Stove Of The Week: Msr Simmerlite

Stove of the Week: MSR Simmerlite

Recently, I was asked past times a mountaineering friend well-nigh ways to melt snowfall for drinking H2O that are low-cal weight.  I'm thence posting a serial inside the Stove of the Week serial on low-cal weight wintertime capable stoves.

In that vein, this week's stove is the MSR Simmerlite.  Let's kickoff it off correct amongst a open fire shot:
 

Today's goal is Haines Canyon, site of much of my stove testing.  I encounter the recent current of air tempest has taken its toll.


The practiced tidings is that the creek is running good which agency we'll induce got plenty of H2O for role amongst our Simmerlite.


Now, if you're talking well-nigh mutual frigidity conditions capable stoves, so no word is consummate without discussing liquid fueled stoves.  Liquid fueled stoves volition operate inwards the coldest of temperatures.  To this day, explorers in addition to researchers inwards Antarctica role liquid fueled stoves.  The fuels used are typically "white" gasoline (Coleman type fuel) or kerosene.

Some fourth dimension ago, MSR laid out to do a low-cal weight liquid fuel stove.  They came upwards amongst the Simmerlite.   It should live on noted that the Simmerlite is a white gasoline stove only. The Simmerlite volition non burn downwards kerosene properly.


In the Simmerlite, MSR succeeded admirably inwards their cry for for a low-cal weight liquid fueled stove.  

Then MSR made a serious mistake.  They allow the marketing subdivision larn a concur of it.  It went something similar this:  "People desire a stove that simmers," said the marketing department, "We'll emphasize this stove's mightiness to simmer past times naming this stove, the Simmerlite.  We'll sell thousands!"  

"B-b-b-but it doesn't simmer" stammered the stove engineers.  "Not fifty-fifty close."

"Bosh!  Down amongst you lot nay-sayers!" cried the marketing department.  "We've got stoves to sell in addition to bonuses to earn!  Out of our way!"

And so it was, in addition to this technology scientific discipline success became a marketing boondoggle.  Instead of focusing on the Simmerlite's most valuable attribute, it's low-cal weight, MSR damaged its reputation in addition to created client sick volition past times marketing a simmering stove -- that doesn't simmer.  Well, OK, mayhap it didn't become exactly similar that, but sure as shooting it must induce got been something similar that.  How else to explicate the word "simmer" inwards a stove that doesn't?

Now, the vagaries of manufacturing beingness what they are, at that spot is the strange exception out there.  I do know of 1 mortal whose Simmerlite genuinely simmers. Generally, though, the Simmerlite doesn't simmer.

So, that misconception dispelled, let's laid our Simmerlite up.  Here's a photograph of the Simmerlite laid upwards to go.  Immediately behind the Simmerlite is her sis stove, the MSR Wind Pro which is essentially the same stove except that the Wind Pro has been modified to run on gas canisters.  
But plenty well-nigh the Wind Pro; the Wind Pro is next week's stove.

Here's the Simmerlite, windscreen inwards place, chugging along, heating H2O for my morn tea.


Any stove worth it's tabular array salt must move past times the "tea test" (boiling water), in addition to judging past times the steam coming out of the tea kettle inwards this photo, I'd tell the Simmerlite has passed the tea examination amongst flight colors.


Ah!  There nosotros are.  Delicious.


Now, I realize that liquid fueled stoves are perceived equally challenging past times some.  In particular, priming seems to set people off.  Really, in 1 lawsuit you lot larn the hang of it, liquid fueled stoves are no big deal, in addition to they'll run inwards equally mutual frigidity a temperature equally you lot tin dismiss stand.  I'll utter well-nigh tips in addition to tricks for priming liquid fueled stoves inwards the weeks to come.

Well, that's it for today.  Time to hitting the route for home.


Thank you lot for joining me on around other opportunity inwards stoving.

HJ

Some summary information:

What's practiced well-nigh it?
It genuinely is light.
It's fairly compact.
The hose is much to a greater extent than flexible than previous MSR stoves.
It's liquid fueled in addition to volition move inwards equally mutual frigidity a temperature equally you lot tin dismiss stand.
Liquid fuel is the to the lowest degree expensive fuel, in addition to at that spot aren't all those "dead" canisters that induce got to live on landfilled or recycled.  Remember, piece recycling is amend than putting them inwards a province fill, recycling is nevertheless costly from an environmental standpoint.

What's bad well-nigh it?
Pumping in addition to priming -- but genuinely they're no big deal; they merely accept a lilliputian practice.
The pot supports are a lilliputian slidey.  They could live on a lilliputian to a greater extent than grippy. 
It does non simmer.

Overall, the Simmerlite is a practiced low-cal weight wintertime capable stove.

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