Great Little Stove
I just bought the MSR Dragonfly here on Amazon to replace an Optimus 8R from the mid 70's. I loved that Optimus and it never failed me over the years. But when we were recently confronted with hurricane Irene, I could not find the darned thing. I can't believe I tossed it out but I have no idea where it went. C'est la vie. So, I was pretty amazed when I took a look around at the current technology in backpacking stoves. It truly hasn't changed much since the 70's. Coleman is still around with basically the same big heavy family camping stoves. There are a slew of lightweight burners that screw onto proprietary pressurized gas (propane/etc.) containers. And surprise, the Svea and Optimus lines of liquid fuels stoves are still around along with a bunch of "new" names like Primus, Brunton, and MSR. All of these liquid burners are using principles of design that are more or less identical to my old Optimus 8R or the even older Svea 123. There's a pressurized fuel tank. But most new designs have a built in pump that fits into the fuel bottle. That's a neat space/weight saving innovation. And the pump will get you up and running faster than using heat from the stove to pressurize the fuel tank. The burners are more or less identical to the little brass bell shape of the older stoves with an identical "roarer plate" to spread the flame and a brass "jet" that regulates the fuel flow. Aside from that, it appears that the only changes over four decades have been some clever packaging of the burner and pot supports to get weight down to a minimum. I guess it's proven hard to improve on those old designs that were relatively cheap, very reliable in the field, and seemingly indestructible over time. I chose the Dragonfly for a few reasons..... 1.) Multi-fuel capability...white gas, unleaded gas, kerosene, diesel, and jet fuel. There should never be a problem finding fuel whether you're backpacking or dealing with a power outage. And all of these fuels are very cheap compared to the proprietary propane/butane solutions. 2.) Adjustable output...my Optimus 8R had a decent range of adjustment and I really appreciate that flexibility for saving fuel and cooking meals. 3.) Stability...Large, stable pot supports give peace of mind that my dinner won't end up being seasoned with dirt and leaves. 4.) All temperature and all altitude capability that the gas canister stoves can't match. 5.) MSR reputation for quality...MSR has established quite a name for itself with the Whisperlite, XGK, and the Dragonfly. That means I can find repair parts readily and I can see long term reliability data. In short, this is a piece of equipment I can depend on in the wilderness or in an emergency. Some things weren't as important to me..... 1.) Weight...at 14 oz, this isn't the lightest stove on the market but the difference of maybe a few oz is inconsequential to me relative to all the stuff I do care about. 2.) Noise...I don't understand all the whining about the noise of this stove. It's about the same as my old Optimus 8R which isn't much of a surprise given that it uses the same principles of operation and design. Maybe I'm just conditioned to the noise after all these years but it doesn't seem that loud to me. Granted, this (and any other liquid fuel stove) will never be as quiet as a propane/butane stove. But to say you can't hold a conversation? Must be some severely hearing impaired hikers out there. Even with the burner totally exposed I can talk/hear over it easily. Put the windscreen around it and put a pot on it and I don't even find it intrusive if I'm standing up or seated 5-10 feet away. 3.) Cost...Since these sorts of liquid fuel stoves last more or less a lifetime (if you don't lose the darned thing), a $30-$50 difference in price is not even a consideration. One other thing that's changed over time is the wind proofing of these stoves. Back in the day, the Svea and the Optimus both had fixed windscreens built around the burners. Especially in the case of the Optimus the metal packaging added considerable weight and the lid of the metal storage box that served as the wind screen alternately either got in the way of a pot or wasn't very effective at blocking wind. I first thought that the Dragonfly wind screen (and most others) were a cheap way out for the manufacturers. But after using it, I must admit it's a better design, less bulky, lighter, and more effective at blocking wind from all directions. It will no doubt wear out in time but MSR sells a replacement at a pretty affordable price. Anyway, these liquid fuel stoves are the pinnacle of design for me and the Dragonfly is a good one. I test fired the Dragonfly and it was dead simple to start. Hook up the fuel. 20 pumps to pressurize. Bleed some fuel in the burner cup. Close the fuel valve. Light. Wait a couple of minutes until the fuel in the cup is almost exhausted. Open the fuel valve and, flame on, you're cooking. About 2 minutes total elapsed time. The propane/butane stoves are even faster and easier but I wouldn't trade my Dragonfly stove for one even if it were offered free of charge. Read more
