MSR WindBurner
|
92
|
Boil Time
10
Efficiency
8
Wind Performance
10
Cooking
7
Weight
7
|
Highly wind resistant
Very fast boil
Highly efficient
Simmers very well
|
High profile, risks spill
Expensive
Lid difficult to remove
|
|
Primus Eta Lite
|
90
|
Weight
7
Efficiency
9
Wind Performance
8
Boil Time
9
Cooking
7
Value
10
|
Highly efficient
Lightweight
Fast average boil
Low profile burner great against wind
Pot “coozie” and webbing handle very effective
Integrated hanging kit is the best in the category, very simple
|
Smallest pot volume in class
Piezo igniter is ineffective in cold with low fuel pressure
Included pot adaptors are not stable
|
MSRP
$100.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
Jetboil MiniMo
|
89
|
Weight
7
Fuel Efficiency
8
Wind Performance
7
Boil Time
9
Cooking
10
Reliability
8
|
Fast & efficent
Superb simmering
Glove-friendly
|
Pot/stove seperation can be difficult
Foam pot cozy is inadequate
|
|
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Four Season Stove
|
88
|
Boil Time
8
Wind Performance
8
Efficiency
7
Cooking
8
Weight
7
|
Inverted canister design
Boils fast
Wind resistant
Compact
|
Windscreen attachment process
Stove/pot support deployment
Long-term durability questionable
|
|
Olicamp Kinetic Ultra Titanium
|
87
|
Weight
9
Efficiency
7
Wind Performance
7
Boil Time
7
Packing
9
Value
8
|
Lightweight: 1.7 oz alone, 3.2 oz. with included plastic case
Wide burner head disburses flame well
Size: smaller than the Snow Peak LiteMax and MSR MicroRocket
As efficient as MSR MicroRocket, boiling 8 liters from 4 oz. of fuel
Price: almost $20 less than competitors tested
|
Pot supports most narrow among stoves tested at 3.75’’
Small flame control valve is too close to flame
Plastic carry case awkward to pack
|
|
Primus Eta Spider
|
87
|
Weight
6
Fuel Efficiency
8
Wind Performance
7
Boil Time
8
Cooking
10
Reliability
8
|
Fast average boil: 2:53 for two cups of water
Highly efficient: boiled 20 two-cup pots on 100g of fuel
Simmering is exceptional
Easy to grab strainer lid
Flexible fuel line
Extra-long insulated pot handles
|
Heavy; included carry bag adds significant bulk
Magnetized stove mounts on windscreen lost effectiveness
|
MSRP
$120.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
MSR Reactor
|
86
|
Weight
7
Efficiency
7
Wind Performance
10
Boil Time
10
Cooking
5
Value
7
|
Fuel-efficient – 9 liters boiled from 4 oz. of fuel
Wind resistant – under 3:00 boil time in steady wind
Boil times - Consistently sub-3:00 boil time, faster than Primus EtaExpress and Jetboil SOL TI
Sturdy, foldable packing handle
Regulator maintains canister pressure
|
Cost - only the Jetboil Sumo TI is more expensive
Can only be used with other Reactor pots
Bulky – 1.7-liter pot is largest among similar systems
|
|
Optimus Vega
|
86
|
Weight
8
Ease of Use
8
Wind Performance
7
Boil Time
6
Versatility
8
Value
9
|
Lightweight: 6.3 oz by itself, 8.5 oz. with stuff sack and windscreen
Highly efficient, boiling 18 liters of tap water from 7.76 oz of Optimus Gas
Small: can be nested with mugs, bowls, pots, etc.
