MSR Reactor

I've boiled water in 15 mph winds outside with this stove with zero issues. It boils water insanely fast and does so with minimal fuel. An 8oz fuel canister will boil more than enough water for a couple… over a weekend. The only downside is that it produces a lot of carbon monoxide and is quite dangerous to use even in a tent vestibule, so if there is inclement weather, you will still be required to boil your water outside the tent. Don't try to cook with this stove, it will burn your food so fast even stirring won't help. This stove is great for 2-3 campers. It's probably too much of a stove for just one person. Lastly, this stove is very heavy for an ultra light setup. It packs well, an 8oz. canister fits perfectly on top of the burner for storage, and the lid had a nook to lock in the fuel canister so there is no rattling while you're hiking with your pack. Watch out for the pot handle though, it snaps pretty hard and can get your finger if you're not careful.

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I got this stove just before leaving for British Columbia to hike the Rockwall Trail with my best amigos. We have been gathering for an annual backpacking trip for many years now, and we like to make meals… that require only hot water: no pots and pans. I have never used a stove that boils water so fast and efficiently as this MSR Reactor. It was a stunning improvement over anything we have used before. The warnings about carbon monoxide are a little creepy, the Reactor apparently cranks out more than most stoves, but we always use our stoves outside so ventilation is no issue. The initial design that won an Editors Choice award from Backpacker magazine had a starter which has sadly been removed, so you need to carry matches or a lighter. But it fires up easily, boils in a few short minutes, and packs up compactly. Watch your fingers with the tension cable that holds the lid in place...none of us escaped a surprising stinging thwack from it!

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