Blackcap Blog

Published at 09:00 on 21 August 2025

I have had one since 2021 so I guess an experience-based update is past due.

Executive summary: High-end stove with high-end performance at a high-end price.

I have yet to take it bikepacking or backpacking (although I expect that to change fairly soon), but I have used it a lot during strict fire bans, thanks to its CSA certification. Otherwise, I typically continue using my vintage Coleman 425E two-burner “suitcase” stove, simply because having a second burner can be a real plus at times.

That Coleman stove works well in the cold and well in the wind, but the Dragonfly still has it beat on both aspects.

The Coleman can be a bit fiddly to light when the temperature is below about 5˚C. (And yes, I sometimes camp in such chilly weather.) The Dragonfly is just rock-solid. It doesn’t matter how cold it is, it primes as easily as it does on a summer afternoon.

Likewise, although I have always been impressed by how well the Coleman stove works on windy days, the Dragonfly just does better yet.

None of this should be a surprise. The MSR stoves, particularly their liquid fuel ones, were designed for mountaineering use in extreme conditions.

Quality often comes with a price, and that is no exception here. I think I paid close to CAD $200 for mine in 2021, and a quick check shows the current price to be in the CAD $250–350 range (yes, it varies that much, which shows how much it pays to comparison shop). Even at the lower end of that range, I would not blame people for thinking twice.

I would, however, caution against saving money buy buying a Chinese white gas stove (there are a number of such models for sale online), unless I could be certain it has a valid safety certification from the UL or CSA. There is simply too much unsafe crap from China being sold online.

Instead, try to find a used, late-model MSR or other name brand stove (Optimus is another well-established brand). A quick check on eBay shows it should be possible to get one for about half the price of a new stove. Or, if you don’t live someplace with strict burn bans like I do, a used older stove in good condition.

And yes, it can simmer (something many white gas stoves, which often are designed for boiling water and not much else, have difficulty with).

Bottom line is that the Dragonfly does live up to its reputation for quality, performance, and flame control.