MSR Switch Stove System review

The Switch sits between a bare burner and a locked-in system. MSR sells it with a 1.0 liter pot whose rounded bottom it says heats faster and more evenly than a flat pot, boiling 0.5 liter in 2 minutes and 30 seconds, but the stove also has flip-out pot supports that take your own cookware up to 8 inches across. That makes it a better fit than the WindBurner if you want to fry eggs or simmer in a wider pan. A pressure regulator helps with cold and altitude, and MSR says it improves flame control for delicate food. The full system weighs 13.8 oz, and the stove alone is 4.1 oz. A piezo igniter, a cork cozy that will not melt, a nesting bowl, a canister stand and a cleaning cloth are included. At $144.95 it costs $55 less than the WindBurner, though it lacks that stove's enclosed burner.

Who it is for

Backpackers who want a system and their own pans

Price

$144.95 at the MSR US store.

MSR Switch™ Stove System Regular price $144.95
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Complete system weighs 13.8 oz; the stove alone is 4.1 oz
• Flip-out pot supports take your own cookware up to 8 inches wide
• Pressure regulator for cold weather and altitude
• Rounded 1.0 liter pot boils 0.5 liter in 2 minutes 30 seconds, per MSR
• Built-in piezo igniter and removable cork cozy

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Works with the included pot or your own pans
• Strength: $55 less than the WindBurner
• Strength: All parts and a 4 oz canister nest inside the pot
• Weakness: MSR publishes a 0.5 liter boil time, not 1 liter
• Weakness: No enclosed windproof burner like the WindBurner
• Weakness: Heavier than a bare canister stove plus a light pot

Key facts

• Price: $144.95
• System weight: 13.8 oz (392 g)
• Stove weight: 4.1 oz (117 g)
• Boil time, 0.5 L: 2 minutes 30 seconds
• Max pot width: 8 in

Where it ranks

MSR Switch Stove System is No. 7 in our Best Camping Stoves verdict.