Gear review: MSR WindBurner camp stove

After five days of portaging through Algonquin Provincial Park last October – when temperatures swung from 18°C during the day to -5°C overnight – I’m ready to share my honest assessment of the MSR WindBurner stove system.

This compact cooking setup has become my go-to for both canoe trips and occasional winter hot tent excursions in Ontario’s backcountry, though it comes with tradeoffs that merit consideration.

The WindBurner truly shines in the tough, unpredictable weather that defines shoulder season camping in Ontario.

At our exposed campsite on Burnt Island Lake, strong gusts coming off the water completely neutralized my camping partner’s Primus Essential Trail, while the WindBurner maintained a consistent flame and boiled our morning coffee water in just under 4 minutes.

The 2.5L sauce pot and 8-inch skillet with ceramic coating expanded my backcountry menu options dramatically.

I prepared a hearty wild mushroom risotto for three hungry paddlers after a gruelling 1500m portage – something I wouldn’t have attempted with my previous minimalist setup.

The stove’s design prevents tipping, which proved invaluable on the uneven ground of my hastily chosen campsite during an unexpected rainstorm.

Everything nests together for packing, though at 1.8 pounds (820g), it’s noticeably heavier than my ultralight MSR PocketRocket 2 setup (240g) – a consideration for longer portage routes where every gram counts.

Bottom line

The MSR WindBurner is a worthwhile investment if you’re a Canadian paddler or winter camper looking for a reliable cooking system that performs in our country’s challenging conditions.

You’ll appreciate how well it works in windy portage sites and during shoulder seasons when the Jetboil Flash I tested alongside it struggled with temperature regulation, though you’ll pay for this performance with added weight and reduced pack space.

Check out the MSR WindBurner on Amazon and level up your camp cooking experience!

How the WindBurner handled a brutal Killarney winter weekend

Last February, I took the WindBurner on a hot tent camping trip to Killarney Provincial Park, where temperatures plummeted to -28°C with windchill.

While my previous experiences with canister stoves in extreme cold had been disappointing, the WindBurner performed remarkably well even in these gusty conditions, though not without some limitations.

The windproof radiant burner proved impressive – water for morning oatmeal boiled in about 5 minutes despite the breezy lakeshore setting, though this was notably slower than the 3 minutes achieved during summer testing.

The 2.5L sauce pot and 8″ skillet both feature ceramic nonstick coating that made cleanup remarkably simple – even when I accidentally scorched maple syrup while making bannock in -20°C conditions with numbing fingers.

The nesting design is clever for portage trips when space in your barrel is limited, though the system is bulkier than my summer ultralight setup.

The remote canister design remained stable on the frozen, uneven ground around our hot tent, which provided welcome peace of mind when cooking in the vestibule area.

I especially appreciated the simmer control during more moderate conditions, though I found it became somewhat less responsive in extreme cold.

The pressure regulator maintained reasonable performance as temperatures dropped, though I still needed to sleep with the fuel canister in my sleeping bag and warm it in my jacket before morning use – a limitation of all canister stoves, even premium ones like this.

At 820g (1.8 pounds), it’s significantly heavier than my summer canoe trip setup, but the cooking versatility justifies the weight penalty for winter camping when you’re not carrying it on your back all day.

Key features compared to competitors

The WindBurner offers several advantages over competing systems I’ve tested in Ontario’s backcountry.

Here’s how it compares to its main competitors in key aspects that matter for Canadian outdoor enthusiasts.

Windproof performance vs. Jetboil and PocketRocket

The WindBurner uses a unique radiant burner that significantly outperforms open-flame designs in wind resistance.

During a particularly blustery evening on Georgian Bay, it boiled water in 4:15 while the Jetboil Flash took 5:30 and my MSR PocketRocket 2 struggled to maintain a flame at all.

The pressure regulator gives it an edge over the Jetboil Flash in cold weather performance.

During early May canoe trips when overnight temperatures still dipped below freezing, the WindBurner maintained about 85% efficiency while the Jetboil’s performance dropped more significantly.

