MSR Whisperlite Shaker Jet Backpacking Stove

Pros: efficient, light
Cons: unsafe

This stove has many wonderful qualities. First, it is small, lightweight and easy to pack and carry. Second, it burns white gas which is really easy to find and very cheap. Third, once it gets going, it cooks quickly and efficiently. Forth, it is...

Pros: Light, hot, simple
Cons: Poor control, difficult starting

I have had my WhisperLite for about 10 years now, and I am now in the market for another stove. The stove has heated a lot of water and cooked a lot of meals, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.

There are some really good selling...

Pros: small, lightweight, fairly easy to assemble, hot on demand, fast boiling time, fun to operate.
Cons: noise and tempernmental igniting behavior

This is the first and probably last backpacking stove that I will ever have to buy. I bought it maybe 5 years ago and have never had a problem with it. We go camping probably 2 to 3 times a year, mostly over three day weekends. So I have needed it to be there for me around 100 times for me. It is small, lightweight, relatively easy to assemble, fast, and kinda fun. It has worked properly from temps from 20 F to 80 F and no crazy altitudes. I am fully unendorsed. The down falls, for me, would be noise and sometimes it takes a couple of attempts to light it, although not all the time. I have tried different
"preheat" times and slightly altered every possible aspect of the lighting experience, and it just seems tempernmental. I am a very mechanical minded person. Noise is a downer when, always being the first one up, you are in close proximity to sleeping campers and are dying for a cup of coffee. Pros far out-weigh cons.

Pros: Heats fast, packs small, folds out for big pans, reliable in all conditions, self cleaning
Cons: hard to control flame

This stove is good for all around use. The boil time is fast, setup is fast, and it is fairly easy to use. It is reliable especially in wind, cold, and high elevation. The primer cup almost guarantees ignition every time. The shaker jet is self cleaning, and even if it does become clogged, a few shakes and the stove is ready to again. The only bad thing about this stove is that it is nearly impossible to control the flame for simmering. You can reduce the pressure in the fuel bottle and try to turn the adjustment knob down which usually will yield some results, but at this point the stove may go out without you knowing it, then you have to light it again, but it is not made for this. Otherwise a great small lightweight stove.