Mountain Safety Research (MSR) Dragonfly Stove – Owner Review

Reviewer’s Information:

Matt Smith

32 years old

Male

5 ft 9 ½ in (1.76 m)

190 lb (86.2 kg)

semperanger@yahoo.com

Eastern Washington – United States

November 25, 2004

Backpacking Background:

I’ve been backpacking since 1998, mostly ultra-comfy, but working toward going lighter.  Trips ranged from the Grand Canyon to the Pacific Northwest and some beginning mountaineering.  Most of these tend to be heavy (about a 40-50 lb (18-22 kg) pack) and comfortable (tent, mattress, and liquid fuel stove).  I’ve mostly done single nights, but I’m hoping to extend my range.  I also do a lot of car camping with my wife, so what doesn't go on my back gets a workout on the weekends.  I’m looking forward to my first serious winter of snow camping.

Product Information:

Manufacturer:  Mountain Safety Research (USA)

Year of Manufacture:  c. 1998

URL:  http://www.msrcorp.com

Listed weight of stove, fuel pump, windscreen, reflector, nylon stuff sack: 17.1 oz (487 g)

Actual weight of stove, fuel pump, windscreen, reflector, nylon stuff sack: 16.7 oz (473 g)

Actual weight of stove and fuel pump only:  13.7 oz (388 g)

Actual dimensions of stove (width x depth x height; folded / opened):  5.5 x 4 x 6.5 / 10 x 8.5 x 4 in (14 x 10 x 16.5 / 26 x 22 x 10 cm)

Actual dimensions and weight of empty MSR fuel bottles (sold separately):

11 fl oz (325 ml): 2.5 in diameter x 7.25 in high (6.5 x 18.5 cm), 3.8 oz (107.7 g)

22 fl oz (650 ml): 2.8 in diameter x 9.25 in high (7.3 x 23.5 cm), 5.0 oz (141.7 g)

33 fl oz (975 ml): available, but I don’t own one; listed at 7.3 oz (207 g)

MSRP:  $ 109

Fuel Types:  white gas, unleaded gasoline, aviation gas, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel, naphtha, Stoddard solvent

Listed Burn Time with 22 fl oz (650 ml) of white gas at 70 F (21 C):  126 minutes (unspecified flame intensity)

Listed Amount of Water Boiled with 16 fl oz (473 ml) of white gas at 70 F (21 C):  26.2 qt (24.8 l)

Actual Time to Boil 16 fl oz (473 ml) of 60 degree F (15.5 C) water at air temp of 50 F (10 C) and 1000 ft (300 m) elevation:  just over one minute to rolling boil

Limited Warranty:  Five years (except for improper use, negligence, accidents)

Description:

The Dragonfly is sold in a nylon bag with the folding stand & burner unit, a detachable fuel pump, aluminum windscreen and heat reflector, small repair kit, and two fuel nozzles (one for white gas and one for heavier fuels such as diesel).  The necessary fuel bottles are available in three sizes (see above) and are sold separately. 

The stove assembly consists of a bell-shaped jet style burner located in a housing about the size and shape of a Sterno can.  This, in turn, is supported on three double-wire legs, which are pre-bent to also act as the pot supports.  At the bottom of the burner is the fuel hose and control knob.  The fuel hose terminates in a locking mechanism, which is used to connect it to the fuel pump.  The pump is made of blue and orange plastic (the rest of the stove components are stainless steel, aluminum, copper and brass) and is screwed into one of the fuel bottles.  The aluminum windscreen unfolds to wrap around the entire burner unit, leaving only the control knob and fuel bottle exposed.  The heat reflector also unfolds to lie even with the burner, which cuts down on heat loss to the ground. 

The entire burner unit folds up to a surprisingly compact size and fits nicely, along with the windscreen and reflector, inside my 1.5 qt (1.4 l) cook pot and domed lid.  The fuel bottle is carried separately and even the 22 oz (650 ml) size nests well inside my coffee mug. 

Assembly and use are extremely easy.  Simply unfold the stove’s legs and fuel hose.  Give the fuel pump several strokes (depending on the amount of fuel in the bottle) to pressurize it.  Connect the fuel hose to the fuel bottle by pushing the nozzle into the pump’s receptacle.  Swing the locking bar into place and it’s ready to go.  I’ve used only white gas to date and so cannot comment on other fuels’ performance.  White gas, however, is simple to find (at least in the USA) and simple to use.  First, turn on the pump’s main fuel knob.  Then open the fuel control knob attached to the stove just long enough to saturate the wick located below the jet nozzle.  Light the wick with a match or lighter and allow it to burn for about ten seconds.  This heats the burner enough to vaporize additional fuel and provide a clean burn (equivalent to priming other stoves).  It is then just a matter of opening the control knob to the desired flame strength. 

