Review of MSR XGK Expedition Stove
By Matt Smith

Some stoves are designed to simmer like a gourmet chef. Some stoves are designed to fit in your shirt pocket, and some stoves are designed to quickly boil water and melt snow regardless of the situation. The XGK is one of the latter.

Weighing 17 oz. and sporting changeable jets for multiple fuels, the XGK is truly a stove you can always depend on. The first time I fired up the stove, I thought it was going to explode. The heat and noise from the burner is intense and menacing. I found the stove had three distinct settings: High, Blow Torch, and Rocket.

On several occasions and at different altitudes I was able to boil one quart of cold water in around 3-5 minutes. Of course boil time, and water temperature will vary depending on air temperature, wind conditions, altitude, and pot dimensions, but overall I was satisfied. Slow cooking meals like rice, noodles and beans require constant supervision and stirring to prevent, um…a culinary disaster.

The changeable jets allow the stove to use almost any fuel including diesel, jet fuel, gasoline and kerosene, ensuring you can have a hot meal anywhere on the planet. The stove is self-priming using a small amount of liquid fuel released from the jet. Priming takes about thirty seconds. It is difficult to control the amount of fuel leaked out of the jet, so I would not recommend priming the stove on the floor of your tent, or near other flammable materials.

My one complaint is that the delivery tube is rigid all the way from the valve to the priming tube. I suppose this arrangement eliminates an extra connection, and is more durable than a flexible tube between the valve and the priming tube, but it makes packing the stove awkward and clumsy. The stove comes with a handy maintenance kit, windscreen, and reflector pan.

Summary: Costing around $100, the XGK is ideal for extended trips where white gas may not be readily available. It is most useful for boiling water for quick cooking meals, and melting snow in a hurry. It is not the lightest stove on the market, nor the smallest, but when dependability and versatility count, the XGK is a good choice.

Matt Smith is the canyoneering editor for GearReview.com.

For more information, contact:
Mountain Safety Research
4225 Second Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98134
(800)877-9677
info@msr.e-mail.com