MSR Pocket Rocket

[Mags]

Coleman F1 was a great little stove too.........don't think it's made any more though.

Still for sale via Campmor, though.

(When I use a canister stove, it is what I use FWIW)

Honestly, the basic canister stoves are all similarly priced with similar performance and weight. It really doesn't matter too much in the end.

[Rocket Jones]

And you can get a wind screen for the Giga

About 10 bucks for the windscreen. Nifty design, incredibly compact.

[Cool AT Breeze]

About 10 bucks for the windscreen. Nifty design, incredibly compact.

But heavy. Could be made out of aluminum.

[Jack Tarlin]

I've owned both the Pocket Rocket and the Giga for years.

I prefer the Giga.

[Manwich]

To steal quotes from a semi-well known stove tester (both lab and field tests) -

The Pocket Rocket has four deficiencies compared to the (Snowpeak) Gigapower:

The PR pot supports are prone to bending
The PR is much higher and less stable
The PR focuses the flame to a small area, giving a greater risk of burning your dinner
The PR emits a lot of carbon monoxide

Coleman F1 was a great little stove too.........don't think it's made any more though.

1 - Yeah, if you bend them. I don't bend my PR's pot supports. Been good for a year now.
2 - If I put mine on a stable surface, I have nothing to worry about
3 - I use mine to boil water.
4 - I don't use it indoors.

[earlyriser26]

I have been using the pocket rocket for 5 years and it is my favorite. Just put it on a flat surface and it will not tip. Boils super fast. love it, but many similar stoves out there.

[baddog]

This year I bought a cheap $20 made in china PR clone on e-bay that works great although I have no other experience with which to make comparisons.

[inavacuum]

From what I can tell, everyone is saying the PR is a good stove. So I"ll probably get it because of availability.

[Manwich]

This year I bought a cheap $20 made in china PR clone on e-bay that works great although I have no other experience with which to make comparisons.

im curious as to the name of the clone

[chicote]

I also and a PR supporter. Used it on our thru and it's still kicking.

[toegem]

I have a Pocket Rocket with no problems, I do prefer my Crux only because it's a little more compact, either will get the job done.

[bigcranky]

The only downside to the Pocket Rocket is its performance suffers in any kind of breeze. Most canister stoves have the same problem.

The Coleman F1 does not, and it's only $40 at Campmor. That thing is a little blow torch.

[Manwich]

The F1 can suffer the same deficiency. I've seen an F1 blown out by a butterfly farting.

[FamilyGuy]

I had a PR and really liked it. Crazy flame, however and not good for simmering (the flame was centralized). And then because of carelessness I bent two of the pot supports and could not get them level after that. I retired the PR and bought a Vargo Jet TI. Why? 1/2 the CO emissions, similar boil times, slightly less weight, and bombproof support. YMMV.

[inavacuum]

so the PR is a good entry level stove but there are better stoves out there?

[Yukon]

You'll be fine with the Pocket Rocket, no worries...

[FamilyGuy]

so the PR is a good entry level stove but there are better stoves out there?

Yes. Here is a list / review of some of them, in addition to the aforementioned Vargo TI Jet (shares the same burner as the Snow Peak):

http://www.backpacker.com/june_09_ca...ews/gear/13186

[bigcranky]

The F1 can suffer the same deficiency. I've seen an F1 blown out by a butterfly farting.

I own four or five different canister stoves, and this has not been my experience. Then again, I haven't seen any butterflies near my stoves while cooking.

[inavacuum]

wow, this is frustrating. I keep deciding to just role with the PR and then somebody comes along and changes my mind.

[FamilyGuy]

Hi - the PR is a great stove. Very fast and often on sale. Proven. You really can't go wrong but there are certainly a few choices - all have their pros and cons.