Date: October 7, 2006

 

Reviewer Information:

 

Tim Tessier

Age: 49

Gender: Male

Height: 6' 2" (1.9 m)

Weight: 215 lb (98 kg)

Email Address: timothy_tessier@yahoo.com

Located in: Greensboro NC USA

 

Backpacking Background: I hiked as a child with my father and started hiking with my son 7 years ago when he was eight years old. We now routinely take 20 mile weekend hikes (two nights) approximately once a month year round. Additionally, we take one, five to seven day extended trip each summer. Most of our hiking is done in North Carolina, southern Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. We go regardless of weather so we have experience in all types of conditions. We do not tend to travel very light, with a typical pack weight of 25 lb (11.3 kg) exclusive of food.

 

Product Specifications:

Manufacturer: Mountain Safety Research (MSR)

Year of Manufacture: 2004

URL: www.mountainsafetyresearch.com

Listed Weight: 3 oz (85 g) (excluding fuel canister)

Weight as delivered: 3 oz (86 g) 4 oz (113 g) in carrying case

Height (in plastic carrying case) 4 3/8” (111 mm)

Width (in plastic carrying case) 2 ¼" (57 mm), triangular shape

List Price: US $39.95 (per MSR website)

 

Additional Specifications (per manufacturer)

Boils water in 3.5 minutes

Simmer or boil with glove friendly controls.

Optional WindClip Windshield available (not tested)

 

The PocketRocket is a tiny compact stove designed to be used with canister fuel. The stove comes in a hard-shell protective plastic case. The stove is of stainless steel construction and has an attachment fitting at the bottom, with a rubber gasket, designed to screw directly into a fuel canister. There are three pot holders which fold up for transport, and fold out to approximately 4" (102 mm) for use. The pot holders have a serrated top surface to provide grip, particularly when used with an MSR cook-set which has textured bottom surface. A control valve extends outward approximately 1 ¼" (32 mm) from the base of the stove to allow simple control of the heat level. This control valve folds up for packing.

 

To use the stove, simply remove from the case, extend the pot holders and screw directly onto the top of a compatible fuel canister. This design is simple, and as the stove is attached without use of a hose, there is one less thing to carry or to damage. The MSR fuel canisters have a concave bottom surface which allows them to provide stable base virtually anywhere. While Coleman and a number of other companies produce compatible fuel canisters, I have used the MSR canisters exclusively.

 

To light the stove simply light a match, then turn on the gas with the control valve while holding the flame near the burner.

The PocketRocket is extremely easy to use and in appropriate weather conditions extremely dependable. We have used this stove with excellent results on summer outings at elevations up to 6500 ft (1981 m). Temperatures have ranged from a high of 90 F (32 C) to a low of 40 F (4 C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common. I have used it in strong winds and heavy rain, with no discernable degradation in cooking times with appropriate care. It is helpful to use your body or a simple piece of aluminum foil to provide a wind block during windy conditions. The PocketRocket delivers a tremendous jet of heat almost instantly. There is no priming, pumping, or pressurization routine required, simply turn on the valve and light the stove. This dependable, simple, lighting is especially welcome when trying to boil water for a dehydrated dinner inside your tent vestibule.

 

MSR offers a clip-on windscreen which I have not tested. However, I have on many occasions used a simple piece of aluminum foil as a windshield with satisfactory results. The PocketRocket flame is infinitely adjustable. It easily adjusts to a low flame simmer mode and will maintain a simmer as long as necessary without losing pressure and going out. I have used it with a variety of cookware with acceptable results. The small burner diameter of approximately 1.5” (38 mm) minimizes chances for the flame to wrap around the outside of the pot, scorching finger, but can be troublesome when trying to simmer a delicate cream sauce. The small burner size means a small hot spot in many pans. 

The valve can easily be controlled with gloved fingers, though this does bring up the one serious drawback I have found with this product. While the stove is a spectacular product there is a fundamental drawback with the fuel. In temperatures at 40 F (4 C) or lower the fuel will separate, and no longer burn properly. Once separated the fuel will not re-constitute into its proper mixture. On a recent trip to Yellowstone I ended up having to hold a pot holder in one hand while shaking the stove in another to keep it running well enough to boil water for my breakfast coffee.

 

I would not recommend counting on a PocketRocket for use on wintertime backpacking trips, even in temperate areas. For summertime use where temperatures will not fall below 40 F (4 C) however, the PocketRocket is an appropriately named little torch of a stove.

 

Likes: Tiny size and weight

Instant start

Easy and dependable simmer control.

 

Dislikes: Undependable performance in cold weather