MSR whisperlite International

“I'm sure there are plenty of threads on this subject but I would like current opinions.

I just got this stove and used it for the first time. I must say that it boiled water pretty fast.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions about this stove? How long the 11 ounce bottle will last or the 22 ounce bottle? Thanks”

“hmmmm...I haven't fired that one up in a while. Seems like one 22-ouncer would be plenty for a weekend trip, but my memory may be fuzzy. Of course it depends on how cold the water is you're starting off with... or will you be melting snow? <G>”

“I don't have the International, I have the Shaker Jet. The way you eat, you'd better take a 22 bottle for a weekend. I pretty much just boil water and an 11 oz lasts a weekend, no problem.”

“eat??? WTF??? you mean he had something in that pack other than Miller Lite????”

“I've had absolutely no problem with 11 oz for a three day weekend with the MSR. Doing breakfast and dinner on the stove in the summer, 22 oz lasted two of us almost 9 days (we carried thrity three, but didn't use the 11 oz bottle until near the end).”

“but bbinkley doesn't eat like most of us

bbinkley food thread”

“thanks everyone.


CHILI- I just take the stove to boil water for my nalgenes to throw in my sleeping bag.

I still carry the miller lite”

“Well, ya know what W.C. Fields said when the waiter brought him a glass of water...

"I didn't say I was DIRTY; I said I was THIRSTY."”

“bblinkley, the thought of you firing this stove up has me laughing already. I remember how you jumped when my Whisperlite had its flame thrower look going.”

“Bink- depends on how much you pressureize it. 6 pumps and the 11 oz will last for 12 qts of water. Aprox.”

“Ewker- I fired it up in the kitchen last night and no problems. You got to read the instructions that come with those things.


Thanks- jer”

“bblinkley, the instructions are the easy part, getting use to priming it is the hard part.
I have fired mine up before with no problems, then you have that one time where it becomes a flame thrower...lol”

“I have the 22 ounce bottle, but I don't think I've ever used close to half on a weekend. I use mine to make pancakes, boil water for coffee, baking pizza and brownies. I also use rubbing alcohol to prime mine...keeps the stove cleaner. Smells better too.”

“I've got just the plain ol' Whisperlite, not the fancy-schmancy Internationale (oo, la-LA). 11-oz. bottle for 3 people, 2 nights - usually use about half the bottle (mostly boiling water, but some noodle-cooking and hash brown browning). Took 22-oz. bottle on 3-night trip (3 people) with more cooking and used about half.

Mike, tell me about the alcohol priming: what do you carry it in? How much do you bring? Do you just put some in the priming cup as you would using the fuel in the bottle? Wow, didn't realize that keeping that thing clean could be so easy....”

“Thanks everyone.”

“hey bink, RE: teasing you about your food. I am actually in awe, sorry about teasing you.”

“what are you talking about pathman?”

“Oh, nothing. Never mind me. Just more blather.”

“We use the 11 oz bottle for 2 people, 3 days. Coffee and Hot chocolate, Mac and cheese, hamburgers, ramien, washing dishes,pretty much as we feel like it. It's gotten low, but never run out. We recently got a 22 oz bottle for insurance purposes, and together could use both for 33 oz.

Suggestion: Bring the 22 oz bottle full next time. When you get home, pour what's left into the 11 oz bottle and you'll know whether the 11 oz will have worked if it overflows....”

“Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I carry it in a small plastic squeeze bottle. Not sure how many ounces, but it measures about 3/4" diameter and is a few inches tall. I think Caughlins (sp?) sells an assortment for a few bucks.

I just squirt it in the priming cup and light it as you would the white gas.”