Australian Hiker

Rating

MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Stove Review

I had the opportunity of testing this stove prior to its Australian release and now it’s finally available to purchase although you want to be quick as they sell very quickly.

Both the MSR Pocket Rocket and MSR Pocket Rocket 2 have been iconic stoves for outdoor users for many years. For such a simple stove type, canister stoves have most of their features in common so it’s often hard to see a difference from the dozens and dozens of models on the market. MSR’s latest stove release in this range is the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe which has taken an already very good stove and turned it into a great stove.

As always MSR focuses on a few key aspects that help them stand out from the pack. First and foremost MSR focuses on durability, reliability and quality so while you will find lighter weight stove options on the market, you are unlikely to find a better quality one.

One main feature common to all canister stoves is their minimal weight and even though this stove contains an electric switch (piezo lighter) and is more advanced than its predecessors, it’s actually lighter coming in at 73 grams. Having dropped 32 grams from its predecessor it still feels like a very high quality unit.

Apart from the weight, the electric switch is the biggest difference and while most other electric switch stoves have a standard red coloured button, MSR has opted for a metal toggle and I liked the way it worked. The switch was was to find and use and it worked first time, and continued to work time and time again. Regardless of whether a stove has an electric switch or not, I always carry a fire steel just in case.

This stove unit is designed to cope with windy conditions and as such the gas head is concave and has a raised edge meaning that once set up with a pot on it, it’s very windproof. In all honesty using a windshield is not essential unlike with cheaper stoves.

Performance wise the second I turned this unit on I was really impressed. The flame was intense and I thought it was going to boil my 500 ml of water in less than a minute. It wasn’t quite that good but still managed to boil the water in 2 minutes and 32 seconds which is the fastest stove of any type we have tested to date. With the added wind protection this unit provides, I would expect it to perform well even in the windiest conditions.

One of the big benefits of canister stoves is that they simmer food really well so if you are cooking rather just boiling water then they are the best option. Whether you are cooking food or just boiling water and depending on the prevailing wind conditions, your gas consumption will be reasonably good. As someone who only boils water, I would expect a 100 gram canister to last me around 8-10 days comfortably.

For some reason buyers often associate this type of stove as being cheap and while you can buy a canister stove for under $40 you do get what you pay for. This unit which is easily available on the Australian market, having met he Australian gas testing standards, has an RRP of around AUD $195RRP and as such its sits at the top of the price range for this segment of stoves. Having said that its often available cheaper to look around before you buy and remember while its expensive its also very high quality and ill last for years.

One of the biggest benefits of canister stoves is you can buy them as standalone units, you can mix and match to get the system you want and you have the ability to change the pot choice to suit your needs. While I tend to be an integrated stove user, I could be swayed by this unit, it’s that impressive and well worth the price.

We Like

• Compact lightweight unit
• Robust and durable as you would expect from MSR
• Performs very well in windy conditions
• The unique metal toggle on the electric switch is easy to use and reliable, more sports than he button type switches used on other brands
• Boils 500 ml water in 2 minutes and 32 seconds, the fastest of the canister stoves, and for that matter of the integrated stoves we have reviewed to date
• Uses minimal fuel which lightens your load and the impact on your wallet. A 100 gram cylinder will last around 5-7 days (boiling water) depending on your usage pattern
• Great option for cooking as well as boiling water
• Allows you to build your stove system based on your specific needs

We Don't Like

• At the upper end of the price range as far as canister stoves go
• Not as fuel efficient as an integrated stove

Best Uses

This is an impressive lightweight canister stove that will suit just about any outdoor stove user

Buy One

You can purchase the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Stove from Snowys, Wildfire Sports or from Wild Earth

Disclosure: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD $192.50 RRP

Pocket Rocket Deluxe with storage bag

MSR Pocket Deluxe folded and ready to pack away

Pocket Rocket Deluxe working

Pocket Rocket Deluxe working and highlighting the electric starter. This metal toggle switch is robust and easy to use an repeatedly worked first time every time

Pocket Rocket Deluxe top view. The concave head and raised lip provides protection from the wind

MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe assembled with gas canister

Other Versions

MSR produces a range of stoves to meet the needs of a variety of hikers including canister stove, integrated stoves and fuel burning stoves:

• MSR Pocket Rocket
• MSR Pocket Rocket 2

Disclaimer

This review was done by product provided by the Australian distributor of MSR Stoves

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