The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
When you’re backpacking, every ounce counts. But let’s be real: There’s nothing better than a hot meal after a long day of hiking. Out in the backcountry, your backpacking stove is one of your essentials. It’s your gateway to food and water (if you’re boiling it to kill bacteria), and as such, you want a reliable, lightweight stove. Right now, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe ($85) is my favorite backpacking stove due to its push-start ignition, precise temperature control, and ease-of-use.
I’ve been backpacking for over a decade and have tried dozens of backpacking stoves. I recently wrote The Inertia’s guide to the Best Backpacking Stoves, for which I had the opportunity to test a wide array of the latest and greatest backpacking stoves. Out of all the options I tested, the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is my top pick. Read on to learn why.
| Pros | Cons |
| Push start ignition | Expensive |
| Lightweight and compact | Doesn’t come with pots or pans |
| Boils water quickly (3 min 18 sec) |
First Impressions
When I unboxed the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, my first thought: It looks like any other backpacking stove. The PocketRocket Deluxe is small and compact, with fold-out pot supports to cut down on space. It comes in a carrying bag, which I was excited about for storing and transporting. It also has a small tab on the side, which I hoped was a push-start ignition.
The backpacking stove seemed well-made, and while nothing stood out, I was excited to get it out in the field and test its capability.
The PocketRocket Deluxe is a simple yet highly functional stove. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Notable Features of the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe
Weight: 2.9 ounces
Dimensions: 3.3″ x 2.2″ x 1.8″
Fuel: Isobutane-propane
Burn Time (Max Flame): 60 mins (8 oz canister MSR IsoPro)
Average Boil Time: 3 min 18 sec
You know those people who get excited when a new piece of gear or gadget arrives in the mail and instantly sit down and read the manual to learn how it works? I am not one of those people.
If a piece of gear is difficult to figure out and requires reading instructions, it’s probably going to sit in my closet collecting dust until I get desperate or someone shows me how to use it. Luckily, using the MSR PocketRocket is self-explanatory, and although it comes with an instruction manual, I found I could figure it out on my own.
In order to get the PocketRocket set up and ready to use, all you do is unfold the pot supports and screw the stove onto a fuel canister. From there, you simply turn the handle to let the gas out, press the push-start ignition, and just like that, you have fire.
Not all backpacking stoves come with a push-start ignition and in my opinion, it’s a game changer. It takes away the necessity (and weight) of a lighter and makes it easy to get your flame lit. For some reason, I have a small fear of lighters, so I really appreciated the push start option. Plus, nothing is more annoying than a lighter that won’t strike, especially when you’re hungry. That said, I often have a backup lighter in my pack, just in case.
The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is a step up from its little sibling, the PocketRocket 2, because it features the push-start ignition and has a slightly larger burner. Those upgrades only add 0.3 ounces to the backpacking stove. In other words: extra features for minimal trade-off.
The PocketRocket Deluxe fits in the palm of your hand. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Although the pot supports on the PocketRocket Deluxe aren’t large, I found they were the perfect size to support backpacking pots and pans. My pot, although slightly warped from age, sat securely on the pot supports, and I didn’t have to worry about it tipping over.
If you’re anything like me, when you reach your campsite on a backpacking trip, you’re ravenous. Cheap stoves that take forever to boil water or cook food are a pain. Luckily, the PocketRocket Deluxe boils water insanely fast. In fact, its average boil time is just over three minutes, not far off from the Jetboil Zip‘s time (two and a half minutes), which is well-known for its rapid boiling speeds.
Another thing I like about the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is how user-friendly it is. The control knob allows you to easily adjust the temperature between full-blast for boiling, to a low flame for simmering. The burner head is wider than most backpacking stoves, resulting in an even temperature throughout, which was helpful when cooking things in a larger pan. For a small backpacking stove, I found the PocketRocket Deluxe to have impressive temperature control.
Finally, the PocketRocket Deluxe sports a raised lip around the burner head, which works as a wind screen. I tested the PocketRocket near my home on Oahu and experienced 20-30 mph winds during my testing – the stove stayed lit and burned like a champ.
The PocketRocket Deluxe makes it easy to cook backpacking meals. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Drawbacks of the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe
There isn’t much bad I can say about the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe. I did find, at $85, the PocketRocket Deluxe is expensive for a standard backpacking stove; however, you know the old adage, “you get what you pay for.” Apparently quality doesn’t come cheap. If you want a slightly cheaper option, the PocketRocket 2 can be had for about $50, though it doesn’t sport a push-start ignition or as large of a burner.
Something else to note about the PocketRocket Deluxe is that it doesn’t come with any pots, pans, or fuel, so you’ll have to factor that in as an additional expense and added weight. This is one reason why the Jetboil Zip is a popular choice – that backpacking stove comes with the pot built-in.
Lightweight and compact, the PocketRocket is great for making meals in the backcountry. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe has everything you could want in a good backpacking stove. At 2.9 ounces, it’s plenty lightweight and compact, but still delivers a powerful and precise flame that boils water quickly and gently simmers. The PocketRocket has a push-start ignition, a wide burner head, and it’s easy to use. As such, it’s my pick for the best backpacking stove, and the one I eagerly pack for my backcountry trips.
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Editor’s Note: Want to check out some other stoves? Read our Best Backpacking Stoves guide. Looking for some great meals to cook? We’ve got you with the Best Backpacking Meals. If you’re heading into the woods on a backpacking trip, you’ll need the proper footwear; check out our Best Hiking Boots and Best Hiking Boots for Women guides for some inspo. Or, if you need something to sleep in or on take a look at our articles on Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags, Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads, and Best Backpacking Tents. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
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