The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is without doubt one of the hottest and dependable canister stoves accessible for backpackers and hikers. Compact, light-weight, and highly effective, it has develop into a go-to selection for anybody searching for a reliable range that doesn’t occupy a lot pack house.
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- Sort: Canister range
- Weight: 2.5 oz (71g)
- BTU Output: 8,200 BTU
- Pot Helps: 3 folding helps
- Wind Display: No
- Piezo Igniter: No
- Burn Time (8 ozcanister): ~60 minutes at most flame
- Regulator: No
- Case: Comes with a small plastic protecting case
- Execs: Simmer management, light-weight and compact, cheap worth, ought to final endlessly.
- Cons: No built-in igniter, not very wind resistant
Design and Construct
The Pocket Rocket 2 is an up to date model of the unique MSR Pocket Rocket, which was already a favourite amongst backpackers and campers. The brand new mannequin is even lighter and packs down smaller. The three built-in pot helps fold inward alongside the stem, making it straightforward to retailer the range inside many small cook dinner pots, even alongside an 8-oz.gas canister. This sort of compactness is right for hikers seeking to save house of their pack.
Regardless of its minimal weight (2.6 oz), the Pocket Rocket 2 is sturdy when arrange. The steel development is sturdy and well-finished. The pot helps have a large sufficient span to accommodate varied pot sizes. The folding helps lock firmly into place and don’t really feel flimsy, even when supporting heavier pots. The range features a small laborious plastic carrying case, including about 0.1 oz. I discarded mine so I may pack the range in my cook dinner pot.

Ease of Use
Establishing the Pocket Rocket 2 is easy: unfold the helps, screw the range onto a suitable isobutane canister, and also you’re able to cook dinner. There’s no built-in igniter, so that you’ll have to convey matches, a lighter, or a fireplace metal. Many customers desire this design as a result of built-in piezo igniters typically fail over time. Utilizing a spark software just like the Mild My Hearth fireplace metal works reliably in all circumstances and by no means runs out of gas.
The flame is well adjustable utilizing a wire management hooked up to the range stem. You’ll be able to dial in a low simmer or crank it as much as boil water rapidly, making it appropriate for each boiling and cooking extra complicated meals. The management wire folds away when packing up.
Efficiency
With an output of 8,200 BTU, the Pocket Rocket 2 can boil two cups of water in about 3.5 minutes underneath customary circumstances. That is on par with different prime canister stoves in its class. It’s highly effective sufficient for many backpacking wants, whether or not you’re making espresso within the morning or cooking dinner at camp.
Whereas the range doesn’t have a built-in windscreen, its burner head design presents cheap wind resistance for brief boils. In sturdy wind, nonetheless, efficiency suffers noticeably. To attain the most effective ends in breezy circumstances, choose a sheltered cooking space.
One of many key benefits of this range is its simmer management. In contrast to many ultralight stoves which can be solely appropriate for boiling water, the Pocket Rocket 2 means that you can fine-tune the flame for simmering. That is useful when you desire cooking actual meals over simply rehydrating freeze-dried meals.

Compatibility and Gas
The Pocket Rocket 2 is designed to be used with the usual screw-on isobutane/propane gas canisters fashionable in the USA. These are broadly accessible in North America from manufacturers like MSR, Jetboil, Snow Peak, and Primus. The range works completely with any of those canisters.
It’s essential to notice that in some areas exterior North America (like components of Europe), gasoline canisters use totally different bayonet-style connectors, which aren’t suitable with this range mannequin supposed for the US market.
Packability
Weighing simply 2.5 ounces, this range matches simply into many cook dinner pots alongside an 8 ozgas canister. For instance, it stows inside my Evernew Titanium Pasta Pot (0.9L) with room to spare. The small kind issue is certainly one of its finest options for these seeking to minimize weight and bulk.
Worth
The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 delivers wonderful worth for its worth. It’s similar to different well-regarded stoves just like the Soto Amicus by way of operate and worth level, however with MSR’s status for sturdiness..
If you need a range that may do extra than simply boil water—like simmering for actual cooking—the Pocket Rocket 2 is a stable selection over all-in-one programs just like the Jetboil Flash 1.0L, that are heavier and fewer versatile.
Backpacking Range Comparability
The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is on our checklist of the most effective backpacking stoves.
Suggestion
The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 is a perfect range for solo hikers, minimalist backpackers, and anybody who values reliability and ease of use. It’s sufficiently small to suit anyplace in your pack but highly effective sufficient for almost any backcountry meal. The flexibility to simmer units it other than many ultralight choices. Total, when you’re in search of a flexible, packable range that gained’t allow you to down on the path, the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 ought to be excessive in your shortlist.
Disclosure: MSR donated a range for evaluate
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