MSR MSR Whisperlite International Review 2019

MSR Whisperlite International Overview

When I called my dad to tell him I was going to be reviewing the MSR Whisperlite International, his first response was “I think we have one of those in our garage. Still works too!” Released in 1982, the Whisperlite quickly became a favorite amongst adventurers on expeditions and long backpacking trips. Or in my dad’s case, landscape photographers who spent their summers in remote sections of the western United States. These durable and adaptable stoves might just outlive every other piece of gear you’re currently using.

With its capacity to use multiple fuel types, its generation-spanning durability, and its ability to be broken down into pieces and cleaned, repaired, or replaced, the Whisperlite International is like the Duracell Bunny of backpacking stoves. It just keeps going, and going and, well, you get the idea.

For its versatility and long-standing use we’re recommending the MSR Whisperlite International as our Premium Pick for the Wilderness Backpacker.

With that said, you should know it is a liquid fuel stove, so if you’re used to Isobutane canisters you may want the WhisperLite Universal, or a different stove. There is a learning curve with all liquid fuel stoves, but it’s one that most people appreciate. Learn about the different stove types, and if this one is right for you, in our guide to choosing a backpacking stove.

Read below for the full MSR Whisperlite International review.

MSR Whisperlite International Specifications

Gear Review of the MSR Whisperlite International

Revelation: The Moment I Knew

After I learned that my dad had long relied on his old MSR Whisperlite for lengthy backpacking trips, I was thrilled to test out the most recent model. I took the stove on a four-day loop through the Golden Trout Wilderness, a swath of land nestled in the southern Sierras that spans over 300,000 acres. During the hike I saw as many people as alpacas — which is to say exactly three of each.

The Golden Trout Wilderness. As idyllic and empty as this picture makes it out to be.

When I’m out in such a remote wilderness I don’t want to deal with gear that malfunctions, is finicky, or burns through fuel quickly. I knew the MSR Whisperlite had a history of performing well in adverse conditions, so I felt confident that I could take it apart to repair it if necessary. Its refillable fuel canister also held more than enough white gas for my four day trip. In short, it put my mind at ease before I’d even left the trailhead, which is a good feeling when trekking into new territory.

I’m happy to say it performed admirably for the duration of my trip.

The MSR Whisperlite attached to the fuel bottle (which you have to buy separately). How many times have you seen these?

I know we’re skipping ahead a little here, but the moment of revelation came a full day after I had returned home and finally began unpacking my bag. Out of curiosity, I opened the fuel bottle for the stove and was amazed to see that I had barely put a dent in the fuel I packed! Not only could I fill the fuel bottle for $7, this stove was remarkably efficient over four days of cooking breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

Digging Deeper

Stability

Nothing sticks in my mind quite like the time I spilled my entire dinner due to a small and unstable cook surface. In fact, though the rest of that trip was fine, I still remember it as a “bad trip” solely because of my cooking fiasco. On this four day trip through the Golden Trout Wilderness, I did not want a repeat of that fiasco. Especially because I had packed exactly enough food for four days, plus a handful of emergency bars that I really didn’t want to eat.

This is not the hugest pot in the world, but if you look closely you can see the stove prongs sticking out well beyond its edges. You can cook with large pots and pans on the Whisperlite.

Where the MSR Whisperlite International really outshines its competitors is in the realm of stability. The stove sits low to the ground, with three stable legs that fan out to provide a rock solid base to accommodate even the largest backcountry cook pot. Using the heat reflector as a flat base, this stove felt like it would stay upright through anything short of a well-aimed kick.

Simmer

The largest issue I took with the MSR Whisperlite International can be summed up in three words: mac and cheese. A more clarifying three worlds would be: doesn’t simmer well.

This stove is amazing on full blast, which is why it has become a perennial favorite amongst winter mountaineers that need to melt snow for water. However, its relatively long fuel line and small gas nozzle mean that it goes from a medium flame to off without a whole lot of middle ground. Unfortunately once the Whisperlite has turned off, you’re best waiting 5-10 minutes for the stove to completely cool before attempting to light it again, unless you’re not terribly attached to your eyebrows.

The stove is priming here, but the flame tends to be either “large” or non-existent. After a lot of practice you can coax it to a lower setting.

MSR knows the Whisperlite isn’t a stellar simmer-er and has created other liquid fuel stoves, like the MSR Dragonfly, to fill the gap.

Ease of Setup

Learning to set this stove up before I left home was an absolute must. But that’s not to say the Whisperlite is a challenging stove to operate — far from it. However, it does require a little more time and knowledge than your average canister stove. Each subsequent use of the stove becomes faster and faster until I was able to do it in the dark, which I found out the hard way on the last night of my trip.

All the pieces that come with the MSR Whisperlite International (plus the fuel bottle). It will take some time to setup, especially if you’re used to canister stoves.

Boil Time

Have you ever tried to eat your lunch with a bug headnet on? It’s not a great look. Yet that’s exactly what I was trying to do as I huddled in the only patch of shade I could find at lunch on day two of my trip. And this is where I ran into trouble with this stove.

The MSR Whisperlite International takes a few minutes to set up, another two minutes to prime, and close to five minutes to boil a few cups of water for lunch. Granted this isn’t a huge issue if you’re relaxing in camp at the end of a long day, but it can seem daunting when you’re slowly being eaten alive by every mosquito in Southern California.

The hose on the Whisperlite connects to the fuel pump, which goes into the fuel bottle. Each extra piece of connection adds time to the setup.

Grievances

As I’ve mentioned above, the MSR Whisperlite does a host of things incredibly well, but like with any gear there are some issues. The big two for me were a moderately slow boil time and the inability to finesse the flame down to a simmer. Admittedly, these issues were most noticeable on the first day of my trip. Once I had adapted to the stove’s quirks, it became as easy to use as your typical canister stove and substantially more powerful and fuel efficient.

Final Word

The MSR Whisperlite International has long been a favorite with those who want to get out into the mountains and stay there for long periods of time. If you’re looking for a stove that can go the distance with you, then the MSR Whisperlite should definitely be on your wish list.

Where to Buy MSR Whisperlite International

We tested the MSR Whisperlite International using the 20 ounce fuel bottle by MSR. There are two other versions in the Whisperlite series — the MSR WhisperLite, and the MSR WhisperLite Universal. (Yes, all those capital and regular “Ls” are correct, according to MSR.)

The MSR WhisperLite is the original version of the stove, which is basically unchanged from the ’80’s. It features differently styled legs, which change the weight and pack size, and it only works with White Gas, instead of multiple liquid fuels.

The MSR WhisperLite Universal is the same as the International, but it can also use isobutane canisters like a canister stove. It comes with the included attachments and canister stand to make this easy.

We recommend either the International or the Universal. Get the International if you only want to deal with liquid gas, or the Universal if you plan on using this stove with isobutane as well. Both are listed below.

Kara Kieffer

Kara grew up a grubby tomboy in Boulder, CO, where she spent most of her time outside collecting rocks in her pockets, much to her mother's chagrin. Now, as a Los Angeles based art director and writer she still loves being outside and exploring every chance she gets. On any given weekend, you can find her backpacking, hiking, or running ridiculous distances up and down mountains. You can follow her blog, Wild Country Found, and Instagram, or check out her personal website for more information.