The boil-to-simmer control offers better cooking versatility than the Jetboil MiniMo, though it doesn’t quite match the fine control of my white gas MSR WhisperLite, which remains my preferred option for winter trips below -25°C.

Cookware quality and expandability options

The 2.5L pot and 8″ skillet feature Fusion ceramic non-stick coating that has proven more durable than my GSI Outdoors Bugaboo cookset.

After two seasons of heavy use on canoe trips, the WindBurner’s coating shows minimal wear, while my GSI pan developed scratches after just one season.

I’ve also invested in the WindBurner 4.5 Liter Nonstick Stock Pot as an expansion to the system, which has proven invaluable for larger group trips.

During a Thanksgiving weekend canoe trip with six people, this larger pot allowed me to prepare a proper turkey stew that would have been impossible with just the standard 2.5L pot.

The same excellent non-stick coating and heat distribution applies to this larger pot, though it does add another 425g to your kit weight.

Food releases easily, making cleanup remarkably simple when lake water is your only resource – this alone saved approximately 2L of water per meal compared to my previous cookset.

The heat-capturing ring built into the cookware distributed heat noticeably more evenly than my Snow Peak Trek 900 titanium pot, preventing hotspots when cooking oatmeal.

I successfully prepared delicate scrambled eggs and pancakes that would have burned in my titanium cookware, though I found the skillet slightly small when cooking for a group of four adults.

Packability: convenience vs. weight tradeoffs

The integrated nesting design is cleverly executed but creates a distinct tradeoff decision for Canadian paddlers.

The stove, pot, and skillet all nest together to save precious backpack space, but the complete system occupies significantly more barrel space than my ultralight summer setup (PocketRocket 2 + titanium pot).

I was surprised that the complete system packs smaller than carrying separate comparable components, measuring about 20% less volume than my previous similar cooking setup.

This clever design efficiency becomes most valuable during early spring and late fall canoe trips when you need cold-weather cooking performance but still have portages to manage.

While clearly designed with backpackers in mind, it’s equally valuable for Canadian canoe trippers facing our notorious shoulder season weather volatility.

Stability: crucial for uneven Ontario campsites

The remote canister design provides dramatically better stability than top-heavy integrated systems like the Jetboil Flash.

I’ve used it on the slanted granite of northern Ontario campsites without a single tip-over incident, while my camping partner’s Jetboil tipped twice in similar conditions.

The self-centering pot feature proved particularly valuable during a windy evening on Lake Superior’s north shore when gusts reached 40km/h.

This stability eliminated the anxiety I typically feel when cooking on precarious surfaces – a genuine safety feature when you’re days from assistance.

All-season reliability: where it excels and falls short

I’ve tested the WindBurner across Ontario’s dramatic seasonal conditions from summer heatwaves to deep winter camping.

In mild freezing temperatures (-5°C to -15°C), the WindBurner maintained roughly 80% efficiency while my Jetboil Flash dropped to about 60% performance.

The fuel efficiency advantage became quantifiable – my 230g canister lasted through a 5-day Killarney loop with twice-daily cooking, while my partner’s similar-sized canister in his Jetboil was depleted by day 4.

However, in extreme cold below -20°C, the WindBurner still suffered from the fundamental limitations of canister stoves, with significantly reduced output compared to my liquid-fuel MSR WhisperLite International.

This reliability makes it my preferred three-season option for Ontario’s backcountry, though I still recommend liquid fuel stoves for true winter expeditions in our harshest conditions.

Real-world testing: from Algonquin to winter hot tenting

When you’re navigating Ontario’s diverse wilderness, from Algonquin’s lakes to Killarney’s quartzite ridges, reliable cooking equipment makes all the difference.

Over the past two years, I’ve put the WindBurner through its paces across 28 nights of backcountry camping in distinctly different scenarios.

These real experiences reveal where the system truly shines and where it falls short compared to alternatives.

Canoe tripping: From solo to group cooking

During a six-day loop through Algonquin’s Canoe Lake access point last September, the 2.5L pot proved perfect for our group of three paddlers.

