Looking for an ultralight backpacking stove? It might weight almost nothing but the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is the heavyweight contender of backpacking stoves. It’s the top of the line option from Mountain Safety Research, a company that built it’s reputation over 50+ years. While that might be enough to convince most people to buy, there are always tradeoffs when it comes to truly good gear. Here’s my take.
Overview & specs
The “MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe” is quite a mouthful, so let’s just call this thing the Deluxe. 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. I’m a believer in canister stoves for backpacking during elk season (vs liquid fuel stoves or integrated stoves like a Jet Boil). Why? They’re smaller, lighter, extremely reliable, and they allow you to change the size of your water container. It all boils down to your hunting style (pun intended).
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. The Deluxe was designed specifically to beat those problems with two key features: a pressure regulator and a windproof burner head. 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. 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.
Those extra features make the Deluxe ever so slightly heavier (and more expensive) than more basic canister stoves. 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. The $69.95 (MSRP) it isn’t cheap, but stoves last forever and other alternatives only cost $20-30 less. The real question is: do you get what you pay for?
My thoughts
I used the original MSR pocket rocket for over 10 years and had some high expectations for the newer Deluxe model. I picked one up last year and used it all last season (and a few other trips this year). Overall I found it delivered on the promise of a light, reliable, and efficient stove. Here’s what really stood out:
Pro: Pressure regulator efficiency
Canister stoves are fairly simple: pressurized gas in the canister escapes through the stove and ignites in the burner. 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. At low pressure (a cold or almost empty canister) the flame burns so low that it’s not really usable or efficient. That’s important for bowhunting elk because you’ll often see lows of 20-30 degrees in September in the mountains. 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.
Enter the pressure regulator on the Pocket Rocket Deluxe. The small expansion chamber means that you’ll get an even, gas conserving burn no matter the temperature or fuel level in the canister. That’s a big difference for a small feature.
With my old stove I’d generally get about 10 mountain house dinners out of a standard 3.9oz / 110gram canister at high altitude. With Deluxe we’ve been able to boil water for over 15 meals on a single canister (about 7.5L total)! That’s a big jump in efficiency and means I only have to carry one canister for my standard 3-4 day trip for two people.
Pro: Extra fast boil times and relatively windproof
This is what really set the Deluxe apart for me. I was able to boil water for a freeze dried meal (450-500mL) in just under two minutes, which is really fast. Compare that to 3-5 minutes for most standard canister stoves and it’s a huge difference.
That gap got even more impressive in the wind. As a benchmark, a 5 mph wind can triple the amount of time it takes to boil water with an open flame. With older stoves I was constantly trying to find shelter to get my water to boil. Wind will always be bad for stoves but the Pocket Rocket Deluxe is far better at heating water when its exposed. I found that on exposed ridges (a pretty common thing for backcountry hunters) the Deluxe was a full 2-3 times faster at boiling water. That’s fast.
Pro: An integrated lighter that actually works
It might not sound like much, but it’s annoying to always have to use a lighter or matches to get a stove lit. It’s one more thing to carry and you’re always digging around your pack when it’s time for dinner. The integrated lighter on the Deluxe has been fantastic… just click it once or twice and you’re good to go.
Integrated Piezo lighters like the one on the Deluxe are notorious for not being that reliable, so I definitely had low expectations for this one. MSR claims the lighter in the Deluxe is more reliable since it’s shielded and routed internally to the stove. After 14 months of solid use I’m inclined to agree with them– that thing has been drop dead reliable so far.
Con: Slightly tall and slightly loud
That regulator and unique burner means the stove ends up being a bit longer than other options which can lead to a slightly taller setup (read: less stable). I haven’t found that to be much of a problem and my setup does just fine balanced on the canister alone, even in a slight wind.
Canister stoves generally aren’t quiet and the Pocket Rocket Deluxe is middle of the pack. You wouldn’t want to fire this thing up if you’re waiting for elk to walk by but in a camp setting it’s just fine (and I tend to camp very close to where elk are).
Tips & Tricks
I find it’s best to get a gram scale for weighing your canisters so that you can tell how much gas is left. You can float canisters in water but it’s a pain and scales can be reused for many purposes (and they’re cheap).
The majority of canister weight is in the metal container, so I’ve found that when canisters get low that it’s best to save them for use back at the car. There are tools to transfer gas between two canisters available on Amazon but they’re tedious and can never truly empty a container due to pressure differences… not worth it in my opinion.
You can’t take canisters (or fuel of any kind) on airplanes so make sure to find a place to stock up before you leave for a trip. Canisters last forever (if you don’t let them rust) so I always have plenty of spares.
I always carry weatherproof matches in my emergency kit and recommend you do for safety reasons. That way you also don’t have to worry about the lighter failing.
Alternatives
The main competitor to the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is the Soto Outdoors Windmaster which has roughly the same specs. I’ve seen comparisons where the Windmaster slightly edges out the Deluxe on burn efficiency and it is slightly quieter. However, I’d choose the MSR because the stabilizer arms are better and the Soto arms are removable. I don’t like the idea of misplacing them and making the stove unusable (and it’s just one more thing to remember). Regardless, they’re both great stoves.
Do canister stoves without regulators or windproof burners work well? Definitely, and there are lots of options. However, you’re only going to save $20-30 going that route which isn’t worth it to me.
Summary
The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is a great fit for the early season backpacking into elk territory. The pressure regulator and wind resistant burner mean that it boils water incredibly fast and is very efficient for a canister stove. It does a great job dealing with windy or cold conditions (down to 20 degrees or so) and the integrated lighter is a nice, surprisingly reliable bonus. It’s a bit less stable and slightly louder than other options but neither are enough to knock it off the top spot. It’s my top pick for backpacking stoves for a good reason.
Would I buy it with my own hard earned money? I already did. If backpacking is your primary hunting method and you take relatively short trips (1 week or less) during the early season (20 degree lows or warmer), it’s a perfect fit. If you’re hunting in true winter temps, hunting from a basecamp, out for multiple weeks (or somewhere remote), or are somewhere that is extremely windy (15mph+ consistently), there are better options that can cost less (although they are far heavier and bulkier). As always, it depends on your individual situation.