MSR XGK-EX stove test

The MSR XGK-Ex multi-combustible stove is in line with the legendary models of the American brand.With his big brothers MSR Whisperlite and Msr Reactor, he dragged his flames around the world.Its recent update in fact undoubtedly one of the most attractive products on the market when it comes to going to tickle the summits of the world or the poles.The travel restrictions that we undergo did not allow us to test it in Norwegian Arctic, as was initially planned.It is therefore the jurassian sets and their mythical winter rigors that served as a backdrop for this test.

First impressions on the MSR XGK-EX stove

The MSR XGK-EX stove is a multi-combustible shipping stove.It works with a tank bottle and a pump to place the liquid fuel under pressure under pressure.Unlike the MSR Whisperlite it cannot work with gas cartridges.But its design allows it to use a greater diversity of liquid fuel (petrol, white, diesel, kerosene, ...) and to adapt to what is found in distant and isolated localities.The MSR XGK-EX stove is delivered in a polyamide pocket containing a pump, 2 jets, a flexible aluminum wind windshield, a basic maintenance kit.The tank bottle must be purchased separately.We can regret it but this has the advantage of choosing that offering the volume most suited to its practice (325 ml, 591 ml or 887 ml).An "arctic" pump, adapted to very cold, and maintenance kits (annual and special shipping) are available as accessories, sold separately.

During unpacking, we first note the robustness of the equipment.We are clearly in a range of equipment that must resist any test.The stove burner is made of aluminum, surrounded by a steel structure which protects it from shocks.The pan -fed feet unfold and fold in a turmoil and block the whole, leaving nothing to exceed during transport.Robustness which is neither at the expense of compactness, nor of lightness.The new flexible fuel driving of the MSR XGK-Ex stove allows it, in fact, to be stored in a 1.5-liter MSR jar type saucepan for a set not exceeding 650 grams (outside bottle and fuel).The quality of the materials, but also of manufacturing and assemblies is in accordance with what is expected of MSR equipment, simply excellent.The storage cover and the flexible aluminum windshield are also of good quality.

The MSR XGK-EX stove on the field

We are in mid-February and start the tour-Nordic ski ski skiing-from the Retord plateau, in the south of the Jura massif.The MSR XGK-Ex stove joins the bottom of our pulka, with a liter of white petrol.A fuel volume which should largely be enough to produce, by melt the snow, the 21 liters of water necessary for this 3 -day trip.After a fairly intense first day comes the time of the bivouac.I connect the fuel bottle to the MSR XGK-EX stove, put the pressure fuel with a few pump strokes.As with any liquid fuel stove, it is then necessary to impregnate the felt with fuel under the burner.For that I briefly open the tap and then ignite the felt with my firesteel.An operation that gives off a little soot and large orange flames is essential to pre-heat the serpentin which brings the fuel to the burner.Hot, it will allow the essence to arrive in gaseous form and will offer very effective combustion.It's been so long since I use petrol stoves that I pay more attention to these operations.But I know that they may seem a little complicated the first times, especially if we use an unstable stove which fears the incident with each manipulation.This is clearly not the case with the MSR XGK-EX whose feet provide a safe platform.

In the evening falling, the temperature falls under -15 ° C and I congratulate myself for having taken the Arctic pump, specially designed to operate in low temperatures, its joints and its remaining cup remaining below 0 ° C and guaranteeing a betterfunctioning.The pump delivered with the kit will be ideal for altitude or milder temperatures..Once launched, the stove emits a deaf snoring, both annoying since it breaks the silence of nature and reassuring because testifying to the proper functioning of the stove on which our hydration and our diet depend.I start by reheating a liter of water that has cooled in the thermos during the day.Despite the conditions, boiling is reached in just under 5 minutes.The “in situation” performances are always a little different from theoretical performance (petrol C: 3.5 minutes - Kerosene: 2.8mn - diesel: 4.5 minutes) but the result remains more than satisfactory!

The night fell, the wind rises.With its fairly low center of gravity, the MSR XGK-Ex stéchaud resists gusts.Its notched pan feet and supports are effective and keep everything in place.Equipped with its windwall, the stove retains good energy efficiency which is essential to melt the snow.The operations finished, I only have to wait a few minutes for the stove cool and put it in its cover.When you use white gasoline, the fouling of the nozzle is low, so there is no cleaning to do.But I remember a trip to North Groënland where the only fuel found on site was ... barbecue light (!!).So there were so many soot that a cleaning was essential before each storage.I then enormously appreciated the automatic cleaning system of the nozzle which is equipped the MSR XGK-EX.A needle located under the nozzle comes to disobey the orifice and thus avoids tedious disassembly.It is thanks to such practical details and with a robust and effective construction that the MSR XGK-Ex has carved out a solid reputation and accompanied so many arctic and mountain expeditions.