stand and a timer started. As soon as the water hits a rolling boil the stove is turned completely off and the timer stopped.

In each test the fuel is weighed before and after the boil to determine how much has been used during the test.

First up the MSR Windpro. I am using a standard cannister of fuel (iso-butane / Propane mix). The cannister is part used so I should get representative supply pressure.

Weight of fuel + cannister before test:347g
Weight of fuel + cannister post test: 334g
Weight of fuel used during the test: 13g

Time taken: 2 minutes 52 seconds

Now for the XGK... I am using Coleman fuel as it is readily available and clean burning. I am using a small fuel bottle and the 10 year old original pump.

Weight of fuel + bottle + pump before test:303g
Weight of fuel + cannister + pump post test: 278g
Weight of fuel used during the test: 25g

Time taken: 9 minutes 8 seconds

Summary:

I have to admit I was completely surprised by this result. The Windpro appears to be significantly more capable in this test. Observing each test the flames from the Windpro seemed to wrap round the crusader mug, the pot stand is also closer to the burner where the XGK flame is localized to the bottom of the mug and quite distant from it which I guess contributed to the much faster boil time. There also seems to be a lot of heat radiated out wards form the XGK which i expect could be reduced and performance improved using the heat reflector and and heat shield. I was also surprised that for a much longer boil / burn time, the XGK appears to be lighter on fuel (running at around 3g per minute Vs. 4g per minute...

Overall an interesting test. I guess from this since time is often an important factor for me, I will be leaving the XGK behind. If I was planning a longer trip I would be more likely to take the XGK simply because to buy a liter of unleaded petrol is a lot easier than finding camping fuel cannisters world over. All in all a worthwhile test i think...

If anyone else fancies running a similar test with their stove, it might be good to put together some numbers ??

 

[Peter_t]

great stuf, im sure somebody will find this very helpful:You_Rock_
i have a coleman 442 stove that i can add to the results probably tomoro if i have the time


pete

 

[Shewie]

Good review fella


I'll see your Windpro and raise it with my 1pt Kelly Kettle though

 

[jimford]

I'll see your Windpro and raise it with my 1pt Kelly Kettle though.

Kelly Kettles are great, but I have a hell of a job getting an egg in the hole in order to boil it. It's even worse getting it out!
;^)

Jim

 

[Shewie]

Kelly Kettles are great, but I have a hell of a job getting an egg in the hole in order to boil it. It's even worse getting it out!


Jim

Fair point Jim, maybe we need a "which stove can boil an egg the fastest" thread.

 

[johnboy]

Hi,
I’ve got a few differing stoves so I ran a test similar to the OP’s methodology.
All stoves were liquid fuelled and all timing taken does NOT include the time taken to prime the stoves. Timing is not to the last second but near enough. Again I was bringing 500ml of ‘cold’ tap water to an observed rolling boil.

Ok first up the boiling vessel in this case to mimic the OPS methodology it’s a NZ Army SS canteen cup .

First stove up was an MSR XGK this is an earlier version than the OP ie non shaker jet and with the older style of Pot legs. The XGX will run on most types of fuel and in this case I was burning some AVTUR/ J1 ( kerosene) that I had to hand. Time taken to boil 500mls of water 6:15.

Next up was an Optimus Explorer this stove uses the quite excellent Silent burner arrangement and in this case is burning Shellite which is Kiwi for White gasoline ( coleman fuel). Time Taken 3:40

We moved onto something a bit older In this case a Ex US Army M1942 ‘Mountain Stove’ this example was made by Aladdin in 1945. It only runs on ‘petrol’ in this case White Gasoline again....
Time Taken 4:40

The Svea 123 is considered to be an exemplar in the back packing stove world. A favourite of Colin Fletcher the US outdoor writer. The stove is self pressurising and runs on ‘petrol’ again or in this case White gasoline. This 123 is the original ‘slant valve’ 123 not the later 123R with the built in cleaning needle some reckon the 123 to be a superior stove to the later ‘R’ whatever the case time taken 8:55

After WWII the US Army began looking for a stove to replace the ‘coleman’ 520 and M1942 stoves for Squad use a stove that was capable of heating the then new ‘C’ rations the result was the M1950 this example was made by Coleman in 1966 and would have been supplied to the NZ Army as part of the MAP arrangements around that time. The stove runs on ‘petrol’ and again in this case White Gasoline. Time taken 3:20

Finally the Coleman “Peak 1” series of stoves has been around for many years and has represented the first real stove for a lot of walkers and climbers myself included this version is a 400B I believe running on White Gasoline Time Taken 5:32

Hope the above is useful....

 

[AJB]

Johmboy - a fine selection of stoves

 

[johnboy]

Johmboy - a fine selection of stoves

Thanks,

there is QUITE a few more out in the shed....

 

[AJB]

Thanks,

there is QUITE a few more out in the shed....

And you're not in the shed because...

 

[johnboy]

And you're not in the shed because...

It's Sunday Morning here in the Southrn Hemisphere and I've got no stoves to fettle currently but I might give the rifle a clean later....

Looks like it's going to be a very wet day ....