The ceramic nonstick coating allowed me to prepare cedar-planked lake trout with wild rice without destroying the pot when caramelization occurred – something impossible with my titanium cookware.

The 8-inch skillet brilliantly handled bannock and blueberry pancakes on a foggy Smoke Lake morning, though I found it slightly small for four large trout fillets, requiring cooking in batches.

For larger groups, I’ve found the additional 4.5L stock pot transforms the WindBurner from a small-group solution to a genuine basecamp cooking system.

During a week-long trip with two other couples along the Magnetawan River, I used the large pot to prepare hearty stews that fed all six of us from a single pot – significantly reducing cooking time and fuel consumption compared to cooking in batches.

The 4.5L pot uses the same heat exchanger technology as the smaller pots, maintaining the WindBurner’s excellent fuel efficiency even when scaled up.

The reliable simmer control maintained consistent heat for reducing a maple-whisky sauce without scorching – a level of cooking finesse I hadn’t previously achieved in the backcountry.

Throughout extended portages like the gruelling 1.9km stretch from Burnt Island to Turner Lake, I appreciated how securely the nested system stayed packed.

However, when bringing the complete system with the additional 4.5L pot (total weight approaching 1.25kg), I’ve learned to distribute components among group members during portages – the burner in one pack, pots in another – making the weight penalty more manageable across our seven-portage routes totalling over 8km.

Winter hot tent experience at -28°C

During a February hot tent expedition near Killarney when temperatures plummeted to -28°C, the WindBurner revealed both strengths and limitations.

Setting up in the tent vestibule area, I was impressed how the radiant burner maintained a flame in gusty conditions that extinguished my partner’s Primus Essential Trail three times.

The radiant burner design eliminated the need to construct elaborate windscreens, conserving both effort and materials.

However, despite the pressure regulator, extreme cold still significantly affected performance – water boil times stretched from 3.5 minutes in summer to nearly 8 minutes at -25°C, even with fuel canisters kept warm in sleeping bags overnight.

In moderate below-freezing conditions (-5°C to -15°C), the WindBurner performed admirably compared to canister alternatives, but below -20°C, it couldn’t match my WhisperLite International’s consistent output.

The remote canister design proved crucial when cooking in the tent vestibule, providing sufficient stability on the uneven ground pad to prevent dangerous spills in an enclosed environment.

Fuel consumption in deep cold significantly increased compared to three-season use – we depleted a 230g canister in just two days compared to the five days it typically lasts during summer trips.

While the simmer control worked acceptably for most cooking, it became somewhat less responsive in extreme cold, making delicate temperature adjustments for melting chocolate fondue unexpectedly challenging.

Pros and Cons

After using the MSR WindBurner for over 28 nights across Ontario’s diverse backcountry, I’ve got some thoughts about its performance.

This $279.95 CAD investment represents a significant commitment compared to simpler systems, so understanding its genuine strengths and limitations is crucial for Canadian outdoor enthusiasts.

Let me break down what works well and what could be better with this stove system.

Pros

The WindBurner’s windproof design provides remarkable reliability in Ontario’s often challenging conditions.

During a particularly gusty evening on Georgian Bay when winds hit 45km/h, it maintained consistent heat while two different competing stoves failed repeatedly.

The pressure regulator maintains better-than-average performance down to about -15°C, making it viable for shoulder season and mild winter camping in Ontario.

The nesting design optimizes limited space in canoe barrels and packs, though at the cost of some additional weight.

After two years of regular use, the Fusion ceramic nonstick coating has proven remarkably durable compared to previous cooksets I’ve owned.

The coating still performs like new despite countless meals and less-than-gentle cleaning in lake water.

The stability of the remote canister design proved genuinely safety-enhancing on Ontario’s uneven granite campsites.

This design prevented at least three potential spills that could have resulted in burns or lost meals.

Cons

The wind baffle design that attaches to the pot rather than the burner creates a significant limitation for Canadian paddlers who might want flexibility.

Unlike traditional stoves where you can use any pot, the WindBurner’s efficiency drops dramatically when used with non-system cookware. This initially frustrated me until I invested in the additional 4.5L WindBurner stock pot, which solved my group cooking needs while maintaining the system’s efficiency.

