The MSR Swap is a compact tenting range system designed round a heat-exchanger pot with an uncommon bulbous backside. The system features a pressure-regulated range with a piezo igniter and an built-in pot stand sized to help the prepare dinner pot, however the stand can increase to accommodate bigger pots or frying pans for group cooking.
As well as, the pot comes with a plastic lid with colander holes, a plastic measuring cup, a flexible gas canister stand that forestalls the prepare dinner system from toppling over in use, and a mini packtowl for cleansing and to cease the elements from rattling collectively while you hike (I’ve already misplaced the mini towel, although).
Complete weight with out gas: 13.8 ozStove w/stand weight: 4.1 ozCookpot capability: 1LFits a small 4 ouncesisobutane canister when packed
The standout design component is the hemispherical bulbous backside of the built-in Swap pot. It rests on a ring-shaped stand that surrounds the range’s burner however is held in place solely by gravity, so you might want to be very cautious to not tip it over onto the bottom or into your lap.
The pot is a heat-exchanger pot, much like an MSR Reactor or a Jetboil Flash Cookpot. Range programs with heat-exchanger pots are about 20-30% extra fuel-efficient than common pots as a result of they keep warmth longer, decreasing the quantity of gas required for cooking or boiling water. The pot has a lid and handles, however is surrounded by a flame-resistant cork sleeve as an alternative of a material cozy. The ring-shaped pot stand has hidden arms that may fold out to accommodate a wider prepare dinner pot or frying pan, as much as 8″ in diameter, for group cooking, in case you’re prepared to hold the additional cookware.
The mix of all these elements seems to be like one thing out of Mad Max with what seem like cannibalized elements from an MSR Windburner Range System, an MSR Reactor, and an MSR Pocket Rocket 2. All of it works collectively, however it seems to be form of post-apocalyptic.
However the element that tickles my fancy essentially the most is the gas canister stand, which may stretch to accommodate completely different canister sizes and dimensions with ease. If you happen to’ve ever struggled to suit the folding orange canister stands that include different stoves and range programs to an isobutane canister, you’ll respect this elastic canister stand (the center piece is elastic). I attempted it with canisters from MSR, Jetboil, and Snow Peak, and it labored with all of them. (I believe they need to promote it as a standalone product.)
Efficiency
Heating efficiency is powerful because of the bulbous pot backside and the ring stand, which positions the range head for optimum warmth distribution. Moreover, the pot is fabricated from anodized aluminum on account of its even warmth distribution and longer warmth retention (in comparison with titanium.) I clocked boiling at about 2:10 for a 0.5 liter.
Sadly, it’s very tough to inform visually when your water is boiling on the Swap range. There is no such thing as a exterior indication, so you must take the lid off to look contained in the pot. That’s problematic as a result of the range doesn’t lock to the range stand, making it very straightforward to tip your complete equipment over except you grasp the pot’s metallic handles with one hand and take away the lid with the opposite. As some extent of comparability, lots of Jetboil’s range programs have a thermal indicator on the cookpot cozy that turns pink when your water is boiling, and their pots lock to the range stand. It’s puzzling that an organization named Mountain Security Analysis (MSR) didn’t construct extra security options into this product.
What are you able to prepare dinner within the MSR Swap Pot?
Though the Swap range can simmer fairly low, in case you attempt to prepare dinner something substantial, it should burn as a result of the meals that drops into the pot’s bulbous base will likely be hotter than the meals on the high. As an alternative, I like to recommend you stick to water or a really brothy soup like miso.
For instance, I attempted to prepare dinner my favourite backpacking meal, a Knorr’s rice aspect, and it burned on the backside of the pot inside minutes, although I stirred the contents consistently and had turned the flame as little as it might go with out going out. I half-expected this to occur, however I used to be shocked by how rapidly it occurred. Gear reviewers should strive all the sting circumstances…
I’m shocked that MSR doesn’t warn homeowners towards cooking something aside from boiling water or very soupy meals with few solids. I’ve efficiently cooked Knorr’s rice sides in numerous backpacking pots and stoves through the previous 20 years, and this was a primary.
Wind resistance
Most range programs that include heat-exchanger pots profit from good wind resistance. Not the Swap. Neither the burner head nor the pot offers any wind safety. It’s because the bottom of the pot sits on high of the ring stand and never decrease, the place it may afford the burner head some safety. On a Jetboil, the burner head is positioned above the ring stand, so the edges of the Jetboil warmth exchanger pot can shield the burner from wind. What you save in effectivity with the MSR warmth exchanger pot, I think you lose. not less than partially, because of the lack of wind safety.
Gasoline administration and flame management
One of many extra notable technical options of the Swap range is its strain regulator. The regulator helps preserve constant efficiency in chilly situations and at increased altitudes the place canister strain drops, and it improves gas effectivity in contrast with unregulated designs.
Weight and packability
The whole system weighs 13.8 oz. (392 g), with the standalone range at simply 4.1 oz. (117 g). That mixture, together with the flexibility to suit a small gasoline canister when packed, makes the Swap competitively engaging for weight-conscious customers.
Professionals
Quick heating from the pot’s bulbous backside.Flip-out helps accommodate a variety of cookware as much as 8 in.Stress regulator for dependable cold- and altitude efficiency and higher gas financial system.Light-weight, extremely nestable kitStellar gas canister stand
Cons
The system is well tipped over as a result of the pot doesn’t lock to the pot standThe warmth exchanger pot doesn’t present the range with added wind resistanceSolid meals is well burned within the bulbous backside, limiting the range’s potential to do greater than boil waterThe prepare dinner pot has graduated fluid markings, however you’ll be able to’t learn them as a result of they’re deep within the slim pot or lined by the cork grip
Backside line
The MSR Swap range system affords a particular and environment friendly resolution for backpackers in search of a compact, light-weight range for boiling water. Its modern bulbous heat-exchanger pot and pressure-regulated burner ship quick, fuel-efficient boiling, whereas the expandable pot stand provides flexibility for group cooking. Nonetheless, the design’s reliance on gravity to carry the pot in place requires warning to forestall tipping, the shortage of wind safety and the issue of monitoring the boil standing might all pose challenges for a lot of customers. Moreover, the pot’s form makes cooking strong or thicker meals susceptible to burning, so it’s greatest fitted to boiling water and easy soups. General, the Swap is an odd-looking meeting of elements, and one thing that solely the nerdy engineers at MSR (I love them, truly) would dream of bringing to market. However it works effectively sufficient, and it’s certain to generate dialog from different hikers you meet on the path. I’m not an enormous Jetboil fan, however I believe the Flash 1.0L is a greater range system for solo use.
Disclosure: MSR donated a range system for evaluate.
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