Ten year user of the MSR XGK EX. I agree with everything you say. I see the price is rapidly increasing now... $250 CAD at least. I should buy a spare before they get $300.... I plan to use it for rest of life, despite the weight. Hard to improve on this.
As for the noise: Last winter having dinner with you in the tent, to me the noise from your MSR stove was actually quite cozy. I liked it :-) Maybe it was just psychological though, as it meant warmth and food :-P
Alexander... It's also possible that n you mix up you warm feeling for the stove. It's totally possible that you enjoyed the noise from the stove but you actually enjoyed that you couldn't hear all interesting things I was talking about... 😐 /Matti
I have used this stove on several long motorcycle trips in extreme conditions (Siberia in winter sleeping in a tent with a 1939 sidecar) and it performed very well, without any fail.
Hi Matti, clear explanation, thank you. As a down side of this burner, you mention the impossibility of regulating the heat (all or nothing). True if you only use the valve. But next time consider adjusting the pressure in the bottle. At a lower pressure, you can better regulate the heat. So, use fewer pump strokes. Keep up the good work.
That's true but I can't really release the pressure while using the stove. Then I have to turn it off and then let some pressure out of the bottle. ...but it's a very good idea. If you want to.make pancakes you just start with less pressure in the bottle!!! Thanks!!! /Matti
I have an MSR XGK2 (the older round one) that has the exact same features. I have used it for thousands of hours, hundreds of hours melting snow for water. It has never failed me. I use it with "white gas". the only issue has been the jet getting clogged. This has a "shaker jet to solve this. Shake the stove back and forth (up and down) several times until you hear something moving inside the burner. It works flawlessly. I totally agree regarding the noise, this stove is extremely LOUD! Regarding the Primus bottles, my understanding is that the threads are not exactly the same as the MSR bottles. That difference gives a potential for leaks. Personally, I think the key is to not over tighten the pump into the bottle... I've been using this stove for 34 years and it still works flawlessly. Good review and good video! This stove, like the whisperlite stoves, have a way to work around the ON/OFF way they work by default. After starting and heating up your stove, turn it off, then when the flame is completely off, put the fuel bottle with the pump up, then unscrew it to let out the pressure. Then pump it 2 or 3 times only, then restart the stove. It will burn less intensely, allowing for some cooking...
Yes, you’re right. Primus bottles will usually start leaking after a while if you use them on a MSR stove. Most other brands can be used, but Primus-bottles is the exception.
This is the same stove Dr Terry Williams & Al Linsdau (each carried their own) relied on when they embarked on their 33 day/night unsupported Expedition across the 300+ mile Greenland Ice Cap. Heptane was the fuel they used in their stoves. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada.
Thanks for sharing this info. It's a good stove for big groups, the most important thing for me it's you can refuel the tank and don't have to drop the container every time you need more fuel.
I used the older MSR XGK II model when I managed a medical field operation in Guatemala. An excellent stove. The multi-fuel capability offered well-appreciated flexibility. It's rugged as heck and stood up to everything. Still going strong too.
I have this stove, the US Marine Corps uses them and MSR has developed a ring that sets on top of the stove called a simmer ring. this will allow you to cook your pancakes
I think I have just found the best channel on RUclips! Awesome content guys. Coming from a very warm country, I have Really enjoyed you dog mushing videos. Just amazing. I will visit one day! I have a good old Trangia stove. It has no fancy components and would never break down. The fuel is cheap and always available in big bottles which means less waste. The down side to the Trangia, is that it is a slow stove burning metho spirits... takes forever to boil water. Maybe I will get this MSR stove too ;)
Thaaaaanks that nice to get this kind of feedback. 😀 If you live in a warmer place maybe the MSR XGK isn't the best... That's super in cold climate but maybe unnecessary in hot climate? /Matti
I intend to do a lot of Winter mountains Wild Camping above the snowline in Scotland and invested in this MSR XGK EX stove this week. Yet to try it out, most likely today. Everything you have stated is why I purchased this stove. I am not a light back packer, I'm 60 years old and like my comfort and luxury. Used to weight and will keep it that way!
Best review on this stove I have seen. It’s a fantastic stove. Do I choose it for every outing? No. But if utter reliability, strength, and ability to burn anything is critical I will always choose it. Interesting you choose it over something like the Omnifuel (which I have a mixed experience with) being in Sweden! Awesome you add the shots of your beautiful countryside!
A couple of viewpoints, LEGO is the best plastic play toy there is (well in my opinion 😉). So with the negative viewpoint cleared out of the way, again another great review of equipment. The negative point of the noise ain't all that bad and may even be welcome in the silence of the North of Sweden for people coming from big towns and having noise withdrawal symptoms.
You are totally correct. Lego is superstrong... ...and the noice is also helpful if you are out with friends or a group that you don't want to talk with... 🤣😂🤣😂 /Matti
I have been using MSR stoves for 30 years, rarely I’ve had problems. As for the sound, I’ve been using Bernie Dawg silencers on my XGK and dragonfly and it drastically reduce the sound (at least 30-60%), I highly recommend.
