MSR XGK EX Mountaineering Stove Review-Best expedition stove?

The MSR XGK mountaineering stove may be the ultimate adventure stove on Earth. It uses white gas. Aaron has used it in the Arctic, Antarctic, on Denali, in deep, snowy, cold, and high-altitude environments. Watch to see the stove in action and what Aaron’s experience is with it. There are a few maintenance tricks Aaron shares in this video, too.
Get items from this video at Amazon:
MSR XGK stove: amzn.to/2CK4SU6
MSR fuel bottle: amzn.to/2I44K5e
Flint and steel striker: amzn.to/382qV6z
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Aaron Linsdau is a polar explorer and motivational speaker. He is the second only American to ski alone from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole, setting a world record for surviving the longest expedition ever for that trip. Aaron is an Amazon best-selling author, is an expert at overcoming adversity and minimizing risk, and loves improving the lives of others.
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[@ALinsdau]

Links to the items from this video at Amazon: MSR XGK: amzn.to/2CK4SU6 MSR fuel bottle: amzn.to/2I44K5e

[@joethegeographer]

Thanks for posting, you gave a couple of really good pointers.

[@ALinsdau]

Glad to help!

[@LinusWilson]

2 questions 1. I have been practicing with this stove in the backyard and the initial flare up Is like a foot high until it gets warm. How can i reduce the flare up? 2. Why is the EX better than the Whisperlight?

[@azclaimjumper]

The EX will burn a variety of fuels. The Whisperlite will only burn White Gas/Coleman Fuel. Only moisten the fuel cup. Turn the stove upside down so excess fuel in the fuel cup leaves the cup moist. That's all it takes to turn liquid fuel into a gaseous fuel for the stove's burner head.

[@redwhiteblue7831]

Great video... I learned more than I was looking for, that's a good thing. I had the wrong fuel the first time I tried it out in my backyard Heet fuel just spuddered. The Coleman fuel worked great. Went on a winter backpacking trip in the snow one year and wasn't able to heat up coffee or breakfast with a canister stove. This stove is awesome. Thank you for sharing, take care.

[@ALinsdau]

Glad it helped! Canister stoves are great but when they don't work, you're toast.

[@Czechmate88]

If you’re using a stove that screws on the top of the canister it likely won’t work as the cold lowers the internal pressure of the gas and stops it from reaching the stove. In this instance something like the Optimus Vega or Polaris would be of use as you can flip the canister over and turn it into a liquid feed

[@LA_Viking]

In two of your videos you refer to the XGK (now XGK II) as a "white gas stove." The old Model 9 and then Model G were white gas stoves and the Model K burned kerosene. Starting with the Model GK,, white gas, leaded gas, kerosene, and diesel would run just fine. I even heard from a reliable source that it would also burn fermented papaya juice. I have owned them all with the exception of the Model 9. My two USMC-issued XGK II's will burn all of the aforementioned plus JP4, JP5, and JP8. This model is a freakin beast! Are you familiar with the MSR Arctic fuel pumps for the stove? Equipped with "beefier" O rings, it's only for use at 32F/0C and below.

[@ALinsdau]

Thanks for the clarification - it'd be interesting to try fermented papaya juice. Never tried the Arctic fuel pumps - the need for them to be below freezing actually creates a challenge.

[@drcoolit]

do you have a video on that heat exchanger thing? if not, I'd like to know more about it if you'd like to reply. thanks.

[@ALinsdau]

Here's a video on it: What Winter Camping Cook Kit to Use kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnLVZ4Zsh8qBaa8 MSR Heat Exchanger: amzn.to/3AsEdYs

[@drcoolit]

@@ALinsdau thank you for the link but when I tried it, it said it was "private" so I couldn't see it. Do you have some protection on that video?

[@mrnobodieswildcampingadventure]

Great video, I had a comment on my youtube channel stating 'Pro tip: never leave that yellow flame burning when you close the valve! You let gunk build inside and outside the jet. Just blow it away immediately' What are your thoughts on this?

[@ALinsdau]

Sounds right. Smart tip. - I like letting the fuel burn itself out so I don't spread fuel all over the place. Then I just use the shaker jet for a full minute. I'd rather shake the stove than contaminate with fuel.

