{"id":6676,"date":"2025-08-21T09:00:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T16:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/?p=6676"},"modified":"2025-08-21T09:00:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T16:00:50","slug":"msr-dragonfly-redux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/?p=6676","title":{"rendered":"MSR Dragonfly Redux"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have had one since 2021<\/a> so I guess an experience-based update is past due.<\/p>\n

Executive summary: High-end stove with high-end performance at a high-end price.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> two-burner “suitcase” stove, simply because having a second burner can be a real plus at times.<\/p>\n

That Coleman stove works well in the cold and well in the wind, but the Dragonfly still has it beat on both aspects.<\/p>\n

The Coleman can be a bit fiddly to light when the temperature is below about 5\u02daC. (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.<\/p>\n

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

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

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\u2013350 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

Bottom line is that the Dragonfly does live up to its reputation for quality, performance, and flame control.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-outdoors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6676"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6677,"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6676\/revisions\/6677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackcap.name\/blog\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}