No downside there’s a couple of videos explaining and showing the device. Quite impressive for the dragonfly as well because I use it for actual cooking the XGK is just for boiling water and melting snow.
i have my msr egk the older one ,now around 30years. this was my first msr stove. but i never used it a lot . some years not at all. but if i need it , just works,
I feel I should mention this... Alcohol does not work properly multifuel stoves and can potentially be dangerous. They can use gasoline, white gas, kerosene, avgas, jet fuel, and diesel, and some models (eg the MSR WhisperLite universal stove) can also use butane/isobutane canisters. You also need to change the burner nozzle depending on which fuel you use.
I have never used alcohol in the stove. If that's a risk then I should have mentioned that. I didn't know that when I made the video. Thats something for the 'next episode of stove video' /Matti
I bought the MSR Whisperlite in 1995, it could burn kerosene or gasoline. After about 17 years it suddenly started leaking a lot in the pump(yes the red plastic version you also have with XGK). I was lucky to catch and throw it out of the tent and in the snow outside before disaster occured. it was burning gasoline(the very purified version wich is extremely flammable). I had relied too much on the MSR quality and got a little lazy with safety and should have checked the pump more often. Nowadays I use the Whisperlite universal which is silent and very reliable but not as efficient in wintertime as the XGK of course, but In winter I mostly have campfires anyway so.. I also change the gaskets quite often now, I think it's recommended doing it once a year. How often do you do that Matti? Maybe it's not necessary so often but I learned a lesson that day in the tent with gasoline squirting out while it was burning. Gaskets are made of rubber wich have alimited lifespan I think. Interesting to hear that you can burn alcohol in the XGK. Is that recommended by MSR or have you just tried it and it worked ok? I haven't tried that with Whisperlite.
That's good that you could through it out!!! I had similar experience with other brands... I very often check the gaskets and I always check everything before I put a match there. You know... the moment you have put pressure in the bottle then you have a chance before you start it. But... I'm not changing this on regular basis and maybe that's a good routine. Good routines are important when it's things that makes big consequences if they break. The stove is one of this and the carbine between the dogs and the sled is another of this important part. /Matti
Thanks for another great video Matti :) - I have the MSR(N) pocket rocket which I love for BikePacking trips. Have you tried the MSR)N) Hubba Hubba Tent at all?? Maybe not built tough enough for your requirements??
I also have the MSR Pocket Rocket. It's super. The MSR tents...no... But I was very close to buy one Hubba Tour but all the reviws was talking about leaking flyer. /Matti
Aspen 4 or stihl 4 fuels lawn mower or tool fuel, I personally prefer kerosene as it’s cheaper, though use both. I would only use petrol or diesel in an emergency.
Yes... you need to peheat this stove but it's simple if you run the stove with gasoline. You just open the valve and let little bit of fuel goes out as liquid. Then you light that and let this burn until it's almost gone. After that you turn on the stove. 😀 I haven't used the MSR XGK EX with other fuel than gasoline. I'm really found of parafinoil but it's to much problem with that. I can't get the really good quality that I want. 😞 /Matti /Matti
What would be a good storage container to put the stove and fuel pump into while backpacking? I find that the black bag it comes with is too thin and the sharp edges of the stove can easily puncture through and puncture/scratch items in the backpack or potentially tear the backpack itself. I've included it inside a bear canister before. Big mistake as the scent of white gas penetrated the food.
That's a good question!!! I see lots of people who store their gas stoves inside their pots. When it's liquid fuel that's a bad idea... It's maybe possible to store the gasoline in the bottle, in a drybag in one of the outside pockets on your backpack? The stove itself is a problem. Maybe wrap it in a wetex thing that absorb leaking liquid and also protect the surrounding from the sharp edges. Then you put that in to one of the drybags?
I'm also glad you mentioned everything cons as on and off and that's it. So good but I love MSM pancakes and other beautiful simmered food too on a campsite. So again not for me. The whisperlite of MSR !! Dragonfly are far more 'professional' cooking burners, not for just melting snow.
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA Yes of course I have several burners, mainly Primus multifuel (omnifuel) and gas Primus (Gravity 2, as multifuel also) burners. And a big collection of old now classical ( as myself ;-) )Optimus burners, mostly patrol. But a good kitchen chef has always more options. ;-)
som sagt är det ju kanon att se va ni använder om en ska köpa nytt, då håller det garanterat för oss amatörer=) Men 320 gram tycker jag va lätt för ett sånt kök! mitt optimus väger ju närmare 500! Sånt kök får de bli om mitt pajar! tack för en bra video vännen ha de gött//Johan
320gr + 67gr för pump + flaskans vikt. Är det verkligen lättare? Men du har rätt. Det är väldigt värdefullt med ett kök som håller. 😀 Du jobbar på bra du också med dina filmer! Har inte hunnit kolla på din Tarpfilm ännu! 😀 Vi höres! /Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA ja måste väga mitt när ja kommer hem men ja har för mig de va närmare 500gram. Bara brännaren! Men de har ju så man kan reglera låga osv så de kanske e därför? Ja men de får du göra😃👍 du kan nog redan allt om tarp men de behöver ju träna på göteborgska😅👍 Ha de gött//Johan
A couple of years back (03/2013?) we met a musher and his group in Tuottarstugorna/Padjelanta in the winter room. They came pretty late in the evening. I remember him talking about his passion for the XGK since we had the same stove with us... he was completely dressed in Klättermusen. Is there a chance that this was you or is it just every swedish mushers thing :)
I appreciate the video. I bought this from a foreign store. I should've bought it locally, because now I'm paying the price with very, very, long waiting time. My pulk trip will be cancelled as a result. Alas, such is life.
