MSR WindPro Stove - 2007 BCS

I’ll preface this review with my cut and paste statement that I work as a backcountry backpacking guide in Yosemite National Park. Nearly all of the products I take the time to review have seen at least a half a season, if not more, of use... and I’m committed to not bothering to write a review until I feel like I’ve really gotten to know a product. I never thought I’d bother to write reviews, but I’ve recently decided that since I’ve spent so much time over these last many years reading reviews, and finding a tremendous amount of value in articulate and well-informed opinions, that I wanted to give back to the community. So, with that being said, here we go...

Disclaimer - I do not actually *own* one of these stoves, but I use them well over a 100 times every summer. We do nearly all our cooking on WhisperLites and WindPros... both of which are fantastic stoves.

The WindPro can get a little squirrely at times when you're adjusting a pot or pan. Sometimes you'll unknowingly push one of the hinged legs in a bit... leading to the granite and the spaghetti getting to know one another a little too well. Personally, if I were heading out on my own, I'd stick with a small can stove like the Snow peak LiteMax... which I suppose I probably I'll have to since this old pro has been discontinued. Its a shame. This is a great stove.

Since this is a can stove you'll be sleeping with your cans when it gets cold (or dealing with some miserable stove performance.) However, since its larger and more stable than stoves like the Pocket Rocket, or the smaller Snow Peak stoves, it can handle large cookware, and therefore cook more for more people.

Its a shame to see this stove discontinued. I'll be interested in trying out the WindPro II if we pick some up as replacements for these old troopers.

This stove is really great. Super light, good power. It is not just a blowtorch, you can actually cook with this thing. The simmer works really well. With the remote canister, it is possible to get the very most out of each cartridge by turning them upside-down and moving it close to the flame to warm the cartridge up.

This stove works really well, the remote temperature control adjusts much better than that of the Pocket Rocket. The stove itself is stable if you can find a fairly flat surface of course. On top of that, the stand is wide and holds a decent sized pot. First using it we camped on a ridge, the wind was constant, especially in the morning, the windscreen did it's job well and allowed me to cook my food without wasting extra fuel, seems that this windscreen may need replacement after some use, but should hold up for a bit NOTE: they only cost $10 from MSR. It boiled 2 cups in my GSI Ketalist in just a few minutes, and continued to perform in the wind with the windscreen up.

One thing to note is that in wind, the flame will whip up the side of your pot, pretty badly, I found it to be more extreme when the pot was offset. This being said, my pot has rubber coating on the handle and could be burned if I don't watch the flame, Not worth taking off points, just something to keep in mind. What it came down to with this stove is efficiency and versatility. The full burner as opposed to the rocket burner heats evenly, and I feel boils faster in the right pot. You also have the ability to cook with this stove, not just boil, which practically made the deal for me. It is not the lightest stove but you already know that, it has more parts than most. If all of these things suit your needs you should be good to go with it.

Great for cooking highly adjustable flame. Lights on the first match every time. Boils fairly quickly and Fits nicely inside my GSI Pinnacle soloist cookset. windscreen/heat reflector has held up fairly well. don't use the bottom reflector much, a little trouble some to get the stove balanced on that after you've folded it up a bunch.

The WindPro rocks. Consistent flame at all levels whether boiling fast or simmering. I slow cook Pasta Sides all the time with it...and they require simmering for like 8-10 minutes. With the windscreen, this is absolutely no problem. If only they could figure out how to get this performance out of something the size of the pocket rocket...that would be the only way I can imagine improving it. The storage bag is great too. The wide burner is awesome in that it doesn't just "jet" in one tiny spot and burn the food in the pot.

I have worked with many stoves over the years including the Whisperlite, Jet Boil's and the Dragon Fly. I have used these stoves tell they have worn out. With my WindPro i have climbed the Tetons, Chugach and the Canadian Rockies. I have Backpacked for weeks on end with the WindPro in Southern Utah, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming. Kayaked in Alaska for a week and this stove will not die. It won't give up. It has been in 60 mph blizzards and still cranked out heat. There is no fuel pump, no priming, no jamming, no fuel freezing in its bottle. No anual maintenance. It is simply attaching it to a pressurized fuel canister. It is so easy. When it is -20 with a 60 mph wind the last thing you want to do is take off your gloves to prime a stove. It wont quit working. It is full of sand after a week of southern utah and it still lights like a dream. I have been trying to break it so i can get a new one but it wont die. A true testament to the quality of MSR products. I would never get another stove. Never. Get a WindPro it is the best stove you will ever own.

All I can say is that i love this stove. Pretty minimalist and does its job very well. Lights quick too! Extremely stable with a good wide base, keeps everything pretty low. Great for my wife and I.

