MSR WindBurner Stove Review: Positively Radiant

I’m not ashamed to admit that most of my bikepacking meals only require boiled water and some simple prep. I often dream of cooking extravagant meals, simmering fancy ingredients, and using large pots, but the reality is, I like every aspect of my camp setup to be simple and efficient. There’s also a misconception that boil-only meals have to be the packaged dehydrated variety, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only do dehydrated meals generally upset my already damaged Crohn’s Disease gut, but they are also expensive and rarely delicious. In an effort not to rely on mac ‘n’ cheese and instant ramen, Emily and I have been challenging ourselves to amp up our simple, boil-only meal recipes, which has been a fun experiment.

I generally rely on canister camp stoves for bikepacking due to their packability and efficiency, and I’ve recently grown to appreciate the simplicity of all-in-one canister stoves that include a small pot and burner, nesting inside themselves with room for a small fuel canister. Over the last few years, I’ve been happy with my Jetboil Flash, but since its release over a decade ago, I’ve been curious to give the MSR WindBurner stove a go. The WindBurner, like some of Jetboil’s offerings, is an all-in-one stove system with a unique radiant burner head that makes it virtually windproof, hence the name. I picked one up last summer and have used it virtually every bikepacking trip since, including my most recent ride on the Monumental Loop in New Mexico.

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Reactor, WindBurner, and Radiant Burners

The MSR WindBurner stove is inspired by the MSR Reactor stove, which was launched in 2007. The Reactor was positioned as an “all condition” camp stove due to its radiant burner design, which at the time was quite unique, but it was scrutinized for its higher-than-average weight. It was aimed at alpinists and other outdoor enthusiasts traveling in harsh conditions and seeking a super reliable and highly efficient stove. The WindBurner shares a lot of the same tech as the Reactor, such as the radiant burner and windproof design, but it dials back the intensity level with a lower heat output, better fuel efficiency, and an overall smaller pack size. The WindBurner also integrates more features, such as an integrated plastic mug, a lid with a strainer, a heat-resistant cover with a handle, and a pot that locks onto the burner for better stability.

What really sets the Reactor and WindBurner apart from other canister stoves is their radiant burner design. Based on five years of development, MSR’s radiant burner provides improved efficiency and weather resistance over standard burner heads. Plus, the Reactor and the WindBurner are the only radiant burner stoves on the outdoor market. Instead of a regulator and an open flame like traditional canister stoves, radiant burners use a porous material to mix fuel and house the flame, producing both convective and radiant heat instead of a direct flame. The result is a fully enclosed system protected from weather and wind.

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The porous material found in the burner head of the WindBurner is made from an alloy called Fecralloy, a corrosion-resistant material used in heat-exchangers and furnaces. Open-cell foam is impregnated into the Fecralloy, baked, and then the two materials fuse together to create a rigid alloy structure that looks much like open-cell foam. This material is then cut into discs that become the radiant burners. When ignited, the disc warms up evenly to provide a broad and consistent heat output, which is then harnessed by the heat exchanger found on the bottom of all of MSR radiant burner pots.

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Thoughts on the WindBurner Personal Stove System

The WindBurner lineup has four stove kits available: the Personal Stove System (1.0L pot), the Duo Stove System (1.8L pot and remote canister), the System Combo (sauce pot and skillet), and the Group Stove System (2.5L pot and remote canister). The Personal Stove System is the smallest and most packable of the bunch and is designed for solo travelers and simple, boil-only meals. Like most canister stoves, the burner head, a 4-ounce fuel canister, and canister support all nest inside the pot. A small 0.5L plastic bowl slides onto the bottom of the kit, and a drinking/straining lid keeps everything inside while not in use. The lid attaches securely and doesn’t fall off even with it jostling around inside a frame bag, which I’ve found to be an issue with other all-in-one stoves.

As promised, the MSR WindBurner excels in windy conditions, and it’s by far the most weatherproof stove I’ve used. For quickly making warm drinks or boiling water for simple meals, it’s hard to beat just how fast the WindBurner gets the job done. MSR claims the WindBurner offers boil-to-simmer control, and while there’s some adjustment, I found it lacked the ability to achieve a true simmer before things boiled over.

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In normal conditions, the WindBurner boils a liter of water in around or just under five minutes. That isn’t staggeringly fast, but it offers consistent performance in windy and cold conditions, which is where other canister stoves start to fall behind. Of course, all this windproofing comes at cost. The WindBurner is one of the largest and heaviest all-in-one stove systems I’ve used, weighing in at 454 grams (16 ounces) with no fuel canister, and it stands 7″ tall with a 4″ diameter when packed or 12″ tall with a fuel canister attached. It’s a chunky stove when compared against other stoves we’ve tested, and its size could be awkward for folks with limited packing space. As someone riding large frames with spacious frame bags, I felt its reliability, performance, and sturdy design was worth the extra space/weight.

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• Capacity: 1.0L Pot
• Material: Aluminum + BPA-free plastic
• Weight: 454 grams (16 ounces)
• Place of Manufacture: USA
• Price: $199 USD at REI
• Manufacturer’s Details: CascadeDesigns.com

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