MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Review

Overview

The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe is an 83 g upright canister stove that adds a pressure regulator and a push-start piezo igniter to the PocketRocket line. It is aimed at backpackers who want to simmer rice or sauté an onion rather than just rehydrate a bag of pasta. The trade-off is price and a modest weight penalty: it runs about 10 g heavier than the PocketRocket 2 and lists at $69.95.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	83 g / 2.9 oz (stove only)
Packed size	1.5 x 2.2 x 3.3 in
Boil time (1 L)	3:30 (manufacturer)
Output	~10,400 BTU/hr
Ignition	Push-start piezo
Fuel type	Isobutane-propane canister (threaded)
Max pot diameter	8 in
Pressure regulator	Yes
MSRP	$69.95

Performance

Boil time

MSR rates the Deluxe at 3:30 for a liter, and independent testing lands close to that. Outdoor Gear Lab’s testers averaged 3 minutes 24 seconds for half a liter at 7,800 feet, and warn that wind or added altitude can slow times by 10 to 20 percent. At sea level, TrailGroove’s testing had the stove bringing two cups to a boil in under two minutes. The regulator’s contribution shows up in consistency: with a full canister, a chilly morning boils about as fast as a warm evening.

Simmer control

This is where the stove earns the “Deluxe.” The original PocketRocket had a reputation for scorched rice, because its flame went from off to blowtorch with little in between. The regulated valve and wider burner head change that. Testers describe the generously sized valve adjuster as intuitive, and Outdoor Gear Lab’s crew sautéed onions and peppers and seared sausages without burning anything. The low end still runs a little hot, and this is not a kitchen range, but among ultralight canister stoves it is one of the better simmerers.

Wind resistance

The recessed burner head helps, but not as much as the marketing implies. In gusts the flame can be pushed toward the side of the pot rather than the center. In a side-by-side with a Jetboil at an exposed site, the PocketRocket did boil water but burned noticeably more fuel doing it. The practical advice is old and free: cook behind a boulder, or bring a windscreen that suits a canister stove.

Cold and low-fuel behavior

The regulator holds output steady while the canister is reasonably full. As the canister empties, especially in the cold, performance still falls off. That is the physics of any upright canister stove, and the Deluxe manages it better than an unregulated model without escaping it. Shoulder-season hikers should keep the canister warm overnight and plan on a fresh one for the colder stretches.

Piezo igniter

MSR calls this the most durable push-start igniter it has built. At sea level it typically takes several clicks to catch, which is normal for piezo systems. Reports at elevation are mixed. Some testers found it lit reliably even in wind, while one user reported it failing completely at around 10,000 feet, for an entire trip. Treat it as a convenience, and carry a mini Bic anyway.

Pot supports and stability

The three pot supports fold out and lock, and fold down for stowing. They are not removable, so there is nothing to drop in the dirt. Some owners have received units with a loose leg that won’t hold its position, which makes pot placement wobblier than it should be. Check that all three arms are locked before setting down a full pot of water. The 8-inch maximum pot diameter accommodates most backpacking pots and small pans.

Fuel efficiency

Outdoor Gear Lab measured an average of 0.24 oz of fuel per boil, which puts the Deluxe in the middle of the pack for efficiency, though it did better during slow cooking. Expect roughly 6 to 7 grams of fuel for a two-cup boil in good conditions. That is respectable for a stove with this much output, though it won’t beat a heat-exchanger system on a multi-day trip.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Pressure regulator keeps flame output steady in cold weather and as the canister drains
• Wider burner head and a large valve adjuster give real simmer control
• Fixed, fold-down pot supports have no removable parts to lose
• Packs to 1.5 x 2.2 x 3.3 in and nests easily in a pot
• About 10,400 BTU/hr of output makes it one of the more powerful stoves in its weight class

Cons

• Piezo igniter can fail at altitude, so a backup lighter is mandatory
• Some units ship with a loose pot support leg
• Output still drops when the canister runs low in the cold
• Wind resistance is decent, not great; strong gusts affect flame direction and fuel use
• 10 g heavier and noticeably pricier than the PocketRocket 2

Who Should Buy This

This stove suits three-season solo hikers and pairs who cook real food: rice, sauces, the occasional fried egg. They want the grams to stay low but won’t give up a controllable flame. It is also a sound pick for anyone who cooks in cool mornings and evenings and is tired of boil times that swing with the thermometer.

Strict boil-and-pour hikers should save the money and buy the PocketRocket 2. Anyone who regularly cooks in exposed, high, windy terrain is better served by an integrated system such as the MSR WindBurner, accepting the extra system weight.

Verdict

The PocketRocket Deluxe pairs a fast boil with the best simmer control in a sub-85 g upright canister stove, and the regulator and broad burner are genuine upgrades rather than marketing. The igniter is unreliable enough at altitude that a lighter should always ride along, and at $69.95 the stove sits at the top of the non-integrated canister market. For hikers who actually cook, it mostly justifies that price.