[@mrnobodieswildcampingadventure]

@@ALinsdau Thankyou

[@jeromebullard6123]

“What do you use if you don’t have any Vaseline for the fuel line connection”? “HAUK TUAH SPIT ON THAT THANG!!!”

[@MaNi-cn7to]

Thx for review! looks like you dont cant have smaller pots on? same good zimmer as Dragonfly?

[@ALinsdau]

It’ll hold pretty small pots. Simmering isn’t that easy but it can be done.

[@MaNi-cn7to]

@@ALinsdau thx!

[@dandemma8713]

Hey Aaron. I just got home from a mountaineering where I had to bail because my pump broke at the spring and ball check valve . I opened it up and the ball was stuck or frozen in the hole. Like a bonehead I left my maintenance kit and spare pump at home to save a few ounces because I've never had a problem in 20+ years. Trying to knock the ball out I was tapping it on my knife and broke the plastic where the nub twists into the pump body. Anyways, I have like 10 extra pumps, but was wondering if the artic pump from msr is any better

[@ALinsdau]

The arctic pump is supposed to be better but must be used in sub-freezing temp: MSR Replacement pump: amzn.to/3GUFryj Always bring a backup pump. It's an absolute critical piece of gear.- glad you made it back safe.

[@smitty112877]

Great vid. How long does the fuel last in a full 20oz. Bottle?

[@ALinsdau]

Long enough to make 5L of water from snow.

[@Czechmate88]

Awesome video. I’m no arctic explorer but I’ve had an Optimus Polaris and a USMC issue MSR XGK-EX for about 2 years each and every time I go out I find myself reaching for the Polaris. With the XGK I just can’t seem to set it up without spilling fuel everywhere. The Polaris also is more advanced with its use of either canister fuel or any other type of gas WITHOUT having to change the jet. Additionally it’s easy to shut off just by flipping the fuel bottle over. Plus it packs up tighter So, in my opinion, Optimus > MSR

[@ALinsdau]

I've heard that from quite a few. If I find an Optimus, I'll certainly give it a go. Thanks!

[@azclaimjumper]

I wrap the windscreen around the fuel bottle when not in use/storage. It's a MUST use when windy because it traps heat so it goes up & stays around the pot. I use a FireSteel brand Ferro Rod/striker as my primary ignition source. The FireSteel brand has a higher mix of rare earths & will produce HOTTER sparks & more of 'em than any other brand + the handle on the striker & Ferro rod are large enough to be used with gloved hands.

[@ALinsdau]

Great pointers!

[@azclaimjumper]

@@ALinsdau I saw that lil Ferro Rod/Striker & thought if anyone in the world should know about the handles on FireSteel Ferro Rods that can be used with GLOVED hands it would be YOU.😁😄😃😀

[@jamesself435]

Thank you for the review! I have used a whisperlite for over 20 years. It’s pretty worn out, and I’ve been looking for a replacement.

[@ALinsdau]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@johnhenderson874]

I really like the stove, but have you had a pump completely break?

[@ALinsdau]

Not yet, though I've seen others break. Keep the pump cup oiled to reduce friction. That's the main reason I've seen breaks. The 2nd is from not pumping straight on.

[@johnhenderson874]

Cool thanks !

[@aramboodakian9554]

Interesting the burner shape looks like the same design as my 1970s Svea 123. The Svea did not have a shaker Jet.

[@ALinsdau]

Pretty interesting how they're similar.

[@fbimagesphoto]

Hey Aaron, thanks for the review. Do you find it makes any difference to the flame to have the fuel valve all the way up, vs 1/2 turn up? I did some experiments and it seems that the flame does not get bigger/stronger, but the stove ends up using much more fuel. Am I doing anything wrong here? (using Coleman fuel, white gas). Thank you

[@ALinsdau]

The flame power actually does change in my experience - you can hear the difference. However, I've not done a scientific test. That would be a good one to try. When it's cold, I put it on full blast to get the job done quicker.

[@fbimagesphoto]

@@ALinsdau Thanks for coming back to me! I will give it a shot when I am next in the cold and see if it makes a difference. I am currently planning my fuel consumption for an upcoming trip and I would be keen to know if you worked out your fuel consumpion per liter of water produced from snow? I know my fuel consumption to bring water to the boil (c.33ml per 1.5l), but I haven't got a baseline to account for the snow melting step. If you have a broad idea, great! If not, not to worry! Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge on the platform. Best regards, Felix

[@vickilinsdau8687]

Great video! How long does it take to cool down?

