MSR Dragonfly Review

Likes
The Dragonfly is the best handling stove we tested. This elegant powerhouse adjusts from a low simmer to a violent roar with a quick turn of the fuel valve. This feature, which is not included on the Whisperlite, leaves the fuel pump valve open and moves the control to a valve mounted on the burner unit. You can now simmer quickly and easily.

In addition to being the best handling stove we tested, the Dragonfly was also the most stable. Three large legs unfold to provide a wide base that can accommodate group-sized pots with ease. Another quality feature of the Dragonfly is its robust fuel pump. This is larger than all other MSR pumps and accommodates a slightly thicker fuel line that allows the stove to burn the same assortment of fuels as the Whisperlite Internationale: white gas, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel.

Dislikes
Although the Dragonfly succeeds in bringing kitchen-like control and stability to the back country, we don’t recommend it for most multi-day lightweight users.

The stove’s substantial weight (14oz) combined with its large packed size (110 ci or 1.8L) make transportation rather burdensome. Furthermore, the Dragonfly is terribly audible. A burner similar to the MSR XGK releases a blowtorch flame in a conversation-stopping roar. Ironically, we found the Dragonfly to be slightly slower than the Whisperlite; boiling a liter of water in approximately four minutes.

The Dragonfly has a prohibitively short fuel line that limits the where you can place the stove. While this doesn’t negatively impact the burner’s function, a longer and more flexible line would be more convenient.

Despite these drawbacks, the Dragonfly was our favorite stove to cook on. As long as you don’t mind carrying the extra weight, you’ll love the Dragonfly.

Best Application
Base camp or cooking for large groups.

Value
The Dragonfly is one of the most expensive camp stoves available. For most applications we believe the Whisperlite is a better value.

Other Versions
Canister style basecamp stove; MSR WindPro