My experience with them have been good. Although I have a friend whos broke down and had to be fixed twice on the trip until it broke down again and was unreparable after so he had to boil his water on my tent group’s stove
Do the Msr liquid fuel stoves( whisperlite,xkg) work with Primus fuel bottles? MSR advices against it and i've read on some forums that they won't fit cause the thread is different.Thanks.
In the literature on the new xkg they list white gas (naphtha), kerosene, diesel, jet fuel (its basically kerosene). You can also use unleaded auto gasoline which has all sorts of stuff in it, the lower the octane the less [stuff]. Paraffin is a cleaner or more refined kerosene. Coleman fuel or white gas does have rust inhibitors. Now on my dad's old xgk they also say aviation fuel. Aviation fuel is not jet fuel, aviation fuel can and likely does contain lead. The lead is a really good way to raise octane ratings by a lot. Leaded gasoline can't be good to use unless desperate. My dad says there are ways to modify them to burn alcohol and that he new a dude in patagonia that couldn't get fuel so he burned aftershave in it. Stoves are soooo super cool, engineering & fire.
Hi, I am in the market looking for a stove for mountaineering and thus need a stove that is durable and can burn even in extremely low temperatures and at high altitudes. This leads me to MSR stoves. However, there is severel types of MSR multi-fuel stoves... Do you have any opinion of the quality between the MSR stoves (e.g., MSR XGK, MSR Dragonfly, MSR Whisperlite etc.)
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA yeah, thats also what i was thinking. I am really torn between the XGK and the Dragonfly… guess I will just have to make a choice since there is no bad option really.:) thx for the reply and for the nice vids!:) Best.
@@mikkelkeller6210 if you want a stove that can eat most fuel even the dirty ones, without having it too easily clogged, choose XGK-EX. If you are sure that you will be using only cleaner fuel than diesel, such as kerosene, paraffin, white gas, choose MSR Dragonfly. I own an MSR Dragonfly, it is better than Primus Omnilite Ti that I also owned. But, I tend to use bad or dirty fuel, dirty kerosene or paraffin, and I have to clean the MSR Dragonfly every 2 days because of these dirty fuels. Now I'm looking out to get myself an MSR XGK-EX.
@@the_guardians_of_the_universe thx! Thats good to know. I thought that all MSR burners were equally good with different kinds of fuel… On the Dragonfly - is it the regulator (simmer function) that usually clogs when using “dirty” fuel?
@@mikkelkeller6210 hmm, I think I've replied you just now, but I cannot find my reply anywhere. Yesss, your guess is right! Especially that thread on the simmer regluator stick. I have to brush it repeatedly with a wire (brass) brush.
I'm cheating RUclips's algorithm by using 2 different channels to watch your videos 😂. I don't know but I have read somewhere that if someone watches a video and skips the commercial the uploader won't make any revenue on the video, do you know if that's correct?
Matti, the one thing I worry about with the XGK (and any MSR stove) is that the plastic pump does not seem as durable as the metal ones from Primus and Optimus. I gather this is actually a deliberate safety feature, such that in the event of the fuel bottle being exposed to the burner, the plastic will melt, dissipating the internal pressure safely. Were this happen with a metal pump, there would be an explosion. The downside as I see it is that plastic is simply not as robust as metal. This means that if you accidentally step on the storage bag containing the pump, it is easy to destroy it. In a remote Polar environment, where one depends on one's stove to melt snow for drinking water, this could be life threatening. What is your opinion about this? Has this been a problem for you and what do you do about it? What are the downsides of the competitors such as Primus, or the Trangia multi-fuel burner which looks like a Primus?
*i have a trick to diminish the fire power. you must only pump 1 time the bottle* if the stove is cold it might not be enough pressure to make the fuel drip to pre-heat the stove. you can pump and use the stove normally, then when you want lower firepower you shut it off. then you put the bottle upright and unscrew it to empty the pressure. than you can simply restart the stove without even pumping or only pumping 1 time.
So your MSM haha ! 🙂 ..... ok and it sounds like a rocket 🙂 that's really not cosy and for me a breaking sellingpoint. Kitchen work in groups is a social event. Really you have to be able to talk. So I think you should make another review about a silent MSM burner. :-) Greetings, Onno Nugteren the Netherlands.
It's super important to use bottles that are made for fuel and made for the pressure. And then as long as it's the same thread it shouldn't be a problem. Most of this bottles are using the same standard thread. BUT never use a drinking bottle that is not made for this pressure!!! /Matti
That's bullshit, if they have the same threads then it's really up to you to use your brain and see/smell/listen for leaks. Thanks DAD for shitting on this guy when you really should be praising his content because he actually uses these stoves in the field, guaranteed, unlike you who uses them maybe twice a year POPS.