[@ALinsdau]

Less than 5 minutes, depending on how cold it is.

[@wordsgestures9146]

Great video! What fuel do you use for this stove? Thanks again. Rich

[@ALinsdau]

I always use white gas for this stove. It burns the cleanest, though I always do a 1 minute carbon shaker jet cleaning. You can use almost any fuel with it, it just requires more effort.

[@tombambino7721]

I always use unleaded petrol and that works really well and pretty clean too

[@johnmarch5969]

Awesome! What’s the music at the end?

[@ALinsdau]

Not sure any more. Try SoundHound?

[@beemanrunning977]

Is there a way to drain the fuel line when you disconnect the stove from the fuel bottle so it doesn't drip out? Seems like a waste of fuel. Thanks

[@ALinsdau]

Once I disconnect, I flick and shake the line to drain fuel out to prevent contamination in my pot and on my gear. The amount of fuel in the hose is only a few drops. I did this for 80 days in Antarctica and never noticed a loss.

[@hamiltonharper]

For international travel you cannot bank on propane or butane as the connectors are not standard, so a stove that can burn kerosene, gasoline, and diesel is the way to go. Even traveling the States during the pandemic I have had issues finding butane and propane canisters, and then the expense starts to add up on that. Those systems have their place, absolutely, but this should be a part of your loadout on any extended or extreme outings

[@ALinsdau]

Good pointers.

[@K2senpo]

Thank you very much for this very interesting video. 0:23, Excuse me where did you get this mask? Is that an oxygen mask?

[@ALinsdau]

It's the Cold Avenger mask.

[@K2senpo]

@@ALinsdau Thank you for your reply. Okay I see. Where can we buy it?

[@Inspectergadget69]

I always wonder why expeditions use naphta rather than kerosene which is much safer and much cheaper. I have even used diesel in it successfully but prime with alcohol if I run kerosene or diesel.

[@ALinsdau]

White gas seems to be the gold standard. I just came back from an expedition on Denali and that’s the fuel they offer as well. You can get some iso containers as well, but that’s not nearly as good as white gas. I’m not even sure where I would buy kerosene other than a hardware store. Plus it takes a lot more to get kerosene lit at sub-zero temperatures as I recall.

[@kurtbaldwinwildlife]

Good informative vid, thanks!

[@ALinsdau]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kurtbaldwinwildlife]

@@ALinsdau sure was, I bought one on Sunday.

[@nyctonaut5741]

What’s up with that fancy heat exchanger thing you said was “a whole other story”?

[@ALinsdau]

Ah yes - thank you for the reminder.

[@muckman5509]

I used one of these when I was in Afghanistan. Mostly chose this over a jetboil because can run these on anything and I just used diesel from my vehicle. Had a lot of guys crying at me to heat there water up when they ran out of gas.

[@ALinsdau]

Hard to beat liquid fuel. The XGK stove is one of the best.

[@muckman5509]

@@ALinsdau yeh the guys with their gas fire systems could not get a decent burn being that we where so high up. The MSR would burn like a after burner on a fighter jet.

[@SuperdutyExplorer]

I tried to use a jet boil I was borrowing from a friend to melt snow and boil water at 15F. Was a slow tedious process this week on first trip, doing research on what I want to buy for myself.. this or whisper lite seem decent options.

[@ALinsdau]

In real cold, you need the XGK or maybe the whisperlite.

[@SuperdutyExplorer]

@ALinsdau I ended up buying the xgk! Planning a 3 night 35 mile snowshoe trip next month now!

[@dannyalvens5418]

I have the MSR XGK with the flint striker and the taller wire legs....

[@ALinsdau]

Nice!

[@nicolascadieux2769]

Do you recommend the msr arctic fuel pump for this stove? I will be using it in -10 to -30C.

[@ALinsdau]

If your tent rises above 0 C, the pump could fail. I used regular pumps in Antarctica at -50 with a little lip balm for lube. My tent got up to 5 deg C on sunny windless days, so the Arctic pump would’ve failed. An Arctic team failed with these pumps a few years ago.

[@nicolascadieux2769]

What is the yellow tool you are using to start it???

