ParkerBill
12-03-2007, 04:19 PM
I didn't see any reviews posted for these stoves so since I've owned and used one for many years I thought I would create one.
First, the WhisperLite and WhisperLite International are basically the same stove, with a couple of exceptions, the basic WhisperLite burns only white gas type of fuel, while the International burns white gas, unleaded gasoline and kerosene and costs a bit more than the basic WhisperLite.
They both have the "shaker jet. For those of you not familiar with the "shaker jet" it means that with the stove burner turned off, you can shake the stove up and down and it attempts to clean the jet all by itself. While I have no personal experience with the shaker jet in the WhisperLite (my old original one did not come with it--the new ones do) I do have it in the DragonFly and it works pretty well.
Both stoves are compact and use a separate fuel tank.
Pros & Cons of the WhisperLites:
Pros:
1. Lightweight and fairly compact (not counting the fuel tanks which can be purchased in sizes 11 oz, 22 oz and 33 oz.)
2. They are fairly fuel efficient.
3. They both burn white gas which is pretty easily obtainable about anywhere, and of course the International also burns unleaded gasoline and kerosene.
4. They both use liquid fuel, which normally works better at colder temperatures and higher altitudes than propane/butane cartridges.
5. Fairly easy to set up and get burning.
6. Seems a bit pricey to me for what it is. MSR list prices are $69.95 for the basic WhisperLite and $79.95 for the International.
Cons:
1. Does not simmer very good at all by itself. You can get a diffuser plate to help with simmering, but that's just another piece that has to be carried.
2. Have to prime the stove, although this is safe and easy with a bit of practice.
3. Uses a plastic pump which has always seemed (and at least on my WhisperLite proven to be) fragile. The plastic ears that hold the pump shaft inside the pump have broken off on mine, although the pump still works. I notice that MSR now has a different (supposedly better, more rugged) pump for the WhisperLites listed in their on line site.
4. Reasonably solid and maintenance free except for the pump. I lit mine today for the first time in probably 15 years and it fired right up.
Overall Summary:
Good basic liquid-fuel type stoves if most of your cooking is boiling water for freeze-dried foods and making coffee and/or melting snow for water.
Would I buy one for motorcycle camping? Probably not; there are too many other liquid stoves that will probably work as well and cost less.
First, the WhisperLite and WhisperLite International are basically the same stove, with a couple of exceptions, the basic WhisperLite burns only white gas type of fuel, while the International burns white gas, unleaded gasoline and kerosene and costs a bit more than the basic WhisperLite.
They both have the "shaker jet. For those of you not familiar with the "shaker jet" it means that with the stove burner turned off, you can shake the stove up and down and it attempts to clean the jet all by itself. While I have no personal experience with the shaker jet in the WhisperLite (my old original one did not come with it--the new ones do) I do have it in the DragonFly and it works pretty well.
Both stoves are compact and use a separate fuel tank.
Pros & Cons of the WhisperLites:
Pros:
1. Lightweight and fairly compact (not counting the fuel tanks which can be purchased in sizes 11 oz, 22 oz and 33 oz.)
2. They are fairly fuel efficient.
3. They both burn white gas which is pretty easily obtainable about anywhere, and of course the International also burns unleaded gasoline and kerosene.
4. They both use liquid fuel, which normally works better at colder temperatures and higher altitudes than propane/butane cartridges.
5. Fairly easy to set up and get burning.
6. Seems a bit pricey to me for what it is. MSR list prices are $69.95 for the basic WhisperLite and $79.95 for the International.
Cons:
1. Does not simmer very good at all by itself. You can get a diffuser plate to help with simmering, but that's just another piece that has to be carried.
2. Have to prime the stove, although this is safe and easy with a bit of practice.
3. Uses a plastic pump which has always seemed (and at least on my WhisperLite proven to be) fragile. The plastic ears that hold the pump shaft inside the pump have broken off on mine, although the pump still works. I notice that MSR now has a different (supposedly better, more rugged) pump for the WhisperLites listed in their on line site.
4. Reasonably solid and maintenance free except for the pump. I lit mine today for the first time in probably 15 years and it fired right up.
Overall Summary:
Good basic liquid-fuel type stoves if most of your cooking is boiling water for freeze-dried foods and making coffee and/or melting snow for water.
Would I buy one for motorcycle camping? Probably not; there are too many other liquid stoves that will probably work as well and cost less.