Backpacking Stove Is Best of Both Worlds: MSR Switch Review

Backpacking stoves are one of my favorite things to write about because I covet them. I first started using an MSR Dragonfly when I was 15 years old. Around 17, wanting to get away from liquid gas, I switched to an MSR Pocket Rocket, which used gas canisters. Then, at 20, my girlfriend gave me the original Jetboil stove system, and it became my go-to backpacking cooking system for the last 2 decades.

Since that time, I have gone back and forth between those three stoves even though I’ve gotten to test many more. Anything else I came across just didn’t offer any benefit over them, so I moved on. Then, one day, wandering around REI, I bought myself an MSR Switch Stove System.

Aptly named, the Switch is a viable option for my personal backpacking cooking needs. But it also allows me to cook efficiently for my kids or anyone else tagging along on an adventure. What’s more is that it does all of this while maintaining that uber-desirable integrated canister backpacking stove system design that Jetboil pioneered years ago.

However, this stove is similar to a Jetboil only in form. Functionally, the two are worlds apart.

In short: ​The MSR Switch Stove ($140) is a versatile little camp cooking system. Its cooking design allows you to use the included pot, or any other camp pot, pan, or mug that’s safe to cook with. The spherical base of the pot helps heat contents more evenly (although it takes significantly longer to boil water than with a flash boil system). It uses more gas than a Jetboil or Pocket Rocket, but it makes up for that through sheer versatility.

Compare the MSR Switch Stove System to others on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backpacking Stoves.

MSR Switch Review

MSR Switch: What It Is & What It Isn’t

The Switch looks like a Jetboil Flash, or, more accurately, MSR’s own WindBurner Personal Stove. All three stoves utilize a heat exchanger to shield against wind and direct heat for efficient cooking and responsible gas consumption.

However, their burner types are very different. Where the Jetboil uses controlled conduction and the WindBurner uses radiant heat to achieve the fastest boil possible, the Switch uses an open flame burner and therefore can “switch” between boiling water and cooking food in a frying pan or larger pot.

Additionally, the Switch’s 1L canister does not lock into its burner. Instead, it sits on a ring attached to the burner. This design allows it to function as a “hybrid” of sorts. It could be considered less efficient because it allows more wind and air to pass through. To adjust for this, the bottom of the canister is spherical. This allows the flame to surround the contents, achieving a rolling boil — though not at a record-setting pace.

When using a frying pan or pot with this configuration, you will burn through more fuel. That might throw folks for a loop who are used to the efficiency of an integrated canister backpacking stove system.

Safety & Stability

I prefer canisters that lock onto the burner for efficiency (and safety). However, the fact that the Switch lacks this feature allows it to adapt to a frying pan or pot. It does this through integrated fins that fold out from the burner frame. This plays a role in both stability and safety.

The Switch comes with a stretchy silicone canister stand. That keeps the gas canister and burner upright if the stove gets bumped. At the most, you might lose your soup or whatever you’re frying if you’re in “trail gourmet” mode. If you’re cooking on leaves or grass, this becomes a safety feature, as the open flame on the burner can start a fire if tipped over.

Weight

I am by no means an ounce counter when it comes to my gear. However, when I first picked up the box containing the Switch, I thought it was empty. At 14 ounces, it’s notably light. You’ll make up for that in adding a gas canister or two to your pack, but it’s still worth noting for a stove that can cook for just you or your whole party.

Gas Consumption

In testing, I was able to get nine rolling boils of 16 ounces of water from a single 3.9-oz. MSR IsoPro canister. If you’re focused on freeze-dried meals, that could be as few as nine meals or upward of 18. I would say that’s a solid amount. I did the same test with my Jetboil and was able to eke out 11 rolling boils of 16 ounces of water.

Both of those tests were done in my kitchen for the closest apples-to-apples comparison.

When it came to switching over to cooking in a pan or pot, I expected to burn through a lot of gas prepping some chicken fajitas. However, I did not. I sliced the peppers, chicken breast, and mushrooms, and set everything outside on a windy fall day. Once the pan got hot, I was able to easily roll the olive oil around, so I got to cooking.

My total cook time was 12 minutes. I cooked enough for two solid fajitas and only burned through 1 ounce of IsoPro. To be honest, I was a bit surprised that the Switch was this efficient in this setting. Under optimal conditions, I could probably get three full pan-cooked meals out of this stove.

Editor’s note: Other GearJunkie testers who used this stove did not share my experience with gas efficiency. Camp editor Will Brendza found that this stove absolutely drained his gas canisters. He could barely get three rolling boils out of a single small canister before running empty. However, when he approached MSR, the brand suggested it could have been a defect with his early testing sample. I didn’t experience the same inefficiency.

In the Field

I am happy I decided to test the Switch out both in my kitchen and in the outdoors. Near-freezing temperatures require a little more fuel. Still, the stove didn’t perform out of the ordinary, even when it had to work a little harder.

That said, if you’re going to be out and about for a few days, bring an extra can of fuel with you. Consider bringing two extra canisters if you plan on eating more gourmet meals.

As someone who splits his time between backpacking alone and with his kids, the benefit of this stove is in the fact that it’s all integrated. I can easily switch between the two cooking styles. However, there are a few other advantages of the Switch worth pointing out.

Cup Handles

These handles, in conjunction with the cork wrapping, keep your hands away from the hot canister and reduce the risk of burns.

Cooldown Time

From the point of turning off the fuel to the point where you can comfortably handle the canister, wipe it down, and put it away is less than 5 minutes.

Pot & Pan Stability

I was assuming there would be a bit of a trade-off here. Even with the burner fins extended, its diameter remains relatively small. However, I had no issues using a pot or pan on top of it. This is also partly due to the canister stand that provides a wide footprint for added stability on most surfaces.

PackTowel Cleaning Cloth

It’s the little things that catch your attention. In this case, the included PackTowel cleaning cloth makes wiping down the included pot a breeze. It also protects the pot’s interior from getting scratched by the burner during storage and transport. There is also a diagram of how to nest the items inside, which we sometimes all need after a long day of roaming around.

MSR Switch Stove: Overall

Though the Switch isn’t setting any time records in boiling water, I am not sure it really needs to. It’s still on par in terms of efficiency when compared to other top backpacking stoves. Even when using a frying pan or boiling a larger pot of water, it’s efficient enough in both terms of time and gas usage to get from start to finish.

If you’re a serious backpacker who relies on a stove that can boil water fast, then you might consider MSR’s WindBurner Personal Stove or a Jetboil Flash. Both of those stoves will be better suited to your needs. However, if you’re someone who could benefit from both a more versatile (although slower) cooking setup, MSR has done an incredible job of providing that with the Switch.

Nothing beats a home-cooked meal that requires a knife and fork out on the trail. Even if just for one night, as a reward for bagging a peak, the ability to do that is a “nice to have” that I won’t soon be able to walk away from.