The Dragonfly is billed as having an adjustable flame, and to an extent it does.  It will simmer, though not always quite as low as I would like.  When it is cranked up to “melt that glacier” level, it sounds like a jet airplane taking off; but it does have serious power. 

Field Information:

I’ve used the Dragonfly on just about every backpacking and car-camping trip I’ve taken in the past six years.  Because of the amount of use and varied locations, I can’t give a typical area description.  Suffice it to say that I’ve used the Dragonfly from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the snowfields of Mount Baker, and everywhere in between.  Temperatures have ranged from below 0 F (-18 C) to about 100 F (38 C) and elevations from below sea level to 8000 ft (2440 m). 

Findings:

With well over 250 meals to its credit, the Dragonfly has never let me down.  It has worked well in every scenario I’ve come up with so far and I have yet to put my hands on any of the maintenance equipment.  I like its dependable performance and adjustable flame control.  It has boiled water, melted snow, heated musk ox stew, and fried fish with equal aplomb.  I also admire its extremely wide range of fuel options.  This would give me many more options if I ever get to backpack over-seas.  The three legs are each made of a bent piece of wire, in effect giving six supports on the ground as well as beneath the pot.  It is a very stable platform and I’ve never worried over tipping dinner into the dirt like I have with other stoves (especially the burner-on-top-of-a-canister models).  The windscreen seems to be quite effective at conserving fuel and speeding the cook time.  I’ve mostly used the Dragonfly in conjunction with MSR’s Alpine cook set.  Both the 1.5 and 2 qt (1.4 and 1.9 l) pots sit well on the stove and, as mentioned, the stove fits well within the smaller pot and domed lid. 

The fuel bottles are sturdy aluminum cylinders with tight-fitting threaded caps.  They come in three sizes to accommodate the amount of fuel needed for a particular trip.  I’ve found that wrapping a bunch of duct tape around the bottles not only keeps the ultimate fix-it tool handy, but also helps insulate the bottles.  This isn’t an issue in the summer, but at cold temperatures, I don’t always remember to put on gloves before grabbing the metal, which can be sub-freezing and therefore a source of frostbite.

Some will no doubt say that the Dragonfly is too large or too heavy.  And for summer use at low altitude, they might have an argument.  But when I bought the Dragonfly, I knew it was going to be my one, all-around stove; something to use in the summer campground and also up on the snowfields.  I’ve backpacked countless miles and if it did add a few ounces to my pack, it was more than welcome at the end of the day when I knew I’d have a hot meal; no questions asked. 

The other contrary opinion I’ve heard is that the Dragonfly is too darned loud.  And to that I have to answer, “Yes it is.”  I hesitate to call this a problem with the stove, however.  Yes, I believe in Leave No Trace and low impact camping.  No, I don’t want to annoy my neighbors with a lot of noise.  The reality of it, however, isn’t that bad.  At full blast level, I can walk ten paces away and hardly notice the noise, certainly not over a conversation.  And if the unit is set to the low simmer level, it is no louder than a Whisperlite.  This, together with its short boil time means less overall noise than some other models.  Besides, who wants to camp on top of another group anyhow?

The only problem I’ve ever had with it was that after much hard use, a plastic flange on the fuel pump which holds the piston inside the pump casing broke.  This meant that I had to hold the connection point with one hand while pumping with the other.  It was a bit awkward and I finally visited the MSR store in Seattle to have it fixed.  I took the pump in to the repair facility and told the man behind the desk of my problem.  He didn’t ask to see my receipt, proof of purchase, or even ask me how long I’d had the stove (the warranty is for five years).  He simply said, “Hang on a second.”  He then took out the damaged pump handle, put in a new one, and told me to have a nice day.  When I asked what I owed them, he just smiled at me like I was crazy and waved goodbye.  Count me among the “very satisfied” customers.

Summary:

If I was only doing summer camping at low altitudes within the USA, or decided to finally go ultra-light, I would probably use my Esbit stove or my wife’s canister stove.  However, since I enjoy camping in the mountains and getting out in the winter, I don’t leave home without my Dragonfly.  It is expensive, but you get that for which you pay.  I absolutely love mine and will continue to carry it in my pack for many years to come. 

Things I like:

1.      It is reliable.  Everywhere, every time.

2.      It is versatile; the many fuel options could be a convenience or a lifesaver.

3.      Simmer to blowtorch adjustability.

4.      Great customer service.

Things I don’t like:

1.      Let’s face it; it’s loud when you’re crouched over it stirring the stew.

2.      The fuel pump is its Achilles’ heel; the plastic parts can become brittle in the cold.

3.      It is larger and heavier than many other stoves.