MSR DragonFly – my backpacking oven

The MSR DragonFly is a heavy little bugger. Just the stove •solamente• no fuel bottle or fuel, weighs 14oz.

But here’s the deal, it simmers, and just for you non-believers here is a picture of just how low it can go. Click image for biggness.

What it is:

• Loud [I'm not kidding now]
• Stable [rock solid pot support]
• Multi-Fuel [I've only used white gas]
• Easy to Operate [don't be scared 'cause you need to prime it - it's nothing]
• Fuel saver [it's a sipper not a heavy drinker]
• Dial it way down ['cause it simmers at any level]
• Robust [I'm not afraid of breaking it]

I also use it as an oven. I bought another windshield and a Scorch Buster, did a little creative folding, and turned the stove into an oven.

The extra windscreen and scorch buster weigh 5.3oz total. It’s NOT ultra light – but I am committed to doing my own cooking on this trip. Baking and roasting will add so much variety.

The thing about the Dragonfly is it really is fuel efficient. I can simmer soups, roast veggies and bake and not use much more fuel then I do basic boiling with my Trangia. I light the stove for my first cup of coffee in the morning and I don’t turn it off – I turn it to a candle flame – and it’s ready [primed and "on"] through the morning for coffee, baking, and cooking. The fuel loss leaving it at a candle flicker is negligible.

The stove is ideal for using as an oven because of the precise flame control. The oven walls are not heavy duty – but I’m not hard on my things, and replacing a windscreen is a $14 fix. This is just my solution to being able to eat well on a long tour.

I’m getting quite good with it now. I’ll continue to update as I change/improve it.