Product Description
MSR’s XGK EX Camp Stove boils water quickly in extreme environments, and runs off different fuel types for your international travels. The XGK EX Stove’s new flexible fuel line allows this stove to fit in a 1.5L MSR pot so you can fit more into your pack, and retractable legs and pot supports provide stability while you’re cooking. MSR’s high-output multi-fuel burner uses white gas, kerosene, and diesel.
Product Features
- Material: Aircraft aluminum, stainless steel
- Burn Time: [Per 600ml with 20oz of fuel] white gas 109min; kerosene 98min; diesel 170min
- Boil Time: [White gas] 3.5min for 1L water in 2L pot; [kerosene] 2.8min for 1L water in 2L pot; [diesel] 4.5min for 1L water in 2L pot
- Fuel Types: SuperFuel, white gas, kerosene, diesel, more
- Simmer: Yes
- Auto Ignition: No
- Fuel Bottle: No, sold separately
- Windscreen:
- Heat Reflector:
- Parts Kit: Sold separately
- Cleaning Tool:
- Stuff Sack: Yes
- Hard Case: No
- Size: 4 x 3.5 x 3.2in (10 x 8.8 x 8cm)
- Weight: [Min] 13.2oz (374g); [pkgd w/pump] 17.2oz (489g)
- Warranty: Lifetime limited
- Country of Origin: China
Related posts:
BLUF: The XGK is no longer the king of the expedition stoves – technology has moved on and competing multi-fuel stoves in the same price (Optimus Nova/Nova plus) are simply better values. The XGK works fine; but why put up with its many anachronisms?
Understand that the XGK is targeted at people who need true multi-fuel capability (military, global travelers, expeditions, etc.), rugged dependability, and who do not worry about any flame setting other than maximum heat output. If you do not envision the requirement [emphasis on requirement] to burn diesel, JP-8, or kerosene in your stove: the XGK is probably not your best bet. Also, to get multi-fuel capability out of the XGK, you have to change jets- this is a very simple thing to do, but it does mean that your stove reliability is totally dependent upon retaining two small, threaded brass parts (the fuel jets) – loose one in the field and there goes your multi-fuel capability.
This stove is not designed for gourmet food preparation – it runs at two-speed off and “blow torch”. This works well for people preparing simple fare or melting water, but simmer is very difficult to manage. People complain about the noise of the XGK, but any pressurized fuel stove running full out will be noisy. Plan your cooking accordingly.
The not so good points… I own an old XGK and I am not impressed with the overall build quality of the new XGKs: many parts are simply not as well built (e.g. the plastic fuel pump, the contraption legs etc.). Some claim the plastic MSR fuel pump is better/safer – LOL! Most fires come from fuel spills and the XGK will definitely spill a small amount of fuel when you disconnect the pump. People who dislike the smell of kerosene or diesel take note of this last point. Also the fuel line simply presses into the valve body and is retained by a spring contraption. If the XGK stove leaks at the pump, and catches fire (I saw this happen in the middle of Mauritania), you have to wrestle a flaming (plastic!) valve and fuel bottle to shut off the stove! The two-speed “blow torch” fuel control is also much more likely to cause flaring on start-up due to too much fuel squirted into the stove, or if you misjudge the stove pre-heat.
For the same price, the Optimus Nova and Nova plus stoves burn all the fuels that the XGK does (using one nozzle for all fuels – you do not have to carry an extra one); puts out almost as much heat, but simmers nicely too; is built much better (machined steel and alloy parts with no annual maintenance requirement!); and costs about the same. The Optimus Nova is also much safer because it has a positive, industrial type fuel disconnect. The valve on the Optimus Nova is at the stove, not the pump (where your hands and the fuel are!). The Optimus allows you a very simple, very positive way to shut the fuel off – flip the fuel bottle, which takes the pickup out of the fuel!
My Optimus Nova went with me to Central America (24-months), Iraq (21-months), Afghanistan (12-months), and will be with me when I go back to the “Ghan”. The XGK will stay at home (again).
Rating: 3 / 5
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Be aware, the bottle is not provided.
I also recommend a replacement for the pump as backup – (MSR Standard Pump for Liquid Fuel Stoves) since this part is made of plastic, and for an everyday use seems unreliable.
Beside, the stove is just an excellent piece of technology.
Rating: 5 / 5
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