MSR XGK EX Extreme Condition Stove

by MSR

Product Features

• Multi-Fuel: Reliably burns more liquid fuels than any other stove.
• Dependable: Easy to field maintain; Shaker Jet cleans fuel jet with a simple shake
• Compact: New flexible fuel line allows stove to fit in a 1.5-liter MSR pot.
• Superfast: Boils 1 liter of water in just 2.8 minutes (using kerosene fuel).
• Extra stable: New retractable legs and pot supports provide unprecedented stability.

Product Description

Amazon.com

For over 35 years, the MSR XGK Extreme Conditions Stove has been the world's most reliable extreme-condition stove; trusted by mountaineers worldwide. The XGK EX stove continues that legacy with unrivaled performance, dependability, and top-notch multi-fuel burning capabilities. It features a flexible fuel line that allows you to pack it smaller than ever, as well as stable, retractable legs and pot supports, and a powerful flame that melts snow and boils water incredibly fast. No matter where you're headed, with an XGK EX stove along, you'll find fuel to burn and the absolute dependability that has made it the first choice in liquid fuels stoves on expeditions for decades.

What's in the Box?
The MSR XGK EX package includes a fuel pump, windscreen, heat reflector, small-parts kit, instructions, and stuff sack. (Fuel bottle not included.)

Features:

• Proven choice on expeditions worldwide
• Reliably burns more liquid fuels than any other stove.
• Easy to field maintain; Shaker Jet cleans fuel jet with a simple shake
• New flexible fuel line allows stove to fit in a 1.5-liter MSR pot
• Boils 1 liter of water in just 2.8 minutes (using kerosene fuel)
• Extra-stable retractable legs and pot supports provide a secure platform
• Made in USA

Specifications:

• Minimum Weight: 13.2 ounces
• Packaged Weight 1 lbs 1.2 oz / 489 g
• Burn time (white gas) per 600ml / 20 oz. of fuel 109 minutes
• Burn time (kerosene) per 600ml / 20 oz. of fuel 98 minutes
• Burn time (diesel) per 600ml / 20 oz. of fuel 170 minutes
• Boil time (white gas), 1 liter 3.5 minutes
• Boil time (kerosene), 1 liter 2.8 minutes
• Boil time (diesel), 1 liter 4.5 minutes

Product Description

For over 30 years, MSR’s XGK Backcountry Stove has been the world’s most reliable extreme-condition stove, trusted by mountaineers everywhere. Our new XGK EX builds on that legacy. Like its predecessor, the EX boasts unrivaled performance, dependably burning a greater variety of liquid fuels than any stove on the market. It also features a new flexible fuel line that allows it to pack smaller than ever, as well as retractable legs and pot supports for superior stability—no matter where your next expedition takes you. Lifetime warranty.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BBOSBK
• Item model number: 11043
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,480 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #17 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Camp Kitchen > Backpacking Stoves

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If this is what you need, then it's the best!!!, June 29, 2011

By 

Avi Goldberg "Avig70" (Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MSR XGK EX Extreme Condition Stove (Sports)

I really hate 5 star reviews, there's no such thing as a perfect product, I've used this stove for the past three years and I can tell you this, it comes pretty darn close.

First the GOOD:
* Very strong boiling power.
* Pretty light weight.
* Burns every fuel you'll encounter during those high tracks.
* Very reliable, I have the repair kit but never needed it.
* Parts and service is always around the corner or a click away.
* Internal cleaning mechanism (Shaker Jet), very rarely you have to take it apart, when it gets clogged, just shake it and the cleaning needle hidden under the main jet does most of the work for you.

Now the (not so) BAD:
* The wind protector is just a heavy gauge aluminum foil.
* Flame control is problematic, it's basically either full power or off.
* Need to change jets for some fuels.
* Pump assembly is made from plastic, it's still in one piece but it feels unreliable.

One more thing, I don't consider this a minus since all liquid stoves have this problem and that's noise, they all sound like a jet engine running 3 feet from you.


TIPS:
For all you fuel burners, you need to protect the fuel tank and the pump assembly from scuffs and bumps so I just stuck the whole thing into a thick sock and that does the trick.

When you finish boiling or cooking, you close the fuel valve on the pump to turn the flame off. Don't let the flame go out by itself, instead wait for the flame to turn yellow again and at that point blow it out like you blow out candles on a birthday cake. This way you will get the least amount of fuel deposits in the jet.

Simmering with this kind of On/Off stove:
- The first thing is to buy a "Flame Spreader" or "Heat Diffuser" such as this one, it's just a metal plate used to spread out the hot spots so the food doesn't get burned. The cheap ones seem to be the lightest.
- The second thing is a technique called "Feathering", you start buy not pumping allot of times like we normally do, but rather start with 3-4 strokes of the pump when the tank is almost empty to only one stroke of the pump when the tank is full (MSR says 2 strokes on a half empty tank), so the pressure in the tank stays pretty low. Now after you prime the stove, you have to open the valve just a little to get the right flame you need. It's kind of tricky, but once you get the hang of it it's a little simpler, though never as simple as getting a stove with true flame control. Every few minutes you need to add a stroke or two of the pump or the flame will go out.


As I said int the begining, this is a great on/off kind of stove, if you really need flame control for simmering/cooking but don't want to sacrifice allot of boiling power or fuel diversity, you'd be much better off getting the Liquid fuels only Optimus Nova Plus or MSR® DragonFly (They seem to be the preferred choice, especially the Nova) or the Liquid and Butane stove such as Primus® OmniFuel Stove. The Nova Plus had problems with spare parts and awful costumer service, I don't know if that's still an issue, it's a little heavier too but hey, there's no such thing as the perfect product, right...

Weight including the pump:
MSR XGK - 13.2 oz
MSR DragonFly - 14 oz
Optimus Nova Plus - 15 oz
Optimus Nova - 15.3 oz
Primus OmniFuel - 15.6 oz
Brunton Vapor AF - 16 oz

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars no bottle provided, May 31, 2008

By 

Michele (North-east Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MSR XGK EX Extreme Condition Stove (Sports)

Be aware, the bottle is not provided.

I also recommend a replacement for the pump as backup - (MSR Standard Pump for Liquid Fuel Stoves) since this part is made of plastic, and for an everyday use seems unreliable.
Beside, the stove is just an excellent piece of technology.

5.0 out of 5 stars super light and speedy delivery, January 16, 2012

By 

zoltin88456 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MSR XGK EX Extreme Condition Stove (Sports)

this is a great little stove. I'm really excited about its omni-fuel capabilities. it ships super fast. the pumping mechanism is really easy to use.