MSR POCKET ROCKET DELUXE STOVE REVIEW

The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe boasts a sleek, compact design that doesn’t compromise on durability. Constructed of primarily stainless steel, this stove shows no signs of rust or wear, and has withstood the rigors of winter camping without a hitch. The folding pot supports and compact size make it incredibly portable, fitting effortlessly into any backpack without adding unnecessary bulk nor weight.

One of the standout features is the Piezo ignition system, which has proven to be a game-changer in frigid conditions. The ignitor is cleverly hidden within the body of the Pocket Rocket, keeping it hidden from the elements. Additionally, the lipped burner provides an additional shield against the wind, improving ignition and burn efficiency. Lighting up the stove becomes a breeze, even when fingers are numbed by the cold. The reliable ignition ensures you spend less time fumbling with matches or lighters, allowing you to focus on the beauty of your winter surroundings.

The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe truly shines in sub-zero temperatures. Its robust design and pressure regulator maintain consistent performance even in extreme cold. It was only on a -18 night where I had difficulty inviting the starter and used a lighter to get things moving. To avoid this, it’s always recommended to keep your fuel as warm as you can, so keeping it close to your body, or even in your sleeping bag overnight is recommended.

Eating a hot meal on a camping trip always feels great.  In my case, it always seems to be in the darkness.  Over the past winter, I’ve been setting up camp after sunset, then sitting down to prepare dinner.  For the most part, dinner consists of freeze-dried food that requires boiling water, which is one thing the MSR Pocket-Rocket excels at.  Setting up the stove is a breeze, even with only a simple head lamp.  I could even set it up blind-folded.  Unfolding the three support arms, then screwing the stove onto the fuel canister is extremely intuitive.

Once Setup, ignition is also a breeze, open the fuel valve and press the ignitor switch which generates a spark from its piezo-electric ignitor.  This system only has 2 weaknesses, extreme cold and wind. Let’s talk about those 2 elements.

The MSR Pocket Rocket uses a blend of pressurized Propane and Isobutane which are in gas form at room temperature/pressure. However, while stored inside the pressurized fuel container, they are in liquid form (with a head of gas) due to the filling pressure.
For fuel to be supplied to the stove, the fuel must evaporate inside the container, and be ejected from the contain in gas form.
Now, here are some important numbers to remember.  Propane boils (turns to vapour) at -42C (-44F) while Isobutane boils at -12C (11F).  The Isobutane / propane mix boils at approximately -13C (8F).  What this means is that when air temperature falls below the fuel boiling point, evaporation is greatly slowed down, reducing maximum fuel flow to the stove, impacting it’s max performance.

Luckily for me, I’ve only run into 1 situation where the temperature was far below this threshold, however, warming up the fuel canister by keeping  it in my jacket provided enough heat to the canister to properly fuel the stove.

Wind is another enemy of this stove.  As the burner is exposed to the elements, igniting can be a little tedious, especially when combined with extreme low temperatures.  Shielding the stove from the elements along with using an open flame (lighter) has been required on a few occasions.  This is no surprise due to the nature of the stove, and can easily be managed.

As for boiling water (in my case, melting snow), the stove performs admirably.  Note the to speed up the melting process, its always very useful to add a bit of water (if any is available) in the bottom of the pot, before adding snow.  The water will conduct heat to the snow much faster than without, reducing boiling time.

Design: ★★★★★
Size & Weight: ★★★★★
Ignition: ★★★
Power/Heat: ★★★★
Fuel Consumption: ★★★★
Cost: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★1/2