Simple transition to liquid fuel feed
Foldable, sturdy pot supports ideal for group cookware
Wind resistant because of low stance and windscreen
|
Weak flame control on low simmer
No built-in igniter
|
|
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Canister Stove
|
86
|
Boil Time
9
Wind Performance
8
Efficiency
7
Cooking
7
Weight
5
|
Lightweight
Cooks well
Wind resistant
|
Windscreen attachment process
Lacks features compared to competition
Third-party pot compatibility
|
|
MSR MicroRocket
|
85
|
Weight
7
Efficiency
7
Wind Performance
8
Boil Time
8
Packing
8
Value
7
|
Lightweight: 2.6 oz alone, 4.3 with case and igniter
Boil time: faster on average than Snow Peak LiteMax and Oilcamp Kinetic Ultra
High-quality build, very durable
Efficient; boiled 8 liters from 4 oz. of fuel
Large fuel valve makes flame control easy
|
Igniter failed after only a few uses
Most expensive, along with Snow Peak LiteMax
|
MSRP
$59.95
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
Jetboil Flash
|
85
|
Weight
7
Efficiency
9
Wind Performance
6
Boil Time
7
Cooking
8
Value
8
|
Most efficient stove in test
Lightweight
Fast average boil
Large fuel control valve easy to use with gloves
Stable when in use
Price
|
Slower than competitors in cold and wind
Piezo igniter is ineffective in cold with low fuel pressure
Pot must cool before safely detaching from stove
Bottom cup weak, can be tedious to remove
|
|
MSR Whisperlite Universal
|
84
|
Weight
7
Ease of Use
5
Wind Performance
8
Boil Time
7
Versatility
7
|
Lightweight: 1 lb. 3 oz. with all components and stuff sack
Fast & efficient in all conditions
Consistent performance across all fuel types
Stainless steel pot supports maintain stability of group-sized cookware
Improved disassembly method
Priming control: 30+ liquid fuel ignitions, not one re-start
|
Risk of losing shaker needle, other parts during fuel swaps
Changing fuel jets challenging with cold-weather gloves
Short, rigid fuel line de-stabilizes stove during priming
|
|
Kovea Power Nano
|
84
|
Weight
6
Efficiency
6
Wind Performance
8
Boil Time
8
Durability
8
Value
8
|
Average boil time of 2:28.
Large valve adjustment handle is precise and easy to use with gloves
Wind performance.
Durable
Price
|
Less efficient than Soto WindMaster and OliCamp Ion Micro
Heavier than competitors
Flame spread quickly heats pot handles
|
MSRP
$35.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
MSR WindPro II
|
84
|
Weight
6
Efficiency
8
Wind Performance
8
Boil Time
7
Durability
8
Value
7
|
Fast average boil, faster than Kovea Spider and Optimus Vega
Efficiency; boiled 16 liters on 8.9 oz. canister
Wind performance; wind screen, low burner/pot clearance maximize capability
Stable under all pot and pan sizes
Ease of use of flame adjustor with gloves
Included windscreen and inverted canister support
|
Price. At almost $100, it’s expensive for a canister stove
Heavier than most in its class
Bulky, not as easy to pack
|
|
Kovea Spider
|
84
|
Boil Time
6
Weight
8
Efficiency
8
Wind Performance
6
Durability
8
Value
8
|
Lightweight. Lightest in category at 6 oz.
Very efficient, tied with MSR WindPro II for with 1
16 liters boiled on 8.9 oz. canister
Long, flexible fuel line aids in packing and backcountry kitchen set up
Wide stance accommodates multiple pot sizes
Glove-friendly fuel control
|
Slow average boil
Not as efficient in windy conditions
Windscreen not included
|
MSRP
$65.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
Primus EtaExpress
|
83
|
Weight
8
Efficiency
7
Wind Performance
4
Boil Time
7
Durability
7
Value
10
|
As fuel-efficient as MSR Reactor – 9 liters boiled from 4 oz. of fuel
Boil time: averaged 3:19 over ten boils
Compact & Versatile: can be used with alternative brand pots
Price: great performance for well under cost of competitive systems
Field-repairable: jet can be cleaned if needed
|
Windscreen makes for clunky piezo ignition
Not as fuel-efficient as JetBoil SOL TI
Slower average boil than MSR Reactor
Wind performance less efficient as MSR Reactor, Jetboil SOL TI
Lid too small to function as practical plate or pan; requires stuff sack to stay in place when packed
|
MSRP
$97.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
Optimus Elektra FE Cook System
|
83
|
Boil Time
8
Efficiency
7
Wind Performance
7
Cooking
6
Weight
5
|
Compact
Wind performance
Durable
Fuel control dial
|
Price
Igniter
Cooking flexibility
Fry pan/lid
|
|
Primus OmniFuel
|
83
|
Boil Time
5
Fuel Efficiency
8
Ease of Use
7
Durability
7
Weight
6
|
Fuel pump
Versatility
Flame control
White gas efficiency
Jet swaps
|
Price
Noise
Flame spreader
Priming
|
MSRP
$157.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
Jetboil SOL Titanium Premium Cooking System
|
82
|
Weight
8
Efficiency
9
Wind Performance
7
Boil Time
7
Durability
6
Value
5
|
Fuel efficient – boiled 12 liters of water on 4 oz. of fuel
Lightweight – titanium’s best benefit
Quick boil time – averaged 3:12 boiling .75 liters of water
Compact – smaller than MSR Reactor and EtaExpress
Pressure regulator - maintains consistent boil times
|
Pricey – higher end of the market, expensive for heating less than a liter of water
Neoprene wrap virtually pointless – pot is to hot to handle for pouring
Destroys itself quickly when tipped over.
