Kovea Alpine Master: A Korean Reactor That Rivals MSR

Gear · Published 9/16/2022 ·

#Kovea

#AlpineMaster

#KoreanReactor

I’ve been using the MSR Reactor for over ten years now.

So when a Korean-made reactor showed up, and then a Chinese one too…?

I figured, well, this is probably the end of MSR’s golden age.

A pot big enough to heat up two packs of instant rice.

A lid you can use as a makeshift frying pan.

Welding so solid it’ll actually tear right through the pouch.

And it comes with a trivet included.

The only thing I bought separately was the gas cartridge stand — the storage bag and pouch all come standard.

It’s very Korean through and through. If the MSR Reactor leaves me about 10% wanting more, the Kovea only leaves me about 2% short.

The best part, I think, is how the cookset, burner, and gas all stack together into one neat package.

I just toss a lighter inside, too.

It seems like it’d be great for cooking something up on a long traverse hike through the national parks, and it looks like you can boil up to two packs of ramen at once.

If that’s not enough, you just boil one batch and then another — no need to push it.

There’s the downside of the bulk and weight, but that bulk ends up being necessary, so really it’s a plus too.

It’s a good place to be, not having to rely on imported gear anymore.

Contact: bumseok.view [at] gmail [dot] com