@@ktownc936 WHAT?? He’s not shitting on anyone as far as I can see. Stop being overdramatic! 😂 He’s actually right you know. Primus and MSR both say the same thing. Most other brands can be used on MSR-stoves, but Primus shouldn’t. I chose to believe that. You’re free to do what you want. 🙂
15 years is nothing. If it is 50-70 years old stove then we are talking about it. That one has pipes, connections and plastic pump parts... I wonder how they last compared to old Primus which is made of solid brass, steel and has a leather seal in its pump - not a single connection (you need to open) or pipes.. You can burn Primus stove as long as there is fuel left and outside temperature is irrelevant. Power is high. I don't like using gasoline because paraffin is much safer, odorless and gives same power (actually paraffin has a bit more energy in it). It is also cheaper fuel. Primus doesn't soot your kettles (and your hands) like that stove and you can adjust power down if needed. Pre-heating is much safer in Primus by using alcohol, my friend has had some interesting moments inside tent when using gasoline for preheating with that one
@@drcoolit Original one. Nr5,, the usual size. It is actually Radius, nickel plated. Smaller one I have is Primus. I have also one that packs in a rectangular steel box, Svea Campus Nr.5 but it doesn't work properly (yet). All early arctic and mountain expeditions used these, from Nansen to Hillary. Working principle is same as in current pressure stoves
@@bekanav Thanks for the clarification. My hope is that my Himalaya will prove to be very reliable over time. Also, this is from the Primus site ("history") - 1996 - multifuel stove released, also tested by Goran Kropp on Mt. Everest.
@@drcoolit I'm sure it is a good quality stove. New stoves have certain advantages over old ones like multifuel option, lighter weight and possibly smaller package size. I remember that epic Mt. Everest expedition. RIP
@@bekanav When I saw the "RIP" I was curious about what you were referring to. Now I know! sounds like he was quite a guy and did some remarkable things. I see that he made a film on this epic adventure re Everest. I'll see if I can find a copy!
denatured alcohol is no longer sold in California, it is against the law, therefore all the alcohol stoves will not be able to get alcohol fuel, not anywhere, not at hardware store, not at camping store, not at a gas station. this law change happened in 2018.
Thanks again for your Akto review. I used it on so many trips right now. Your review really helped me with making the right choice!
That's super!
I hope you will find more things to get AND avoid from our channel.
😀
/Matti
Ten year user of the MSR XGK EX. I agree with everything you say. I see the price is rapidly increasing now... $250 CAD at least. I should buy a spare before they get $300.... I plan to use it for rest of life, despite the weight. Hard to improve on this.
I have an original MSR XGK I bought in the late 1970's. I use it for Alpine mountaineering in the winter. Still runs great.
Thay are amazing!!!
/ Matti
As for the noise: Last winter having dinner with you in the tent, to me the noise from your MSR stove was actually quite cozy. I liked it :-) Maybe it was just psychological though, as it meant warmth and food :-P
Alexander... It's also possible that n
you mix up you warm feeling for the stove. It's totally possible that you enjoyed the noise from the stove but you actually enjoyed that you couldn't hear all interesting things I was talking about...
😐
/Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA yes, it was a good excuse not to listen to any of you :-P
I have used this stove on several long motorcycle trips in extreme conditions (Siberia in winter sleeping in a tent with a 1939 sidecar) and it performed very well, without any fail.
It’s really boom proof!
:-)
/Matti
Hi Matti, clear explanation, thank you. As a down side of this burner, you mention the impossibility of regulating the heat (all or nothing). True if you only use the valve. But next time consider adjusting the pressure in the bottle. At a lower pressure, you can better regulate the heat. So, use fewer pump strokes. Keep up the good work.
That's true but I can't really release the pressure while using the stove. Then I have to turn it off and then let some pressure out of the bottle.
...but it's a very good idea. If you want to.make pancakes you just start with less pressure in the bottle!!!
Thanks!!!
/Matti
I have an MSR XGK2 (the older round one) that has the exact same features. I have used it for thousands of hours, hundreds of hours melting snow for water. It has never failed me. I use it with "white gas". the only issue has been the jet getting clogged. This has a "shaker jet to solve this. Shake the stove back and forth (up and down) several times until you hear something moving inside the burner. It works flawlessly. I totally agree regarding the noise, this stove is extremely LOUD! Regarding the Primus bottles, my understanding is that the threads are not exactly the same as the MSR bottles. That difference gives a potential for leaks. Personally, I think the key is to not over tighten the pump into the bottle... I've been using this stove for 34 years and it still works flawlessly. Good review and good video!
This stove, like the whisperlite stoves, have a way to work around the ON/OFF way they work by default. After starting and heating up your stove, turn it off, then when the flame is completely off, put the fuel bottle with the pump up, then unscrew it to let out the pressure. Then pump it 2 or 3 times only, then restart the stove. It will burn less intensely, allowing for some cooking...
