Category Archives: Backpacking Gear

MSR WindPro II Stove: 10 Year Review

April 9, 2020Backpacking GearMountain Safety Research (MSR), MSR Pocket Rocket II, MSR Titan Kettle, MSR Whisperlite, MSR WindPro II, Snow Peak GigaPower, Svea 123Nick Gatel

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

April 6, 2020Backpacking GearMSR Whisperlite, Svea 123Nick Gatel

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

April 2, 2020Backpacking GearSigg Tourist Cook Set, Svea 123Nick Gatel

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 →

Senior Moments – Declining Eyesight (or how I returned my vision to normal)

March 14, 2020Backpacking Gear, Senior MomentsEyeglasses, glacier glasses, snow googles, sunglassesNick Gatel

A question that gets asked often in backpacking circles is, “How do I deal with my glasses/contacts on backpacking trips?” It’s a great question, especially for those who are new to backpacking or those who just got their first pair of glasses or contact lenses.

The bad news is there isn’t a good answer. This is one of those things you just have to figure out for yourself.

In this post, I’ll share my personal experiences. Probably best if you don’t expect an “ah ha” moment. On the other hand, I might share something you haven’t thought about or tried. For those who don’t need vision correction, you might want to read this anyway because the odds are you will need vision correction in the future.

Continue reading →

The “Top Ten Lists” – Can You Trust Them?

March 10, 2020Backpacking Gear, Camping, Hiking, Shelters, TentsAndrew Skurka, Bedrock and Paradox, Dave Chenault, Paul Magnanti, Philip Werner, Pmags, Section Hiker, Top Ten Gear ReviewsNick Gatel

It sounds counter intuitive, but I spend much less time on the Internet since I retired, even though all my time is free time, that is, I can do whatever I like, as long as Joyce is happy. I keep myself busy around the house with many tasks, plus we camp more often, not to mention my time spent backpacking.

One thing I am seeing more and more on the Internet are Top Ten Lists for all kinds of consumer goods. Given a good portion of my readers are backpackers, this begs the question, “Can you trust these reviews?” The short, quick answer is, “No.” If it is, “No,” then where can one find good quality trusted reviews?