I bought the MSR Reactor stove for when i hit the back roads and remote decommisioned logging roads in my truck, where gear weight is not an issue. That being said, i will be packing this nuclear reactor on occasion for laocl hikes, esp in the winter.
The MSR REACTOR is a "system", that is the pot and the heat enchanger are all one unit. I like this feature, its less parts to break or lose and it is a very simple design. The pot/heat exchanger is titanium, and very light. The tiny welding beads are impeccable, i have not seen welds this good in a long time.. There is a fold out handle, and a lexan lid. The handle folds over the lid and locks tight with a neat little cable/ball detent. The whole unit sits on top of the wire mesh radiant burner, and is quite stable. The burner itself is very well constructed, not many plastic parts, and is also quite light. The burner threads into a standard IsoButane canister. (good for approx 50 uses with a full pot each time). This unit is different than MSR's regular stoves, in that it uses radiant heat instead of flames to heat the pot. This burner is 100% windproof after lighting, there is simply no flame/flame port to blow out, plus its completely enclosed.
packed:
unpacked:
heat exchanger area:
the heat goes into the exchanger area, and up the inside wall, and exhuasts out these ports:
set up ready to go:
To Use: engage the canister of isobutane and turn the fuel lever to half. Light with lighter. Takes about 2 seconds to start glowing, and about 30 seconds to reach full temp. It is hot. Very hot. Hades hot.
warm up:
full throttle ahead (stove is SILENT too)
i added ice cold water to the pot, 1/2 liter worth. The pot holds a little over a liter of fluid. The water was at rolling boil in FORTY FIVE (45) seconds (bear in mind i'm at 60' above sealevel....)
10 seconds after placing pot/heat exchangers onto the radiant burner:
25 seconds:
full rolling boil at 45 second mark: (during boiling it roars a bit, its actually pretty neat)
stove takes about 1 minute to cool down after fuel shutoff.
I'm VERY impressed with this stove. At first i looked at the JETBOIL, but i felt it had too many small parts and plastic bits. I'm glad i chose the Reactor.
10 out 10
Safety: under no circumstances is this unit to be used as a radiant heater or to cook with indoors. YOU WILL DIE from the carbon monoxide. Not meant to be used as a radiant heater EVER.
The MSR REACTOR is a "system", that is the pot and the heat enchanger are all one unit. I like this feature, its less parts to break or lose and it is a very simple design. The pot/heat exchanger is titanium, and very light. The tiny welding beads are impeccable, i have not seen welds this good in a long time.. There is a fold out handle, and a lexan lid. The handle folds over the lid and locks tight with a neat little cable/ball detent. The whole unit sits on top of the wire mesh radiant burner, and is quite stable. The burner itself is very well constructed, not many plastic parts, and is also quite light. The burner threads into a standard IsoButane canister. (good for approx 50 uses with a full pot each time). This unit is different than MSR's regular stoves, in that it uses radiant heat instead of flames to heat the pot. This burner is 100% windproof after lighting, there is simply no flame/flame port to blow out, plus its completely enclosed.
packed:
unpacked:
heat exchanger area:
the heat goes into the exchanger area, and up the inside wall, and exhuasts out these ports:
set up ready to go:
To Use: engage the canister of isobutane and turn the fuel lever to half. Light with lighter. Takes about 2 seconds to start glowing, and about 30 seconds to reach full temp. It is hot. Very hot. Hades hot.
warm up:
full throttle ahead (stove is SILENT too)
i added ice cold water to the pot, 1/2 liter worth. The pot holds a little over a liter of fluid. The water was at rolling boil in FORTY FIVE (45) seconds (bear in mind i'm at 60' above sealevel....)
10 seconds after placing pot/heat exchangers onto the radiant burner:
25 seconds:
full rolling boil at 45 second mark: (during boiling it roars a bit, its actually pretty neat)
stove takes about 1 minute to cool down after fuel shutoff.
I'm VERY impressed with this stove. At first i looked at the JETBOIL, but i felt it had too many small parts and plastic bits. I'm glad i chose the Reactor.
10 out 10
Safety: under no circumstances is this unit to be used as a radiant heater or to cook with indoors. YOU WILL DIE from the carbon monoxide. Not meant to be used as a radiant heater EVER.
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