Yes, you’re right. Primus bottles will usually start leaking after a while if you use them on a MSR stove. Most other brands can be used, but Primus-bottles is the exception.
This is the same stove Dr Terry Williams & Al Linsdau (each carried their own) relied on when they embarked on their 33 day/night unsupported Expedition across the 300+ mile Greenland Ice Cap. Heptane was the fuel they used in their stoves.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada.
Skitbra Matti, jag vet hur det är att hänga med dig i kyla, så jag tar dig helt på orden! 💪🏾
Det va några år sedan nu men kyla bekymrade väll varken dig eller mig.
😀
/Matti
very good explained ! Thank you Matti.
Thanks and that’s lovely that you understand what I wanted to say.
😃
/Matti
Thanks for sharing this info. It's a good stove for big groups, the most important thing for me it's you can refuel the tank and don't have to drop the container every time you need more fuel.
That’s a bad thing with the gas canisters.
/Matti
I used the older MSR XGK II model when I managed a medical field operation in Guatemala. An excellent stove. The multi-fuel capability offered well-appreciated flexibility. It's rugged as heck and stood up to everything. Still going strong too.
I have this stove, the US Marine Corps uses them and MSR has developed a ring that sets on top of the stove called a simmer ring. this will allow you to cook your pancakes
I think I have just found the best channel on RUclips! Awesome content guys. Coming from a very warm country, I have Really enjoyed you dog mushing videos. Just amazing. I will visit one day!
I have a good old Trangia stove. It has no fancy components and would never break down. The fuel is cheap and always available in big bottles which means less waste. The down side to the Trangia, is that it is a slow stove burning metho spirits... takes forever to boil water. Maybe I will get this MSR stove too ;)
Thaaaaanks that nice to get this kind of feedback.
😀
If you live in a warmer place maybe the MSR XGK isn't the best... That's super in cold climate but maybe unnecessary in hot climate?
/Matti
I intend to do a lot of Winter mountains Wild Camping above the snowline in Scotland and invested in this MSR XGK EX stove this week. Yet to try it out, most likely today. Everything you have stated is why I purchased this stove. I am not a light back packer, I'm 60 years old and like my comfort and luxury. Used to weight and will keep it that way!
Best review on this stove I have seen. It’s a fantastic stove. Do I choose it for every outing? No. But if utter reliability, strength, and ability to burn anything is critical I will always choose it. Interesting you choose it over something like the Omnifuel (which I have a mixed experience with) being in Sweden! Awesome you add the shots of your beautiful countryside!
🙏 Thank you TJ!!! /Stina & Matti
A couple of viewpoints, LEGO is the best plastic play toy there is (well in my opinion 😉). So with the negative viewpoint cleared out of the way, again another great review of equipment. The negative point of the noise ain't all that bad and may even be welcome in the silence of the North of Sweden for people coming from big towns and having noise withdrawal symptoms.
You are totally correct. Lego is superstrong...
...and the noice is also helpful if you are out with friends or a group that you don't want to talk with...
🤣😂🤣😂
/Matti
I have been using MSR stoves for 30 years, rarely I’ve had problems. As for the sound, I’ve been using Bernie Dawg silencers on my XGK and dragonfly and it drastically reduce the sound (at least 30-60%), I highly recommend.
That Bernie Dawg silencers is interesting. What is the downside? More CO in the tent or less power or just silent?
/ Matti
No downside there’s a couple of videos explaining and showing the device. Quite impressive for the dragonfly as well because I use it for actual cooking the XGK is just for boiling water and melting snow.
i have my msr egk the older one ,now around 30years. this was my first msr stove. but i never used it a lot . some years not at all. but if i need it , just works,
Yes...they are fantastic!!!
😀
/Matti
They are good those MSN stoves! Got one XGK myself, but as you say sounds like a rocket.
...but it seems that they never break down!
/Matti
I feel I should mention this... Alcohol does not work properly multifuel stoves and can potentially be dangerous. They can use gasoline, white gas, kerosene, avgas, jet fuel, and diesel, and some models (eg the MSR WhisperLite universal stove) can also use butane/isobutane canisters. You also need to change the burner nozzle depending on which fuel you use.
I have never used alcohol in the stove. If that's a risk then I should have mentioned that. I didn't know that when I made the video.
Thats something for the 'next episode of stove video'
/Matti
I have the MSR Universal and nobody can tell me which jet I need to use to burn diesel?
@505fastlife6 from what I've heard the whisperlite doesn't like diesel much but it would be the UK jet for the closest match.
The jet you should use is the one that has a K stamped on one of the faces of the jet.
@@505fastlife6I bet n
MSR could,
Great Vid, what better testament too msr showing use of their stoves in that environment! Says it all double thumbs up 👍🏿👍
Very informative. Thank you, Matti
Have you ever thought of trying the msr dragonfly stove as is able to simmer so you could cook pancakes
Yes... I would love to do that but I can't just buy and buy stoves all the time. 😀 It's already little bit to much equipment already! 😉 /Matti
Thanks for the great video on your MSR stove. I want to hang out with 30 dogs!
Thanks!
Hanging out with our dogs is lovely!!!