At 820g for the system, it’s 580g heavier than my ultralight PocketRocket 2 setup – a substantial difference when portaging multiple kilometres.

This weight penalty becomes even more significant when adding the 4.5L stock pot. The complete system approaches 1.25kg – a considerable commitment that became particularly noticeable during our 8-portage Algonquin trip last autumn.

While functional, the simmer control cannot match the precise temperature regulation of my home stove, leading to some cooking challenges with more delicate dishes.

The $279.95 CAD price point represents a substantial premium over the $89.95 PocketRocket 2 kit or $189.95 Jetboil Flash – requiring serious consideration about whether the added performance justifies the cost.

When factoring in accessories like the 4.5L stock pot (an additional $179.95 CAD), the complete WindBurner system represents a significant investment that approaches the cost of high-end camping gear.

Beyond specs: Real-world relevance for Canadian outdoors

The MSR WindBurner initially caught my attention as a potential solution for the notoriously windy campsites along Lake Superior’s Coastal Trail.

What intrigued me was MSR’s focus on creating a system that specifically addresses the reality of cooking in Canadian wilderness conditions – where wind isn’t the exception but the norm.

For Canadian canoe trippers, the WindBurner’s modular approach offers valuable versatility. The combo package provides a foundation, while additional accessories like my 4.5L stock pot allow you to scale the system to match your group size and trip requirements.

This expandability became crucial when I progressed from solo trips to leading small groups through Algonquin, allowing me to bring exactly the right cookware configuration without purchasing an entirely new system.

Comparing my experience with other users

After two years with the WindBurner, my experience largely aligns with the broader 4-star consensus among users, though with some important Ontario-specific nuances.

The most significant design limitation consistently mentioned in reviews – and confirmed by my experience – involves the specialized integration between components.

During an extended Killarney trip, this design choice became problematic when I needed to cook for eight people instead of our usual two.

Unable to effectively use my larger pot with the WindBurner burner, I had to cook in shifts – an inefficiency that wouldn’t exist with more traditional stove designs.

This limitation wouldn’t deter me from recommending the system for typical 2-4 person canoe trips, but it’s a genuine consideration for larger groups or those who prioritize setup flexibility.

Despite this constraint, the overall construction quality reinforces MSR’s reputation for building durable outdoor gear – my unit shows minimal wear despite 28 nights of hard use in challenging conditions.

For Ontario paddlers and winter campers frequently facing challenging conditions, this system provides reliable performance that justifies its premium positioning against competitors like Jetboil.

However, prospective buyers should understand they’re investing in an integrated cooking system, not just a stove – with all the advantages and limitations that approach entails.

Final verdict: Worth the weight for Ontario’s weather challenges?

After putting the WindBurner through its paces across Ontario’s diverse landscapes – from Algonquin’s lakes to Killarney’s winter backcountry – I’ve developed a nuanced appreciation for its capabilities.

This system truly excels in the challenging shoulder seasons unique to Canadian camping, when unpredictable weather can turn meal preparation from a basic task into a genuine challenge.

The integrated design delivers tangible benefits in fuel efficiency – I measured approximately 25% less fuel consumption compared to my previous stove setups in similar conditions.

However, the system’s weight and cookware-specific design create legitimate tradeoffs that each outdoor enthusiast must evaluate against their specific needs.

For serious Ontario paddlers regularly facing our province’s notorious wind and weather fluctuations, the WindBurner’s reliability represents genuine value despite its premium price point.

Built to MSR’s typically high standards, my unit has maintained consistent performance despite exposure to everything from sand-laden Georgian Bay winds to Killarney’s -28°C winter conditions.

The WindBurner isn’t the perfect solution for every scenario – ultralight summer trips or extreme winter expeditions might be better served by specialized alternatives.

However, for the majority of three-season Canadian backcountry adventures where cooking reliability in challenging environments is crucial, the WindBurner represents a worthwhile investment for those willing to accept its weight and flexibility compromises.

Get the MSR WindBurner on Amazon.