 

[Calculon]

I use a Snow Peak Titanium & am really happy with it, incredibly light & a really quick boil. I'll do a test later.

Cheers
Calc

 

[Calculon]

Good review fella


I'll see your Windpro and raise it with my 1pt Kelly Kettle though

Hi Shewie, I have a 2.5 Kelly Kettle & the full cooking kit it's an awesome tool if you're not travelling light...boil water & cook at the same time! It's like a travel AGA.

I wouldn't part with mine.

Calc

 

[rik_uk3]

Something is wrong with the XGK if its taking that long.

 

[rik_uk3]

Very nice stoves there Johnboy, very nice indeed. Hang on to that Optimus Explorer they are harder to find than hens teeth these days. Good tests although the Crusader type mugs are not the best for testing with as I'm sure you know.

Do you ever drop by www.spiritburner.com ?

Hi,
I’ve got a few differing stoves so I ran a test similar to the OP’s methodology.
All stoves were liquid fuelled and all timing taken does NOT include the time taken to prime the stoves. Timing is not to the last second but near enough. Again I was bringing 500ml of ‘cold’ tap water to an observed rolling boil.

Ok first up the boiling vessel in this case to mimic the OPS methodology it’s a NZ Army SS canteen cup .

First stove up was an MSR XGK this is an earlier version than the OP ie non shaker jet and with the older style of Pot legs. The XGX will run on most types of fuel and in this case I was burning some AVTUR/ J1 ( kerosene) that I had to hand. Time taken to boil 500mls of water 6:15.

Next up was an Optimus Explorer this stove uses the quite excellent Silent burner arrangement and in this case is burning Shellite which is Kiwi for White gasoline ( coleman fuel). Time Taken 3:40

We moved onto something a bit older In this case a Ex US Army M1942 ‘Mountain Stove’ this example was made by Aladdin in 1945. It only runs on ‘petrol’ in this case White Gasoline again....
Time Taken 4:40

The Svea 123 is considered to be an exemplar in the back packing stove world. A favourite of Colin Fletcher the US outdoor writer. The stove is self pressurising and runs on ‘petrol’ again or in this case White gasoline. This 123 is the original ‘slant valve’ 123 not the later 123R with the built in cleaning needle some reckon the 123 to be a superior stove to the later ‘R’ whatever the case time taken 8:55

After WWII the US Army began looking for a stove to replace the ‘coleman’ 520 and M1942 stoves for Squad use a stove that was capable of heating the then new ‘C’ rations the result was the M1950 this example was made by Coleman in 1966 and would have been supplied to the NZ Army as part of the MAP arrangements around that time. The stove runs on ‘petrol’ and again in this case White Gasoline. Time taken 3:20

Finally the Coleman “Peak 1” series of stoves has been around for many years and has represented the first real stove for a lot of walkers and climbers myself included this version is a 400B I believe running on White Gasoline Time Taken 5:32

Hope the above is useful....

 

[johnboy]

Something is wrong with the XGK if its taking that long.

Yes I agree that the XGK boil time at 9 minutes is a bit slow... But I'm not sure if that includes the time taken to prime the stove..?? If not then something is not right... I'd say the revised pot stands on the XGKII do not help matters as the pot is held further from the burner.

On the original MSR model 9 the pot legs were MUCH shorter which gave a better boil time but produces a bit more CO due to the flame impingement.. Probably not what you want in a snow cave....

I ran a couple more tests... A generic Chinese Gassie running 80/20 butane propane mix in a 1/4 full canister Time Taken 5:32

and an Optimus 00 1 pint stove running on Kerosene Time Taken 3:45 but it is a particularly good one and in really good fettle.

(here's an in field shot)

Oldies can be goodies eh...

Cheers

John

 

[Peter_t]

got a chance to test my coleman peak 1 442 stove today
running on petrol but you can also use white gas (could never justifi the price)

weight befor 807 grams
weight after 801 grams
fuel used 6 grams

time taked untill a roleing boil 4minutes 4secconds

thanks
pete

 

[jimford]

running on petrol but you can also use white gas (could never justifi the price)

Use 'Panel Wipe' or Aspen 4T. Panel Wipe is petroleum naptha, the same as Coleman White Gas (and probably purer). Both are around a 1/5 the price of Coleman!

Jim

 

[AJB]

Use 'Panel Wipe' or Aspen 4T. Panel Wipe is petroleum naptha, the same as Coleman White Gas (and probably purer). Both are around a 1/5 the price of Coleman!

Jim

Where do you get it from Jim?

 

[Peter_t]

Use 'Panel Wipe' or Aspen 4T. Panel Wipe is petroleum naptha, the same as Coleman White Gas (and probably purer). Both are around a 1/5 the price of Coleman!

Jim

aspen is still neerly three times the price of regular petrol
petrol does clog the generator pipe but within six liters the savings from petrol would pay for a new one.

pete

 

[rik_uk3]

aspen is still neerly three times the price of regular petrol
petrol does clog the generator pipe but within six liters the savings from petrol would pay for a new one.

pete

Spill petrol and the smell lingers for hours, not so with Aspen or PW, plus the nasties in petrol give off fumes you really don't want to be breathing in, your life, your choice.