Servuz!

I've been searching for a canister stove for quite a while now. I've been using white gas stoves for the most, I have one Dragonfly and one whisperlite.

I will be using the canister stove mostly the 3 warm seasons, but also at ascends in winter. I'm planing on using it for climbing and hikes in europe, where I want something simple and light.

I've been looking at the MSR Reactor and it seems good. But is it?! It does not pack down that good and it's not that light. Someone says it works well in the cold and some says it don't. If it does, that's a good thing.

I like to cook in the tent and also use the stove to warm/dry stuff in the tent. Has anyone used it for heat in the tent?

I'm also considering the MSR WindPro and the SuperFly. They are cheaper, lighter and more versatile. The WindPro seems stabile and I can turn the gascan up side down. Some would say that the Reactor is so much faster man! Yes, but I have gone without food for 7 days and 7 nights. I think I'll be able to wait 1,5 minute more then with the Reactor.

So, why is the Reactor the best canister stove ever? Would I be better of with a lighter stove? Or is it just better to go on using my white gas stove, that works no matter how cold it gets?

Would be grateful for some help from someone with any experience with these stoves. Thanks.

Samuel

If I put it like this:
Will the Reactor work better then the Windpro in cold weather, even when the gascan is up side down on the winpro?

Does not anyone have the Reactor or the Windpro?

Samuel

Both these stoves have been reviewed on BPL:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/co_series_supplement_1_msr_reactor.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/selecting_stoves_for_cold_weather_part_2.html

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/stoves_tents_carbon_monoxide_pt_3.html

I have both and would choose the WindPro for solo or duo cold weather trips, both due to the weight and the CO emissions. I'd only use the Reactor for groups and outside cooking (the weather where I usually hike means cooking in the tent porch is normal). However for cold weather I'd rather use the Coleman Fyrestorm, which is designed to be used with an inverted canister.

Hey, I have a lot of stoves (don't get my wife going!) and for most things, I like my Reactor the best. It's so fast it's unbelievable- hmmm, I'd like a cup of coffee. Add enough water and wham, it's done. It seems vastly more fuel efficient than any other canister stoves, which sorta brings the weight down, since you carry lessw fuel. I've used it in below freezing temps, in strong wind, and in my vestibule, and it just rocks. Oh, and it's really hard to spill, try that with a Pocket Rocket!

Since I do a lot of solo trips, the extra weight (maybe half a pound if you compare it to the lightest pot, stove, windscreen and pot grabber combo) seem worth it for fast efficient boilage. I put it in my bear can after a few days, when there's room.

What I wouldn't choose it for: a one-nighter in balmy conditions (alcohol!) or a 2 week large group expedition.

Over winter I have been using the MSR WindPro with a Caldera Ti-Tri cone as a windscreen. The stability, wind protection and fuel efficiency of this combo is hard to beat!

Some might argue that the Reactor was one of MSR's biggest mistakes ever. Don't ever use it inside anything. See the articles chris mentions.

> Will the Reactor work better then the Windpro in cold weather, even when the
> gas can is up side down on the winpro?
NO. End of story.

Cheers

That was kind of what I was expecting, so thank you Roger:) And thanks for all the other replies. It helped and I'm pretty shure I'm going to go for the Windpro.

The Reactor has some plusses, but to many minuses. It's heavy, don't take other pots, doesn't simmer and so on. I'll be better of with a regular stove.

Oh..I almost forgot. How is it to regulate the output on the WindPro? Does it simmer?

Samuel

> How is it to regulate the output on the WindPro? Does it simmer?
Quite well. Allow for the delay in response due to the fuel line.

Cheers