|
MSRP
$150.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
Olicamp Ion Micro Titanium
|
82
|
Weight
9
Efficiency
9
Wind Performance
5
Boil Time
7
Durability
7
Value
5
|
Size & weight; smallest canister stove on the market at 1.5 ounces
Highly efficient; boiled 17 pots of water on 4 ounces of gas
Average boil time of 3:13
|
Size of stove and flame adjustor makes control difficult
Miniscule pot supports provides stability for only smallest of pots
Poor wind performance
Cost; priced similarly to much more versatile competitors
|
|
MSR SuperFly
|
81
|
Weight
7
Efficiency
6
Wind Performance
7
Boil Time
6
Durability
9
Value
6
|
Pot supports offer variety and stability with cookware
Wind performance
Flame control; best in category for camp cooking
Durability; strong, very well-built
|
Least efficient among four screw-on canister stoves tested
Boil time; slowest in test
|
MSRP
$65.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
MSR XGK EX
|
81
|
Boil Time
6
Efficiency
6
Wind Performance
7
Cooking
7
Weight
6
Reliability
9
|
Bombproof
Fuel versatility
Low, stable stance
Easy field maintenance
|
Heaviest in category
Expensive
Inflexible fuel line
Loud
|
|
Optimus Nova+
|
81
|
Boil Time
5
Efficiency
7
Wind Performance
7
Cooking
7
Weight
7
Reliability
8
|
Lightweight
Fuel versatility
Low, stable stance
Magnetic jet cleaning needle
|
Powerline™ control valve
Stiff fuel line
Expensive
Doesn’t pack well
|
|
Snow Peak GeoShield
|
81
|
Boil Time
6
Efficiency
8
Wind Performance
7
Cooking
8
Weight
6
Reliability
6
|
Large pot stability
Standard or inverted canister use
Good for simmering, long-term cooking
Efficient
Good wind performance
|
Cumbersome setup
Wire locking system for windscreen
Base plate attachment clips bend
No included stand for inverted canister stability
|
MSRP
$99.95
BEST DEAL
N/A
|
Snow Peak LiteMax Titanium
|
79
|
Weight
8
Efficiency
7
Wind Performance
6
Boil Time
7
Packing
6
Value
5
|
Lightweight: 1.9 oz alone, 2.2 oz. with included stuff sack
Large, rubber-coated fuel control valve
Folding pot supports adjust to pot size
Pot support width of over 4’’
|
Slowest boil among competitors OliCamp Kinetic Ultra Titanium and MSR MicroRocket
Poor performance in wind
|
|
Jetboil Sumo Group Cooking System w/ Companion Bowl Set
|
77
|
Weight
4
Cooking Capacity
10
Packability
5
Versatility
7
Durability
6
Value
5
|
Durable pot.
Strainer lid.
Nests all bowls, stove and 230g fuel canister.
Sol stove.
|
Bulky.
Complex to nest properly.
Flimsy measuring cup.
Many separate parts and accessories.
Pricey.
|
|