MSR WhisperLite

[mikeford]

Thinking about buying a MSR WhisperLite backpacking stove and it says you use it with white gas. My question is can you run this stove with heet or is white fuel something diffrent? Thanks for your help, I am only familiar with the canister type stoves.

[Storm]

White gas is basically Coleman latern fuel. Nothing close to heet. Heet is alcohol.

[mikeford]

Thanks Storm, so basically it runs off kerosene then?

[Enic]

White gas is more like kersosene than HEET... but still not the same. Do a quick google search and you'll learn more than you ever needed to about "white gas." Buy Coleman Fuel or MSR Superfuel, to use the first couple times at least.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Thanks Storm, so basically it runs off kerosene then?

No, NOT kerosene. It runs on "white gas", aka Coleman fuel, which is basically naphtha. Most hikers use either isobutane canister stoves or alcohol stoves. FWIW, because white gas stoves are heavier, very few expeienced hikers usethem anymore, except perhaps for very cold weather or expeditions, where many feel they are better suited. But even many mountaineering expeditions, such as on Everest are now using canisters. Another exceptions is if you're hiking in parts of the world where canisters or alcohol aren't easily available, there are multi-fuel stoves that will burn regular gasoline, kerosene, naptha, or other petroleum fuels. And they aren't particularly light or cheap.

[Different Socks]

MSR stoves are great. I've used one for all the miles on the PCT, AT, CT, IAT, LT and many other trails. only had to have the pump and stove rehabbed once(not b/c of problems but b/c of all the nights on it). Still using it today and it's about 20 years old.

[Leanthree]

It is more like additive free gasoline than kerosene though neither is 100% accurate. Without the additives, it burns with less soot than gasoline but would perform rather terribly in your car.

[Old Hillwalker]

My Whisperlite International has been run on Coleman fuel, petrol, kerosine, and diesel. It came with an alternate burner nozzle for the heavier fuels. I burned diesel at one point overseas when that was all I could obtain. Works best on Coleman fuel. 11.5 ozs for pump and burner. Total weight depends upon size of fuel bottle, and amount of fuel contained. I carry a Penny Stove on the AT, but the MSR in cold weather and oversea150.jpgs.

[mikeford]

Thanks everyone for clearing that up, it may not be a good choice for me weight wise then. I now know what a alcohol stove is after looking it up and is there anyone who can recommend a good one to buy?

[swjohnsey]

You can run the Wisperlite on pump gas, cheapest fuel available on the trail at about $0.03/ounce. Alcohol and Coleman fuel fun $0.20-$0/30/ounce. Alcohol puts out less heat than gasoline so you use more fuel. Alcohol doesn't work well even in marginally cold weather.

Quite a few folks are using MSR stoves of one sort or another on the trail. I use a Dragonfly.

If you decide to use an alcohol stove Zelph makes a variety of 'em. I like one called the Super Venom, very efficent, tough and requires no pot stand.

[Papa D]

The regular whisperlight runs off of white gas which is very similar to gasoline - it's often also refered to as "Coleman Fuel" (it's similar to auto gas - just purer and cleaner burning)
The "whisperlight international" will burn keresone, diesel fuel, auto gas etc. - not sure about heet or alcohol - those are pretty much alcohol stove specific

[Mags]

All you ever wanted to know about stoves ..and then some

http://zenstoves.net/

This link in particular should clear a few things up:
http://zenstoves.net/Fuels.htm

[Tinker]

I've had a Whisperlite since 1987. I just recently replaced the pump. It's a great stove for cold weather and/or groups. It actually puts out more heat than the coldest weather can remove from your cookpot and its contents. By today's standards it is pretty heavy, especially for one person, and requires occasional cleaning or it will soot up and burn poorly, sooting up your pots. Cleaning is easy, though. If you want a lightweight solo stove for warm weather, best look for something else. If you do any winter camping with other people it's literally worth its weight.

[mikeford]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will use the canister style stoves since I only hike with a dog. I hunt and do day hikes but I am looking to get into backpacking more and hopefully one day do the AT and the rest of the long trails but for now just focus on getting the right gear for some weeklong trips. Thanks Again!

[Mags]

A canister stove is a good happy medium stove in terms of weight, ease of use and heat out-put.

Don't worry too much about gear, though. Gear is the LEAST important part of backpacking.

Have fun!

[OneStepCloser]

i have this one it basically uses any fuel. youll be good on the AT with it for sure.

[TrilliumTrekker]

You can google White Box Stove. They are light, robust, needs no pot support and not expensive.

[psyculman]

You can run the Wisperlite on pump gas, cheapest fuel available on the trail at about $0.03/ounce. Alcohol and Coleman fuel fun $0.20-$0/30/ounce. Alcohol puts out less heat than gasoline so you use more fuel. Alcohol doesn't work well even in marginally cold weather.

Quite a few folks are using MSR stoves of one sort or another on the trail. I use a Dragonfly.

If you decide to use an alcohol stove Zelph makes a variety of 'em. I like one called the Super Venom, very efficent, tough and requires no pot stand.

Are you saying you use a MSR Whisper lite (not multi fuel MSR International) to burn unleaded gasoline and alcohol ?

[jersey joe]

I used the Whisperlite stove on my thru hike and have nothing bad to say about it, great little stove. One thing that I did not know before my thru hike was that white gas is readily availabe on the trail.

[swjohnsey]

Are you saying you use a MSR Whisper lite (not multi fuel MSR International) to burn unleaded gasoline and alcohol ?

It will burn pump gasoline, not sure about alcohol.