Reader Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5

After purchasing a Primus "adjustable" multi-fuel stove and being unable to simmer low enough to bake with it I returned it to EMS and got the MSR Dragonfly. To my delight it simmered PERFECTLY! Doubtless it has the widest range of heat output of any multi-fuel stove.

My Dragonfly stove was the first version (1999 purchase) and I have since replaced the fuel pump with the new "improved" version. Not because the original pump caused me any problems but as a precaution. When this is your stove on winter ski camp trips you need absolute reliability. This is what the Dragonfly delivers - as long as you follow the recommended yearly maintenance routine.
Otherwise I trust this utterly reliable, easy-to-operate stove implicitly. I got primarily it to bake with my Backpacker's Pantry fiberglass baking hood & pot lid thermometer handle but found it to be a great winter camping stove, especially when the BP Pantry hood is used to conserve heat & fuel. Also, the MSR plastic stove & fuel tank base is essential in snow camping. It not only keeps the stove from sinking into the snow but holds the entire setup together.
As a snow melting stove this stove is just amazing. It outperformed my buddy's Whisperlite and my old SVEA 123 brass stove.
Finally, the very low simmer feature of the Dragonfly is a fuel saver when cooking because much cooking is done at medium or low settings - just like your mom does at home.

Nowdays my Dragonfly is reserved for winter camping due to its weight (the heaviest stove MSR makes).

**A few improvements are overdue on this stove:
1. I had to file many notches on the pot supports' top surfaces to prevent my pot from slipping on the smooth wire. MSR, JUST STAMP SOME NOTCHES PLEASE.
2. MSR needs to REDUCE THE WEIGHT of this stove by a few ounces. The center cast aluminum leg holder/burner support needs to go on a diet as do the legs. Titanium legs anyone??

Fix these problems and I'd rate it a "5".

Edited by Danepacker on 05/05/2009 22:29:35 MDT.

Rating: 3 / 5

Gear Wt.
MSR Dragonfly stove 14.0 oz/395 g
MSR Bottle 22oz/650ml 4.9 oz/139 g

Pluses and Minuses
+ MSR has made the Dragonfly since 1998
+ Excellent range of flame control
+ Wide pot supports
+ Uses white gas, kerosene, unleaded gas, diesel, and jet fuel.
+ Folds for storage to about one third of its size
+ Fuel bottle and pump are remote from the stove
+ Self-cleaning shaker jet to keep jet clear
+ Suspended burner cup to lessen heat lost to the ground

- Before each use, you must pump and prime
- You can not use alcohol as fuel for this stove
- Dragonfly pumps will only work with Dragonfly stoves
- Very loud

My notes:
Purchased stove($120) and bottle($12) in January 2004

Have only used Coleman white gas fuel

Always leave the pump in the MSR bottle

Normally use a windscreen

Wrap the windscreen around the bottle for storage

Reader Review:
This was one of my first gear purchases and has never failed me. Although the Dragonfly is a great stove for those interested in gourmet cooking and snow melting, I would not recommend its purchase to those that are trying to reduce their total gear weight. There are lighter alternatives available.

Because I only boil water and I have not needed to melt snow, my use of the Dragonfly has diminshed since I purchased a Trangia burner during the summer of 2004, and then made my own can stove in 2006.

Rating: 4 / 5

I've had a Dragonfly for going on three years now.

It's shortcomings are its weight and it's largish pack size.

Most of the time I do use a .25oz supercat or pressurized side jet alcohol stove (.5oz) or my Optimus Crux ISO butane, but in the winter it's nice to have such a hot, dependable and efficient stove.

What's more I've started to modify it. Just by replacing the legs with stainless steel bike spokes it's now nearly 3oz lighter and more importantly I can now fit it in a typical ul mug style pot.

The only problem I see moving forward is there's not much you can lighten up on it.

Most of the weight is in the fuel pump, the burner, and in having to carry a metal bottle. About the only other place I could make a mod would be to replace the big aluminum body, but I'm not quite willing to go that far.