☺️
/Matti
I bought the MSR Whisperlite in 1995, it could burn kerosene or gasoline. After about 17 years it suddenly started leaking a lot in the pump(yes the red plastic version you also have with XGK). I was lucky to catch and throw it out of the tent and in the snow outside before disaster occured. it was burning gasoline(the very purified version wich is extremely flammable). I had relied too much on the MSR quality and got a little lazy with safety and should have checked the pump more often. Nowadays I use the Whisperlite universal which is silent and very reliable but not as efficient in wintertime as the XGK of course, but In winter I mostly have campfires anyway so..
I also change the gaskets quite often now, I think it's recommended doing it once a year. How often do you do that Matti?
Maybe it's not necessary so often but I learned a lesson that day in the tent with gasoline squirting out while it was burning. Gaskets are made of rubber wich have alimited lifespan I think.
Interesting to hear that you can burn alcohol in the XGK. Is that recommended by MSR or have you just tried it and it worked ok? I haven't tried that with Whisperlite.
That's good that you could through it out!!! I had similar experience with other brands...
I very often check the gaskets and I always check everything before I put a match there. You know... the moment you have put pressure in the bottle then you have a chance before you start it.
But... I'm not changing this on regular basis and maybe that's a good routine. Good routines are important when it's things that makes big consequences if they break. The stove is one of this and the carbine between the dogs and the sled is another of this important part.
/Matti
Wonderful video! Thank you for your content!😊
Thanks for another great video Matti :) - I have the MSR(N) pocket rocket which I love for BikePacking trips. Have you tried the MSR)N) Hubba Hubba Tent at all?? Maybe not built tough enough for your requirements??
I also have the MSR Pocket Rocket. It's super.
The MSR tents...no... But I was very close to buy one Hubba Tour but all the reviws was talking about leaking flyer.
/Matti
Great video please keep up the great work!
I enjoyed the review, thank you.
Great video..... if the flame was adjustable, I would buy now.......Thank you...
very good review as always
Thanks!
It's nice to.make reviews of equipment that is really good!!!
😀
/Matti
Aspen 4 or stihl 4 fuels lawn mower or tool fuel, I personally prefer kerosene as it’s cheaper, though use both. I would only use petrol or diesel in an emergency.
Thanks for this video.Need the stove Preheating? Work it fine with all different fuel?
Yes... you need to peheat this stove but it's simple if you run the stove with gasoline. You just open the valve and let little bit of fuel goes out as liquid. Then you light that and let this burn until it's almost gone. After that you turn on the stove.
😀
I haven't used the MSR XGK EX with other fuel than gasoline. I'm really found of parafinoil but it's to much problem with that. I can't get the really good quality that I want.
😞
/Matti
/Matti
What would be a good storage container to put the stove and fuel pump into while backpacking? I find that the black bag it comes with is too thin and the sharp edges of the stove can easily puncture through and puncture/scratch items in the backpack or potentially tear the backpack itself. I've included it inside a bear canister before. Big mistake as the scent of white gas penetrated the food.
That's a good question!!!
I see lots of people who store their gas stoves inside their pots. When it's liquid fuel that's a bad idea...
It's maybe possible to store the gasoline in the bottle, in a drybag in one of the outside pockets on your backpack? The stove itself is a problem. Maybe wrap it in a wetex thing that absorb leaking liquid and also protect the surrounding from the sharp edges. Then you put that in to one of the drybags?
Now I want this stove ... :-)
It's a good one...
😉
/Matti
I'm also glad you mentioned everything cons as on and off and that's it. So good but I love MSM pancakes and other beautiful simmered food too on a campsite. So again not for me. The whisperlite of MSR !! Dragonfly are far more 'professional' cooking burners, not for just melting snow.
It's maybe an idea to have one each?
/Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA Yes of course I have several burners, mainly Primus multifuel (omnifuel) and gas Primus (Gravity 2, as multifuel also) burners. And a big collection of old now classical ( as myself ;-) )Optimus burners, mostly patrol. But a good kitchen chef has always more options. ;-)
"Not for sitting there in the tent quietly waiting for a bear"
Why you talking o me? 😝
Hahhahaaa... I guess that you prefer a brown bear alarm.
🤣
/Matti
som sagt är det ju kanon att se va ni använder om en ska köpa nytt, då håller det garanterat för oss amatörer=) Men 320 gram tycker jag va lätt för ett sånt kök! mitt optimus väger ju närmare 500! Sånt kök får de bli om mitt pajar!
tack för en bra video vännen ha de gött//Johan
320gr + 67gr för pump + flaskans vikt. Är det verkligen lättare?
Men du har rätt. Det är väldigt värdefullt med ett kök som håller.
😀
Du jobbar på bra du också med dina filmer! Har inte hunnit kolla på din Tarpfilm ännu!
😀
Vi höres!
/Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA ja måste väga mitt när ja kommer hem men ja har för mig de va närmare 500gram. Bara brännaren! Men de har ju så man kan reglera låga osv så de kanske e därför?
