MSR Whisperlite International Stove V2:

Justin:  Referring to just the stove:  The whisperlite international is a darn good stove.  Lightweight, folds up nicely, and is relatively easy to set-up, maintain, and clean.  I purchased this stove because it can burn almost any flammable gas or liquid.  That’s imperative when you are traveling internationally.  The only change I would make would be to upgrade the ‘teeth’ on the three stands that hold your cookware so as to create more friction and lessen the likelihood of a pot or pan slipping off the stove.

 

MSR Standard Fuel Pump:

Justin:  This is an easy to use pump, but it requires more maintenance than one would desire.  Though the pump syringe never broke, it always felt weak to the touch.  The pump cup attached to the inner end of the syringe does not attach well to the syringe, while it also dries out over the course of several days.  Without lubrication and vigilance, that pump cup will slip off and/or rip if you’re not careful.  Once the cup has ripped, it will be impossible to build up pressure in the MSR bottle. Accessing the innards is also difficult, and requires at least four hands pushing and pulling at different pressure points at the same time.  Be sure to purchase the Whisperlite International service kit because you will need the spare parts.  After two solid months of use, I am thinking that I will now have to replace this unit entirely. 

 

MSR Whisperlite International Expedition Service Kit:

Justin:  Seems to be a fairly comprehensive kit and the container box is strong with a good latch.  This is a ‘must-have’ because of the shortcomings of the associated MSR Standard Fuel Pump.

 

MSR Fuel Bottle, 30oz:

Justin:  I knew that these bottles would be perfect – and they were – because of their ability to be emptied and refilled with any flammable liquid without any hassle.  You can walk up to a gas station and fill one from the gas-pump if you so desire.  The bottles can be emptied, cleaned, and flown with in your undercarriage bags (be sure to remove the tops so as to ensure that TSA agents are immediately aware that they are empty).  At first, the caps are difficult to remove, and I’m not sure why.  After a few days of use, the problem disappears.

John: These were my favorite water bottles the whole trip… *cough*

 

Rite in the Rain notebooks:

The 393 model (4 ⅝” x 7”) we chose for the first trip is too big for convenience in the field (hard to fit well in pockets) and the spine allows pages to fall out too easily–although this can be rectified by squeezing the spine tightly shut. For the second trip we got the 393-M (3 ¼” x 5”) model and they were perfect.

Justin: I lost my back cover and three pages of irreplaceable notes because the spine opened up without my knowledge.

John: I can show you all the papercuts I got from trying to force this blumberbussing book into my pocket.

Seth: It’s funny how a product labeled as “All-weather tough” has all the ink rub off its front and back covers in less than a month.

 

SeaToSummit Wilderness Wash (250ml bottle):

Justin:  The 250ml bottle of concentrated wilderness wash was enough to wash dishes and our bodies for several weeks when used sparingly.  The wash can produce a nice lather when agitated well.  Not the kind of thing you should rely on the night before your first date with a special someone, but if you’re heading out into the bush and want to be environmentally conscious and keep things clean, this is a solid product.