The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe improves on the baseline Pocket Rocket II by adding pressure regulation, a built-in ignitor, and a dash of wind resistance. It takes everything we like about the Soto Windmaster and applies signature MSR quality. And it boils water super quickly!

• Price: $85
• Stove Weight: 2.9 oz
• Trail Weight with 3.7 oz .9L Titanium Pot: 6.6 oz
• Boil Time 1L: 3 min 18 sec
• BTUs: 11,000
• Ignitor: Piezoelectric
• Pressure Regulator: Yes
• Water boiled per 100g fuel: 7.3+ L
• Wind Tolerance: light-to-moderate
• Pros: Lightweight. Wind resistant. Performs in cold. Pietzo ignitor. Ultra fast boil. User Friendly.
• Cons: Mid-tier fuel efficiency.

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Features

MSR’s Pocket Rocket series might be the most popular backpacking stove system of all time. It’s small, lightweight, effective, and it just works! Now in its second edition and juiced up with deluxe features, MSR can once again reclaim the throne of best standalone stove.

It performs well in cold thanks to the pressure regulation, one of the “deluxe features” excluded from the baseline Pocket Rocket II. This prevents the heat output from decreasing as the fuel canister empties, or becomes sluggish in cold temps. It is pure upside and a huge boon to the efficacy of this stove.

Pocket Rocket Deluxe offers two fold wind resistance, pulling design inspiration from the Soto WindMaster, our top value pick. Firstly, it has a cupped stove head to prevent the flame from blowing out or immediately blowing sideways. It also lowers the gap between stove head and top of pot arms so the flame has less vertical space to travel before warming the bottom of the pot. Combined, these two features add a solid dose of wind resistance. We wouldn’t call it storm-worthy, but it’s certainly better than average.

With a boil time of just 3 minutes and 18 seconds, the Pocket Rocket Deluxe heat output is practically thermo-nuclear. This makes it a great option for group cooking. What’s more, its fuel economy is based on max output, but this stove is capable of achieving more than 7.3 liters of water boiled per 100g canister if used on less than max power. We estimate it to be comparable to Soto WindMaster in that regard.

Compared to baseline Pocket Rocket II, the Deluxe is nearly a strict upgrade. The benefits of its performance features well outweigh the additional 0.3 oz of weight. It is similar in performance to Soto WindMaster, but with faster boil time, easier setup/less finicky arms, and $20 more expensive.

Verdict

The Pocket Rocket Deluxe is our current top pick for best standalone stove thanks its pressure regulation, fast boil time, and user-friendly experience. It’s great all around and the only potential improvement would be to fuel economy.