Brunton Vs. MSR stoves

J

Jamesh Bond

Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
1,760
I'm looking at getting a MSR dragonfly or simmerlite, Brunton Nova, or possibly a SVEA.
Any users of these fine products?
 
I have an MSR Simmerlite. It works very well (though I more often use an alcohol stove made from a beer can). No experience with the Brunton stove.
 
I have the MSR Dragonfly and a Brunton Crux propane model. They both work great.

There is a little more art to using the Dragonfly because of the liquid fuel, pumping it up with air, priming it, preheating it ect.

With the Brunton Crux you just screws the stove on the propane tank and light it. I do find myself using it more because of the ease of use.

The Dragonfly will work much better in cold weather becasue propane tends not to vaporize as well when cold.

The Crux takes less space in the pack.

The Dragonfly will run on multi fuels which in a survival situation would be a huge advantage.

It is harder to estimate how much fuel is left in the little propane tanks. That can be a problem. Then you also have to get rid of the empty containers.

There will be a little more maintance with the liquid fuel stoves and you should have the repair kit in the field with you. MSR makes a spork that has the wrench built into the handle so you can work on the Dragonfly in the field.
That is worth having with you as well.

BB
 
If you want a stove that will last forever then give a close look to the SEVA.
Currently on ebay you can find a NIB primus ( tank is 2oz larger ) for sale at $147.00.
If you do not let the stove run out of fuel it is industructable. When they run out of fuel the internal wick can become chared and that will affect fuel flow.
Mine is 40 years old and still working same as the day I bought it, 40 years ago.
It has few moving parts and when you figure the total weight of the stove, fuel and fuel container then it is really not much different from a whisperlite with fewer parts to break.
I bit old style but if you take care of it then it will not let you down.
BTW what will a new SEVA cost you, I would not mind a NIB spare ?
 
Thankx for the responses.
Bigbelly, I have a small butane/propane stove myself, and it is great. But I am now looking for liquid fuel stoves. I forgot to mention that. I like the convenience of the butane stoves, but they are dangerous to use with a windscreen, all the fuel canisters you have to carry can get pretty hefty on longer trips, cold weather can sometimes affect them, and can be dangerous to use a windscreen with them.

frediver, I like the SVEAs for the classic vintage appeal, and the ones I have been looking at online usually go for about 75 dollars, tho on ebay they used to be cheaper. I haven't been there in a while. . . are they really up to 150!!??? Have you used any msr liquid stoves to compare it to?
 
I regularly use an Optimus Nova, and I have watched a couple different MSR Dragonfly stoves in action. As far as actual cooking performance is concerned, they are very similar. Both can simmer for making rice and pancakes, and both boil at similar rates. They have very similar weights. And they are multi-fuel capable (the Nova does not need to have the jet changed when changing from white gas to kerosene, like the Dragonfly does). From my observation, they have similar fuel efficiency.

The Nova is noticeably quieter in operation, and primes a little bit easier. It packs a little smaller. It also sets up and takes down faster. And it costs more.

I also have an old Svea 123 that I got off ebay a couple years ago for $25. Classic design that is very reliable. Just make sure that you have a spare fuel cap. I think they last for about 15 years or so before they start losing the ability to hold pressure, at which point you can't use them for cooking any more.

If you look around online, you can find a few places that still sell the Svea for around $75.
 
There is an excellent chapter in Colin Fletcher's The Complete Walker on backpacking stoves. I've used a MSR Whisperlite a couple of seasons and like its light weight, simplicity and repairability in the field. Svea's are supposed to be bullet-proof, as much as any mechanical device can be. Liquid fuel rules when it's bitter cold.
 
I am a big fan of The complete walker, but it doesn't say anything about the Nova

lambertiana, your post was very informative and confirmed my good suspicions of the Nova! I think that is what I will get.

Thanx!
 
yes their are a few on ebay now of both models.
If you check the Brunton site you might still find a SEVA, they were the last importer of them.
 
I use the Svea 123 exclusively for SAR missions in winter; coupled with a GSI double boiler anodized aluminum pot set. Takes up no space and is a life saver to get hot fluids into me and a lost subject.

