Looks like MSR is putting out some new takes on some of it's most venerable stoves. New Stoves from MSR.

The MSR MicroRocket:


The MSR Whisperlite Universal:


Looks like interesting stuff!

HJ

The universal burns alcohol, butane, gasoline, or kerosene. Very Nice.

It burns alcohol? I haven't seen anything to indicate that it burns alcohol. If true, that would be very cool.

Do you have any further information on the alcohol angle? A link perhaps?

HJ

Nothing I have read suggests that the Whisperlite will burn alcohol and I too would like to see a link that states that it will burn alcohol.

The MicroRocket looks promising. I am not a weight weenie by any means however at first glance, the slightly smaller size appears to be a major plus for my kit as it will allow this smaller stove to fit into an existing storage bag that the Pocket Rocket is just slightly too big for.

The MicroRocket looks nice. I think it was smart of them to move the attach point of the pot supports closer to the burner head. I think moving the attach points higher will make for greater stability. And if the pot supports are at all stronger (MSR says that they are), then I think this will be a really good upgrade. This isn't a completely new stove, more like a product improved version.

The new separate ignition? I'm not so sure that has much value. You can see my blog for my thoughts on that.

I hope that I'm wrong, but I bet the new Whisperlite Universal is not designed to burn alcohol. No modern gas/gasoline/kerosene stove is designed to burn alcohol that I know of. The last stove made that I'm aware of that was designed to burn liquid petroleum fuel and alcohol was the Optimus 111T (T = Triple* fuel). I'm not aware of anything thereafter.

I hope I'm wrong. That would be really cool if the W'lite Universal burned four types of fuel instead of just three.

HJ

*Gasoline, kerosene, and alcohol.

Jim, I am with you on the MicroRocket finer points and also the non-value of the separate ignition as I just can't see it being very useful for most who already carry a lighter etc.

Once the local gear shop gets these new MicroRocket stoves in stock, I will be purchasing one to test and see if it will become a permanent part of my main cook kit.

Yeah, I'm not sure what they were thinking there on the ignition. Just give me a doggone firesteel. 100X more reliable, particularly at higher altitudes where piezoelectric ignitions tend to fail, especially in cold weather. Not sure who thought this brilliant little gem up. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like a really dumb idea to me.

HJ

Well it looks like we are in a bit of a wait for the new stoves to appear on gear store shelves. I found the July 18, 2011 Cascade Designs press release which states:

The 2012 line of MSR stoves featuring the new and redesigned models will debut in Europe at the July 2011 OutDoor Trade Fair and in North America at the August 2011 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The line will be available in stores January 2012.

Note that there is also more info in the release about each stove's features.

I added a reminder to my email calendar for January...

Thanks for that press release.

HJ

I was hoping the micro rocket will lower the burner height a bit, but seems it's still the same as pocket rocket.

The pocket rocket pot support does suck, wobbly with anything more than single person meal, and if you have a smooth bottom pot it will slide around, and god forbid if it's not on absolute flat terrain and it's windy, feels like the pot will take off if I'm not constantly holding it in place.