MSR WindPro II

Field Notes: Our testers agreed that this backpacking stove was a winner when they had it perched on a lopsided section of canyon rim, surrounded by the lightweight windscreen, whipping up breakfast while watching the sunrise. This camp stove was beat up, dropped, but never broken. It’s one of the more durable stoves we tested this year. 

Pros: The MSR WindPro II does an excellent job of utilizing fuel from half-empty canisters. Simply flip over the canister, secure it in position with included canister stand, and isobutane flows straight into the belly of the beast. The inverted position is also optimal for cold weather performance. The WindPro II was the most stable canister stove tested, including over the winning remote canister GSI Pinnacle 4-Season Stove. The simmer control was also best in class. 

Cons: Its stability comes at a slight price as it’s a tad heavier and bulkier than the similarly designed Pinnacle 4-Season Stove. Also similar to the 4-Season, our testing team prefers white gas for cold weather, even over improved performance of an inverted canister.

Favorite Feature: The canister stand allows backcountry chefs to maximize fuel efficiency while easily accessing the simmer feature. This is appreciated both by those eating the grub and those monitoring the amount of gas remaining in the tank. 

Tester Commentary: “Personally, picking between the GSI 4-Season remote canister stove and the MSR WindPro II is a tough call. While most of the testers picked the smaller GSI, I’m going with the MSR. It’s more durable. It really seems to me like it can stand up to the test of time.”

Bottom Line: This MSR stove offers the stability of their fabled Whisperlite designs in a canister fueled package. Backpackers looking to go fast and light in wind-stricken terrain won’t go wrong with this MSR model. 

Best for: Fast and light backpacking, use in high wind and low temperature situations, taking advantage of compact canister fuel size with a more stable design

Key Attribute: Durability