If there's anyone from MSR listening, it's time to introduce a new stove model

It's been ~20 years since you introduced a new liquid fuel stove model and that was just an update to an existing stove.

Here's the criteria in my mind:
1) Silent burner
2) Simmers well
3) Lightweight and compact (under 10 oz and can fit in a pot around 5" X 4")
4) Burns white gas, kerosene, and canister fuel

The Whisperlite Universal satisfies 1,4, and comes close on 3 but not 2.

The Dragonfly satisfies 2 but not 1, 3, or 4.

The XGK satisfies 4 but not 1, 2, or 3.

The discontinued Simmerlite satisfied 1 and 3 very well but not 2 or 4.

Since the Whisperlite Universal comes closest, maybe use that as a starting point. Replace the steel legs/pot supports and body with titanium and shrink it a little overall (like Primus did with the Omnilite). Update the standard MSR pump to include a Lindal valve rather than the proprietary tube connection (the WLU already has a Lindal adapter for canister fuel and people use it successfully with the Polaris/Omnifuel pumps and liquid fuel). This would probably be easier than adding a second valve at the stove.

Open to thoughts. Maybe we can get a petition going after.

 

You wrote beautiful things. I suggest the name to give to the new stove: "Linux Stove".
It seems to me that it would be a stove made by users for users and not made by industries, just to make money.

 

I think their focus is elsewhere. This is a new stove coming out, but canister only. My guess is that canister stoves sell much more briskly than liquid fuel stoves.

 

Sounds like a Coleman 400A would do the trick! Merry Christmas to all!
Tom

 

Try lower bottle pressure to simmer.

 

It saddens me to admit, but I have largely made the switch to canister stoves. The convenience factor is hard to ignore and the performance is outstanding for 3 season use. However, it's getting cold now, and the fiddle factor involved in getting them to work in this weather tilts back in favor to liquid fuel stoves.

White gas only and weighs nearly 2 lbs.

I've done the NOLS trick of opening the cap to burp out the pressure and relighting. It works and will get the Whisperlite to simmer, but it's really a one time adjustment from full blast to low simmer and is not a substitute for actual flame control.

 

Here's a marketing suggestion: one of the often-overlooked advantages of multi-fueled and (some) white gas stoves is their ability to run on unleaded gasoline. So no matter where you go off the beaten path, you can always get fuel for them. Think of it as a wanderlust feature (or, to put it in modern terms: a stove that is wanderlust-compatible)

I was once asked by a friend of mine what stove he should get for a multi-week motorcycle ride up the Canada/Alaska highway all the way to the arctic ocean. My advice was that whatever he got, make sure it can use whatever fuel his motorcycle was running on (and visa-versa). I don't know how many people would ever actually use this feature, but quite a few things are sold in the marketplace to people who might one day want to do something like this.

 

Why not look at the Soto Fusion Trek, or WindMaster stoves for innovation? The earlier Muka, and later Stormbreaker stoves are excellent at what they do but can't claim great simmering control. If you really want simmering, and power, you need to go back to the Coleman 400, or 505 stoves. Season's greetings to all!

 

That new MSR stove......I just can't ever find the joy in using canister stoves. They all kinda look the same., those chimney things look way too tippy.... those canisters get half empty then get sat on the shelf or just barely work....
Long live the 123!

 

MSR stoves are likely still the most popular stoves ever, may be the reason to leave well enough alone. Three fuel stoves may not have a large following.
Duane

 

might as well go for a full pressurised oil stove :-) 20 kw at least . should be "enough"

 

What the OP is seeking, is for niche users, and not the run of the mill stove user. I see no reason for MSR to try and satisfy the niche markets, because they are far too small, and would not make the the R&D costs worth the money. Plus, people already bitch about paying much for a stove, which adds to the lack of interest from MSR, or other stove manufacturers, in spending money to create yet another stove that few people will buy! Just saying…. Back in the day, I feel there were far more real backpackers, who were happy to buy a reliable stove, at the prices asked back then. Today, seems like there are far less folks who think that way, and “cheap” seems to be the way far too many of them go. Just my ‘tuppence…

- Doc

 

I guess to some extent, any liquid fuel stove is niche in this day and age.

But I don't think that asking for one that is BOTH quiet and actually simmers is too much of an ask, given that they already make one of each (Whisperlite and Dragonfly).

As for R&D costs, fair point, but they are already 90% of the way there with the Whisperlite Universal.

 

Howdy, Rich,

To me, the MSR Whisperlite Universal covers all that I need covered. I don’t need it to be lighter, as it’s plenty light enough for my needs. And, if I needed a stove that burns more fuels, I’ll go with the X-GK EX. Using a simmering plate, I’ve cooked up sausages with no problems, at all, and simmered sauces to perfection. IF super light weight is most important, than I would choose a Speedster stove, or my Soto Windmaster. As an aside, using more titanium for the Universal would only make it more expensive. Just my ‘tuppence, for what it’s worth. Take care, and God Bless!

- Doc

 

I also think it would be a very niche product ($$), (although I would probably buy one).

As to user stoves, I agree with Doc that having multiple stoves and selecting the appropriate one for a particular trip is the way to go. When I was younger, I went through many mental gyrations to determine the "best" boots, parka, sleeping bag, tent, you name it. If you go that route, you will often be carrying (and wearing out) expensive equipment on trips that just don't require the capabilities of the gear you're carrying.

Also, an overall "best" for all conditions is more often than not a compromise to achieve something that serves both ultralight and arctic conditions (for example) and is not really optimal for either of those extremes.

....Arch

 

As I am not interested in using gas canisters, my 1992 Whisperlite Internationale (V1, pre shaker and metal fuel hose) satisfies all relevant criteria. It also burns kerosene well. I have heard some vague rumours about problems with kerosene on this specific model. Maybe that was only with yesteryears kerosene quality?

 

@Espen Lothe
@Doc Mark wrote about the early version of that stove having difficulty with kerosene.

 

You are a difficult customer to make happy.

 

MSR isn’t a big company or at least wasn’t over 12 years ago maybe as one poster on a backpacking forum I used to post to mentioned.
Duane

 

MSR is a part of Cascade Designs now. Historically they were a short distance from each other as far as physical locations.
It used to be you could walk up to the MSR support window. They had a test booth right there. Mike Ridout was one tech I recall meeting several times. ( @Doc Mark ) Later a guy named Todd who I know did high altitude mountaineering. I bought a pair of prototype snow showshoes at that window. I later gave them to a friend who recently passed away.
In 2014 I stopped by and that window was long ago closed. I spoke to a friendly engineer and he showed my a display case in the employee area.
The company has changed.