Best Integrated Canister Stove of 2021

MSR has created what they’re calling and what is proving to be a “windproof” integrated canister stove. It has a larger cooking cup than the Jetboil Flash and can connect to the burner more easily as well. The WindBurner is a bit heavy but will perform in a variety of conditions, so you won’t have to carry as much fuel when you’re confident the wind won’t impact the boil time. All in all, if you regularly find yourself trying to boil water in the alpine and need a dependable cooking system, look no further. The MSR WindBurner is our Best Integrated Canister Stove of 2021.

Compare to Similar Products

See Our Best Backcountry Canister Stove Review HERE!

MSR has been improving and innovating outdoor gear for the last 60 years. During the research for this article, we were surprised to find out that MSR was the creator of the pit zip, one of our favorite rain-jacket accessories. They have also been revolutionizing camp stove technology, and the WindBurner is one of these revolutionary products.

The Stove

Ease of Use

MSR has certainly put some thought into how this stove will be handled in the backcountry and has added some accessories to improve the user experience. Unlike the Jetboil, which really only has four cup-to-burner attachment points, the WindBurner has several around the bottom so the cup can attach to the burner at any point. When removing the cooking cup from the burner after boiling, you grab onto the black grip at the bottom and the insulated cozy to handle the stove, neither of which get hot during boiling.

We would have loved to see a piezo lighter for such an expensive stove, but thanks to the Reactor technology that MSR uses on the WindBurner, it is easy to light with a lighter or a match. There is an indicator wire that will glow orange when the stove is lit. Due to the burner style, it is essentially impossible to see the flame in the daytime, so the indicator wire is very helpful.

Simmering

Boil Time

Integrated stoves do very well in boil testing. The insulation over the cooking cup and “protected” burner reduces heat loss and generates a faster boil time. The MSR WindBurner does well in standard boil tests; their website states a 4.5-minute boil time for 1 liter of water.

Where the MSR Windburner really shines and earns its name is in windy conditions. Let’s face it: anyone who heads into the alpine or above the treeline is going to face windy nights and having a standard canister stove just won’t cut it in these environments without some serious sheltering. The WindBurner comes with its own protection, and wind has been proven to hardly reduce the boil time at all. This is thanks to the Reactor Technology as well as the connection between the burner and cup that blocks the wind.

The only issue with wind and the WindBurner is after ignition. You’ll need to screw the cup onto the burner, and in that time, the flame could be blown out by the wind. MSR should seriously consider adding a piezo lighter to fortify the WindBurner’s burner.

Fuel Use

On their website, MSR states that the WindBurner can boil 2.3L of water per 1oz of fuel, or it can run on an 8oz canister of fuel for 95 minutes. Either way, what sets the WindBurner apart is its efficiency and fuel saved from the wind protection. Compared to other canister stoves that more than triple their boil times in light breezes, the WindBurner does not see drastic changes in any conditions. If you know that you will be in wind-prone areas and need a stove that will keep up with the conditions, look at the MSR WindBurner.

The Bottom Line

At $149.95, the MSR WindBurner is certainly expensive, but it will bring you plenty of value if you often find yourself camping in areas where the wind is a constant. Integrated stoves are heavy, but they come with everything you need to cook a quick dehydrated meal or boil a cup of coffee (excluding the fuel itself). For those who camp solo and love rehydrating food, look no further. If you plan on cooking more than just dehydrated meals and don’t often head into the rugged alpine landscape, a less expensive canister stove will bring you more value.

Compared to the Jetboil Flash, the MSR stood out as the superior integrated canister stove system. The wind protection and overall package accessories earned it the title of Best Integrated Canister Stove of 2021. If it adds a piezo lighter in the future, very few cooking systems will be able to keep up with this stove in alpine environments.

^ Back to Top ^