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Backpacker Magazine – June 2009
Gear Review: MSR PocketRocket Stove
This tiny, fast stove performs great in poor weather.
Canned Heat
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Bargain
For the price of a couple of large pizzas and a pitcher of beer, you can own a stove that's fast, light, and performs great in bad weather. The PocketRocket's burner-mounted partition divides the flame into three parts, which helps keep the fire going through moderate wind gusts even if one section blows out. In a Texas rainstorm, the MSR held a steady flame, and it outperformed all other stoves except the Soto when the mercury dropped below freezing. Downsides: Don't expect precision heat control, and the tightly focused flame creates a hotspot. The angled supports have only three tiny points of contact with the pot, so stability is iffy on anything less than level ground. And use the plastic storage box (included): One tester slightly mangled the stove's pot supports when he threw the stove into his pack unprotected.
Criteria less than 6 ounces; less than $65
Test numbers 120 meals cooked; 50 gallons of water boiled; temps 0° to 70°F; winds up to 60 mph
Ratings scale 5 = Perfect gear, 1 = Save your money (Overall rating is not an average of other scores.)
FULL PRODUCT SPECS: PocketRocket
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READERS COMMENTS
I got my pocket rocket! I love it! It works awesome! Thanks MSR for a great product! Aloha!
Posted: Jan 14, 2012 da hawaiian
used a friends this weekend and will be buying one shortly. Great little stove. Supports are a bit of a challenge for large pots, and I wish the canisters could be refilled, but otherwise a great backpacking stove.
Posted: Aug 29, 2011 alan
This stove is awesome. I have used it on a number of trips in Maui's Haleakala Volcano, Shenandoah, New Mexico's Sangre de Christos Mountains, Alaska, etc. for backpacking and even picnics.
At first, I was wary of the tiny size and inexpensive price. "Nothing that small or cheap could put out" I thought to myself, but I was wrong. When I first turned it on, it sounded like a rocket was launching right in front of me.
This thing has huge power and boils water very quickly when needed. It does pretty well at slow cooking but could be better. For its weight and size, it is surprisingly stable, but I would not put too big of a pot on it. The hard carrying case is perfect.
I have had to do very little care or cleaning on the stove.
Possibly this stove's greatest asset, other than its power, is its simplicity.
Unless you need to cook for a large group, or are heading for some serious elevation, GET THIS STOVE.
You can't go wrong with MSR.
Posted: Jun 24, 2011 Anonymous
I just bought this yesterday and gave it a test run in some pretty strong wind. It boiled a liter of water in about 5 minutes. So light and comparably low priced it is a huge score for my first stove.
Posted: Feb 27, 2011 Austin
just got my pocket rocket and that thing is cool!
Posted: Apr 07, 2010 austin
Does anyone know if the Pocket Rocket thread is suitable for canisters in South America? Cheers
Posted: Oct 31, 2009 Amanda
Love my Pocket Rocket. Great for our summer trips in the Pacific NW. Its been trouble free and our food is always ready quickly.
Posted: Aug 11, 2009 Michael Rourke
Great little stove . Works good . I am taking it hiking in the Rockies for 17 days.
Posted: Aug 10, 2009 David Coleman
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