MSR XGK EX Stove

"This stove is hard to be clogged, but seems to be capable of only ON and OFF. Poor temperature control and difficult to light. Get this stove for boiling water/melting. Don't get it if you want a stove you can cook on. If you need more temperature control, take dragonfly. It?s better for the high-altitude adventurer - not the choice for the casual weekend camper."

"I got the MSR to try it against my most excellent Brunton Optimus Nova. I was attracted by the multi-fuel capability and its claimed bullet-proof performance. What I under-estimated was how limited a range the stove would afford based upon its design to perform in alpine situations. The stove lights and vaporizes fuel quickly, allowing the user to boil water in a matter of minutes. What it lacks is any kind of effective control on the flame intensity aka fuel feed. This stove seems to be capable of only ON and OFF. The lack of sensitivity in fuel feed valve located on the pump also leads to problems with delayed reactions to any adjustments one tries to make with the fuel feed and, when the valve is full closed, always leaves an ounce or two of unused fuel in the fuel line that invariably goes to waste and creates for messy packing and storage. Would be that hard to put a secondary simmer valve like the one on the Dragonfly on the body of the XGK?



Get this stove if you want a blast furnace for boiling water/melting snow that burns anything from rocket fuel to 2% milk. Don't get it if you want a camp stove you can cook on."

"The MSR XGK is a real workhorse of a stove. Solid and dependable. I've used it short backpacking trips to the full blown winter hardcore stuff and it just performs.



I've noticed that a number of people have said it doesn't 'simmer' yet once you get to know the stove you realise that its all in the initial pumping of the fuel tank. too much and yes it goes at it like there's no tomorrow. Being more gentle and topping pumps up gets you a much better cooking experience.



My only real downside is that its a bit of a faff setting it up especially after a potentially long day. Also be aware if your on an Alpine Start from a campsite you'll wake up everyone within a half mile radius firing it up!



Photo is of a summer camp in Chamonix, Framce using XGK and Reactor. Also simmering a chicken stew. Tent in background is a North Face Ve-25."

"The stove will be hard to light under low temperature. The gas just doesn't evaporate, and you may need a long stick match or some additional lightning tools to light the stove. After a few times try, you will eventually get it.



The stove works great if you don't do gourmet cooking (poor temperature control). Good for backpacker and mountaineering, not for comfort trips.



The stove is hard to be clogged because of its thick fuel pipe, compared to other MSR stoves.



I had tried whisperlite and dragon fly before. This one is more stable and durable than the whisperlite. It is cleaner than the whisperlite, and as clean as dragonfly. But it is definitely durable and stable than the other two: less likely to be clogged and better support to pot and pans.



If you care more for the temperature control, go for dragonfly But if you care more about price, go for whisperlite. If you care durability and compactibility, XGK is a good choice"

"At first, the stove had some issues with temperature control, it was either full blast on off. I found out to simmer with this stove you only need to pump it 10 times and it provided the simmering temperatures desired, it does take some trial and error getting accustomed to the heat control. It does indeed burn any flammable fuel from gasoline to paint thinner with no issues in the fuel department. The sound emitted at full blast is not stealthy nor for a weekend camper, I find it a very well built stove with bullet proof design intended for the advertised application."

"Ive been using my XGK EX Stove for the last 4 months, in that time Ive spent a total of 3 weeks on the trail from the Sea of Cortez to Seattle, Wa. The weight of the stove is good, not as light as others but a good compromise considering the range of fuels it will burn. The burner works well with all three fuel cells available from MSR and burn time is good as well. Over all its a good choice if your looking for a high out put multi-fuel stove. The one down side is there is no simmer function, its full throttle or nothing. However all I do is boil water with it. Lastly its louder than any stove I have ever used, but that lets you know its working."

"Bottom Line: The XGK is no longer the king of the expedition stoves - technology has moved on and competing multi-fuel stoves in the same price range are simply better values. The XGK will do the job, but why put up with its many anachronisms?



The XGK is targeted at people who need true multi-fuel capability (military, global travelers, expeditions, etc.), rugged dependability, and who do not worry about any flame setting other than maximum heat output. If you do not envision the requirement [emphasis on requirement] to burn diesel, JP-8, or kerosene in your stove: the XGK is probably not your best bet. Also, to get multi-fuel capability out of the XGK, you have to change jets- this is a very simple thing to do, but it does mean that your stove reliability is totally dependent upon retaining two small, threaded brass parts (the fuel jets) – loose one in the field and there goes your multi-fuel capability.



