Category Archives: Backpacking Gear

Obituary: Chouinard Pyramid Shelter (1985-2020)

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This shelter is an old friend. It finally died. More specifically, it really isn’t cost effective to resuscitate it.

Death isn’t unknown to most of us. Just about everyone have friends and/or relatives who have passed away. We cannot replace those loved ones. The same goes for pets. Our wonder dog, Corky, passed away last year and he cannot be replaced. Oh, we could get another dog, but Corky was Corky, an animal with a personality and distinctive characteristics.

A shelter can be replaced. What is replaced? A completely different shelter with dissimilar construction would be a replacement. A similar shelter with the same materials, shape, and structure might be considered a direct replacement.

I am going to get a direct replacement.  Continue reading Obituary: Chouinard Pyramid Shelter (1985-2020) →

MSR DragonFly Stove: 12 Year Review

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Why did I buy this stove in the first place? Was it because this stove…

  • can use white gas, automotive unleaded gas, diesel, kerosene or even aircraft jet fuel?
  • can simmer better than just about any backpacking stove on the market?
  • can handle big heavy, wide pots up to 10 inches in diameter?
  • is so sturdy?

Is this the stove for you? Continue reading MSR DragonFly Stove: 12 Year Review →

MSR WindPro II Stove: 10 Year Review

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Mountain Safety Research (MSR) WindPro II remote canister stove

Canister stoves are the most popular type of backpacking stoves these days. These stoves, often called “gas” stoves, have two advantages over “liquid” stoves (i.e. Svea 123, MSR WhisperLite, etc.): They are lightweight and incredibly easy to operate.

However, most suffer several deficiencies:

  • Work poorly in windy conditions
  • Some have inadequate pot supports
  • Some have precarious base support
  • Most work poorly or don’t work at all when the ambient temperatures drop below 30° F

The MSR WindPro II solves all these problems. Mitigating the above issues, one might think this is the perfect backpacking stove. Well, maybe. This post will take a journey past to see the evolution of canister stoves, and how they work to help you choose a canister stove if you are in the market to purchase one. Continue reading MSR WindPro II Stove: 10 Year Review →

MSR WhisperLite Stove: 35 Year Review

Backpacking Gear,
1985 model MSR WhisperLite stove in the desert.

A few day ago I wrote about the Svea 123 backpacking stove and wrote,

The Svea 123 is probably the most reliable backpacking stove ever made. It is by far my favorite stove. It doesn’t do any one thing particularly well, but it ALWAYS works. Mine has worked flawlessly for 48 years.

The Svea 123 is an industrial work of art. It is aesthetically pleasing. Made of brass, over a period of time it develops a nice patina. However, as I stated, it doesn’t do any one thing particularly well.

The past year I have been using the WhisperLite more and more; to the point I recently bought a new version of the WhisperLite. In this post I’ll review the features and benefits of the WhisperLite and compare the original version to the newest offering. Continue reading MSR WhisperLite Stove: 35 Year Review →

Svea 123 Backpacking Stove: 48 Year Review

Backpacking Gear,

I have often written that a piece of gear ought to be tested for at least 10 years before doing an in-depth product review. Unfortunately a lot of gear these days is discontinued in just a few years, so there might not be a compelling reason to discuss gear that is no longer made. The Svea has been produced since 1955 and is still sold today.

The Svea 123 is probably the most reliable backpacking stove ever made. It is by far my favorite stove. It doesn’t do any one thing particularly well, but it ALWAYS works. Mine has worked flawlessly for 48 years. Continue reading Svea 123 Backpacking Stove: 48 Year Review →