Ja men de får du göra😃👍 du kan nog redan allt om tarp men de behöver ju träna på göteborgska😅👍
Ha de gött//Johan
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA haha ja hade fel! Mitt kök vägde 330gram👍👍 ja som e gramjägare å allt😂😂😂
A couple of years back (03/2013?) we met a musher and his group in Tuottarstugorna/Padjelanta in the winter room. They came pretty late in the evening. I remember him talking about his passion for the XGK since we had the same stove with us... he was completely dressed in Klättermusen. Is there a chance that this was you or is it just every swedish mushers thing :)
What do you think/know about the primus multi fuel burner?
Riktigt bra recension. Ni har en ny prenumerant 🙂
Kul att du gillade och kul att du börjar prenumerera.
😀
/Matti
I appreciate the video. I bought this from a foreign store. I should've bought it locally, because now I'm paying the price with very, very, long waiting time. My pulk trip will be cancelled as a result. Alas, such is life.
Sometimes it's better to buy from local shops... but you will probably be happy with the stove!
/Matti
awesome videos man! have you ever tried to build an in ground jet stove? much quieter and burns wood with little to no smoke.
But...is that really possible to transport?
/Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA small versions are, but wood/fuel is the environmental variable.
I have this stove and love it. Have you ever burned alcohol in it?
No...never alcohol. Have you? Is it good???
/Matti
Useful video. It's called a lawnmower.
Thanks!
😀
Law mower.
🤣
/Matti
What about the primus multifuel stoves?
My experience with them have been good. Although I have a friend whos broke down and had to be fixed twice on the trip until it broke down again and was unreparable after so he had to boil his water on my tent group’s stove
The MSN bug was the best!!!! 😂
Great video
Thanks!
/Matti
You say you have tested other brands of stoves have you ever tried the Optimus Polaris?
Do the Msr liquid fuel stoves( whisperlite,xkg) work with Primus fuel bottles? MSR advices against it and i've read on some forums that they won't fit cause the thread is different.Thanks.
호환 됨니다.
In the literature on the new xkg they list white gas (naphtha), kerosene, diesel, jet fuel (its basically kerosene). You can also use unleaded auto gasoline which has all sorts of stuff in it, the lower the octane the less [stuff]. Paraffin is a cleaner or more refined kerosene. Coleman fuel or white gas does have rust inhibitors. Now on my dad's old xgk they also say aviation fuel. Aviation fuel is not jet fuel, aviation fuel can and likely does contain lead. The lead is a really good way to raise octane ratings by a lot. Leaded gasoline can't be good to use unless desperate. My dad says there are ways to modify them to burn alcohol and that he new a dude in patagonia that couldn't get fuel so he burned aftershave in it.
Stoves are soooo super cool, engineering & fire.
can you make pancake with XGK-EX using a simmer-plate?
What is a simmer plate???
/Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA a plate, to diffuse heat from the fire
@@the_guardians_of_the_universe huh.?
@@rvz77 what?
Hi, I am in the market looking for a stove for mountaineering and thus need a stove that is durable and can burn even in extremely low temperatures and at high altitudes. This leads me to MSR stoves. However, there is severel types of MSR multi-fuel stoves... Do you have any opinion of the quality between the MSR stoves (e.g., MSR XGK, MSR Dragonfly, MSR Whisperlite etc.)
I have only used the XGK but friends are happy with the other models also.
/Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA yeah, thats also what i was thinking. I am really torn between the XGK and the Dragonfly… guess I will just have to make a choice since there is no bad option really.:) thx for the reply and for the nice vids!:) Best.
@@mikkelkeller6210 if you want a stove that can eat most fuel even the dirty ones, without having it too easily clogged, choose XGK-EX.
If you are sure that you will be using only cleaner fuel than diesel, such as kerosene, paraffin, white gas, choose MSR Dragonfly.
I own an MSR Dragonfly, it is better than Primus Omnilite Ti that I also owned. But, I tend to use bad or dirty fuel, dirty kerosene or paraffin, and I have to clean the MSR Dragonfly every 2 days because of these dirty fuels.
Now I'm looking out to get myself an MSR XGK-EX.
@@the_guardians_of_the_universe thx! Thats good to know. I thought that all MSR burners were equally good with different kinds of fuel… On the Dragonfly - is it the regulator (simmer function) that usually clogs when using “dirty” fuel?
@@mikkelkeller6210 hmm, I think I've replied you just now, but I cannot find my reply anywhere.
Yesss, your guess is right! Especially that thread on the simmer regluator stick. I have to brush it repeatedly with a wire (brass) brush.
I'm cheating RUclips's algorithm by using 2 different channels to watch your videos 😂.
I don't know but I have read somewhere that if someone watches a video and skips the commercial the uploader won't make any revenue on the video, do you know if that's correct?
I have no idea...
The basic is to produce videos that people want to see and then they stay at the platform RUclips instead of Facebook.
