Before I purchased the WhisperLite International, I was using the MSR Pocket Rocket. It had a lot of the features I liked, but I found that my backpacking trips lead me to higher, and colder destinations. The Pocket Rocket just didn't quite perform in those conditions. After a LOT of research and reading, I chose to go with the MSR WhisperLite International. Mostly because of the flexibility of fuel. Who knows when you might be stranded and need to use auto fuel? At least you would have the option with this stove.

I must admit there were a couple things that almost made me give 4 start instead of 5. The first being that it is a little cumbersome to get primed, and lit. Practice at home first before you go out in the wilderness. The second thing was that there is not really a simmer function, but as other people mentioned, back off on the pumps a little and there will be just the right amount of pressure to make it happen.

The things that convinced me to give it 5 stars were just a few of the following. MSR makes good products, hands down. This one is no different, and I think the number of positive comments are a reflection of that. You can boil water in just a couple minutes. It really took me by surprise how fast it got that water moving! Temperature and Altitude are not an issue with this stove. When combining it with some good quality White Gas, it can go with you anywhere. The bottom line is that this thing will work anywhere, and with proper maintenance, you may never need another one.

I've been using mine for a few years now, and overall, I've been really satisfied. The weight of the stove(or lack there of) was really what sold me, but the speed at which it boils water was a pleasant surprise.

Not everything was perfect, however. Being that it is a canister fuel delivery system, I did find that it was very challenging to use it in any kind of cold weather camping. it could be done, however it just involved a lot of work. This made using my percolator very challenging. Not saying that it can't be done, just that it does require some babysitting. The other issue that I found was that if it wasn't placed exactly flat, my cookware/percolator would slide right off of it quite easily. The only other issue that could be a problem for some folks is that the flame spread is about the size of a quarter. This is only a problem if you're cooking food versus re-heating food or boiling water.

You might be asking, "Why 4 stars then?" Well, this little thing really does perform for what it is. I mean, 3 oz? Come on, you don't have to be an expert to know that it has to be one of the lightest stoves on the market. As I stated, I've used this thing for about 2 years as my primary cook stove for 100+ meals and I've never gone hungry because of it. If you're looking for a high altitude, or winter stove, this is not it. That's why I just bought a WhisperLite International, and will look forward to giving it as thorough of a review as I have this one. The Pocket Rocket really is a worthwhile buy.

I've taken this tent out a couple times, and so far I have been extremely satisfied with it. Not only is it light-weight, but warm as well! I can't imagine taking the whole tent out in the summer when you have the option for fly-only pitching, but if you did, it would only be a small addition to your total weight. It's cutting it close with two people, but if you sleep opposite ends there is tons of room. IMO, it's worth every penny.