Bottom Line
After testing the PocketRocket 2 most recently over about 500 miles on the Colorado Trail (and thousands of miles before that), we’ve determined that it is the best overall backpacking stove out of the 40 we’ve tested over the past decade. At 2.6 ounces, it’s one of the most lightweight options out there, and it folds up small enough to pack into your ultralight pot with no problem. The flame has an efficient burn, the arms are stable, and it boils water quickly.
The only place where we feel the Pocket Rocket 2 could have done better was in its wind performance. Although we were still able to bring water to a boil, it took a bit longer than with some other top-performing backpacking stoves.
Quick Specs
MSR PocketRocket 2
Best Backpacking Stove Overall
CleverHiker Rating: 79.8/100
Price: $50
Weight: 2.6 oz.
Fuel Type: Isobutane/propane canister
Boil Time: 3m 30s
Burn Time (8 oz. fuel): 60m
Pros
- Ultralight
- Compact
- Durable
- Simmer control
- Efficient
Cons
- Somewhat bulky carrying case
- Not as good in wind as some
Convenience
One of our biggest pet peeves with canister stoves is that the pot support arms can be loose and wobbly, which can lead to cooking disasters. The arms of the Pocket Rocket, however, are made with a tight folding mechanism that keeps them securely in place and ensures they don’t fold down when you place your pot on top.
One of the main differences between the Pocket Rocket 2 and its close sibling the Pocket Rocket Deluxe is the igniter switch. We’ve never felt much of a need for one, but not having to manually light your stove is important to you, the Deluxe is also an excellent stove.
Weight & Packability
At just 2.6 ounces, this thing is lightweight. Sure there are lighter stoves out there, but they don’t offer nearly the same stability and efficiency as the PocketRocket 2.
The PocketRocket 2 folds down small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and can easily nest into most cook pots. We were even able to fit it into our small, 550-milliliter pot along with an 8-ounce fuel canister and a mini Bic lighter.
While we love that the included hard carrying case for the Pocket Rocket increases durability and protects it from dirt, it does make the stove less compact. Unless you have a pretty large cooking pot, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to nest both a fuel canister and the stove case inside. We typically leave the case at home when we’re on the trail and opt to carry it in a small stuff sack instead.
Power & Efficiency
Without wind, the stove has no trouble bringing a liter of water to a boil in under three and a half minutes, which is an impressive time for such a small stove. It even only burned 0.4 ounces of fuel in the process. It is not uncommon for us to get 10 meals or more worth of hot dinners out of a single 100-gram isobutane fuel can.
The PocketRocket 2 is a bit slower to boil than others with strong wind. The burner head is not recessed and there’s no screen to help protect the flame from wind like that on integrated stoves. Having said that, we haven’t had any real issues with performance in wind during regular three-season use. But you can upgrade to the PocketRocket Deluxe if that’s a big concern for you. The Deluxe version is designed with a lip around the burner to help with efficiency in windy conditions.
Precision
As far as simmer control goes, the Pocket Rocket gives you full control over your flame, so you have a range of cooking power from a simmer to a roaring boil. Whether you want a quick boil for a freeze-dried meal or you’re a backcountry chef who likes to whip up DIY backcountry masterpieces, the Pocket Rocket is up to the task.
Should You Buy the MSR PocketRocket 2?
For the lightweight or even ultralight backpacker who wants a high-performing stove with good efficiency and simmer control that allows for more than boiling water, the PocketRocket 2 is hard to beat. Most stoves this size are inefficient, lack stability, or can’t do much more than boil water. The PocketRocket 2 can handle pretty much any kind of cooking you would want to do with a small backpacking cookset, and won’t take up much room in your pack.
However, because it’s a canister-style stove with a collarless burner, it does have some limitations so for cooking in extreme winds or cold temperatures you may want to look elsewhere but for the majority of cases, this is an awesome option.
What Other Backpacking Stoves Should You Consider?
BRS 3000T Review: The PocketRocket 2 still isn’t light enough for you? Nothing tops the BRS 3000T in terms of weight and affordability. You’ll be dropping another 1.6 ounces along with a good bit of performance and efficiency.
SOTO WindMaster Review: The SOTO WindMaster is bigger and slightly heavier than the PocketRocket 2, but it has a couple more features and is impressively windproof. It features a collared burner for blocking wind, an igniter switch, and larger pot stand.
SOTO Amicus Cookset Combo Review: If the price tag on the PocketRocket 2 was the most appealing part for you, check out the SOTO Amicus Cookset Combo. For the same cost, you get two cook pots, and the stove isn’t too shabby either.