I chose the SVEA for its reliability and bomb proof construction. Nothing to break realy (FYI my tank cap is 25 yrs old and works perfect, I do have a spare though). Its compact size is great as well.

I have had many stoves over the years and every one of them broke or malfuntioned to some extent. Not the SVEA.

When money permits I will try the Nova as its multifuel capability is a great feature and its made by Brunton so you know its quality.

Skam
 
Just bought one of these-Vargo Titanium Triad XE. Will be testing when it gets here.
 
skammer said:
When money permits I will try the Nova as its multifuel capability is a great feature and its made by Brunton so you know its quality.
Click to expand...

The Nova is made by Optimus.
However, Brunton is the distributor in North America.

I've had a Nova since 7 years, and have used it all year round. It has yet to fail me.
In winter, I prefer to put it inside a Trangia, as I feel it still to be the superior way to give a stove wind protection, plus it also keeps the heat around the pot very nicely.
On less cold days, I often only use the Nova by itself with only an aluminium screen to protect it from the wind.

I can only recommend it very highly.

/ Karl
 
i have a primus techno trail and its a sweet canister stove for the price never had a problem with it boils water quickly and is braindead easy to use just my .02
 
I have had a Nova for about 3 years now and it is a nice stove but I have recently been having problems with the fuel leaking from the pump. It is getting past the spring-loaded rubber stopper in the bottom of the pump assembly and leaking out the top of the pump. I purchased a repair kit and replaced the valve/stopper assembly but it still leaked. I then sent it back to Brunton and they repaired it under warranty. It worked for short time and then started to leak again. Anyone else encounter this or have any suggestions on what to try? Based on my experience, I wouldn't by another one but most users seem to have very few problems.
 
I should probably tell you about the one teething issue I had with my Nova. Just after I got it, I took it on a camping trip with temps down to about 0F. In the cold air, the burner deflector plate fell off. I had to recrimp it to get it to stay on.

To give you an idea of the fuel consumption, last summer I used it on an 8-day backpacking trip, and used it to boil about 21 L (cold water, typically started at about 40F), plus about 10-15 minutes simmer each day, plus almost an hour at full power to cook two large batches of fried steak and potatoes the first night for four guys. All at elevations ranging from 7000' to 11,500', with no windscreen (only three meals done with any significant breeze), with ambient temperatures ranging from 30F to 75F. I used about 26 fluid ounces of fuel. It was mostly white gas, but part of the time I used a white gas/kerosene mixture.
 
I'm partial to the MSR. I've used the dragonfly and it's excellent; if I ever lose or break my trusty wisperlight I'll get a dragonfly.
I've used my MSR whisperlight international for an average of a month out of every year for the past 10 years. I've burned white gas, gasoline, diesel, and paint thinner in it and it's still running great. It's light, effecient and easily field strippable (you can dismantle it into almost all its seperate parts w/ minimal tools). I've used it in temps from -10 to 95ish and ~10000 ft. elevation.
If your MSR ever does die on you, you can use the fuel to start a fire so that you stay warm and have enough light to see while you fix it.
 
I am partial to the MSR Dragonfly. I lived in Alaska for over 20 years. I still have two Whisperlite Internationals. They have seen alot of use. I bought the Dragonfly for its ability to be set on low to simmer. It has the same rugger features as the Whisperlite, plus the adjustable burner. I have used both models sheep hunting (in the Brooks Range) caribou, and moose hunting closer to civilization. I carried it snowmachining (everywhere else it's snomobiling). In Alaska, they are machines!.

Hunting and fishing, I used the stoves to mostly boil water for freeze dried/ dehydrated foods. The MSR Whisperlite stoves would reboil fresh water way too fast, so when the Dragonfly came out in 1998? 2000? I bought one. It works great. I enjoy the simmering option. I have also owned Primus and it was a great stove too(don't remember the model).
MSR also had great Customer Care. I misplaced the jets for my stoves ( Whisperlites) and they sent me replacements free of charge!!
 
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