MSR Pocketrocket Stove Review

MSR PocketRocket (BP Photo Dept.)

june 09 msr pocket rocket closeup 445×260

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.)