The Pocket Rocket is a powerful stove with the flame concentrated in a fairly small head which while ideal for fast boiling does have a tendancy to create hotspots. Flame control is good but with a small burner head it's still better suited to a Titan or similar mug rather than a wide pan.
Boil time in windless conditions was very good for a canister top stove without heat exchange technology at 3:17 but with no windshield this rose dramatically in a 7mph wind to almost 8 minutes. Together with a reputation for instability this is perhaps the greates drawback to the stove. The instability inherant in any canister top stove is exaggerated in the Pocket Rocket with high pot supports that are angled rather than horizontal.
Despite these flaws the combination of power, build quality and price make the Pocket Rocket an ideal entry level camping stove, particularly with the addition of a third party or self made windshield. Performance in temperatures just below zero is as good as you'll find on a stove of this type and with no integrated piezo ignition to damage (or fail)it's robust enough to take a few knocks. It's no longer at the cutting edge in weight or power but the MSR Pocket Rocket is still a solid performer at an affordable price.
Price: £30
Weight: 85g
Colour: silver
Features:
- Ultralight, Ultra-Compact: Weighs just 85 g, with palm-sized dimensions: 4 x 2 x 2 in. (10.2 x 5. x 5.1 cm).
- Simple Operation: No need for priming, pressurizing, or maintenance.
- High Heat Output: Boils 1 liter of water in under 3.5 minutes.
- Full Flame Control: Glove-friendly controls allow precise flame adjustment, from a simmer to a boil.
- Flame Protection: Tri-sectional Windclip™ wind shield protects flame and boosts efficiency.
- Includes hard-shell carry case.
Pros:
- Simplicity
- Power
- Price
- Reliability
- Build Quality
Cons:
- Small head
- Poor stability
- Poor in wind
- Starting to show its age
Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.