I've seen a lot of people's stoves on the trail, and am always glad that I bought the WindPro. Most canister stoves have two modes, off and jet engine (both in noise and power output). The WindPro has the full range from simmer to blazing heat. It boils water lightning fast, and then turns down to simmer so I don't char my broccoli cheese rice. I am usually eating before my buddies with alcohol have their stoves up and running (seems like you have to perform a seance to get those things to work right). The stove is sturdy as a rock, so you don't need to worry about spilling your dinner. And it is aptly named, because the wind does not faze it.

I upgraded from the awesome MSR Pocket Rocket, which is now in my emergency preparedness kit, and I haven't lusted for another stove since. There's one new moving part compared to the Pocket Rocket - so you have to clean the stove...no biggie. I've run the stove for two seasons and will only need to clean it in anticipation of a third season. You can set bigger pots on it because it's super-stable. The windscreen and heat reflector really work, so be sure to pack it with your stove (I didn't the first few times and STILL had no problem, even in breezy conditions). Be sure to keep your fuel in the bottom of your sleeping bag so it stays warm, otherwise you'll find the stove a little hesitant in the AM in cooler conditions. You also can't beat the price - this stove is as efficient, if not more, than stoves that you'll drop twice as much dough on.

Just got back from using this stove up in the Mountains with a wind chill of -15. I had no problems with it ever going out. Used the heat reflector and it worked great as well. Always nice to have some warm soup on such a cold day! I am very happy with this stove!!!

Another +1 for the windpro.

MSR approved the inverted canister technique for cold weather use thanks to the preheat tube. Just make sure to keep the valve turned low.

The weight is a little high for a canister stove, but the functionality and versatility make up for it! If you have ever tried using a regular canister stove in the cold or wind, you know what I am talking about. The windpro is truly an all weather stove (within reason) with good weight and great simplicity.

vary durable and easy to use fits about any pot. if you want a stand alone stove the windpro is worth it

Having used many stoves here in Australia (including a Whisperlite Intl, Trangia, MSR Pocket Rocket, Dragonfly) I have found this to be the most efficient stove I have ever used.

Although it is slightly heavier than the Pocket Rocket - it is far more efficient (and simmers better) and the safety due to the more stable design makes it a far better stove. With the lightweight metal windshield in place it outperformed my friend's Pocket Rocket significantly on a a recent 4 day trip to Tasmania (Australia). He needed to carry an extra gas canister to achieve the same results as my Windpro. This easily offset the slightly heavier Windpro (compared to the Pocket Rocket) making the overall package a lighter one by far (one MSR Canister + Windpro was lighter than his Pocket Rocket + 2 canisters).

Safer and lighter overall - a great stove.

I've had it for over 3 years and it has never let me down! Even through wind and wet conditions! Only if you have spilled water onto it does it work less than perfect! Only issue is the use of propane b/c you can't bring it on a plane. I have been able to buy cheap cans or have had donated ones during my travels. But I have supplemented that issue by getting the Dragonfly(which I have yet to use)

After my hiking partner packed up his stove (and other gear) and moved overseas, I immediately purchased this stove (the same he owned) because of the ease of use, durability and functionality (weight). I recommend it for any backcountry hiker.

After several months of going very light, the fiddle factor of using alcohol just wasn't working for me. One night after being stuck in the rain and setting up a shelter I wanted something warm. Thinking about using alcohol in these conditions meant going to bed without. I don't do the big miles day after day, so can carry some more weight. Totally pleased with isobutane and this stove so far. Can pack an 8 oz canister, windscreen, stove and lighter all into a snowpeak 1400ml pot. Instant heat, complete flame control. If conditions deteriorate you can count on it to do the job and do it quickly if needed.

Stove performed great. One night, light breeze, second night, 55 mph winds. With wind srceen and some small rocks, stove had no problem heating up dinner.

I got this stove last spring and I have loved using it all summer. I first got to use it on the Dolores river, with some snow, so the temps were easily in the thirties and twenties, and it worked just fine. It even had enough power to heat potatoes on a cast iron pan. I took it on the PCT for a hundred miles and found it to be very efficient and easy to use. I ended up using less gas than my buddy who had the pocket rocket. It works awesome with the wind screen in place and has been very durable.

I love this stove. It is super light and throws off a ton of heat. The heat shields do a great job of minimizing heat loss and maximizing fuel like on longer trips. I prefer this stove to the pocket rocket because it is far more stable (not nearly as top heavy) given the element sits on ground and the surface area for your pots is larger. Also, there is no priming, cleaning and really no maintenance required to keep this thing humming. Temperature control is super easy to use with the handle folding down to keep the entire package compact. This stove is a great investment.