People complain about the noise of the XGK, but honestly, any pressurized fuel stove running full out will be noisy. Plan your cooking accordingly.



The not so good points... I own an older (okay old) XGK and I am not impressed with the overall build quality of the new XGKs: many parts are simply not as well built (e.g. the plastic fuel pump, the "contraption" legs etc.). Some claim the plastic MSR fuel pump is better/safer - LOL! Most fires come from fuel spills and the XGK will definitely spill a small amount of fuel when you disconnect the pump. People who dislike the smell of kerosene or diesel take note. Also the fuel line simply presses into the valve body and is retained by a spring contraption. This flaw goes back to the original designs. If the XGK stove leaks at the pump, and catches fire (I saw this happen in the middle of Mauritania…), you have to wrestle a flaming (plastic!) valve and pressurized fuel bottle to shut off the stove! The two-speed "blow torch" fuel control is also much more likely to cause flaring on start-up due to too much fuel squirting into the stove, or if you misjudge the stove pre-heat.



For the same price, the Optimus Nova and Nova plus stoves burn all the fuels that the XGK does (using the same nozzle - you do not have to carry an extra one); puts out almost as much heat, but simmers nicely too; is built much better (machined steel and alloy parts with no annual maintenance requirement!); and costs about the same. The Optimus Nova is also much safer because it has a positive, industrial type fuel disconnect. The valve on the Optimus Nova is at the stove, not the pump (where your hands and the fuel are!). The Optimus allows you a very simple, very positive way to shut the fuel off - flip the fuel bottle, which takes the pickup out of the fuel!



My Optimus Nova went with me to Central America (24-months), Iraq (21-months), Afghanistan (12-months), and will be with me when I go back to the 'Ghan. The XGK will stay at home (again)."

"I own an older XGK and when I went looking for a second stove I was not impressed with the XGK II. Apart from the cheapened construction evident; technology has moved on and the XGK II is blown away by the Optimus Nova/Nova+ in the same price range.



First, the XGK II is reliable, it throws the most heat, and it is still a work horse. Yes it is loud! This is overstated as almost every liquid fuel stove at fuel burn will be noisy. That said, time has moved on, and the XGK has not...



The Optimus burns everything the XGK does and you do not have to carry an extra nozzle; the Optimus puts out almost as much heat, but also simmers; the Optimus is built much better too (no annual maintenance!).



Some claim the plastic MSR fuel pump is better - LOL! Most fires come from fuel spills and the XGK will definitely spill fuel when you disconnect the pump. No responsible engineer would design a pressurized fuel connection like spring contraption on the one on the XGK - Optimus has a much more positive industrial type disconnect. The valve on the Optimus Nova is at the stove, not the pump (where your hands and the fuel are!). The Optimus allows you a very simple, very positive off - flip the fuel bottle which takes the pickup out of the fuel!



The two-speed "blow torch" fuel control is much more likely to cause flaring on start-up due to too much fuel squirted in.



Bottom line: the XGK is no longer the king of the expedition stoves. My Optimus Nova went with me to Central America (24-months), Iraq (21-months), Afghanistan (12-months), and will be with me when I go back to the 'Ghan. The XGK will stay at home (again)."

"I have used several of these stoves, including twice daily for four month periods as a backcountry ranger. I can make a Liter of fuel last two weeks, cooking twice a day. A very fine touch enables a simmer, wide open boils water quickly in a covered pot. Trustworthy in subfreezing temperatures in winter at altitude - works every time. Field maintainable! No one questions the XGK, other than a bit of noise."

"I have had this stove for a few months now as a replacement for my Whisperlite which I used into the ground. I have read and heard complaints about temp control and have only to say yes it is like using a jet turbine engine to cook with but keep in mind its design is for high altitude and low temps which require it cook at a high temp. Hint: the stove will continue to burn for several minutes when turned off to control temp turn off for a few and then turn back on. I have used this stove at altitude in temps in the teens and have been stoked with the results. I also enjoy the fact that as a minamalist this stove cooks fast and utilizes little fuel in the process keeping the weight down. Futhermore the ability to use just a camp cup up to a MSR pan on its extremely strudy surface is a huge plus!"