I'm evaluating the new MSR Whisperlite Univeral, which is set for public release in 2012. The Whisperlite Universal will do anything the old Whisperlite Classic or Whisperlite Internationale will do AND the Universal will burn canister gas. I've only run a few tests as of now, but I like what I've seen so far. I haven't finished my review, but I do have some videos of the new stove posted on my blog: MSR Whisperlite Universal -- First Videos, Detailed Photos

Here is a photo of the W'Lite Universal running on canister gas:


HJ

Thanks for the preview, Jim. I'm thinking I'll pick one of these up when available. One question is how adjustable is the flame with liquid vs gas?

Mark,

With gas, it's as adjustable as any stove I've used. The stove maintains an excellent low simmer. Take a look at the photos toward the end of the slideshow on my blog for simmering photos on gas.

With white gasoline, the flame is more adjustable than either of the Whisperlites currently sold, but it doesn't really simmer.

I haven't tried simmering with kero yet, but I can't imagine that kero will simmer any better than white gasoline.

If you're looking for true simmering, either run the Whisperlite Universal on gas -- or go buy a Dragonfly.

HJ

Thanks again, Jim. I've got a couple of canister stoves and I'm happy with them, and would probably use canisters most of the time with this one. But it would be nice to have the multi-fuel option for emergencies, even if simmering isn't an option.

I have a question regarding gas canister stoves in general. Can they be safely lit with a Spark-Lite?

Jeanette Isabelle

Great review, now if MSR made it out of titanium alloy, was priced below a Primus Omnifuel and had a compatible connection to work with a Primus Pump/Bottle (not the same old plastic MSR one) then I might consider getting one.

How does it compare with the Omnifuel? It certainly seems to be a quieter stove overall.

I like the cleaning cable inside the fuel line, don't think my omnifuel or brunton af even have one.




Sure, done it many times. In face you can light white gas/gasoline/kerosene/alcohol stove with it too.

Define "safely"....

Safely as in "works every time"? Absolutely.

Safely as in "you won't burn yourself (badly)"? Probably, at least not really bad burns. As long as you're quick and nimble, that is. But you'd probably loose some of those ultra-fine hairs on you fingers and hands. Burnt hair smells really bad, but as long as the skin isn't burned it doesn't really qualify, does it?

With practice I'm pretty sure you will learn how to apply the spark-lite so that your fingers really aren't where the flames will be a fraction of a second later

I use a plain old-fashioned fire steel to lit propane/butane stoves. It will throw the spark into the burner head so my hands don't need to go there. A distance of two inches is plenty in this context. It probably isn't as reliable as a spark-a-lite, but is good enough for me.


DISCLAIMER: I use a propane burner (trangia) that fits the classical trangia spirit burner wind shield. That windshield is a very enclosed environment to put my fingers to lit the gas that's flowing out. I'm reluctant to light it with a lighter (I have done so, and will do so if I have to - at the cost of a few microscopic hairs and really bad smell). Tossing a spark in there so my fingers can stay out of the wind screen makes much more sense. Without a windshield things are a bit different because the gas disperses so quickly.

Most canister stoves are designed much more open than my trangia, and without much windscreen to speak of. Which means that the gas will disperse more quickly so that
a) the spark must be placed much more accurately than I have to with my trangia setup
b) the open design means you can place your fingers UNDER where the flame will be.

Yes, they can. I typically hold my Soto torch lighter out to the side and down a bit, the design of the stove permitting, so as to be able to get my hand clear fairly quickly.

HJ

Whisperlite Universal, 258g, MSRP: $139.95
Primus Omnifuel, 339g, MSRP: $159.95

Those weights are without pump. I haven't weighed the pumps lately, but if memory serves me correctly, the MSR pump is lighter than the Omnifuel pump.

Speaking of pumps, yes the MSR pump isn't as nice as the Omnifuel's pump, but have you checked out the pump MSR introduced maybe 3 or so years ago? It's a real step up from their previous two generations (gray & black, gray & red). This new pump, the Duraseal pump, is the best pump since their yellow and black pumps.

The Whisperlite Universal is definitely quieter.

I'd say the Whisperlite Universal is the lighter, less expensive, and quieter "little brother" of the Omnifuel. I took the W'lite Universal out on the trail today. It performed very well in field conditions.

HJ