The WindPro is designed to be MSR’s base camp gas stove. It is also the only option in their range to run off gas in the remote burner setup, that is, the gas cylinder is connected to the burner by a short hose. MSR pitches this setup as a good idea for two reasons: Efficiency and Stability.
The first plus of the remote burner is that it allows you to effectively use a windshield and heat reflector, without enclosing the gas cylinder inside a hot environment. Using a windshield and heat reflector can greatly improve the performance & efficiency of the stove, making the most of those expensive gas cylinders.
The second advantage to the remote setup is that gas cylinder does not sit directly bellow the burner, making the stove much less of a tall tower. This is particularly useful for stability when using larger pots. No more worrying about a large pot sitting over the tiny footprint of a tiny gas can.
There is also another advantage to the setup which sets it apart from other stoves. If you’ve ever forgotten about the boiling water in your pot and turned around to a bubbling mess, then you’d be familiar with how tricky it can be to access the flame control. With the WindPro, the flame control sits on top of the remote cylinder so you don’t have risk burning yourself if your pot boils over.
Design and quality is everything you’d expect for the MSR price tag. The legs are sturdy and rotate around the burner to store as one. The hose is quite flexible and doesn’t get too much in the way, however it does take some time to get used to it being there. However I think the best thing about the WindPro is the large burner size. You can easily get away with 3L+ pot and still maintain even heating. In addition to the size of the burner, is the flame control. Unlike the one speed wonder lightweight stoves, you can actually set the WindPro to a simmer without any trouble at all. You really can slow down the cooking and simmer slowly if required.
All in all, a top notch stove for base campers wanting to avoid LPG or Liquid fuels and still maintain a compact unit.
Specs of the MSR WindPro Stove
Weight: 193 grams
Weight (With reflector and windshield): 297 grams
Burn Time (per 227g Iso-Pro can): 90 minutes
Whats in the Box: WindPro Stove, Heat Reflector, Windshield, Storage Bag, Service Tool
Great review mate. I was wondering whether to go with this version or the canister mounted version and without your experienced advice, i couldn’t really figure which was the better unit. Keep up the good work and keep these reviews coming