MSR Switch Stove System Review: Is it the Flexible Stove System We Hoped For?
TLDR:
It’s a cracking little cooking system for one or two people who need speed and compactness without sacrificing the ability to cook more than just dehydrated meals.
The claim on the label
When shopping for new gear, we often have to rely solely on the manufacturer’s marketing materials. For the MSR Switch Stove System, the claims around versatility were compelling enough to make us look further.
Manufacturer: MSR which is part of Cascade Designs
Product full name: MSR Switch™ Stove System
Price tag (at time of purchase): £84 (yes it was quite the steal)
Retailer: REI
Key claims or standout information:
A pressure regulator, found on very few stoves in this class, provides good fuel efficiency, even in cold conditions and higher altitudes, and improves flame control for more precise cooking for delicate foods like eggs.
Lightweight: Complete system weighs 13.8oz (392g); stove weighs just 4.1oz (117g).
Versatile: Flip-out pot supports so you can bring your favorite cookware (8”/20.3cm max diameter) or use the efficient, integrated 1.0l Switch pot.
Self-igniter Piezo built in.
All components and a 4oz fuel canister nest efficiently together inside the Switch pot. The nesting bowl means that the two of us can eat what is produced at the same time without having to carry another bowl or mug.
Our previous experience was a frustrating trade-off between stoves that were fast at boiling (but too fierce for cooking) or offered great heat control (but slow for a brew). The MSR Switch System, with its efficient heat-exchanger pot and flip out pot supports so we could use our existing cookware, promised to eliminate that compromise.
Out on the trail
We all know that manufacturers and retail staff's claims are all well and good but the real proof is in the use on the trail. We try to give you an understanding of how much we have used the equipment and critically in what conditions before we cast judgement on its performance.
Estimated time of use so far: 40+ meals
Adventure we have used this on: Klaralven Timber Rafting, Canoeing the Soar, and many smaller nights away where we wanted hot water.
What we have used it for: Boiling a lot of water, as well as cooking a few full meals.
How has it performed: For boiling water it measures up to the claims and works a treat. For smaller pots and cooking it works well. However we did find it a bit of a challenge to cook in our largest Primus stainless steel pot. We think this is due to the heat being highly localised just above the center of the burner. It is very easy to burn a circle of food on the bottom of the pan. We have found that we need to be patient and stir a lot when cooking on this stove with a larger pan. When using pans rather than the boiling pot the stove can feel a bit top heavy so caution is advised.
Any modifications made:
To avoid the stability issues when cooking on pans we have paired this stove with the MSR LowDown Remote Stove Adapter. This MSR accessory takes the stove burner off the gas canister and places it on three relatively large robust legs with a remote line to a regulator that attaches to the gas canister.
To hopefully help this stove last longer we have added a larger thin towel when packing away. This towel sits around the burner when placed in the pot. This stops the grima (nails down a blackboard) noises when you slip the burner in and out the pot. We hope that this also stops the pot from getting scratched up as the pot is bounced around between uses.
The good the bad and the packable
Being realistic there is no perfect piece of equipment, there are always pros and cons and so we try to give you our balanced view of what we feel about it and answer the question: does it make the packing list for our next adventure?
The bits we liked:
Everything (including the 4oz canister) nests perfectly inside the pot and it is highly convenient to just grab them all in one.
The flexibility to use other cookware to cook a range of dishes. We have successfully cooked pancakes on it.
The admirable fast boil times makes a hot lunch on the go a real possibility.
The supplied gas stabiliser legs work well for when using the boiling pot.
We thought the cork band was a bit of a gimmick but it actually works for when the pot is full of boiling water and you want to move it around.
How it could be better:
A wider flame pattern (which would likely require a different burner head) could help to prevent hot spots and scorching when cooking in larger pans but may come at an efficiency cost.
The nesting rattle could be stopped by supplying a larger towel to get between the burner and pot.
What we think it is best suited for:
Trips where weight is an issue and you want a bit more flexibility with your cooking system than just boiling water quickly.
Are we going to pack it for our next adventure?:
It depends, if we are going relatively light and we can tailor most of our cooking to involve boiling water, yes. If we are traveling somewhere where getting gas canisters is likely to be the easiest way to get stove fuel, then also yes. If we are going to cook a wide range of foods or unsure of what food we are going to find along the way, maybe not.
Does it get our seal of approval?
This is the most flexible compact quick boil stove solution we have ever had the pleasure to use. The burner is just about big enough for the two of us to cook substantial meals. This cook system is perfect when we are moving quickly and want to have hot food on the go.
Yes, it absolutely earns our seal of approval. The MSR Switch is the most flexible, compact, and quick-boil stove solution we’ve ever used. It’s perfect when moving quickly and wanting hot food on the go. The key takeaway: If you’re willing to use a small pot or carry the LowDown Adapter for serious cooking, this stove delivers on the promise of versatility. It’s a cracking little system for two people who need speed and compactness without sacrificing the ability to cook the occasional meal that needs more than just boiling water.
