I used a standard canister stove for 15+ years, so it’s not the end of the world, but you do end up waiting a while and burning a lot of extra gas.Įnter the pressure regulator on the Pocket Rocket Deluxe. That’s important for bowhunting elk because you’ll often see lows of 20-30 degrees in September in the mountains. At low pressure (a cold or almost empty canister) the flame burns so low that it’s not really usable or efficient.
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The problem with that system is that at high pressure (a hot or full canister) excess gas is often burned before it has time to expand. Here’s what really stood out: Pro: Pressure regulator efficiencyĬanister stoves are fairly simple: pressurized gas in the canister escapes through the stove and ignites in the burner. Overall I found it delivered on the promise of a light, reliable, and efficient stove. I picked one up last year and used it all last season (and a few other trips this year). I used the original MSR pocket rocket for over 10 years and had some high expectations for the newer Deluxe model. The real question is: do you get what you pay for?Īll folded up and right on the money at 83 grams claimed weight. The $69.95 (MSRP) it isn’t cheap, but stoves last forever and other alternatives only cost $20-30 less. At 2.9 oz (83g) and 3.3” x 2.2” x 1.5” ( MSR’s website) it’s still well within the ultralight territory, especially if you factor in that you won’t need to carry a lighter. Those extra features make the Deluxe ever so slightly heavier (and more expensive) than more basic canister stoves. Another nice bonus is the ability to control the stove temperature enough to simmer food… that’s not a key feature for most backpackers but it’s nice to have back at camp. It also comes with an integrated lighter which is a really nice touch so you don’t have to track down a lighter every time you use it. The Deluxe was designed specifically to beat those problems with two key features: a pressure regulator and a windproof burner head. The downside of canister stoves is they can be slightly less efficient, especially in cold temps, windy conditions, or when canisters run low on fuel. It all boils down to your hunting style (pun intended). Why? They’re smaller, lighter, extremely reliable, and they allow you to change the size of your water container. I’m a believer in canister stoves for backpacking during elk season (vs liquid fuel stoves or integrated stoves like a Jet Boil). The Deluxe is a canister stove which means that it functions off those bright red fuel fuel canisters you see at most sporting goods stores. The “MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe” is quite a mouthful, so let’s just call this thing the Deluxe. While that might be enough to convince most people to buy, there are always tradeoffs when it comes to truly good gear. It’s the top of the line option from Mountain Safety Research, a company that built it’s reputation over 50+ years.
Looking for an ultralight backpacking stove? It might weight almost nothing but the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is the heavyweight contender of backpacking stoves.