😀
/Matti
Matti, the one thing I worry about with the XGK (and any MSR stove) is that the plastic pump does not seem as durable as the metal ones from Primus and Optimus. I gather this is actually a deliberate safety feature, such that in the event of the fuel bottle being exposed to the burner, the plastic will melt, dissipating the internal pressure safely. Were this happen with a metal pump, there would be an explosion. The downside as I see it is that plastic is simply not as robust as metal. This means that if you accidentally step on the storage bag containing the pump, it is easy to destroy it. In a remote Polar environment, where one depends on one's stove to melt snow for drinking water, this could be life threatening. What is your opinion about this? Has this been a problem for you and what do you do about it? What are the downsides of the competitors such as Primus, or the Trangia multi-fuel burner which looks like a Primus?
Har du använt Optimus Polaris köket och hur står den sig mot denna?
*i have a trick to diminish the fire power. you must only pump 1 time the bottle*
if the stove is cold it might not be enough pressure to make the fuel drip to pre-heat the stove. you can pump and use the stove normally, then when you want lower firepower you shut it off. then you put the bottle upright and unscrew it to empty the pressure. than you can simply restart the stove without even pumping or only pumping 1 time.
Aaah, the grass cutting machine 😂
So your MSM haha ! 🙂 ..... ok and it sounds like a rocket 🙂 that's really not cosy and for me a breaking sellingpoint. Kitchen work in groups is a social event. Really you have to be able to talk. So I think you should make another review about a silent MSM burner. :-) Greetings, Onno Nugteren the Netherlands.
But the people who follow me are maybe happy if they doesn't hear all the shit I'm talking... 😉
/Matti
You have never seen a Soto Stormbreaker. Things do improve, if you have enough money. Check one out if you’re open minded and have the money.
Okay… one more thing that I have to buy…
😳
I love my Soto Windmaster (gas stove)
/Matti
The old way, word of mouth . Cheers
😀
Горелки MSR это "АК-47" среди горелок. Там тупо нечему ломаться - одно резиновое колечко и все. Ну а насосы периодически ломаются у всех горелок.
I totally agree!!!
/Matti
you should never never use primus bottles with msr stoves maybe yours works perfecly but it is not tge case for every bottles and they can leak
It's super important to use bottles that are made for fuel and made for the pressure. And then as long as it's the same thread it shouldn't be a problem. Most of this bottles are using the same standard thread.
BUT never use a drinking bottle that is not made for this pressure!!!
/Matti
That's bullshit, if they have the same threads then it's really up to you to use your brain and see/smell/listen for leaks. Thanks DAD for shitting on this guy when you really should be praising his content because he actually uses these stoves in the field, guaranteed, unlike you who uses them maybe twice a year POPS.
@@ktownc936 WHAT?? He’s not shitting on anyone as far as I can see. Stop being overdramatic! 😂 He’s actually right you know. Primus and MSR both say the same thing. Most other brands can be used on MSR-stoves, but Primus shouldn’t. I chose to believe that. You’re free to do what you want. 🙂
15 years is nothing. If it is 50-70 years old stove then we are talking about it. That one has pipes, connections and plastic pump parts... I wonder how they last compared to old Primus which is made of solid brass, steel and has a leather seal in its pump - not a single connection (you need to open) or pipes..
You can burn Primus stove as long as there is fuel left and outside temperature is irrelevant. Power is high.
I don't like using gasoline because paraffin is much safer, odorless and gives same power (actually paraffin has a bit more energy in it). It is also cheaper fuel. Primus doesn't soot your kettles (and your hands) like that stove and you can adjust power down if needed. Pre-heating is much safer in Primus by using alcohol, my friend has had some interesting moments inside tent when using gasoline for preheating with that one
Primus makes quite a few stoves (I have the Himalaya) -- which stove are you referring to in your comment?
@@drcoolit Original one. Nr5,, the usual size. It is actually Radius, nickel plated. Smaller one I have is Primus. I have also one that packs in a rectangular steel box, Svea Campus Nr.5 but it doesn't work properly (yet).
All early arctic and mountain expeditions used these, from Nansen to Hillary. Working principle is same as in current pressure stoves
@@bekanav Thanks for the clarification. My hope is that my Himalaya will prove to be very reliable over time. Also, this is from the Primus site ("history") - 1996 - multifuel stove released, also tested by Goran Kropp on Mt. Everest.
@@drcoolit I'm sure it is a good quality stove. New stoves have certain advantages over old ones like multifuel option, lighter weight and possibly smaller package size.
I remember that epic Mt. Everest expedition. RIP
@@bekanav When I saw the "RIP" I was curious about what you were referring to. Now I know! sounds like he was quite a guy and did some remarkable things. I see that he made a film on this epic adventure re Everest. I'll see if I can find a copy!
A Lawnmower ? 😅
Hahahaaaa...
My brain is not always connected with my mouth!
😀
/Matti
@@JOKKMOKKGUIDERNA
It’s ok we still understood you 😄 Best Regards to Tina 😊
Camron Grove
Actually you can't burn Alcohol
Hermina Centers
It´s not a good idea, use the stove with alcohol!!!!.
Maybe you are right... but doesn't they market the multifuel stoves as a stove where you can use even alcohol...?
/Matti
denatured alcohol is no longer sold in California, it is against the law, therefore all the alcohol stoves will not be able to get alcohol fuel, not anywhere, not at hardware store, not at camping store, not at a gas station. this law change happened in 2018.
Mohr Prairie