@scubafrique I have the MSR Windburner and can definitely recommend it.
It all depends on your most frequent hiking areas. The focus of making your cooking system lighter should focus more on wind resistance (if you often hike in these circumstances). The windburner does exactly this, combined with a heat exchanger and radiant burner, its the most efficient stove on the market at the moment, surpassing the Jetboils in windy conditions. I do alot of fastpacking with a bivy setup in the berg meaning most of my meals are made in windy conditions, hence why this is my go stove.
If you are not frequenting these areas the specific pot (or similar) combined with a pocket rocket burner should be more than enough.
What sets the Windburner apart from the Jetboil is its use of Primary air combustion. It draws in all its air required for combustion at its base and therefore the flame chamber (below pot) can be completely shut. This gives it the renowned wind resistance capabilities. Whereas conventional stoves rely on the open flame to draw in secondary combustion air and can therefore not be sealed as this will cut of the air supply.
The windburner is extremely efficient, I use 1x110g canister over a 4day trip (Breakfast, Tea at lunch, Pasta Dinner). Therefore less canisters result in lower weight.
The windburner also has a pressure regulator, combined with the MSR Isopro canisters I have used it in temperatures down to -20°C with no problems. Other canister stoves refused to light under these conditions.
It has it’s downsides though:
- Can only use designated cookware.
- Simmering sucks…so no gourmet type hiking food. But it manages fine with some Pasta n Sauce after some practise.
- Pricey (Rather its a long term investment
)
If you are based in Gauteng and want to check it out first hand…give me a shout 