Review: The MSR Dragonfly Liquid Fuel Camping Stove

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This is a part of our review series, where we give detailed reviews of all of the gear that we use on our trips. You can see the full list of gear here.

The MSR Dragonfly is like many camping stoves for backcountry hiking and adventuring, but with a difference. Unlike other common designs of camping stoves, the MSR Dragonfly doesn’t use butane canister but makes use of a fuel bottle that can be filled with a variety of different liquid fuels. The MSR Dragonfly will burn away happily on white gas, kerosene, unleaded auto fuel, diesel, or even jet fuel.

Yep, diesel and jet fuel. Seriously, this thing is a prepper’s wet dream.

In this post, we are going to review the MSR Dragonfly stove and break down its unique features, which makes it a great option for backcountry exploring.

Overview: MSR Dragonfly

Perfect for: Hikers, campers, backcountry enthusiasts… and those preparing for the next zombie apocalypse.

Specs

Weight	14.1 oz. / 400g
Dimensions	6.3 x 5 x 3.5-inches or 16 x 12.7 x 8.9cm (LxHxW)
Boil time (with 1 liter fuel bottle)	Kerosene: 3.9 minutesDiesel: 3.5 minutes
Burn time (with 600ml fuel bottle)	136 minutes
Fuel efficiency	White gas: 5.3 liters of water per 100ml  of fuelKerosene: 5.7 liters of water per 100ml  of fuelDiesel: 5.7 liters of water per 100ml  of fuel

Who the MSR Dragonfly Is For

The MSR DragonFly Camping Stove is a bit different from most camping stoves. It uses various types of liquid fuels that are pressurized using a fuel pump attached to its fuel bottle. The MSR Dragonfly is a little larger and heavier than your standard butane-fueled camping stove, although its reliability and use with a wide range of liquid fuels more than makes up for this. 

The MSR Dragonfly is also particularly good for use when trekking and camping in large groups. Its large burner and wide support feet make it perfect to cook for a group of people quickly and easily.

MSR Dragonfly Key Features

Alongside the MSR Dragonfly’s versatile and reliable design, it has a ton of outstanding features that you are sure to appreciate while out exploring the backcountry.

Flame Control

The MSR Dragonfly camping stove’s flame adjuster offers campers unrivaled flame control and precision simmering performance. Whether you need to boil water for coffee, want a small flame for simmering sauces, or just to cook something fast, the MSR stove lets you produce the right amount of heat for the job.

Fuel Bottle

The MSR Dragonfly backpacking stove also comes with a fuel bottle that can be used with a wide variety of liquid fuels, including unleaded gas. The fuel bottle has a unique fuel pump mechanism that delivers the fuel from the bottle to the stove, where it is vaporized and powers the burner. Also, for safe transport, the fuel bottle’s cap has a safety lock that keeps it closed when the stove is not in use.

Support Feet

The MSR liquid fuel stove also sports ergonomic support feet that can fold up, making it the perfect size to pack in a backpack. The support feet will fit an extra wide pot, large pans, small cups, and other various sized cookware.

MSR SuperFuel

Alongside other liquid fuels, MSR fuel pumps can be used with MSR’s own SuperFuel. MSR SuperFuel is the fuel of choice for the MSR Dragonfly stove. It’s a must-have white gas that provides excellent performance with a smooth burn and no soot to clean out of your stove. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the backcountry or just having fun, this product gives you consistent results every time.

Warranty Info

MSR covers their products under a 3-year limited warranty. If any of their products break or malfunction because of material defects, MSR will repair or replace the product free of charge so long as you bought it from an authorized dealer and have your receipt handy.

To reduce the chances of something going wrong, we recommend picking yourself up one of MSR’s Annual Maintenance Kits. 

The MSR Annual Maintenance Kit includes a ton of spare parts for MSR stoves, including o-rings, pump cap oil, pump springs, extra fuel line, and a heap more. This kit, coupled with the stove’s integrated self cleaning Shaker Jet technology, makes the MSR camp stove field maintainable, something that is super important while deep in the backcountry.

FAQs

Where can I purchase MSR camping fuel?

MSR camping fuel can be purchased from a variety of stores. You can purchase it from online campings stores, from camping suppliers, or from brick and mortar camping stores. You can also purchase from online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.

How to store white gas for camping MSR?

Keeping white gas in a cool, dry place is the best way to keep it fresh. But if you’re storing it for a long time, there are a few other steps you can take to help it last longer. Besides keeping it at a cool temperature, putting it in a sealed container like an MSR’s Fuel Bottle is a great way to store it. This keeps it from evaporating and becoming contaminated with airborne particles.

Final Thoughts

The MSR Dragonfly Camping Stove will be the perfect addition to your next outdoor adventure. It is versatile, reliable, and extremely durable, making it the ideal companion for an outdoor trip. If you are looking for a way to enjoy a hot meal or a cup of coffee in the backcountry, the Dragonfly will provide you with an easy and efficient way to do so.

We love our MSR Dragonfly stoves. We’ve used them extensively through the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks and they’ve stood up really well to the tough conditions often experienced while trekking and exploring these iconic areas.