MSR Reactor – An Extremely Efficient Gas Stove

As usual when you’re outdoors, you want a stove that’s light, easy to use, and above all boils quickly. The MSR Reactor easily meets these demands and is one of the most efficient stoves we’ve tested.

The Reactor is a compact stove from MSR that boils one liter of water in three minutes. With its uniquely designed heat exchanger, the stove is minimally affected by wind while making the best use of the burner’s output. This is an extremely efficient stove best suited for when you want to boil something quickly.

The stove has a built-in regulator that evens out the pressure from the gas canister, providing maximum output even as the temperature and gas level drop. By utilizing both the hot gas and the large surface that glows under the pot simultaneously, the stove is very energy-efficient and thus uses less gas.

When transporting the stove, it’s easy to pack all parts (including the gas canister) into the pot. By folding and securing the handle over the lid, everything is locked in place and the risk of items falling out is minimal. The lid is of course BPA-free and features a rubber knob that provides a good grip and never gets hot.

The downside of this stove is primarily that it doesn’t work as well for simmering. It’s best when you crank it to full power and want to boil quickly. You can adjust the output with the control, of course, but the stove doesn’t deliver as stable heat in that mode. You also can’t see the actual burner with the pot on, which makes regulation more difficult.

The MSR Reactor also lacks a built-in igniter. Even though piezo igniters don’t always work optimally from experience, it’s sometimes nice to know the “lighter” is always with you.

Since the burner and pot are designed so specifically for each other, you unfortunately can’t use other pots or frying pans even if you’d want to.

The MSR Reactor comes in three sizes: 1 liter, 1.7 liters (which we tested), and a 2.5-liter version. Even though the pot can hold 1.7 liters in this case, the instructions recommend filling only about 1 liter. Keep this in mind when choosing a size.

Weight: 513 grams (including burner and 1.7-liter pot with lid)
Burn time: approx. 80 min
Boil time: 3 min (1 liter of water)
Dimensions: 130mm x 195mm
RRP: SEK 1,900 (excl. gas)

• Boils extremely fast

• Very energy-efficient

• Handles tough weather conditions

• Compact and easy to pack

• Stable and durable

• Difficult to simmer

• No built-in igniter

• Cannot use other pots or pans with the burner

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