[@nicolascadieux2769]

Thanks for the help. Getting the arctic pump is not a good idea for me then.

[@user-oo1pt3bx6o]

Thanks a lot for the videos! They really help me a lot for my upcoming crossing of northern Norway in winter. I'm expecting temperatures down to -20°C/-4°F in low altitude with little snow and a lot of wind. My idea is to stay on roads and only walk through the tundra for about 150km/90 miles to take shortcuts. This way I never have to carry food or fuel for more than 10 days. How much gasoline is necessary to melt (not boil) snow for 1l of water? If one bottle isn't enough for over one week I could also just take a canister with me and walk through the wilderness with skis and a pulk...

[@ALinsdau]

The usual rule is 260-300mL per day which translates to 5L of water from melted snow. If you can, please test melting snow before you leave so you're not caught short-handed.

[@user-oo1pt3bx6o]

@@ALinsdau Thanks a lot! When I'm in the mountains to practice with my gear I'll give it a try. Looks like I have to carry a canister anyway.

[@azclaimjumper]

@@user-oo1pt3bx6o MSR makes/sells several sizes of bottles, You'll want one of the larger capacity bottles for 10 days/nights.

[@anthonymarino4260]

Well done thanks

[@ALinsdau]

Thanks for watching & subscribing!

[@calvinloney5996]

Nice video! I was just looking to see if there is any point in replacing my whisperlight with the XGK. One thing you mentioned is that canister stoves don't work all that well at high elevations. This is kind of a misconception. Canister stoves actually work better the higher up you go. What makes them suffer is the cold. A canister stove will work better at 7000meters at -10c than it will at sea level at -10c.

[@ALinsdau]

People still use whisperlite on high mountains.

[@toolsreviewsandmore5326]

​@@ALinsdau Hi.Would you recommended the XGK over the Whisperlite International for winter mountaineering? I will use it for melting snow in the evening and carry an extra Soto Windmaster( which i already have) for heating the water(breakfast,coffee) inside the tent. On the MSR website the give equal times for boiling 1l of water on both stoves...so what will be the XGK advantage ? The advantages for Whisperlite is that is ligher,costs much less ,it can simmer and its quieter. But i really like the XGK..and try to find a reason to buy it over the Whisperlite :) Thank you.

[@bzajicek]

Id like to know more about that heat transfer that you put aside :)

[@ALinsdau]

What Winter Camping Backpacking Cook Kit kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnLVZ4Zsh8qBaa8

[@thomasf.9869]

BTW do you actually use the heat exchange? How effective is it?

[@ALinsdau]

For trips longer than 5-7 days, it makes a big difference to justify the weight.

[@I..cast..fireball]

What do you prefer about this vs the Whisperlite?

[@ALinsdau]

Yes - this stove can burn anything, it's much beefier, and has seen me through months of use. That said, I've seen people who have used their Whisperlite for decades.

[@I..cast..fireball]

@@ALinsdau Have you burned alternative fuels in cold temperatures such as kerosene or diesel? Or is white gas / gasoline all that runs right when it's very cold? I burn kerosene in my whisperlite international and am trying to figure out what I need to change if anything for winter trips. Thank you.

[@toolsreviewsandmore5326]

​@@I..cast..fireball Did you change anything?Updates? I'm interested in the same thing.Thanks

[@timwl52]

Let's cook something especially on the trail.

[@ALinsdau]

This stove can do it!

[@Martin-nv3qh]

A good way to make it not clog up as fast is using bioethanol or something cleaner than gas to preheat the stove.

[@ALinsdau]

That's certainly an option. I used this stove for 3 months straight in Antarctica and I didn't have to "clean" it once. I just turned it upside down and used the shaker jet for a minute. It's a bit tedious but the stove worked at 9,000+ feet in -40ºF temps.

[@Trinity10iloveyall]

I've run diesel and avgas through my MSR dragonfly the only shaking it got was it being carried in my pack on my back or by vehicle and had no problems in 2 years. After 6 months constant use I did give it a service that service was about 12 years ago and yesterday I used to boil some water and it worked perfectly.

[@thomasmartin8580]

Burning this inside just seems like a bad idea....

[@ALinsdau]

Open windows did help. Definitely don't do it for a full burn to avoid carbon monoxide for sure.